Mrs Nolan came back with some money in hand and gave it to her eldest daughter Gabrielle. "Be quick and come back home okay? Your sister needs someone here while I'm at the shop." Mrs Nolan said and Gabrielle smiled and answered "Of course mother". It was past six when the Nolan family woke up. Mrs Nolan was a baker, she had a small shop few steps away from their home and she ought to be there by 8:00am. So whatever Sir Thomas had in mind for her daughter Gabrielle, he ought to do it quick so the lady could return to take care of her sister while she was working at her shop. Gabrielle kissed her mother on the cheek as she left the house to the market. Sir Thomas had planned to meet Gabrielle at the market that's why Gabrielle told her mother that it was better she would go to the market that morning. The girl didn't realize that she liked the young man more than she thought she did.
"Your sister is really fond of that man but she doesn't admit it" Mrs Nolan said to Mirabelle.
"She's trying to be careful mother, you can't blame her for denying how she really feels. Soon she'll accept him wholeheartedly" Mirabelle assured her mother.
"Hmmmm....If you say so. After all you know your sister more than I do" Her mother said as she helped Mirabelle up from the couch.
"I want to start making the pastries so I'll be able to get to the shop early" The woman said holding her daughter as they headed to the kitchen.
"I'd like to help" Mirabelle said smiling.
"No Mira-"
"No mum. Sorry but no. I'm helping" Mirabelle said not willing to succumb to her mother's will.
"Fine. You can be so stubborn sometimes" Mrs Nolan said pulling Mirabelle's ear. "Ouch Mama!" Mirabelle cried out as she held the ear her mum had pulled.
They entered the kitchen and Mirabelle's mother started doing what she knew how to do best, which was making pastries while Mirabelle stood at a corner waiting for her mother's instruction. "Mother what are you preparing today?" Mirabelle asked.
"I'm making some bread and funnel cake sweetheart" Mrs Nolan said. "Ohh..." Mirabelle uttered as she continued to wait for her mother to order her to do something. Few minutes later, Mrs Nolan finally handed a bowl to Mirabelle and said "Mirabelle, help me mix this". "Okay" Mirabelle said as she stared to mix the batter in the bowl.
A while later, Mrs Nolan ordered Mirabelle to wait for her in the kitchen while she went to place the pastries in the oven which was outside the house. The oven was made with bricks and clay and Mrs Nolan had already lit it up minutes after she woke up. So it was hot and ready for her to place in pastries in.
After doing that, she sat on a wooden chair to wait for the pastries to be baked till perfection.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle was almost done with buying everything she needed to at the market when she sighted Sir Thomas coming her way with the brightest smile ever. Gabrielle felt her heart skip a beat after she saw the young man. She got so nervous that she almost let go of the food stuff she had in hand. He walked gracefully towards her and when he finally got to her, he said "Good morning Lady Gabrielle" he took hold of her hand and kissed the back of her hand. Gabrielle smiled as she gently removed her hand from his and greeted in return "Good morning to you Sir Thomas. It's a beautiful morning. The sun is still yet to be up and the air is so fresh". Sir Thomas chuckled after seeing Gabrielle's smile after her last sentence. "It's not as beautiful as you my lady" he whispered in her ear as he took the knitted bag that contained the foodstuffs from her. "You shouldn't be carrying this much" he added. "Such a gentleman. Thank you for the compliment though" Gabrielle said as they began to take little steps out of the village market. "It wasn't a compliment my lady. Do you know how beautiful you are? It's a fact!" Sir Thomas said as he winked at her.
Gabrielle felt the blood flow to her cheeks after seeing Sir Thomas wink at her. The man knew exactly what he was doing. Gabrielle ignored his previous statement. If he really wanted her, she wasn't going to make it easy for him. She was going to test him and make him wait for some things. If he still stays, then she was going to open her heart fully to him. "So.... What do you have planned for this early morning meet up? I need to get back home soon" Gabrielle said and the man's facial expression changed. "What is it?" Gabrielle asked after noticing his countenance change.
"It's sad that we won't spend much time together" Sir Thomas said and Gabrielle felt bad for him. He came all the way here to see her but they weren't going to spend enough time together as he wanted.
Gabrielle stared at his sad expression for a while before slowly and carefully placing her hand in his free hand. The action surprised Sir Thomas as he jolted after feeling her hand in his but the surprise was quickly replaced with joy. He started grinning and held her hand tighter.
"Don't get your hopes up Sir Thomas. I'm not going to make it easy for you" Gabrielle said with a teasing smile as she played with their intertwined hands by swinging it as they walked.
"I know that. I have been trying to win your heart for two months lady Gabrielle and it's only now you agree to go out with me. I'm not going to give up until you know how much I want, need, love and care about you" Sir Thomas answered and Gabrielle bit her lip as she felt her heart racing.
"About what I had planned for this morning. Mmm... I want you to watch the sunrise with me lady Gabrielle." He added.
"The sunrise?" Gabrielle asked surprised.
"There's still a few mintues before that happens and I know a special place to see the magnificent view. My carriage is outside the market. Will you come with me lady Gabrielle?" Sir Thomas said as he let go of her hand and swiftly stood in front of her with only a little amount of space stopping their bodies from touching.
Gabrielle was caught off guard and she quickly took a step back and she almost tripped but Sir Thomas caught her by holding her hand.