Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

"That was hilarious! Did you see Howard's face? It was as if the ground had swallowed him!" Pearl laughed until she was almost out of breath. "Feeling better now?" Richard's voice softened as he talked to Pearl.

"Absolutely, I feel fantastic." Pearl got up, stretching leisurely. "And all I did today was enjoy the spectacle and come out on top without lifting a finger." If only every day could be as relaxing as today. Richard, catching her mood, allowed a smile to break through his usually serious demeanor. "You won't have to worry about a thing from here on out. I've got you covered for all your lazy days ahead." Pearl raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Is this what married life feels like?"

"I can make you happy like this every day."

Pearl, caught off guard by his directness, felt a rush of warmth reminiscent of her first love, her cheeks tinged with a blush. "Don't say things like that. We're still in public," she protested, though they were alone.

noting the shift from Pearl's public bravado to her private

coming by later, right? Let's head back now," Pearl suggested, tugging at his sleeve, eager to

chance to tease her further, but seeing

the moment, he opted for a gentler approach,

Pearl's mother, Pearl and Richard

Richard to have stashed Winona in some dank, dark cellar. Instead, she found Winona comfortably confined to a room, apparently having been told simply to stay put. Upon entering, Pearl caught Winona in the midst of a lock-picking attempt, her surprise evident as

you doing here? Did you kidnap me?" Winona refused to accuse