A statuesque lass enters the pub with some trepidation and is greeted by the sociable barkeep whose efforts far exceed the necessity of his position.
“Wat’ll it be lass?” he promptly asks as his rag sloshes past her and puddles the leavings on the bartop. The stranger scans the room but she evades an immediate reply.
“Yer new ‘ere” the pub’s purveyor declares scanning her well crafted wardrobe for means to pay.
“Aye, goode sir,” sheepishly comes her reply “Fearghaill . . . Aurora Fearghaill, ya may know mah ’usband. . . Alder, tha carpenter?”
With a grin, a nod, Ray asks again, this time in a gesture of open hand across to the offerings that line his shelves.
Somewhat more comfortable, the newcomer sits more upright and points to a nearly full and quite ornate bottle of finest rum that rests on the topmost shelf. As Ray pours the delicacy, Aurora exchanges compensation and a generous tip and awaits the opportunity to offer drink and shared company as she has heard is customary.