In the normal course of events, Freya would return home from school or her travels to Yellowrock, hang up her traveler's cloak and remove her boots in the mudroom. The mudroom was directly next to the drawing-room and the hallway that passed by it. The mudroom probably was full of travelers' cloaks if any of the suitors had taken the time to walk to the Uki estate.

Of course, this was so far from the normal course of events as to be surreal. Freya briefly thought about going in through the front door, trying to sneak past the drawing-room just like Captain Bell, but thought better of it.

There must be another way, she thought, I should be able to get a good look at the mice without exposing myself. I know that only two of them are the ones I’m interested in meeting. So I could steel myself or indicate to mother...

But that wouldn’t work as her mother was a stickler for protocol. She would have them all waiting on her arrival as Grandpaw knew that she would be back quickly, why she’d only been out for half an hour, but it also felt like it had been a rush. It could have been hours!

If she tried to sneak through the kitchen, the chances of her getting caught were lower but she would have to remove her boots away from the mudroom to not cause noise.

Why am I trying to avoid this? I know that two of these people are mice that I already am interested in getting to know better.

You’re trying to avoid this, another part of her brain said, sounding convincingly someone giving her a pep talk, because you don’t know if you can win or not and you don’t want to lose, especially on a day where you already lost a bet. One mouse proposal, is that sufficient for you?

Freya resolved to crush this inner critic.

Freya started towards the kitchen, a short walk away.

“Winning is….” Freya said thinking about it. “Winning is whatever you say it is, so just pick it. You’re not getting married today and you probably won’t find a match today at all if you keep this up so why not just do the best you can?”

Freya waited, two steps away from the door. Listening for anyone on the inside, she paused to collect herself. She ginned up her resolve, staring at the door. No promises, just talk.

So all I have to do is talk to them. Oh and don’t make any promises, and of course, don’t let them infer any promises or make any themselves. So, this should be easy, Freya though.

Freya went to open the door, only not realizing that a mouse she didn’t know was watching her from just inside the kitchen window. Had he been standing there the whole time? Was he good-looking?

She had the briefest glance at his grey coat of fur as he nodded to her and then turned to withdraw. Willing herself forward, she opened the door.