Page 31 of May Queen: May Day

“I saw it with my own eyes, even though they didn’t know I was watching. Right there in the lady’s chamber, they flirted shamelessly with each other.”

Ricard’s blood boiled. He didn’t want Flora making eyes at his brother. He wanted her to like him, the way she was supposed to.

“Here she comes,” said Ricard, seeing Flora emerging from the castle, riding fast and keeping her head covered. “If she read that missive, she is going to want to warn those pagans that I know where they’re hiding.”

“You do?” asked Nash.

“Nay, of course I don’t, you fool. If I knew where they were, I’d have captured them all by now.”

“I don’t understand. Then why did you say that to the baron in the missive?”

“I only said it, because I was hoping he’d tell the king I was doing my job. I wanted to look favorable in His Majesty’s eyes. But now that Lady Flora intercepted the missive, this is going to work to my advantage.”

“I still don’t understand. How so?”

“She’s going to lead me right to those pagans hiding in the forest. She was going to meet them the day we were on the hunt. She must be one of them.”

“Nay, how could you say that?”

“She is hiding something from me and lying every chance she gets. I wouldn’t be surprised if the baron knows about it and that is why he hightailed it out of here so fast after dropping her at my door.”

“I can’t believe she’s a pagan.”

“Didn’t you see that ring? It was covered with Druid symbols.”

“So, are you saying Lady Flora is somehow of Druid descent?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” he mumbled. “She is unlike any lady I’ve ever met. Now hurry. We need to follow her but stay far enough behind that she won’t see us. With any luck, she’ll lead us right to those Druids.”