Page 37 of May Queen: May Day

Chapter 10

“How did it go? Did you find your father?” asked Albreda.

“I did,” said Flora, walking to the great hall with her handmaid. “However, I’m not sure how I feel about him yet.”

“Oh, you mean because he left your mother?”

“That, and the fact that he has children with Rosemunda and calls her his wife even though they are not married.”

“Your mother could have gone with him,” said Albreda. “She had the chance and turned him down.”

“I don’t blame her. After all, why should she have given up her noble status to live like refugees on the run?”

“Did it really matter since she was shunned anyway and considered unfit for any nobleman to marry?”

“Why didn’t you tell me about all this before now if you knew?” Flora felt highly disappointed and also very naïve.

“I’m sorry, Flora, but your mother swore me to secrecy. She figured it would be better for you if you didn’t know, and if everyone thought your father died in battle as an honored knight.”

“My father is looking for something that is important to him. When he finds it, he is leaving here and going to Ireland with the rest of the Druids to live.”

“What is he searching for?”

“This.” Flora pulled the necklace out of her pocket and dangled it from the cord.

“I’ve seen that before,” said the old woman, reaching out to touch it. “Your mother said it was the only thing keeping your father here and that is why she wouldn’t give it to him.”

“That’s right.”

“Will you give it to him now that your mother is gone?”

“I don’t know,” she said, cradling it in her hand. She thoughtfully ran her finger over the gold emblem that looked like a sickle and mistletoe crossed together. “My mother asked me on her deathbed to give this to my father. My father said I could go with him, but I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do.”

“Is it because you’re frightened?” asked the handmaid.

“Mayhap.” She looked up to see Ricard across the room at the dais talking to his squire. She quickly slipped the necklace back into her pocket. “After the meal, I’ll be accompanying Lord Ricard in the garden, so don’t wait up for me if I’m late.”

“You’re afraid of losing Ricard if you leave, aren’t you?” asked the woman knowingly. “I think you are smitten with the man.”

Flora didn’t want to admit that she was starting to have feelings for Ricard, so she changed the subject instead.

“I convinced him to raise a Maypole in the village. I’m going to decorate the pole with ribbons and dance around it. I’ll make sure Ricard’s is the biggest pole anyone has ever seen. That should get the villagers to like him.”

“Perhaps, but it doesn’t really matter what they think. All that matters is if you like him or not.”

* * *

“What’s she saying now?”Ricard asked his squire, pretending to take a drink from his goblet, even though he was really watching Flora from the corners of his eyes.

“I think she is talking about her father to her handmaid,” reported Nash, holding a decanter of wine and pretending to be waiting to refill Ricard’s cup.

“I know that. But what is she saying?”

“Well, let’s see,” said Nash, stretching his neck to look across the hall.

“Nay! Don’t look over there or she’ll know we’re spying on her.”

“My lord, if you keep stopping me from looking, I am never going to be able to read her lips. It’s hard enough when everyone keeps walking in front of them.”