Page 19 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

“There’s no rest to be had, in here in this tent, at this time of day, with it so hot,” Mia said. “I’m for sitting in the shade of the pub, with something cool to drink, first, before we go watch the jousting.”

“Wonderful idea!” Lilly said. “Here, I’ll lace you up, then you do me, and then we’ll head there, afterward. We’ll wait until just before the jousting begins to go over to the jousting field. By then, the sun will be edging its way down.”

“I’m in mind of a cold root beer,” Mia said. “And a giant pretzel. Want to share one of those pretzels with me?”

“Yes! Sounds fabulous,” Lilly said. By now, she’d dried her body off, and dusted it with lavender scented powder, before putting deodorant on. She stepped into her dress, pulled it up and slipped her arms into the sleeves.

“You’re faster than me,” Mia said. “I’ll lace yours first.”

Lilly walked over and got laced up. “I’ll share my powder if you’d like some.”

“Thank you,” Mia said. “I love the scent of lavender.”

“Who doesn’t?” Lilly laughed. “This will help us not feel so sticky if we get hot again.” She handed the powder to Mia who applied it and then handed it back.

Stepping into her dress, Mia said, “I can’t have this dress laced so tight tonight. That would hurt.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Lilly said. “You just tell me when.”

Mia, with her dress now on, turned and Lilly laced her in, loose enough that she could still bend and breathe, and do anything else she needed to do.

“Thank you,” Mia said. “I’ll be more comfortable tonight.”

“Ready to head down to the pub for a cold drink?” Lilly asked.

“Yes,” Mia nodded. “Let’s go.”

They headed straight for the pub, and Lilly said. “I need to ask Finn about more ice, and about showers. I suspect, if we’re in the pub, the likelihood is higher of him finding us, over me finding him.”

“It did sound like he spends a lot of time there,” Mia said.

Once at the pub, Mia ordered a cold root beer and Lilly ordered a pale ale.

Few were in the pub, so the service was almost immediate. After a first sip, and both agreeing their drinks good, Lilly said, “There’s the bonfire masquerade ball tonight. I think we’ll have time to shop for masks, after the joust ends. And we’ll need a bite to eat.”

“This heat has stollen my appetite today,” Mia said.

“You’ve had quite a day, between the way it started out, the excitement of the first two jousts and the heat.” Lilly nodded. “I’m not surprised. But at least you had a good breakfast to give you energy for the day. Served by a handsome knight.”

“I did,” Lilly agreed. “I’m ready for some quiet now.”

“This is your quiet, my friend,” Lilly said. “Balls are not quiet affairs. Nor will the last joust be.”

“These jousts,” Mia frowned down at her mug. “They’re more dangerous than I thought they’d be.”

“I was surprised by that too,” Lilly said.

The second tent they shopped in had the largest selection of masks and men’s hats with plumes. As they stepped inside, Mia said, “I didn’t realize people would be so plumy!”

Lilly laughed. “I like your word for it. Yes, very much plumage will be about tonight at the ball. We too must be in our plumage!”

“I think you must have this one,” the proprietor said, holding up a mask, a filigree of black and gold, and offering to place it on Mia’s head.

She nodded her permission, and he sat the masque upon her.

Looking into his small mirror for shoppers, she saw the mask curling like wings over her eye and delighted, she said, “What fun we shall have tonight!”

Lilly, distracted by a silver moon-shaped mask, reached out for it. “Yes,” she agreed, her focus on the silver moon.

Placing the mask on her head, she walked over to the mirror and peered over Mia’s shoulder. “I’m getting this one,” she said.

“But there’s no plumage on that one,” Mia said.

“It doesn’t need it,” Lilly continued to look in the mirror. “This one calls to me.”

“Then that is the one you must have,” the proprietor said.

After removing their masks, they purchased them.

“Allow me to wrap them for you,” he said. “The whole point of a masquerade is trying to guess who is behind which mask.”

“It sounds delightfully fun,” Mia said.

He wrapped the masks and handed them over. “Ladies, it has been my pleasure.” He bowed. “Enjoy tonight’s ball.”

“Thank you,” they both said. “We will!”

By the third Joust of the day, the meadow shimmered beneath the sunshine. Mia watched it shimmer and wondered if there was something wrong with her eyes since Lilly couldn’t see it. She wasn’t going to ask her anymore.

When she got home, she was going to make an appointment with the eye doctor, just to make sure there wasn’t something wrong with her.

The lists were alive again, with the thunder of hooves, and the cries of the crowd. Music floated from a nearby pavilion where dancers spun in bright skirts.

Mia and Lilly each used their new white parasols to keep the heat from beating down on them, making them sweat more than they already had been. It was an unnaturally hot spring day in May. One fairgoer said she’d heard on the news that it was a record breaker.

The sun bore down heavily. Mia was glad they’d refreshed themselves back at the tent.

They stood near the barrier rope, pressed between laughing children, and flushed noblewomen who fanned themselves.

Sir Cedric was on the field, his white and gold surcoat vivid beneath the shining sun. He tilted against Sir Rowan once more, the clash drawing gasps from the audience as both lances splintered mid-strike.

When Sir Cedric turned his destrier to salute, his eyes found Mia’s instantly, the corner of his mouth curling in that infuriating, magnetic smile.

A shadow fell across her.

“You shouldn’t let him charm you so easily,” Sir Alaric’s voice said at her shoulder. He stood beside her, close enough that she caught the scent of leather and steel. “He’s as dangerous as any foe in the lists. Perhaps more.”

“And you’re not?” Mia asked, tilting her head.

A hint of a smile ghosted his lips. “At least I’d tell you where the danger comes from.”

“Even if it comes from you?”

“Even so,” he nodded. “I would.”

Before she could reply, a ripple of movement passed through the crowd. A momentary disruption, like water disturbed by a stone.

Lilly, who’d been leaning over the rope to watch Sir Elias prepare for his match, suddenly flinched. She looked down.

“Lilly?” Mia’s voice sharpened. “What’s wrong?”

“Something brushed my ankle,” Lilly said. “I thought it must be a stray dog. It had a long skinny tail.”

They both looked down but saw nothing except dust and the hem of Lilly’s skirt. Then they heard faint chittering, quickly swallowed by the cheer of the crowd.

“What was -” Lilly said, but her words cut off as Sir Alaric moved past them in a fluid stride, muttering, “ratteem,” his gaze fixed on the narrow gap between two vendor tents behind the lists.

Mia stared after him.

Ratteem? What does that mean?

Sir Cedric was suddenly there too, after dismounting mid-cheer, and tossing his reins to his squire to catch.

“Stay here,” he told Mia.

Both knights vanished into the gap; the sunlight swallowed by canvas walls.

The crowd’s noise seemed to recede, leaving only the drumbeat of Mia’s heart.

Seconds later, Sir Cedric reemerged, his smile back in place, but his eyes sharper. “Nothing to worry about,” he said smoothly, as if the words could erase the tension in his jaw.

Then he flashed that brilliant smile for the crowd and went back to his horse.

Sir Alaric followed, silent, though his hand stayed close to the dagger at his belt.

They stood near the start of the lists and talked among the other knights. Clearly having something urgent to discuss.

Lilly shivered. “It wasn’t nothing,” she murmured, when the knights were out of earshot. “Whatever it was… it touched me with its tail. Some kind of animal is loose.”

Before Mia could respond, the herald’s horn blew for the next match, and the crowd swept them toward the fence again.

But as she turned, she caught sight of the great horned owl once more, circling above the tents, silent against the blazing blue sky, keeping an eye on the people below.

They headed back to Finn’s tent to prepare for tonight’s masquerade ball and ran into Finn returning from it. “I borrowed a mirror for you,” he said. “And have to have it back to Missus McCullers in the morning. And there are two fresh party gowns for you to wear tonight.”

“How lovely,” Lilly said.

“What a nice surprise,” Mia said. “Thank you, Finn.”

Inside the tent was a wooden mirror on a stand one of the ones from Missus McCullers costume shop. And the new gowns fit perfectly. A yellow one for Lilly and a green one for Mia.

Mia stared at herself in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself.

Her mask, a filigree of black and gold, curled like wings over her green eyes.

The green dress was a becoming shade and highlighted her wavy red hair which spilled down over her shoulders, like a waterfall, catching the lantern’s light.

“Knights, beware,” Lilly said, stepping beside her, wearing the moon mask.

Her yellow dress was the perfect shade for her, with her brown skin and brown eyes,

“Why?” Mia asked.

“We’re dangerous tonight.” Lilly winked which made Mia laugh.

“I don’t feel dangerous,” she said.

“But you are,” Lilly insisted. “And one or more knights is in danger - of losing his heart.”

At that, Mia smiled.

They stepped out of the tent and went toward the fair. On the way they would pass the knights circle.

A fire was already blazing and across from the fire from each other, Sir Cedric and Sir Rowan were already needling each other, their rivalry spilling past the earlier competition in the lists.

Sir Rowan’s red and black tunic caught the ladies attention each time he gestured sharply; his voice clipped.

“Some of us win with skill,” Sir Rowan said, “not by charming the judges from a saddle.”