Page 3 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

“This is so exciting!” Mia said, her spirits lifted and a childlike wonder filling her. “Three full days of this!”

“It’s like walking into one of your romance novels,” Lilly said, nudging Mia’s shoulder.

Mia smiled. “I know.” A breeze blew Mia’s hair, and she pushed it off her face. “I keep waiting for the pages to turn.”

“In this breeze, they just might,” Lilly said.

A brown-haired man in front of them, wearing a bi-color tunic, with red on one side and green on the other, turned around and grinned, smoke still curling from the corner of his mouth, a pipe in his left hand. “Come on then, dreamers,” he said with a laugh. “You’ll want a good view of the parade.”

“Finn!” Lilly exclaimed. “I didn’t recognize you!”

“The back of me head, you mean?” he broke into a Cockney accent and gave her a bow.

Then the cousins hugged, as he kept the pipe in his hand away from her.

“Do you remember Mia?” she said.

“Of course,” he grinned. “Who could forget the girl with the beautiful green eyes and hair of fire,” he said. He gave her a bow. “Milady.”

Mia felt the blush rising in her cheeks. While not attracted to Finn in a romantic way, his cheerful, charming attention had just made her feel beautiful, embarrassed, and happy all at once.

“It’s good to see you again, Finn,” she said, “All grown up and in a happier place.” She curtseyed after she spoke, as if just remembering to return his bow. “Milord.”

“Tis just Finn, my wee girl,” he said, tucking her arm into his right arm. “Allow me now, to show you to the mistress of the costumes. You’ll want to be ready soon. The knights ride in at sunset and it will be quite the spectacle.”

The merry trio enjoyed the walk to the other end of the Faire, away from the public areas.

“So, Finn,” Lilly said. “Where are all the good-looking men in form-fitting tights? I still haven’t seen even one man in tights, and we’ve walked all this way from the entrance.

You promised me lots of manly handsome guys, dashing guys in extremely cool knight get-up, and swashbuckling pirates.

You’ve dragged us all the way out here to the middle of nowhere for this, and I’m waiting on you to deliver. ”

Finn laughed. “They’re here, and some may be in tights.

I promise, there are eligible single men here, six are knights, and the ladies all find them attractive.

Since we started training last week, and I met all the staff, I’ve now met six couples who met because of the Faire in previous years, and they’re all still happily married.

So, there’s your real life happy ever after.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of manly knights here, all dashing, daring, and romantic.

For now, though, we need to get you two into costumes. ”

They stopped at a small building, and he knocked on the door. Then, opening it a crack, he stuck his head in and called, “Tis Finn, missus McCullers. I’ve brought ye the two lasses.”

“Lands sakes, my boy, bring them in!” she called. “We’ve no royals about this day, that we need stand on ceremony. Come! Bring them in!”

He held the door, as Lilly and then Mia stepped inside.

The room filled with racks and racks of costumes, was a riot of color and clutter, with hats holding plumes, and crowns, and capes, mixed in among the dresses, jesters garb with bells on, and even a suit of armor near the door.

Finn raised his eyebrow at it and said, “Ye’ve begun dressing the knights now?”

“Nae,” she said with a shake of her head. “Tis here, to be picked up by the armorer. If ye look at the back plate, ye’ll see the gash in it.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “They hit each other that hard? I hope no one was hurt!”

“Luck would have it, this were practice, so none were hurt this time,” Missus McCullers said.

“Though the position of the hit makes one wonder, it being on his back and all.” She shook her head.

“So, I read me cards, and my card reading for this weekend is a warning for all to keep their wits about them.” She gave a sharp nod.

Mia noticed her speech was sometimes more Ren Faire, and sometimes more American.

It must be hard to keep up that forsooth speech. Glad I don’t have to.

Mia pulled out a blue gown and smiled at it. “I love this color,” she said.

The seamstress eyed her up and down. “I have another blue one in the back you’ll like better,” she said, then she eyed Lilly’s darker hair and skin. “And the golden gown for the lady. Wait here.” Then off she went to get them.

They waited, but also pulled a few more gowns out to look at them.

Mia was amazed by the many colors and the details. Jewels, gems stones, and embroidery made the gowns even more stunning. Only a few costumes near the door were plain serving girl costumes, in simple cotton.

“These colors are all so beautiful,” Mia said when Missus McCullers returned.

“In the medieval and renaissance periods,” Missus McCullers said, “They loved colorful fabrics and jewels, and were more apt to mix colors than we do today. Rich fabrics were also a form of wealth and status.”

“I love what you’ve done with these,” Lilly said.

Mrs. McCullers handed Mia the blue gown. “Thank you, my dear,” she said to Lilly.

Mia touched the blue lace across the top. “This makes it even more stunning.”

“Try it on,” Missus McCullers said, “so I’ll know if I need to adjust. Finn, outside now.”

“I’ll just go fer a pint, mum,” he said, before stepping outside, “I’ll be back, to escort you two over to the parade spot.”

“Out with ye then!” Missus McCullers said in a commanding voice.

And quick, he was out the door, closing it fast behind him.

“Off fer a pint, he says,” Missus McCullers shook her head. “Tis good he’s not driving ye this evening. Tis already his third pint today, before noon. I saw him in the pub at breakfast.”

“Perhaps he’s pacing himself,” Lilly said.

“Ha!” That made Missus McCullers throw her head back and laugh. “So, it’s that way, is it?”

“Well, his father’s side is Irish,” Lilly said. “His mother’s is the Spanish side, as is mine, and we tend to drink wine young, with our dinners, so I suppose he comes by it naturally.”

Missus McCullers continued to chuckle, and Mia giggled.

Missus McCullers waved at them. “Come, girls, on with your dresses now. We must move along, if he’s to be your escort.”

Mia’s dress with green lace across the bodice was subtly beautiful and at the same time, striking. Against her glorious mane of long, wavy, red hair, the dress brought out her green eyes and natural beauty.

Standing in front of the single mirror, Mia was speechless.

“Well, my girl? What say you?” Missus McCullers said.

Mia breathed out a breath. “You’ve made me look… beautiful.” She whispered the last word.

“Nae, twas not I, my dear,” Missus McCullers spoke kindly, placing her hands on Mia’s shoulders. “Tis your inner beauty coming out. Look there. Into the mirror, and into your own eyes. Can ye see it?”

“Yes,” Mia whispered.

“That, my dear, is your soul, inside your eyes, looking out, looking back at you. Sending you the love you have inside.”

Mia felt such a movement within, that her eyes filled with tears.

I see you , she thought. I see you .

“Now you see her,” the older woman smiled. “You can always find her there, if you’ll but look into a mirror. Remember to be as kind to yourself, as she would be to others. That love inside is for you as well.”

Mia could only nod and smile. Her emotions were too much for words right now.

The older woman smiled and squeezed her hand once, before letting go to turn to Lilly, who stood watching with wide eyes.

“My turn?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, of course, my dear,” missus McCullers said. “The gold is perfect for you.” She moved her finger in a circling motion. “Turn and let me help you with your lacings.”

Lilly turned and missus McCullers began to lace her dress up.

“Now, the two of you must help each other in and out of your dresses,” she said. “Ladies would’ve had a lady’s maid to help them, if they were of high enough rank, and if of lower rank, sisters would help sisters. You two are like sisters, yes?”

“Yes,” they both answered as if in chorus.

“We’re as close as,” Lilly said.

“And you look out for each other,” Missus McCullers said.

“We do,” Lilly nodded.

“Then you must double up on that, this weekend,” Missus McCullers said. “To stay out of danger, and to help each other make wise decisions. Tis in the cards.”

“Are you the tarot reader Finn said would be reading our cards?” Lilly asked.

“Oh no,” Missus McCullers shook her head.

“You passed her tent, on the way in. I only read according to the timing of the moon’s phases.

I shan’t be doing a reading this night.” She gave a small shudder, and then smiled, as if to shine away whatever thought had disturbed her.

“I am but the dressmaker, and the mistress of the costumes,” she said.

“And now, I see two beautiful young ladies before me.” She clasped her hands together as her eyes shone.

“Simply beautiful. Love is in the air this weekend as well. Perhaps for one of you.”

Mia and Lilly smiled at each other.

“Love would be good,” Mia said, ever hopeful.

“True love is always good,” Missus McCullers said. “Now, off with you, before that rascal Finn is no longer fit to escort ye.”

“Thank you,” Mia said, still emotional from her mirror gazing experience.

“Yes, thank you!” Lilly shook missus McCullers hand, making her laugh.

Mia gathered up their modern clothes to take with them, and then they headed out the door for the pub, to find Finn.

When they reached the pub, he’d been watching for them. “There now!” he shouted. “There are me beautiful lasses!”

All heads in the pub turned toward them, and Mia felt a warm blush spread across her cheeks, sure it would soon match her hair.

He came over to them, and said, “Tis like you’ve been to see your fairy godmother, and now you’re both off to the ball.

There is magic afoot this eve! And now, we too must be afoot, my stunning beauties, off to my tent, where you can drop those modern things, and if we hurry, make it back just in time for the parade. Come along now.”

They followed him deeper into the encampment where the Ren Faire workers lived.

Tents stretched in two orderly rows. Some striped in crimson and gold, others black as pitch, some off white with no decoration at all.

Flags fluttered above the tents. Bells jingled on dancers' ankles as they hurried from their tents, back to where the people were.

The air shimmered faintly with something Mia couldn’t name.

Magic? Sunlight?

The setting sun lowered rays for the coming in between time. The moon was faint, but already up in the sky. It too shimmered faintly.

She squinted trying to bring it into clearer focus. Maybe I should’ve brought my glasses.

There’s that shimmer again. What is it?

Magic? Or just my own wishful thinking. I hope it’s magic, the good, romantic kind.

Something inside of her longed for a bit of magic. Just a wee bit. Hopefully to bring her true love, like it did for the heroines in her books.