Page 51 of Chivalry in the Meadow
“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’rein 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.”
“Thisisyour 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!”
