Page 25 of May Queen: May Day

“Aye, my lord.”

“We’ll help you,” said Lang, stepping forward.

“Not you. Dayton will help. I have other things you can assist with.” Ricard walked away talking to Lang.

“My, your betrothed is a handsome man,” said Albreda, smiling and watching as Ricard walked toward the keep. “You must be happy to be marrying him, even though your cousin is furious with you.”

“Oh,” said Flora. “Did she find out I told Lord Ricard that she was pregnant?”

“She did.” Albreda’s frown turned into a smile and they both started laughing. “I am not sure how your uncle figures he is going to remedy that one.”

“It was the only thing I could think of in a tight situation,” said Flora. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

“Forget about Gretta. What about you, Flora?” asked the old woman. “Are you excited to be marrying Sir Ricard?”

“It’s not real,” she told her handmaid. “You know as well as I that as soon as I find my father, I am leaving.”

“Is that really what you want?”

“I don’t know.” Flora watched as Ricard took a minute to stop and pick up a ball that a child chased. He hunkered down and handed the ball to the boy and ruffled the child’s hair. A dog ran over, barking next, wanting to play. Ricard extended his arm and the child gave the ball back. Then Ricard stood up and threw the ball far with the dog and the boy both running after it.

“He seems as if he likes children as well as animals. That tells a lot about a person, don’t you think?” asked the handmaid.

“Albreda, I know what you’re trying to do and you aren’t going to change my opinion of Lord Ricard.”

“What opinion might that be?”

“The man is handsome and might seem to be kind to children and animals but I assure you, it is just an act to get everyone to like him.”

“How can you say such a thing?” asked Albreda as they walked past the wagon that held the dowry. Nash and Dayton unloaded some of the things.

Flora leaned over and whispered to Albreda so no one would hear them. “Lord Ricard hates the Druids and is trying to hunt them down and kill them.”

“Really?” The old woman stopped in her tracks and her eyes opened wide in surprise. “Does he know about your father?”

“Shhh, not so loud.” Flora pulled the old woman away from the cart when she saw Nash watching them. “He has no idea and neither do I want him to know. Now that you are here, you can assist me. I need to sneak away, back to the forest, and find my father before it is too late.”