“M’lady?”
Feeling a tug on her skirt, Maggie looked down at the form of a child. The midmorning sun was shining so brightly, she had to squint to make out the long, loose blond curls framing a sweet young face. The little girl wore a pink rosebud head wreath and a simple white smock. She was barefooted and appeared to radiate.
The child giggled impishly and held up a perfect single red rose. “For you, m’lady.”
Maggie leaned down and reached out her hand to take the stem. “It’s lovely. Thank you.” Bringing the flower to her nose, she closed her eyes and inhaled the strong scent while wondering if she was supposed to pay the girl, if the child was a worker at the faire. “One moment,” Maggie whispered with a smile, and turned toward Edithe.
“I didn’t bring any money with me, and this angelic child just gave me a rose. Should I pay her?”
When Edithe and Maggie turned around, the child seemed to have vanished. Maggie looked through and around the crowd now encircling the sword fighters, yet couldn’t see any trace of the girl. “I guess not,” she murmured, as the gathering crowd made a loud “Hoorah!” of approval when one of the fighters knocked the other off-balance.
“It must be a gift,” Edithe said, and returned to her position next to Malcolm, who was chiding the loser.
“To arms! To arms! Ye brave! The avenging sword unsheathe, March on! March on! All hearts resolved on victory or death!”
“Well spoken, sire,” the victor loudly stated to Malcolm, as the crowd applauded the scene. Malcolm dramatically removed his hat and bowed lowly with a wide grin.
“All right, my scene-stealing noble… that’s enough from this peanut gallery… let the faire actors continue their skits, my love.” Edithe grinned and took Malcolm’s arm, tugging him to move on.
“But that was Rouget de Lisle from the ‘Marseillaise.’ Only one of the greatest quotes for calling arms to—”
“Yes, my beloved,” Edithe interrupted, “and you delivered it so well. Your dramatic training is quite evident, and always a source of joy to me; however, I confess, I do prefer it with fewer spectators present.” Edithe placed both arms around his arm, laid her head against his shoulder, and hugged him tenderly.
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm, madam. Emerson, ‘Circles.’ “ Malcolm smiled down at Edithe and placed his hand on hers.
“Maggie… this way,” Edithe called back, as she and Malcolm continued on.
Suddenly, Maggie felt a wave of heat wash over her, and she drew away from the crowd. Gulping in fresh air, she walked toward a display of flowered wreaths with brightly colored ribbons hanging from them. No wonder she was hot, wearing heavy velvet and two layers of undergarments. How did women survive a Renaissance summer in all this getup?
Picking up a pretty head wreath of silky white freesia delicately laced with long dangling yellow ribbons, she stared at the artificial flowers and wondered if she could possibly find a tall icy Coke in a medieval village.
“Would m’lady like to try it on?”
Her attention was captured by a pretty woman, dressed in a pale blue gown with white-satin trim. She held up a silver hand mirror and, not wanting to be rude, Maggie couldn’t see any way out of placing the wreath on her head. It did look nice against her dark hair, but she wasn’t about to ask Edithe for money now. Why hadn’t she thought to bring some herself?
“How lovely,” the woman said, eager for a sale.
Maggie stared at her reflection. She already wore the snood, and the wreath was overdoing it, yet it might be a nice souvenir. Later, on the way out, she would ask Edithe to lend her the money until they returned to the house.
“It compliments you, m’lady… lovely and delicate.”
This woman’s really pushing for a sale, Maggie thought, and smiled back.
“It is very pretty, thank you.” She took one last glance in the mirror, yet as she was about to remove the wreath, Maggie saw the reflection of scenery behind her blur and change, as if she were watching a special effect in a movie. The people, the shops, seemed to fade. There was only a lush green forest. She blinked several times and held her breath as another wave of dizziness washed over her. From the corner of her vision, she thought she saw the white smock of the little girl dancing by and quickly turned around.
Everyone was cheering the actors, yet she saw no sign of the child and she realized it was strange she didn’t hear the cheers for a brief instant when she had looked into the mirror. Shaking her head, sure the heat and humidity were getting to her, Maggie removed the wreath and handed it back to the woman.
“It is lovely,” she remarked again with a smile. “I’d like to buy it, if it’s still here when I leave for the day.”
“Shall I put it aside for you, m’lady?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Maggie! There you are,” Malcolm said, leading Edithe by the hand. “Come along, dear girl. The maze has finally opened.”
“The maze?” Confused, Maggie wiped the moisture on her brow as ladylike as possible and followed them through the village. She wanted to stop in some of the shops and check out the goods offered, yet it seemed that Edithe and Malcolm were on a quest.
Edithe slowed down and laced her arm through Maggie’s. “This faire has been presented for almost a decade. A hedge maze was planted, and it’s taken years to grow in, but now it’s full. This is the first time it’s been opened, and Malcolm and I want to see it before we meet our friends for lunch. It’s just beyond the village.”
The trio walked on amidst the throngs of people while Malcolm and Edithe described their excitement over the maze. Delicious scents wafting through the air triggered Maggie’s tastebuds to watering. She thought her faintness must surely be from hunger, combined with the weight and heat of her costume. They passed through streams of smoke with the aroma of meats cooking on open-pit grills. Fresh bread baking in clay ovens and spices from Eastern lands filled the air. Calls to buy trinkets came from street vendors, while candlemakers dipped lengthy strings in heated wax. The tinkling sounds of wind chimes played against the rowdy laughter of armor-clad men lifting steins of what appeared to be ale. Peasant-dressed women spun dark threads by hand on long sticks. Jugglers, acrobats, jesters, and minstrels entertained along the pathway, while other peasants danced or watched in merriment. Nobly dressed men and women walked along, slowly eyeing the wares from gift booths and nodding to all they passed. Flags in assorted colors and shapes snapped in the light breeze as they made their way into a grassy clearing. The midday sun was intense, and the air was heavy with early-summer humidity from showers the night before. Strangely, Maggie thought she could hear the impish laughter of the little girl following behind her, but whenever she turned about, the child was not in sight.
This is too weird, she thought.
“The atmosphere is intoxicating, but the weight from this costume must be overheating me,” Maggie said, pulling back from Edithe’s grasp.
“Are you all right, Maggie?” Edithe held on with a concerned look.
“I’m okay. I just need to sit a moment,” Maggie insisted, tugging on the high stiff collar. She couldn’t still be dragging from the jet lag. She should have acclimated to traveling by now. Edithe and Malcolm assisted her to the end of a crude wooden bench where a family of tourists was also resting.
“I’m so sorry, child. Had I known the costume would be so burdensome, I wouldn’t have asked you to wear it. Perhaps we should get you to a privy and you can at least remove the underblouse,” Edithe said, standing and shading her eyes as she looked about for direction to the rest rooms.
“I’ll get us something cool to drink,” Malcolm stated, and darted off.
“I’m all right, really. I’ll be fine after a cool drink.” Maggie didn’t want to tell Aunt Edithe about the dizziness she’d experienced, or the strange business with the mirror. She was tired, that’s all. Traveling. Getting acclimated. That emotional discussion last night. No wonder her mind was playi
ng tricks on her. She was not about to complain, since it was obvious Edithe and Malcolm were having a wonderful time, and Maggie didn’t want to spoil their day.
“We can leave now, dear. We needn’t stay if you’re feeling—”
Maggie interrupted. “No, Aunt Edithe. Really, I’m fine. I want to see this maze you and Malcolm have been talking about so much.”
“Only if you’re sure you’re up to it, child. I don’t want you to push yourself if you’re not feeling well.”
Almost as quickly as he’d darted off, Malcolm returned. “Here ye are, m’ladies… this should do the trick. Freshly squeezed lemonade, ice-cold, to satiate any dry palate.”
“Mmm, thank you, Malcolm,” Maggie said into the paper cup as she began drinking. “Ah, this is much better.” She finished her gulp with a lick of her lips.
“Perhaps we should move to the woods, where there’s shade. You can rest a minute, Maggie. It’s just over here.” Malcolm pointed toward a path that began along a woods edge. “We could all use a rest, and there may be an empty bench.”
“That’s a good idea,” Edithe answered quickly. “Maggie…? Dear…? Do you need help rising?”
Maggie sat, fixated in silence. She stared straight ahead at the little angelic girl who was standing a few yards away staring back at her with another rose held up to her chin.
“There’s that little girl again,” Maggie said, standing up. “I think she’s following me.”
Malcolm and Edithe turned in the direction she was staring and saw only the hordes of people milling about.
“Where, Maggie? I don’t see any child.”
As a group of minstrels passed, blocking her vision, Maggie pointed and strained to see around them. “There… she’s there—” Maggie stopped abruptly and looked startled. “Geez, she’s gone. I swear, that kid gets around.” Looking down to the ground around her, Maggie searched for the rose she’d been given earlier. “It’s gone. I must have dropped it.”
“Dropped what, child?” Edithe asked as she took Maggie’s hand.
“The rose. The one that little girl gave me. I might have left it in the wreath shop.”
“Well, I’m sure we can find you another. Let’s get you out of the sun, dear.”
From the corner of her eye, Maggie saw Edithe turn to Malcolm with a concerned look. Malcolm shrugged his shoulders, then gently took Maggie’s other arm.
“I’m okay, Aunt Edithe. I think that little girl might have found it and wants to give it back to me. I’ve heard her following behind us all through the faire.” Maggie’s words trailed off as they entered the shaded woods.
“Here’s a log you can rest upon, child,” Edithe said as she led Maggie to it.
Nearly at once, they all sat down and sighed, Maggie in the middle.
“Ah, coolth.” Malcolm grinned and closed his eyes.
“How do you feel now, Maggie?”
“Better.” Maggie reassured her aunt with a pat on her hand.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the passing crowd until Malcolm looked at his watch. “We’ve only half an hour before we meet our friends. Do you think you’re up to going through the maze with us, beautiful Lady Margaret?”
She smiled at Malcolm’s excessive language. “Sure.” Maggie wanted to finish this mission and get out of her costume as quickly as possible. Thank goodness they all had a change of clothing waiting back in the car.
“All right then. It’s just up ahead in a small clearing. Shall we move forth and be a—mazed?” Malcolm smiled wryly, then stood and held both arms out for his ladies.
Maggie giggled and thought he looked a little like the scarecrow from the movie Wizard of Oz.
“Let’s.” Edithe laughed. They continued down the path, arm in arm, very much like the characters in the famous movie.
“Come one, come all to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I’s, Great Maze of Pleasure.” A very tall gentleman spoke in a theatrical tone and turned toward the trio. “Welcome, noble lord and ladies. Have ye come here today to be truly a-mazed?”
“We have, kind sir. ’Tis a pleasure we have patiently awaited for many a year now,” Malcolm nodded in answer.
Maggie merely smiled, trying to be patient with the Elizabethan speech. Everyone but her seemed to be into it. She knew this wasn’t what she needed, a maze… she was dizzy enough… but she would do it with Edithe and Malcolm. She couldn’t wait to sit and have lunch with these friends her aunt was so eager to meet. She really was grateful for the experience, for she knew that not many women could say they were dressed in such a beautiful costume and given this opportunity. She just wished she felt better.
Malcolm paid the man, and they entered the maze. Many other participants could be heard around corners and over the hedge walls, laughing and calling out to one another. Maggie’s heart really wasn’t in it, but Edithe and Malcolm were almost giddy in their delight, and she hated to hold them back.
“Go on ahead,” Maggie said to her aunt. “I’ll just take my time and meander through. You two go and explore.”
“We don’t want to leave you,” Edithe answered.
Seeing her aunt’s eagerness, Maggie grinned. “Really, you lovebirds go ahead. I’ll find my way around. Besides, if I get lost, I’m sure I could summon up a knight in shining armor to assist me.”
Edithe smiled widely. “That’s an interesting proposition, child. Be careful what you wish for… it just might come true!”
“Actually, that’s the last thing I need,” Maggie said with a laugh.
“She wants to walk alone, my love,” Malcolm whispered into Edithe’s ear.
“Ah, yes. For centuries mazes and labyrinths have been used for meditational walks. We’ll find you on the outside, dear,” Edithe assured her. “By the way, I’ve heard the trick to finding your way out, should you get turned around, is to keep your hand on the right wall consistently. It will lead you out.” Edithe smiled, then turned away with Malcolm.
“Thanks, that’s good to know… Now enjoy—” Maggie’s words muffled off within the thick hedges and in a turn, Edithe and Malcolm were gone around a wall.
Maggie followed slowly in the same direction. She looked up to the sky and wished a breeze would find its way into the thick hedges, and couldn’t believe she was in this maze, sweating her life away in a gorgeous costume, and starving. Thinking of all the calories she was burning, she wondered, who needs a gym workout? She probably should have gone ahead of them to get out quickly. Really… she couldn’t imagine what all the “amaze-ment” was about.
From behind her, Maggie faintly heard a childish giggle again. How unusual she thought, as it seemed to echo within the smothering maze. She turned, and from the corner of her eye caught a glimpse of the little rose child. There she was. That radiant, angelic child. She stood in the middle of a passageway, looking directly back at Maggie. The child smiled impishly and, without a word, appeared to beckon Maggie to follow her. Then she turned and disappeared down the path.
“Little girl,” Maggie whispered, as though in invitation. “Hey, little girl… do you have my rose?” she asked in a louder voice, and quickly started off in her direction. Why had that child been following her all day? It was a mystery she wanted to solve. Maggie turned around the hedge wall, half-expecting to see the playful child, but she was gone. Could she have darted through the bottom of the hedges? Aunt Edithe and Malcolm were nowhere to be seen either. Maggie stopped to listen for anyone, but only an eerie silence hovered.
Suddenly, she felt terribly alone.
Spinning around, she vainly searched for anyone, but saw and heard nothing. “Hello? Hello?” Her calls went unanswered. She stopped abruptly in the path. She felt weak. Her heart was pounding, and her head felt light as it continued spinning. Grabbing at the starched collar of her blouse, she released the top few buttons and gasped in confusion. Now which way is to the right? Damn it. She’d turned herself completely around and everything looked the same. Okay, maybe she could
use that shining knight right about now. She didn’t care how or where he appeared, as long as he led her out, for the air was heavy and still, and Maggie found it hard to breathe. The heat was stifling, and she again clutched her high collar, fanning it back and forth from her neck. Her eyes closed as she felt the perspiration drip down her spine to gather at the small of her back, and her entire body tingled beneath the heavy costume material.
Great, I think I’m going to pass out, Maggie thought, opening her eyes and stumbling forward while hoping she was going in the right direction.
“M’lady.”
Her head snapped back at the childish whisper. Incredibly, the little girl stood right behind her. Twirling around, Maggie swore the giggling child was radiating with a weird light.
“Who are you?” she whispered, attempting to slow down the hammering inside her chest.
“Follow your heart,” the child said in a sweet voice, and plucked a rose petal from the flower she was holding. With a playful grin, she released the petal, then turned and ran down the path while dropping petals in her wake.
This kid’s messing with my head, Maggie thought, leaning against the hedges while attempting to regain her bearing. She heard the child’s giggle again and called out.
“Aunt Edithe! Malcolm! Help me… please.”
Silence.
Again she looked up to the sky and this time demanded some help, from somewhere. She couldn’t do this alone anymore. All she wanted to do was rip the dress from her body and breathe again. Pushing herself away from the bushes, she began running over the scarlet petals.
Silence surrounded her as she rounded a corner and saw an empty pathway. Where was everyone? Why couldn’t she hear anyone?
Rational thinking failed, and panic set in. Her heart pounded harder, the pores on her body seemed to release a torrent of moisture, her stomach clenched in fear; her breath shortened, her limbs trembled, and the weight of the costume felt like it was pulling her down to the ground.
Once and Forever Page 4
