Chapter Eight #3
In the meantime…I looked over at Alex. “I really should get back. It’s almost time for opening gate.”
“And I should get over to the Chaucer.” He pointed in the opposite direction. “My show’s earlier now, since I’m doing the chess match.”
It didn’t feel quite right, just turning away from him and leaving, but what else was there to say? I started down the path, but turned after a couple steps. “Alex?”
“Yeah?” He was still at the leatherworker’s booth, but he took a step toward me.
Another step, and a shaft of early-morning sun fell over him like a spotlight.
Typical actor, knowing how to find his light.
Dust motes danced in the watery sunlight, throwing deep auburn glints into his brown hair, and I couldn’t stop looking at him.
He was a portrait I wanted to frame and put on my wall.
“Thanks.” The word felt like it was dragged up from the bottom of my skirts, but it was the truth. And no matter what, he deserved the truth. “For this morning. You’re right. It was magic.”
“Of course,” he said with a soft smile that made me lose my breath. “I’m going to help you find the magic again, Caitlin Parker. If it’s the last thing I do.”
He looked like he wanted to say something else, but after a beat he stayed silent, so I did what anyone would do when your first love stood there in front of you, bathed in early-morning sunlight and looking at you like you held the secret to happiness.
I turned and fled like a coward. I didn’t have time for this. I had a Queen to collect.
—
Emily hadn’t been the perfect Queen last weekend, that much was apparent from talking to the leather vendor.
I ticked off my own mental notes as Stacey and I headed to the front.
Costume aside, Emily’s stage fright had really gotten the better of her all weekend.
Her voice shook during the opening gate speech, she forgot the words to the handfasting poem, and during the chess match on Sunday she’d sent Jeremy to the wrong square, even though the moves were pre-rehearsed and written down for her.
She’d been glad to abdicate the throne to someone new.
Stacey didn’t have the same stage fright.
Her sunny smile made her probably the most cheerful Queen Elizabeth anyone had ever seen.
She didn’t look at all like she’d have her lover’s wife mysteriously pushed down the stairs (justice for Amy Dudley).
She delivered the opening gate speech like she’d been doing it for years, in a manner both convincing and celebratory.
She didn’t sound like she wanted to barf even once. All in all, a vast improvement.
These days, Stacey’s world centered around the Marlowe Stage, where the Dueling Kilts played three sets a day.
So it was only natural that, after welcoming the guests at the ceremonial opening of the front gate, her steps took us in that direction.
I followed, because why not. This next hour or so we had nowhere to be; it was strictly “schmooze with the patrons” time.
And we needed that hour. It seemed like every five steps we were stopped by another group wanting to take a photo with the Queen, and Stacey insisted I join in every photo.
We posed with families with small children while Stacey held a squirming toddler, a group of college-aged kids that seemed so young to me even though I had maybe a handful of years on them, and a group of guys that were somehow already drunk ten minutes after opening gate.
It was going to be a busy day.
Toby sent a significant look my way, along with some widened eyes, and I knew we were running late.
I leaned in toward Stacey, who’d just taken a photo with her arm around a young girl, almost completely hidden in the Queen’s voluminous skirts.
“Pardon me, Your Majesty. But we are due at the chess field.”
“Of course. I need to make one stop along the way.” She turned that sunny smile to me, and it was almost blinding.
After bidding farewell to the girl, she took my arm and we progressed down the lane.
We may be due at the chess field, but she would not be dissuaded from her original goal.
I could hear the music long before we got there: hand drum, guitar, and fiddle.
The set was well underway, but we couldn’t stay till the end; as late as we were, we could barely stay for one song.
We meant to peek in for just a few moments, but our presence was noted. That was what happened when you were with the Queen; going incognito wasn’t a possibility.
“What an auspicious day!” The guitar player threw a grin our way.
I knew him; Dex was Lulu’s boyfriend, and had been for a few years now.
And Lulu was Mitch’s cousin. Mom and I spent most of our Christmases nowadays with the Malone clan, at the big farmhouse on some land out in Virginia.
Some of Mitch’s other relatives were dickheads, but his grandparents were really nice.
And we spent most of our time hanging out with Dex and Lulu anyway.
“Auspicious?” The drummer adjusted his head mic. “That’s a big word for you, Dex. You know what it means?”
“Oh, sure,” he replied. “Just don’t ask me to spell it.
” Then he threw an arm out toward the audience.
“Don’t look now, but the fair Queen of our realm has joined us!
Give it up for Her Majesty!” His smile was teasing, but he was the first to put his hands together in enthusiastic applause, the other members of the band, then the audience, following suit.
Color was high in Stacey’s cheeks as she gave a royal wave, and I made a mental note to grab her some water from the tavern on the way to the chess field.
Her costume was tight and it was a hot day.
“Now, good gentles, don’t mind me.” Her voice sailed across the crowd, all royal benevolence.
“I pray thee, continue with your music, so that the fine people of this realm can enjoy this festival day.” The guys onstage grinned back at her, nodding as they swung into another song.
I took a glance at my phone and nudged Stacey’s elbow.
“It’s time.”
She gave a single nod, still beaming at the crowd that had half turned to watch her.
Then I followed her gaze to the merch table, off to the side.
There was a tall, slender man standing behind it, dressed in black jeans and T-shirt.
He took off his backward baseball cap, revealing a shag of bright red hair.
Placing a hand over his heart, he bowed in our direction.
I couldn’t stifle my grin; that bow wasn’t for me. It was for his wife, Stacey.
Yeah, there was no way I could drag her off now. I rolled my eyes at Toby as we followed her, but who were we to stand in the way of true love?
“My Queen.” Daniel came around the table to meet her, adjusting his cap back on his head before extending a hand. Stacey took it, and he raised their joined hands, encouraging her to do a slow twirl under his arm. “You look radiant.”
“It’s the heat,” I said dryly, and he glanced over at me, humor dancing in his green eyes.
“This dress is killing me.” Stacey kept her voice low and a bright, royal smile on her face.
“Only a few hours to go.” He sketched a bow over her hand, brushing his lips across it.
She maintained her royal smile. “Benedick’s okay? I hate that we couldn’t bring him today.”
“He’s fine.” Daniel squeezed her hand. “He was curled up on my pillow when I left the room this morning. Even cats need a day off sometimes.”