Oh goodness, this spring is going by so quickly with so much to do. The last two market days I received even more requests for Joy. It has certainly kept me busy, yet I must say I have found it difficult to work, as I have been a little distracted, well goodness, more than that if truth be told. My visits to the baron’s library have been rather strange, and this afternoon I made a most unusual discovery.
I have been over to the library several times now. After Mrs. Algar hurries me up the stairs so she can get back to her duties, I try to set to work, scanning the titles and pouring over the pages of any book that looks helpful. I have read lots of interesting facts, but thus far, nothing about The Green Children of Woolden. However, I have found it difficult to concentrate as, while I was reading, I kept hearing the oddest noises. At first it was just creaky floor boards. That happened on my first visit, and I thought it must just be because of the rain, but on my next visit, the strange sounds continued. It couldn’t have been from the weather, so I told myself that old wood does that sometimes and tried to get back to reading. But then I thought I felt movement in the air and saw a shadow from the corner of my eye. It all rather frightened me and I left not long after that.
All week long I have fretted over my next trip and what might be hiding in that old, dark library. A ghost or a spirit, like in the tales of haunted castles? So, today when I was once again left alone to read, I was very uneasy. I went to look at one of the shelves, and a book from the case behind me fell to the floor, landing with such a boom as to make my heart burst. Oh goodness, I wanted to leave that moment, and I might have, had it not been for the sound of a sneeze coming from behind the case. My heart still pounding, I stammered that if anyone were there they had best show themselves before...before…before what? I don’t know. I suppose I was trying to be brave. Anyway, it didn’t matter as, before I could finish, someone did come out. In all honesty this startled me even more. But then I recognized his face.
It was the baron’s son. He started speaking in such a hurry that I could hardly understand him. He explained that he “hadn’t meant” to startle me, and he had “only been curious”, and also asked me if I was “alright”, because I “looked funny”. I was breathing heavily and had my hand to my chest for suddenly feeling dizzy after such a fright. Oh goodness, I was overcome with nervous laughter, so after one more deep breath, I assured him that I would be fine. It was quiet for a moment, then the boy sort of straightened up and declared himself to be “Master Alexander Rhodes”. He spoke in a voice like the baron’s and followed his introduction with a little bow. He was awkward, as though he wasn’t used to that sort of thing, and it was strange to see a boy, half my height, present himself in such a high fashion. It made me want to giggle, but I managed to smile politely and, with a curtsy of my own, told him that my name was Sonya and I was the village apothecary. But Alexander already knew that, also that I was the one who had made him the Courage remedy. That was why he had been watching me. He said he thought I must be very brave and he wanted to speak to me but hadn’t known what to say.
Alexander spent the rest of the afternoon with me. Once I had explained to him what it was I was doing in the library, he tried to help, but we really didn’t get very far as he kept asking me questions. First he asked me if I was a faery, then if I was a witch, to both of which I answered no. Though I really can’t blame him; I found we share a love of faery tales, even have the same book, and, in stories such as those, what other options are there for a girl with green skin? I asked him which tale was his favorite, and it turned out to be the one I was reading earlier this spring, about the boy and the bean stalk. He said it made him want to be brave, and when I told him the giant scared me too much, he laughed and said “Like Mrs. Algar scares you?”. Oh dear reader, I was so embarrassed, but he just teased that Mrs. Algar scares everyone that way, well, everyone except him and maybe his father. Alexander said that while she was grumpy and stern, Mrs. Algar had always taken care of him, ever since his mother had died. Mrs. Algar had told him that he was a baron’s son and he should stand up for himself and speak his mind. He tried to do so; the Courage remedy had helped, but it was more difficult with his father. I reminded him that Impressional magic cannot make you brave or courageous; it can only help to inspire you, to help you find your own way; the rest has to come from you. I also told him the baron had seemed very pleased when he “spoke up”, had even bragged to the whole village about it. That made him smile a bit.
Dear reader, I am glad there turned out to be no ghost, just a young man trying to be brave. It must be difficult being the baron’s son. I mean, if I were the baron’s daughter, goodness! Baron Rhodes has been kind to me and I am grateful, but well, he can be a bit overwhelming. Mrs. Algar too. I do not think she likes me very much, and it troubles me. I want so much for everyone to get along. Anyway, I’m grateful to have found a helper in my combing of the library, ha ha, even if it does mean getting a little less reading done.