The Spreenin faire is always an occasion full of color, dear reader, our way of welcoming the Green Sister after her long winter’s sleep as she brings springtime to the village, the forest, and fields. It is a day of merriment, and ribbons, and flowers too, and this year I came by one very special flower indeed. A lovely red and gold tulip which now sits on my table, though, goodness, you’ll never guess who it came from.
I was rather looking forward to the faire this week. I had a new dress and little bouquets for all my friends; my heart was full set on enjoying the day. And how lovely a day it was! Everyone was very pleased with their flowers. Mrs. Hume said she and Mr. Hume would put them on their kitchen table, and sweet Mary could not keep a tear from rolling down her cheek as she thanked me for the gift. Elise tried to tuck her bouquet into Davy’s breast pocket, but he took them out and put them in his hair which made us all laugh as he looked like a wild man who’d been rolling around in a flower bed.
I even had a little bouquet for Mrs. Algar, but I couldn’t find her. When I saw Alexander and Lorenz not far behind Baron Rhodes, I asked the two of them where she might be. Alexander laughed and replied, “Oh, she said she’d rather sleep”. Goodness, so honest, but then seemingly as an afterthought, he offered to give Mrs. Algar the flowers for me. I did miss the chance to deliver them myself, but, well, I was glad to know she was taking some time to rest… and how thoughtful of Alexander to offer his help! I think perhaps Lorenz is not just his tutor for study, but maybe he is helping the young man to become a young gentleman as well.
Alexander wanted to look at the animals so we made our way over to the pens. There were noisy piglets, and shy lambs, and young horses… “yearlings” Alexander called them; he knows so much about horses. There were even tiny chicks, still so fluffy and yellow. Oh, they were all such dear, little, things and something about seeing all the new life gave me a great sense of joy and hope. I said as much to Lorenz, and he sighed gently and leaned against the fence. “We will certainly need that hope if we are ever going to find the next stone giant,” he said. He was right, but somehow I did not feel as worried as he seemed. “We’ll find it,” I told him. He asked me how I could be so sure… but I did not answer him. I feel a bit bad about it now, but how could I answer when I had just recognized the little woman who stood before me, holding a potted tulip: Auntie Ember!
Oh dear reader, I forgot all else and ran to hug her! How could it be?! She let out a surprised laugh as I embraced her, warned me to be careful lest she drop the flower, and put the pot down as I wiped the tears of joy from my eyes. She held my face, calling me her “sweet girl” and pulling me into her arms. I was overjoyed! After a moment she stepped back and asked me if I was going to introduce her to “the good gentlemen”. Oh goodness, how forgetful I was in my happiness. I turned around and presented Auntie Ember to Alexander and “Mr. Leland”. Though he asked her to call him Lorenz and said he was very pleased to meet after hearing so much about her.
Auntie Ember and I moved through the faire together. She greeted old acquaintances and friends, as Greenwood had long ago been her home too. She was particularly happy to see Mrs. Hume again, and they made plans to visit together in a few days’ time.
Oh, how happy I am to see Auntie Ember again! Though for some silly reason she insists on sleeping at the inn. I tell her there is no need and that she can certainly stay with me, but she says she doesn’t want to be a bother, and once she’s made up her mind there is no swaying her. I trust Mary to take good care of her.
So now I sit and write, dear reader. I look at the lovely tulip on my table and the woman who brought it, sipping a cup of tea across the way, and I think, not only has the Green Sister and the spring arrived in Greenwood, but so too has my dear Auntie Ember.