Bright and sunny, simple and sweet, oh, how lovely the day of the Spreenin faire turned out to be! It was a milk and honey sort of day. From beginning to end it continually offered precious gifts, with the promise of secrets yet to be revealed.
My morning began with preparations for the faire: gathering flowers for my friends, plaiting my hair up with a colorful ribbon, putting on the dress I sewed last spring. I added new embroidery to it last week, and I think Lettie would be pleased to see how my needlework has improved. I was just shutting the door of the cottage when I noticed something hanging from the latch. Oh goodness, it was a basket of pink roses! Such delicate little buds, with their petals blushing at the tips. I raised them to my face and oh, they smelled enchanting.
I thought they must be from Elise, since we’ve often exchanged bouquets for Spreenin, but not so this time. When I found her on the village green, she had a different little bunch of flowers for me and declared she had no idea who the roses could be from. It left me wondering, but she took my arm and we set out to enjoy the faire, striding together over to one of the tables covered by a little tent.
Here I was surprised to see Mrs. Algar. She said Baron Rhodes had asked her to bring some goods from the manor house, in particular from the beehives. I had no idea that along with all her other duties she is also a beekeeper. And a very proud one at that, dear reader; though, I don’t think you’d notice it on first glance. I saw how carefully she showed to us the wax candles and honey jars, how she firmly claimed that her bees must be the most content in the kingdom. She seemed grateful and proud of them for how they kept the baron’s gardens flourishing. Bees, she said, were the servants of the Green Sister, industrious and hardworking. I could see why she admired them. But I was surprised when she added that for a hive to be truly happy they must be informed of all the important news. “You talk to the bees?” Elise wondered, and Mrs. Algar answered that she spent almost an hour every day conversing with the hive, and “Hitherto they seem pleased enough with my company and care.” Elise and I each paid a fair bit of coin for the jars of rich honey and fragrant candles we came away with, but it was worth it!
After bidding Mrs. Algar farewell, we moved on to enjoy the other delights of the faire. I got a jug of fresh spring milk, and Elise found some lovely silk ribbons. As we looked over their beautiful colors and patterns, oh goodness, Davy came up behind us and gave us such a fright! “You brute!” she yelled at him. Davy put his arms about her waist and kissed her cheek; she pushed him away and walked off. At first I was worried, but she glanced back over her shoulder, a playful smile on her face. I looked down and blushed. I remembered then that they often liked to tease each other, and was glad Elise wasn’t really mad, but I still felt a little embarrassed by it all. Then Davy called my attention back. “Miss Sonya,” he whispered, “I’d like you to help me do something sweet.” Oh? I was intrigued. He wanted to commission a special remedy for Elise, something full of springtime. It was nearing the anniversary of their marriage, and he wished to give her the remedy as a surprise. Well, I was delighted by the thought and said I’d love to help with his scheme. He gave me a short list of ideas he’d jotted down to help me craft the remedy. As he went after Elise, I tucked the note into my pocket, but goodness, jumped again when Lorenz startled me and asked what I was doing. I giggled nervously and quietly explained Davy’s plan, though made him promise not to tell. He said he approved of secrets when it came to sweet matters of the heart.
Sweet indeed! I set to drawing Impressions for the new remedy that very day. I gathered the gaiety of all the bright decorations while I was still at the faire, and pulled the magic of the dainty dance which the wildflowers did in the breeze outside my cottage… the taste of fresh milk with honey on toast as I sat at my little table, and the smell of the pink roses...
Oh, and dear reader, a bee flew in through the window a moment ago as I ate my sweet treat. I took Mrs. Algar’s advice, telling it about the beautiful day I had; I even asked if it knew who had given me the flowers, but it only fluttered its wings a few times before buzzing into the open air again. Maybe it will bring me the answer later.