Shaman of Stonewylde (24 page)

But now she found herself hoping he wouldn’t join them after all. He seemed to be swaying slightly and she didn’t want him spoiling this lovely family occasion with drunkenness. He’d either be belligerent or maudlin, and both were unappealing. Just as she was wondering how best to avoid him, Dawn and David approached. They wore the newly-wed aura of bliss, strolling hand in hand across the grass. David had long abandoned Outside clothes and he and Dawn made a lovely Stonewylde couple in their plain outfits and straw hats. They greeted many people as they passed; Dawn was a key figure in the community because of the Village School, and David had been accepted now that he was properly handfasted and had moved into her cottage next to the school.

‘Bright Solstice blessings, everyone!’ Dawn said to Sylvie’s group. Everyone smiled up in greeting and Maizie invited the couple to join them on the large rug. Dawn shook her head and explained.

‘Actually, we came to invite you all up to the Hall for a surprise. Some of the folk have prepared Sylvie a special birthday tea-party, and there’s something else for her. Something she’ll love.’

Sylvie flushed at this, a little embarrassed.

‘That’s very kind! But why? We don’t normally celebrate birthdays much, and it’s not my thirtieth till next year.’

But Dawn and David only smiled enigmatically and said that
this
was something unplanned, but important nevertheless. So the group gathered themselves up to begin a slow walk to the Hall. Geoffrey, Gregory and their families declined as it was a trek with the babies in the heat, but Rosie and Robin were persuaded to come, and walked together whilst Rufus went on ahead with the four children. Celandine and Bluebell adored him and had recently grown really close to him. They treated him like the big brother they’d always wanted, although he was really their uncle on both sides. Snowdrop and Edrun barely knew Rufus, but had taken to him straight away and he was now quite the centre of attention. Maizie and Miranda walked either side of Sylvie, and David and Dawn brought up the rear.

They crossed the Village Green and the children ran straight over to Yul, who was still on the cobbles outside the pub with another tankard of cider in his hand. His daughters flung themselves at him and he tried to hug them and balance his drink too, spilling some of it and cursing. He looked up to see Rufus staring at him with those dark, velvet-black eyes and was shocked to see how tall the boy had grown.

‘Father, will you come up with us?’ asked Bluebell. ‘Please?’

‘Come up where? Are you off to the beach?’

‘No, we’re going to the Hall for a special birthday tea for Mummy and a surprise,’ said Celandine.

By now the rest of the group had caught up and all stood a little awkwardly outside the Jack in the Green. Sylvie smiled tentatively at Yul, feeling slightly embarrassed on his behalf – he should really be part of the group. He saw her standing there with that half-hearted smile on her face and his family all around her, and felt the anger fizz in his chest. When Bluebell let go of him and clutched onto Rufus instead, begging for a piggy back, something snapped.

‘I haven’t been invited,’ he said coldly. ‘It seems it’s all been planned and nobody bothered to tell me. So, no thanks, I don’t think so.’

‘Oh Yul, don’t be so silly!’ said Maizie. ‘We none of us knew about it!’

‘Do come, Yul. We’re all intrigued by the surprise and it would be lovely to have you with us,’ said Miranda tactfully.

Yul glanced at Sylvie, wearing a new dress, and with a daisy chain in her hair that the children had made her. He suddenly felt completely superfluous to her life, certain that they’d never be reconciled. Why should she need him? She had the children, she had all his family and hers, and the support and approbation of the Council of Elders. She had everything. If he were dead she’d manage fine without him. In fact, Stonewylde would manage fine without him. His face darkened and he turned away from the group, almost in tears.

‘No thanks,’ he muttered. ‘I’d rather stay here.’

Marigold and Cherry fussed around in the kitchen preparing the birthday tea. With Magpie and Clip’s help, they’d put up trestle tables in the large courtyard outside the kitchen, which by this time of day was in shadow. The tables had been laid with snowy white cloths and jars of white moon-daisies and pink rose-buds, and the two women now stood back to admire their handiwork.

‘There, ’tis done. And so pretty too,’ said Cherry, sweating in the heat.

‘Aye, and no more than she deserves. Goddess knows why she feels she must live down in the Village away from the Hall, but things must be bad if she has to do that, the poor maid,’ agreed Marigold.

Both women had a soft spot for Sylvie, and, once Leveret had suggested the idea of a little birthday tea before presenting Sylvie with Magpie’s painting, they’d jumped at the chance to make a fuss of her. As these things do, it had grown from a simple tea with a bit of cake into this rather grand event.

Martin looked out sourly from his upstairs window overlooking the courtyard, his face grim. He knew what was happening – the women had made no secret of it – and heartily disapproved. His wife Mallow, a meek and almost invisible creature, tried to draw him away from the window but to no avail. He stood with
his
arms folded and uttered a continuous stream of invective and criticism. Mallow wished that Swift were there to distract Martin, but of course the boy was off having fun with his friends and wouldn’t be back for a long time, if he bothered to visit at all.

Martin watched the two plump women bustling about setting out the plates and cups. Magpie and Leveret appeared and his tirade increased. That stupid, half-witted mute – who did he think he was, dressed up in his finery capering about like a fool? Martin’s wife cringed in the corner, wishing he’d say she could go back downstairs now. She’d been summoned upstairs to look at what was happening outside their window, and she hoped desperately that she wouldn’t, as happened so often, bear the brunt of his cruel ill-temper. Then Hazel arrived at the party, and the torrent of abuse continued, directed now against jumped-up doctors who thought they ran the place and forced old folk out of their homes. The final straw was Clip’s arrival, as he planted a kiss on the rosy cheeks of both Marigold and Cherry. Martin’s wife closed her eyes in despair, for nobody riled Martin more than Clip. Her husband had turned an alarming shade of red and his hands shook with rage.

There was a flurry of activity and then suddenly the courtyard was teeming with people. Martin watched as Sylvie put her hands to her face and opened her mouth wide in surprise at the lovely table laid out for her. He saw the children, excited at this exclusive party which was almost unprecedented at Stonewylde. He watched Rufus, awkward and standing close to his mother. He saw Magpie hopping around, not sure where he should sit or how he should behave. And he saw Maizie and Leveret carefully nod to each other and then find seats at opposite ends of the table as if that were perfectly natural. Rosie of course stuck close to her mother and glared at Leveret, which made Martin smile. Not all quite so “rosy” then, he thought malevolently.

But what really pleased him was the fact that Yul wasn’t present. There was no sign of him, and, as Marigold and Cherry added extra plates and cups, having been unsure how many
would
turn up, he noticed that there wasn’t a place laid for Yul. Good – that meant they were still apart and, with any luck, would stay that way.

The food was brought out by the two kitchen women – he always thought of the sisters in those terms – helped by Leveret. So much food! What a waste of Stonewylde’s resources. What was wrong with the good food served down in the Great Barn? Finally they were all seated, so many of them, and Martin felt the angry thumping of his heart begin to calm a little. He’d watched long enough and now with a twisted smile, he turned to his white-faced wife.

Yul stomped up the track leading to the Hall, a bitter after-taste of cider in his mouth and desperate for a drink of cool water. He felt hot and sticky, and longed for a shower, which was out of the question at the moment, even for the magus. He thought about going down to the beach for a quick swim and was very tempted, but he’d made the decision to attend Sylvie’s party and knew it was the right thing to do.

His white linen shirt clung to his chest and back, the waist-band of his trousers was wet with sweat and his long damp curls stuck to his face. The track to the Hall was empty, as most folk were either down in the Village or on the beach, and certainly not walking any distance in the very hot afternoon. The sun beat down mercilessly and Yul found himself hurrying towards each patch of shade along the track. He thought, in a slightly befuddled way, about this party for Sylvie and why the very mention of it had upset him so much. He was honest enough to admit he was jealous; everyone loved Sylvie and made such a fuss of her, but they’d never have done this for him. He was also jealous that they were all in on it together and had left him out. He wished he’d thought of a lovely surprise for her, something to make her want him back again. He recalled his vow at sunrise this morning – if he didn’t do something drastic, she’d never be in his arms by nightfall.

He then saw a sight coming towards him that made his heart
sink
. Rainbow looked cool and fresh in a thin dress and straw hat, her hair twisted up out of sight.

‘Why Yul!’ she exclaimed. ‘Whatever are you doing here?’

‘I’m going to have a birthday tea with my wife,’ he said irritably. ‘And I can’t stop because I’m late.’

‘You’re looking incredibly hot and bothered,’ Rainbow laughed. ‘Though still a sight for sore eyes, I must say. There’s something about a curly-haired man in a damp shirt . . .’

‘Stop it, Rainbow,’ he said. ‘This stupid teasing and flirting will be your downfall one day – nobody’ll ever take you seriously.’

‘Oh, I don’t know – it’s served me quite well up till now. So, why a birthday party for Sylvie? That’s not very Stonewylde, is it? Oh! Of course – it’s the painting!’

‘What? What painting?’

‘It’s a surprise,’ she said. ‘So don’t tell her.’

‘How come
you
know? Bloody hell, it seems everyone’s in on this except me!’

‘Oh, stop being so cross and grumpy. Why not come with me for a quick swim before the party? I’ve just been back to collect my swimming things and I’m heading for the beach now.’

‘I can’t,’ he said, wishing that he could. ‘I’m late already.’

‘Come down later then,’ she said, her blue eyes sweeping his face and lingering on his lips. ‘You know how good that cool water will feel on your hot, sweaty skin. I’m planning on staying the evening there and forgetting about the Barn and all that dancing. It’s much too hot for that. See – I have a picnic here.’

She showed him her basket and he noticed the bottle of water. His throat was parched and although he was reluctant to ask any favours, he couldn’t stop himself. She laughed huskily and handed it to him, watching his throat as he gulped and gulped, drips of water running down onto his chest.

‘Sorry!’ he gasped. ‘I’ve almost drunk it all.’

‘Never mind, I’ll fill up at the Village,’ she said. ‘Though you owe me now, Yul. Seriously – I’m leaving soon, as you told me I must. It would be great to have a swim and a proper chat with you before I go. If you can get away at all, come and join
me
. Tonight’s the perfect time with everyone else busy in the Village.’

The tea was over and Leveret was jittery with anticipation. It had been David’s idea to present Magpie’s beautiful moondance picture to Sylvie, and, as soon as he’d suggested it, she’d known he was right. She’d talked about it to Magpie and once he’d fully understood, he was very excited too. He’d never in his life given anyone a gift – he’d never had anything to give – and the whole concept of it was thrilling. Marigold and Cherry were simply bursting with pride, and Dawn was dying to see Sylvie’s reaction to the stunning painting that currently took up almost half the wall in the Art Room where it was propped. They hadn’t been sure where to hang it, with Sylvie living down in the Village at the moment, so they’d decided to let her make that choice. The painting would never fit in Maizie’s cottage even if Sylvie did want it there.

Marigold began to stack the tea plates but David stood up at the long table and asked for silence, so she sat down again. The courtyard was lovely in the shade, and there was a slight breeze blowing through. Everyone had enjoyed the delicious tea and Sylvie was happy. Clip smiled at her with love in his eyes, and she looked across and caught Miranda’s eye too, seeing the same expression there. It was a poignant moment for her – both her parents together – and she felt a lump in her throat. Leveret was beaming at her, a true sister at last. Her beloved daughters now stood one on each side of her, holding her hands and as curious and excited as she was. Rufus grinned, happy to see the sister he’d finally got to know better looking so radiant, and Maizie felt proud that she’d helped Sylvie get back on her feet again. This woman sitting at the head of the table was a different one from the poor bedraggled creature at the Equinox, who’d begged to be allowed to move in. Sylvie looked around the table as David waited for silence, and she realised just how lucky she was to have all these people here who loved her. If only Yul had come . . .

‘I’m not one for long speeches,’ said David, ‘and it’s not really my place to do this. But as Magpie can’t speak and Leveret says she’s too shy, it’s down to me, I’m afraid.’

Everyone nodded at this and looked at Magpie and Leveret, sitting next to each other grinning so joyfully. Maizie suddenly had a dreadful notion that David was going to announce they were to be handfasted or something – though they were too young of course. Why were they looking so excited? Maizie hadn’t seen Leveret properly for a while now – only brief glimpses in the distance – and was amazed at how much the girl had changed. She’d lost her haunted, hunted look and had filled out a bit; she looked happy and Maizie was shocked to realise she’d never actually seen Leveret look truly happy since she was a small child.