Chapter Fourteen
Two days later, everyone rose at dawn to attend the Midsummer Celebration outside of Bath. The Earl and Countess of Ashford, who had arrived the previous day, chose to forgo the celebration, not to anyone’s surprise. However, the earl did concede to let Rose attend, so she and Thomas rode with Lily and Daniel in their carriage. The rest were divided among other carriages, including Evan who rode in Lord Brighton’s carriage with Aunt Iris and the girls. Rose sighed heavily. She had asked Thomas to be her escort at the festival. She had to talk to Evan eventually, to tell him she had changed her mind about marrying him, but she didn’t plan to do it today. She would not cloud Aunt Iris’s day in the sun.
She resisted the urge to clutch at her stomach, despite the nausea she felt. It would alert Thomas and Daniel to her condition. Lily sat next to her husband, her hand clasped in his, looking radiantly healthy. She was apparently adjusting to pregnancy a lot better than Rose was. Of course, her situation was quite different.
“Next year I want to watch the sun rise at Stonehenge,” Lily said.
“Whatever you wish, my love,” Daniel replied.
Thomas rolled his eyes at Rose, and then said, “God, man, she has you wrapped around her little finger.”
Daniel laughed.
“Do shut up, Thomas,” Lily said. Then, “I suppose we shall miss the bonfires tonight as well, since we’ll be going to the theatre.”
“I didn’t know you wanted to see the bonfires, Lily,” Daniel said. “Most of them were last night, on the eve, but there will likely be a few tonight.”
“No, I’d much rather go to the theatre,” Lily said. “I love Shakespeare.”
“There will be another festival in a few days for the Feast of St. John,” Daniel said. “This one today is the true pagan celebration. We’ll likely see the spiral dance, fortune tellers, candle boats, maybe even a dragon or two.” He smiled.
“What’s a candle boat?” Rose asked.
“Wait and see.” Daniel smiled.
They arrived amidst children and adults dressed in peasant finery, jeweled in flower garlands and crowns.
“Much like the May Day festival,” Lily remarked.
“Yes, a lot of the traditions are similar,” Daniel said.
“Why, there’s a May Pole.” Rose pointed.
“It’s called the Midsummer Tree,” Daniel explained. “Although it is the same dance.”
Dozens of women walked about veiled in white, their hair flowing freely, scattering flower petals.
“Who are they, Daniel?” Lily asked.
“Druids.”
“Druids still exist?” Lily asked incredulously.
“Yes, especially here in Wiltshire. You’d be amazed how many haven’t embraced Christianity.”
“What would Papa say?” Lily said to Rose and Thomas.
“We’d best not tell him,” Thomas replied, chuckling. “He may significantly lower his opinion of your husband if he learns of the heathen practices that he has subjected us all to today.”
As they walked toward a rolling stream, Daniel said, “There are your candle boats, Rose.”
They watched as people folded pieces of paper into boats, filled them with flowers, set them on fire, and sailed them down the rolling waters.
“How lovely.” Rose watched intently. “What are they for?”
“The tradition comes from Austria,” Daniel said. “It’s not commonly practiced in England, so I’m not sure how it made its way here to Wiltshire. The boats are said to carry prayers to the deities.”
“May we sail one?” Lily asked.