miserable on a chair in front of his shop. Sean was nowhere to be seen.
Master Oswald cleared his throat. “You know your lady Grandmother is helping us by playing Queen Elizabeth at the theater?”
Keelie’s mouth dropped open. “Is that why she has a new costume?” Little part, indeed.
“We’ve invited her to play the Queen throughout the run of the festival. She’s a natural.”
Keelie stared at the big man, dismayed. “The whole festival? I can’t run this shop alone.” And she couldn’t search for Viran as often, either.
“Nor will you. Peascod has volunteered to help you.”
“Oh, no. No need. I think I can manage.”
“Are you sure?”
Keelie nodded emphatically, and Master Oswald bowed and backed out of the shop. The shop that she now had to run by herself.
Under the counter, Knot lifted his face from the remains of the meat pie that he’d snagged. Keelie didn’t mind. She’d lost her appetite.
“Here ye, here ye. The play begins at the stroke of six bells.” A town crier yelled. He wore a big green poofy hat that matched his doublet and hose. “Hie thee to the Globe, good gentles.”
People began to stream out of the shops near Heartwood. Several patrons stumbled out of the Queen’s Alehouse. The din of loud conversation filled the air as the costumed crowd followed the crier. Each day was to begin and end with a Shakespearean play at the Globe. Today’s evening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream would be performed by the professional actors, with the vendors helping out.
Keelie glanced around Heartwood, glad that the shop was empty and that it was time to close. She was tired, but she wanted to watch the performance. She started to put away the cash box and receipt book.
Scott waved to her from Tudor Turnings. He had one last customer in his shop, a woman hemming and hawing over a chair. Keelie wasn’t going to say anything to Scott, but she thought the quality of his pieces wasn’t up to Heartwood standards. She hoped he wouldn’t mention the confrontation with Sean next time they talked. She’d flirted a little, yes, but this was the real world, not some Shakespearian tragedy. Men didn’t start fights over meat pies and sandwiches.
Keelie ran her hand along the counter. The heavy Compendium she was supposed to be studying rested on a shelf beneath it. The board was barely strong enough to hold it. She ignored the ominous bend in the middle of the board and would continue to ignore it, at least until her guilt at not getting her charms memorized grew as heavy as the book. She was always good at cramming, though. How hard could it be to study a few little spells? Make that a few hundred spells.
Risa had packed up her cart and left for the Globe earlier in the afternoon, since she had a costume fitting. She was to be one of Queen Titania’s backup handmaidens. This would give her something to feel superior about without actually adding to her workload. Typical.
The laughter from the Queen’s Alehouse proved to be two women, one dressed in a cerulean blue overdress who lifted her skirts delicately as she stepped down from the deck and onto the road. Her friend, wearing a maroon velvet Francesca costume, laughed as she held up a pewter tankard. Beads of condensation dripped down its sides and onto her skirt. Knot walked beside the woman, tail held high as if he were her escort. He leaned a little to the left and teetered. The cat had been hitting the mead again, Keelie knew. Maybe the stress of dealing with Risa had driven him to drink. Keelie so understood.
She narrowed her eyes. Wait a minute. Knot was supposed to be her guardian. Ever since the ale house had opened he’d forgotten all about his guardian job. Keelie leaned out and saw that a tree spirit disguised as a cloud was hanging over the shop. People were glancing up, noticing the cloud in the otherwise blue sky.
By the time the crowd thinned, Keelie had closed Heartwood. She stretched her arms back as she stepped out on the path, then reached overhead, moving her muscles. Furniture selling was hard work, and it felt good to be finished. Dad would be pleased at her sales today. She glanced over at Tudor Turnings. Scott was still dealing with the customer who couldn’t make up her mind, and she could tell he was losing his patience.
Keelie was glad that he was the one