Beppin smiled knowingly at hearing Molly's story. He had a few memorable encounters not with his father's belt – as he had been wearing a sash – but with some of the sailing ropes. But he could imagine a vengeful Molly trying to stab her brothers with the needles. When the subject turned to Lothario, he approved.

"I think the same. I wouldn't agree that someone else picked a wife for me either. And yes, he is trying to move on. It would have worked better without so much attention from his mother."

As for the story… he could leave it untold. It had been anyway the main subject of discussion for a while in the whole Venetian society.

Maffeo inspired Molly's perfume, enjoying the fact that she accepted his suggestion to spend more time together.

"Thank you very much. The pleasure is mine, to have the most beautiful fire-red flower by my side. I have a lot of stories to tell, indeed, but I'd like to hear about you too. For how long you have been in Venice and what you like the most there. It has to be a while, since you are speaking Venetian so well."

They picked flowers, chatting happily. He had stories about storms and mists, about big fishes, a dolphin who saved his ship from getting on the rocks, as well as about a captain from Hell who had cheated him of his wage for three months and had left him on Cythera, after a severe beating for having asked what was his.

When the basket was full, he took care to remain behind the others, not hurrying to return to the ladies. He was awaiting the moment when nobody was looking anymore, to steal her a kiss. In the worst case, he would get slapped. Hopefully not, but even if it happened, a kiss from the unusual beauty would be worth a moment of pain.

Liao, Margareta, Michela and Jean-Pierre were the ones making the crowns. Liao put one on Beppin's head. It was a bit wider, tilting to the right, but it was all right, not as wide as to fall from his head.

"I feel ready for the May Day parade… or at least for a dance under the maypole with my May Queen,", he said, looking how nice the bright flowers were highlighted against her dark hair. "Thank you very much!"

He pulled her closer to him and kissed, playfully, the tip of her nose.

Jean-Pierre received a crown too, and he thanked Liao.

"I think just the sword is missing," he commented. "And if you don't know the story about king Arthur and the Lady of the Lake, I can tell it to you during our trip back."

At his turn, he had made several: the first for his uncle, then one for Molly.

"I chose red and yellow flowers to match better your hair," he told Molly.

If she was the one who had been picking flowers, it was fair that someone more skilled made her a crown. And he considered himself skilled. Jean-Pierre's last one was for Stephane, explaining him:

"Do you remember that Fantin told you that in Greek your name means crown? I am offering you the crown in your name."

The French sailors started a song, and got into a round dance. Jean-Pierre went with them. Maffeo gently pulled Molly into the round too, just in time to witness, in front of them, Fernand's proposal and his reaction to Rino's comment.

"I would like dancing with you at their wedding," Maffeo told Molly, as a way to casually suggest that he'd like her being his date on Saint John's summer feast. "And, until then, under the maypole when we return to the town," he added, with a smile, decided to seize the day.

Beppin didn't find any words to comment after he had witnessed that proposal. His musical side enjoyed very much the idea of a musical proposal and he wouldn't have expected such a romantic gesture from Fernand. There was no ring, but the flower crown was nothing else than a bigger ring, if they thought better. And who needed a ring anyway, when in their world the engagement token could have been a coin, a necklace or a bracelet?

@Freakpanda, @Alan

Molly giggled at the compliment and smiled at Maffeo, ”Oh, there’s not much to tell about me. Others lead the adventurous life, and I record it. Afraid my stories would put you to sleep. Three years I have been in Venice.Working for lawyers has been a big help in learning the language. A number of people speak English as well as Venetian. That and drinking a lot of coffee. It sharpens the mind.”

Noticing Maffeo’s basket had been full, she made her way over to offer to carry them both over. Before Molly could speak, Maffeo leaned down and kissed her. Caught unaware, she let out a soft ‘meep’ before returning the kiss. As he pulled away, Molly squeezed Maffeo’s hand and smiled before returning to the task of picking flowers.

When Jean-Pierre handed Molly the crown of red and yellow flowers, she immediately placed it upon her head and adjusted it so her curly hair kept it in place.

Molly playfully poked Maffeo at voicing his desire to dance at the wedding, ”Oh really, now? I’m afraid that’s going to cost you another kiss.” Not waiting until people looked away, she gave Maffeo a quick peck on the lips, ”And I look forward to it”

@Elena @Freakpanda

"I feel ready for the May Day parade… or at least for a dance under the maypole with my May Queen,"

''As do I. My May King is the best dancer I've ever seen. And I've seen lot of dancers'' Liao said back, smiling and nuzzling him as he kissed her nose. ''You are welcome love. It was fun making it for you''

"I think just the sword is missing," he commented. "And if you don't know the story about king Arthur and the Lady of the Lake, I can tell it to you during our trip back."

Liao tapped her chin, tilting her head as she thought back on the name, her flower crown tilting the same way like Beppin's. ''I've heard of it, but I'll gladly hear your version of it''

Liao smiled as he heard the men starting to sing to a song. She was unfamiliar with it, but it had catchy tune to it and it had beautiful lyrics. But it was nothing compared to the way Fernand proposed Margareta. He was like a knight from a fairy tale, proposing for his lady. Liao let out a happy gasp as she said yes to his proposal, clapping her hands happily. ''Congratulations you two. We'll happily attend to your wedding!'' she said and leaned against Beppin. ''Looks like you are going to have to help me buy a new dress'' she said, looking up at him and grinning.

She watched as Molly gave kiss back to Maffeo and twined her fingers with Beppin, squeezing his hand. ''There seems to be lot of love in the air. Makes me feel happy that I can be with you''

@Elena @Alan

Beppin blushed at Liao’s praise. He was just happy to be there with her.

”I can say the same about my lovely May Queen,” he replied, then he got amused by Jean-Pierre’s comparison.

If he thought himself young Arthur, crowned by the Lady of the Lake, so be it…

”You’ll get a sword soon, together with some fencing lessons, don’t worry,” he commented to the boy after Liao said that she didn’t mind hearing him tell the story.

As she teased Beppin regarding a new dress for the wedding, he replied promptly:

”Why not? We can look tomorrow around certain shops here in Argostoli as well. And if not, there will be time upon our return to Venice as well.”

Love seemed indeed floating in the air – but wasn’t it always like this on May Day? He squeezed gently Liao’s hand.

”Sharing with you not only the holiday, but this island of my childhood is the best thing I could wish,” he replied.

Now that everyone had their flower crowns, they got back into the open carriages to return to the town, crossing their path with other carts or carriages of various types, all full with young people returning from the, with lots of flowers and crowns.

”We have a maypole in the town square, like the people from Friuli do, and a fair,” Beppin explained before they arrived there, as he had seen May poles in France too, but not in the city of Venice itself, unless it was erected by Friulans or those from the colonies. ”The maypole covered with flowers has been drawn here from a village nearby, by oxen adorned with flowers at their horns and harnesses, early in the morning, and fixed securely in the middle of the square. And there would be a May Queen and a King, for us to see, but I think here in this carriage there are three May Queens, and another one in the other carriage,” his gaze pointed now to Michela, to whom Rino was loudly explaining about the church they had just passed by.

The fair ground was overcrowded with people of all origins and social classes. The cries, the laughter, the trampling of so many feet at once produced a lot of noise, mixed with the sounds of all kind of musical instruments, the local ones mixing with the classical Venetian ones brought by the upperclass and rich merchants from the capital. From time to time, this noise and clamour redoubled, like giant storm waves. The current of people flowed in various directions, forming whirlpools around the main attractions. The children had more colourful clothes and their parents had trouble keeping their little hands in their own.

The procession featured the young men and women chosen by each neighbourhood of Argostoli (or nearby village). Like usual, there was a committee of noble ladies whose rich husbands had sponsored the festival, who chose the prettiest girl of the area and crowned her as the May Queen. The lad was chosen not only based on his costume, but there were some strength tests too. They had been asked to chop wood, carry full buckets of water and start a fire, under the people’s cheers. The sailors of ”Colomba” had some funny comments for one or another of the contestants, but not said as loud as to get a more… heated and physical reply from said contestants’ friends by their side.

Finally, the queen and her king were elected, and they started dancing in front of the May Day procession towards the maypole, where they would be the first ones to grab a ribbon.

”There are places for six couples at once. Why wouldn’t we try too?” Beppin asked Liao.

Rino invited Michela to dance as well. It seemed that in his young mind, there had always been a competition with his older relative.

@Freakpanda, @Alan

A woman being a writer was more of a reason to admire her. Having powers on the written word. He might fancy himself, if Molly liked him enough, to become one of the characters in her stories. But, of course, he could never know if it ever happened. He was just vain (and naïve) enough to enjoy this fleety thought.

”Maybe they wouldn’t put me to sleep. Just try and see,” he challenged her. ”Even if sleeping in your arms may sound appealing too,” he winked. ”And three years in Venice… is more than I have spent there, if adding all shore leaves one by one, so you must know the city better than I do,” he said.

Three years might have been enough time for someone who was open minded and willing to know more, to learn the local language, Maffeo thought, looking at Molly with admiration. She was pretty, and so learned, and different than any of the women he had ever met. How wouldn’t he want to spend more time with her, to know her better, to court her? Because, obviously, she was also worth all the respect in the world; she wasn’t a tavern maid of the kind sailors liked frolicking with. She was a true lady, at least in his biased opinion, which didn’t take into account the traditional blue blood.

”As for a coffee liker, we’ll go later in the afternoon to a little kafenio I know, not far from the port. The owner is an old man, originating from the Ottoman Empire, and he has a special recipe of coffee, enriched with certain spices,” he promised her.

Fortunately for Maffeo, she didn’t protest when he stole her a kiss. By contrary, she gave it back, making sure that she liked him too, and she squeezed his hand. He looked at her tenderly, not letting that hand go from his grasp. Her lips were a bit chafed, but this didn’t make them less sweet; his weren’t any softer either, caressed by all winds and salty from the sea breeze. Their kisses felt like crests of waves meeting above the sea, each one getting them thirstier for another. Just that it wasn’t yet the time for another… so they had to wait for later. Or so Maffeo thought, before receiving another quick little kiss from her, together with the encouraging reply.

”I’d never run out of kisses for you”, he whispered to her. ”And I’ll be looking forward to dancing with you. Thank you for… everything.”

Soon they were back in the carriage, so close one next to the other, and Maffeo’s arm found his way around Molly’s shoulders in a protective way. Now he knew for sure she wouldn’t protest at this familiar, however decent gesture.

They listened to Beppin’s explanations, and at the mention that there were three May Queens in the carriage, he looked again at the red-haired May Queen he had claimed as his. People back home in the village where he was born were saying too that May Day had a special charm; this time it proved to be unexpectedly true for him.

They soon arrived close to the may pole, a sight which was no novelty for him. But while Beppin and Rino invited their partners to dance together with the official May Queen and King, Maffeo told Molly:

”I suggest that we are watching them first, then we go dancing when the next song starts.”

It was wiser for people who haven’t tried it before, like her…

Starting as far away from the pole as the ribbons allowed them, men danced in one direction, facing the women who danced in the opposite direction, their hands on the ribbons, braiding them in their spiraled moves. When the dancers got closer to the pole and one to the other, they could exchange a kiss at the end of the dance.

@Alan

Fernand and Margareta were too full of their own happiness to notice too many things around them. Liao’s congratulations, though, were loud enough to be heard.

”Thank you. Delighted to hear it. We wish you two all the best as well,” they replied to Liao and the captain.

Margareta was floating, while keeping the branch of roses close to her heart. Michela, though, from the other carriage, noticed that her words from the first morning aboard ”Colomba” had become true: it seemed that Molly found a handsome sailor. A few of the crewmates had noticed too, awaiting the right moment to tease Maffeo, far from Molly’s ears. They still had some respect for ladies… It was going to be just about him.

Once getting to the main square, they were looking at the tall pole garlanded with greenery and flowers, decorated with twelve ribbons of several colours. The dancers were moving in a circle, each holding a colored ribbon and intertwining their ribbons to plait them. A colourful braid was created on the pole before the dance finished. In order to unravel the ribbons, the dancers had to retrace their steps. Fernand had seen them before, but Margareta hadn’t.

”In my country, there is a little white flower, like a sort of a cathedral’s bells, several on one stem, which is traditional to be offered today to all ladies," Fernand told her while they were watching Captain Beppin and Rino showing off with their dancing partners. "It comes from one of our kings of a while ago, who gave such flowers to all the ladies of the court, and they loved the king's attention. Balls of this flower were organised in the noble courts, while the commoners were going a-maying in the woods and in the meadows where one can find flowers to pick and make crowns from them, like we have done this morning," he added.

Margareta was wondering if, with the Revolution, now the French people considered it safe anymore to go a-maying, or the new rulers would consider the tradition an excuse for suspicious conspiratory meetings. She hoped to be wrong, and she said nothing about her thoughts.

”I will always remember this May Day, and the rose you offered me instead,” she replied.

Soon the first dance ended, and there was a second circle around the traditional ribbon pleating May tree, just waiting for them two to join it. Fernand and Margareta stepped forward, hand in hand, in a lilting walk, then they separated to collect their ribbons. At first, Margareta wasn’t sure how she had to weave her ribbon under or over the others’, but she finally got it. Each dancer alternately passed by the other’s right and left side, making the ribbons intertwine on the pole, thus, creating a beautiful pattern.

The fact that it wasn’t only Fernand she was supposed to dance with worried her a little, but from the five more couples, at least one was familiar, Maffeo and Molly. It seemed Elouan had found a dancing partner too, proving that his knowledge of Venetian had improved lately. She smiled shyly to each of them when it was her turn to dance with them. The other three local men turned not to be as fearsome as she had initially thought. None of them ressembled Nico at all. They were young, and she recognized some of the previous competitors for the title of May King, so most likely their dancing partners were the candidates for Queens which didn’t get chosen.

When the dancers came close enough to the pole, the direction of the dance diverted and they had to unsnarl the ribbons.

It was a holiday ressembling somehow to the ones he grew up with, but not quite. Intriguing, charming... How couldn't it be resplendant when Margareta had just accepted his proposal?