A Dishonorable Knight(103)

"Very well done, Annie," Elena said approvingly. The work was truly that of an expert seamstress and Elena had not seen better quality in the finest shops in London or from the handiest of maids in court. Heedless of Annie's flush of pleasure and sheepish smile, Elena handed her the gown and dove under the hem. Annie lowered the dress over her head, tugging the full skirt into place. She deftly closed the laces up the back while Elena folded back the broad cuffs of the bagpipe sleeves to show the ruffled edge of the chemise.

Elena ran her hands over the soft wool, smoothing the collar of the dress and fluffing out the skirt. "I wish you had a mirror that I might see how this looked from afar."

"I do have one, my lady. 'Tis not large, but I think if I hold it at different angles for you, you should be able to see everything." Annie rushed to a large chest of drawers and pulled out a mirror set in an intricately carved wooden frame. "This was my mother's. She gave it to me before we left Scotland." She pointed to a small crack in the corner of the mirror. "This happened as we journeyed here, but otherwise it survived." She climbed up onto a small stool and tilted the mirror until Elena was able to see every angle of her new gown.

"It's wonderful, Annie. You have done an exceptional job." Picking up the leather pouch of money, she asked, "Now, what was the price we had decided upon?"

Annie shyly told her but hastily added, "Unless that is too much since you are giving me this gown as well."

Had Annie been a wily London merchant, Elena would have pounced on the idea and talked the price of the gown down considerably. But for some reason, Elena found herself saying, "No, Annie. You slaved over this gown for the past three days. What you should be telling me is that you are charging me more for the inconvenience."

"Oh, no, my lady."

"Yes, Annie. This is why you've let those old hens up the street steal your sign and run off your customers--you're too nice of a person. Now look me in the eye and tell me that you are simply going to have to charge me more."

"But--"

"Annie," Elena said in her best important-lady-speaking-to-a-mere-servant voice.

The young seamstress's eyes widened but she obeyed. "I'm sorry, my lady, but I'll have to ask two-pence more for the gown."

"You'll never make any money only asking for a two-pence. Now give me a real price."

Annie lowered her eyes and quoted a price.

"Very well, if that is what I must pay, that is what I must pay," said Elena, opening the leather pouch. "Now, here is your price, plus some extra because I am well pleased with your work. I would suggest you take some of that money and use it to fix up the downstairs room and put a sign inside your window so it won't be stolen and people will be able to find you. As it is now, from the street this looks like an abandoned building."

Elena picked up her skirts daintily and moved to leave. "Make those improvements soon, Annie. I will be recommending to Samuel the weaver that he should send his customers to you."

"You are the very soul of kindness, my lady," Annie said sincerely, tears filling her eyes.

Elena paused in the doorway. She had certainly never been called that. In fact, the other ladies of the court had often called her unkind. She found she preferred being the soul of kindness, especially when it took very little effort to achieve it. With a regal nod to the seamstress, she swept down the stairs.

"Ooh, pretty, lady," young Oengus said, stopping his roughhousing with Cynan.

Cynan hopped to his feet. "You are indeed a vision, Lady Elena."

"Thank you. Good bye, Oengus."

"Goobye," he said.

Once outside, Elena led the way back towards Samuel's shop. "You and Bryant will return with Morgan to Eyri Keep, then?"

"Aye, my lady. I'm missing Enid fiercely. It seems harder to be away from her knowing she's carrying our babe."

With a sincerity she truly felt, Elena said, "I will miss traveling with you and Bryant. You both have treated me with the utmost courtesy."

Cynan laughed. "'Unlike our surly friend Gareth, eh? You must pay him no mind, Elena. Gareth must be sorely taken with you to act so rudely these past weeks."

Elena sensed Cynan could be a wealth of information regarding Gareth's feelings if she could lead him in the right direction. Slowing her pace so they would not reach Samuel's before she found out what she wanted to know, she said innocently, "Gareth taken with me?"