At the Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper Read Free Book Online

over it against the dust.
    The marchpane mixture was made by blending the ground almonds with sugar and rose water and dividing it into several portions. Each portion was then coloured by Sarah with either red, green, pink, or orange tinctures, and a little extra was made brown with cinnamon. Once divided, we took a portion each and stirred and pounded until it came together in a stiff dough.
    The miniature fruits were to be strawberries, oranges, apples and plums, and Sarah took the utmost trouble with these, using a paring knife and other small instruments – which she said grand ladies used on their nails – to carve their shape. The strawberries were especially pleasing, being the rightful size and plump triangular shape with tiny indentations, as the fruit truly has, and a green leaf and stalk atop of them. I was allowed to make the apples on my own, and I did them green, with a dimple on top from which protruded a cinnamon-brown stalk. When the little fruits were completed Sarah instructed me to take a fine paint brush and give each apple a blush of pink on its side, then roll it in ground sugar.
    To make the fairy fruits took us several hours altogether, but it was a most enjoyable task and, once finished, they looked pretty and delicate enough to tempt any passing elfin. We placed them on white paper and gave them another frosting of sugar before putting them in trays to harden slightly overnight and be ready for sale the following day.

    The next morning I woke early to the usual cry of a milkmaid calling, ‘Fresh milk! Fresh new milk!’ and Sarah bade me take the jug to the door and buy some. After we’d drunk well of the foaming liquid – and Mew had her portion, too, with some bread in it left from the day before – we washed and dressed and tidied the shop ready for that day’s trade.
    At seven-thirty, as I opened up the shop, a town crier announced that certain Orders had been issued on behalf of the Lord Mayor and were being posted at every main water conduit and well. Every citizen was asked to take note of these and do as they commanded.
    Sarah, who was arranging our marchpane fruits under muslin cloths to keep off the flies, looked at me in concern. ‘That’s sure to be news about the plague,’ she said. ‘Run and get some water and find out what it’s about.’
    I was pleased to do this, for I was wearing my new blue cambric dress and was mighty keen to give it an outing. Going to Bell Court I found Abby just about to leave there with a full pail and an enamel jug of water. She looked pleased to see me and put her containers down to give me a hearty kiss on the cheek.
    ‘I’ve come up to read the Orders,’ I said. ‘What do they say?’
    ‘Oh, ’tis just about the plague,’ she said. ‘Beggars must stay within their parish, and everyone is to water, sweep and cleanse the street in front of their door every morning and dispose of any slops in a clean manner . . . ’tis not very interesting and just means more work for us maids.’
    ‘But how is your mistress?’ I asked.
    ‘Middling well,’ Abby said. Her face brightened. ‘But she has bid me go to the Exchange tomorrow morning on an errand. Why don’t you ask your sister if you can have leave to go, and we can meet up.’
    ‘Where’s that?’ I asked, puzzled.
    ‘You goose!’ she said. ‘Have you not heard of the Royal Exchange? ’Tis the most fashionable meeting place in the city! At least, it is apart from the coffee houses – and no decent girl would be seen in one of those without a gentleman.’
    I tried to cover my ignorance by assuring her that I had heard of the Royal Exchange, but wanted to know exactly where it was.
    ‘’Tis at Cornhill. But I’ll meet you here about midday.’
    I said I would do my best to be there, and went to read the Orders, which were just a list of rules and instructions for the prevention of further contagion. They included directions for medicines to be prescribed against the sickness