The Innocent by Posie Graeme-evans Read Free Book Online

unwelcome thoughts, Aveline deliberately raised her voice.
    “First, we must have the underdress, madam. Anne! Hold the gown up off the floor properly! Really, where are your wits today?” Aveline was sharp as she slipped the fine silk underdress over her mistress’s head. “Please, Lady Margaret, do stand still,” she said in exasperation as her mistress jigged up and down, eyeing the lustrous velvet of the gown, impatient to get it over her head.
    Margaret laughed. “Aren’t you done yet, Aveline? I swear you’re all thumbs.” Finally, Anne was allowed to drop the deep blue dress over the delicate underdress and help lace the back as tightly as she and Aveline could.
    “There, mistress—let me show you.” Aveline brought Lady Margaret the convex mirror that hung on the wall beside the largest window. Though it distorted the reflection it still showed a beautiful picture—a tall woman with a white throat and an oval face that glimmered like a pearl above the night-colored velvet.
    Margaret stood silent before the mirror. This was a precious moment. She turned away from her reflection and looked out of the window toward the rising sun. “I thank God that I have been given back life and health, and that I have seen this day dawn. All flesh is grass, I know, but for this day I am deeply grateful.”
    Then her mood changed again and she clapped her hands. “And now, I want to thank you for all that you both have done for me over these last months; for your devoted care and the healing power in your tisanes, Anne…” Aveline turned away scowling; the subject of the tisanes was a sore point between the girls. “I have presents for you both!”
    The wooden coffer beneath the casement windows contained many of Lady Margaret’s clothes and she quickly rummaged through it, unconsciously inhaling the smell from the little bags of last summer’s lavender strewn among the garments to discourage insects. She lifted out a carefully folded gown of deep blue-green damask and another of fine copper-colored wool with a rich band of marten fur around the neck. “Please me by wearing these!”
    After looking at each of the dresses for a moment, Lady Margaret handed the woolen gown to Aveline—a good choice, as the warm ocher would flatter her white skin and thick, almost black hair—and then she gave the green dress to Anne. Lovingly, the girl took the beautiful thing from her mistress’s hand and with Aveline’s willing help, for once, was dressed in less than a minute. The high bodice was loose in places, especially under her breasts, but a broad sash of red ribbon tied tight around the raised waist solved that problem.
    “There, that looks fine.” Margaret smiled. “Aveline, this veil and circlet are for you. Anne, you may wear your hair loose. Becoming—and appropriate.”
    “Anne, stop dreaming, girl! Fetch Lady Margaret’s best cloak.” Anne hurried to do Aveline’s bidding, while the older girl quickly bound up her mistress’s hair with a great skein of pearls and secured an airy veil of finest silk tissue to the crown of her head with a silver comb. It floated down like smoke around her shoulders.
    Anne admired Aveline’s handiwork; she was an artist and understood instinctively just how to enhance her mistress’s beauty by this careful attention to detail. The younger girl sighed; maybe later today she would have the opportunity to talk properly to Aveline. It would be so much simpler if they could be friends and allies. Somehow she would find a way to make Aveline understand.
    Lady Margaret was now finally dressed to Aveline’s satisfaction and she stepped quietly toward the door, taking a deep breath as she passed under the lintel. This was the first time she had been out of the solar in many, many months.
    Margaret’s husband was on his knees at his prie-dieu in his workroom. Today he had great cause to pray, for he wished to give thanks for the recovery of his wife. She was twenty years younger