10 Deep Water by Joyce Lionarons

Author:Joyce Lionarons [Lionarons, Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery & Detective - Middle Ages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Published: 2020-02-13T05:00:00+00:00

Marietta took a key from the bunch on her belt and unlocked the carved chest that sat at the foot of the bed she shared with Pietro, then pulled the lid open. She drew three folded gowns from the chest and laid them out side by side on the satin bed covering. Squinting in the dim light from the cracks in the shutter, she tried to determine which would be best to wear to the dinner tomorrow. It was necessary to impress, but not to overawe, not if she wished to make friends in this horrid city. With a huff of frustration, she turned away to find three large wax candles and light them so that their light fell on the gowns. Pietro scolded her for wasting candlewax, but she could never see properly in this cloudy, rainy country. She needed the sunlight of Lucca.

Once the candles were lit, she perused the gowns again. Did she dare wear the green with velvet trim if it might, no, would likely rain and spoil the costly fabric? Frowning, she folded the gown and replaced it into the chest. The ivory linen would not be warm enough, especially if she were seated away from the fire. No wonder all the women wore plain wool! After folding the linen gown and putting it on top of the green, she lifted the remaining gown from the bed and inspected it more closely. She could see neither stains nor broken threads in the fine burgundy wool, which shimmered as the candlelight caught the subtle variations in the dye. Plain, but with the proper jewels it could be elegant, and she would wear her finest head covering. The gown needed a good airing, so she draped it over a chair next to the fire.

Pietro had balked at attending the Bisset’s dinner, saying first he could not leave his business unattended, then that his arm hurt too much for him to enjoy the company. When she had pressed him, he had admitted that he did not wish others to know of his injury. “Questions will be asked and I will have to admit four men were not enough to bring the boar down. I will be shamed before the people I would want to associate with.”

“Nonsense,” Marietta had replied. “Everyone knows how fierce a wild boar can be. Please, Pietro, don’t force me to go alone.”

In the end she had prevailed, but Pietro had been grumpy and out of sorts ever since. He would not, she promised herself, ruin the day for her. If possible, she would sit far away from him and enjoy Mistress Bisset’s friends.

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