Of Noble Family by Kowal Mary Robinette

Author:Kowal, Mary Robinette [Kowal, Mary Robinette]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781466861237
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Drawings and Measurements

The next morning Jane settled in her accustomed spot at the round table in the blue parlour to do some drawings of their proposed ice palace. They had taken measurements of the ballroom, which would allow her to make a scale plan that several glamourists could execute in concert. For clients, they ordinarily did a rendering of what the finished glamural would look like. As much as Jane wished that they could create that representation in glamour, the fact that glamour could not be transported made working on paper rather more practical.

What differed in this instance was a consciousness that having drawings alone of the finished effect would not suffice, since she would not be doing the work. Jane would need to also show the foundations, since those were the most easily assigned to the less accomplished glamourists. Over the course of the next several hours, Jane worked on her rendering of the full effect as it would be seen from the entrance to the ballroom. The curtain of snow across the musicians’ gallery would need to be woven from several extraordinarily long threads. She thought that they were well within Vincent’s abilities but would feel better if she could show it to him before Nkiruka and Amey arrived.

She rang for Louisa. The young maid appeared in the door quickly and curtsied. “Yes, madam?”

Jane straightened, her back cracking audibly from her time hunched over her paper. “Do you know where Mr. Hamilton is?”

“He is in the counting house.”

“Thank you.” Jane made her papers tidy and stood. For a moment, grey spots swam in the edges of her vision, and she had to press her palm against the table to steady herself until it passed. The doctor said that some dizziness was not unusual for expectant mothers, but it still vexed Jane. “Could you ask Cook if we might have some of her delicious Shrewsbury cakes with tea? Nkiruka and Amey are coming to consult on our plans, and Nkiruka especially likes them.”

“I have already done so, madam.” She gave a curtsy. “Shall I help you with your drawings?”

Jane looked at the album of drawings and sighed. Given how easily she became dizzy, it would be best to have both hands free while climbing the stairs to the counting house, so she could manage her gown and hold the rail. Though she felt more like her mother with each passing day, Jane nodded. “Thank you, I think you had better.”

She was finding that the difference between being nearly six months along and actually in her six month was significant. She had begun to feel somewhat ungainly.

She led Louisa down the hall past their bedroom, out the back door of their wing, and to the counting house. A horse was tied up at the rail, eating the flowers planted at the foot of the stairs as if that were its normal fare. Jane frowned, unable to imagine Vincent being so careless, which made it likely that it was someone else’s horse.

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