The Swan: The Seventh Day by Piper Huguley

Author:Piper Huguley [Huguley, Piper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liliaceae Publishers
Published: 2017-12-07T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The Fourth Day of Christmas - December 28, 1876

When Avis walked into the dining room of La Maison, everyone was sitting around drinking coffee and eating Milly’s gingerbread. The spicy smells mingled with baked chicken made her eyes water, but she knew she had to get a bath first. The brides turned and stared at her. "What happened to you, Avis?" Minnie asked.

Milly came scurrying out. "That red-headed Liam Fulton has been having her work all day, that's what! I fed that scamp breakfast this morning. I’ll show him a thing or two. I've got warm water going already, dearie. You come back into my room so you can have a bath in peace."

"I can help. I'm done eating anyway." Minnie volunteered.

"I can fill the tub, if the water is going." Avis piped up, but the two women would not hear of it. They filled the tub in Milly’s small, but cozy room and left her to soak and wash her hair.

Avis had no choice now. Her hair would grow wavy instead of the sleek straightness she had carefully cultivated with oil and heat. There had been cobwebs on her head, and she couldn't wait to dunk her head and body underneath the water to be free of them. Just to make sure.

She shivered. Yes, mice and rats had been her friends of the night, but not crawly things. She had enough of those kinds of things crawling over her to last a lifetime. She scoured her body hard and washed her hair. Once everyone saw her natural waves, her real origin would become obvious to everyone. Milly might not even want her in her tub anymore.

Minnie came in with one of her spare nightgowns. "Here you go, Avis. What were those dresses for?"

"My black dress got dusty, so Mr. Fulton gave me some dresses he had gotten in trade to make over. It's part of my pay."

Minnie crinkled her nose. "It's not very good pay."

"They’ll have to do for now. It's all I have.” Avis held onto the nice cake of lemon verbena soap Milly gave her so it didn't slip away. “I would ask Birdie to make me something but…"

"She's quite busy with Jack Peregrine, I know. Something tells me the two will marry soon. It's wonderful how it's happening, isn't it?"

Avis nodded, and Minnie smiled. "You finish your bath and leave it to us. We need something to do anyway."

Avis was a little mystified, but said nothing. She stepped out of the tub and dried herself off completely before putting on the nightgown. She wanted to dump out the tub, but Milly came in. "Don't worry, dear. I'm looking to take a bit of a scrub myself. It's alright."

Putting on her boots, Avis went out to the parlor where some of the brides were gathered, already cutting up the dresses and pinning pieces on Angelique. "There she is."

Something in Avis's heart started beating. She looked at Angelique's face. The girl was smiling, happy to have the dress pieces pinned on her.

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