The Map Colorist by Rebecca D'Harlingue

Author:Rebecca D'Harlingue
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press

When it seemed that Willem had indeed abandoned the map room for the day, Anneke decided to do a task that would not require a high level of concentration. Looking at her supplies, she realized she was getting low on gum water. She would need gum arabic to prepare more, though. She didn’t have any, but there was a drysalter a few blocks away. Her cloak was still damp from her walk in the misty morning, but she retrieved it from where it was drying near the fire and left the map room. Seeing no one about, she didn’t bother to leave word. She didn’t believe that Willem would return, and no one else would care where she was.

When she started walking, she realized that she didn’t remember the precise location of the shop. A rosy-cheeked woman who was carrying a large covered basket gave her directions and she found the shop with no trouble and entered.

“You’re the young woman that goes to de Groot’s every day, are you not?” the shopkeeper, a fellow of middling age with an inquisitive face, greeted her.

Somewhat taken aback at having been recognized, Anneke nodded. “How is it that you know?”

“Oh, I’ve noticed you passing by. Of course, you don’t pass directly by, but when I’m not busy, I like to stand in front of the shop to get some air and greet potential customers as they pass. When I look up the street, I can see those who walk by.”

“There must be many times when you are not busy to have happened to notice me going by,” Anneke said with less than extreme courtesy.

“Oh, but you pass by twice a day, don’t you? Once coming and once going, though it’s usually in the morning that I see you. I get here quite early. I don’t sleep as well as I once did, you see, and I get everything ready, then I must wait for someone to decide they need my wares.”

“But how did you know that I go to de Groot’s? You cannot see that from here.”

“Now that’s true, but I’m not the only one to have noticed you, am I? You are a lovely young woman, and you often carry a type of large folder. We don’t often see that, and I will say there’s been speculation about what is in the folder, and what you do at de Groot’s house.”

Deciding that since there were clearly tales going around about her presence in the neighborhood, it would be best to tell this man what her business was so that he could snuff out any disparaging musings about what she might be up to. “If you must know, I am a map colorist and Heer de Groot has commissioned me to color many of the maps in his large collection.”

“Is that so? And you a woman, and a young one at that.”

“Indeed, although I have worked for years for the House of Blaeu. Can you now help me with my purchase?”

Anneke took the

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