To Dream of Snow by Rosalind Laker

Author:Rosalind Laker [Rosalind Laker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2004-04-04T05:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

In the sewing room Marguerite was greeted warmly by her fellow Frenchwomen. Isabelle was particularly glad to see her and eager to show her latest work, which Marguerite studied and praised. Isabelle had all the signs of becoming her best seamstress and embroiderer and was almost certain to rival Jeanne before long.

‘You’re doing wonderfully well, Isabelle. I’m very glad to have you in my work team and I’ve a special task in mind for you.’

The girl glowed with pleasure. Jeanne always checked her work, but never with any encouraging word.

Marguerite sought out the trimmings she had brought from France. There she found the opaque, opal-hued sequins that she wanted. They were of no intrinsic value, having been bought cheaply on a Parisian market stall, but she intended they should be used to enhance the truly spectacular gown she had designed at Oranienbaum for the most powerful woman in the land.

‘There’s a letter from Paris waiting here for you,’ Violette said, fetching it for her. ‘We’ve recognized the writing.’

Marguerite also saw immediately that it was from Madame Fromont. Although she had written quite regularly to her, knowing how interested she would be to hear about them all, it was the first she had had in return. Sitting down, she read it aloud to them. Their former employer wrote that she had been so pleased to receive two letters, but she could tell from the contents that at least one other had failed to arrive. Although she was housebound she kept up with fashion news and told of new trends. She also gave news of the women still working in her old atelier, two of them being regular visitors, and with her hired companion looking after her she was content. She sent her good wishes to them all.

There was a little silence when Marguerite finished reading. She looked around at their faces. This voice from Paris had touched each one of them and they all sat motionless with a faraway look in their eyes.

It was Jeanne who broke the spell. ‘Well, it’s good to know the old lady seems happy enough. Now let’s get back to work.’

Marguerite was about to leave the sewing rooms when the dressmaker figures of the Empress and the Grand Duchess caught her eye.

‘What’s happened to the Empress?’ she exclaimed with a frown. ‘Have her breasts sagged that much?’

Jeanne nodded. ‘So it seems. We received her new measurements yesterday, hence the extra padding. The courier who brought them told us that not only has she put on weight, but she is not as well as she used to be. But then everybody knows she leads a strange sort of life with all her lovers and her drinking and whatever goes on at her private parties.’

Marguerite said nothing. Plenty of tales circulated about the Empress’s excesses and debauchery, but how much of it was true she did not know.

Preparation for the work that she was to take with her took time in the selection of fabrics, the cutting and

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