Wine of the Gods 08: Dark Lady Read Online Free PDF

Jeramtown is a Crown Charter Town, so everything inside the walls is different. That's why the baron's home is actually outside the walls. I think he's making a statement of disapproval over the town not being his."
    " Umm. I see. Or at least I can take a good guess. There's always that tendency in some people to want to own and control things. And people."

Chapter Five
    Thursday, February 19, 3493 AD
    Jeramtown, Arrival
     
    The next day an invitation from the baroness to dine with them the following day arrived at the tavern. Addressed solely to Lady Quicksilver.
    " I suspect taking a maid along is expected." She frowned at the missive.
    " And arriving in a coach," Liz fretted.
    " Mister Preston had several carriages for rent. Can you drive as well as you ride, Liz?"
    " Well, no, but still very well."
    " And babies and dinner engagements?"
    " Babies don't exist. I could try and find a wet nurse, or take her in the carriage, and feed her with a bap if she wakes. She's spending a lot more time awake, these days."
    " She's getting older. At least we haven't hit the teething stage yet." December frowned at a flash of memory. A fussy baby, a man holding his hands out for him. Tall, brown hair and beard, dark eyes. She looked at the baby, still baby fuzz on her head, the slatey blue of all babies' eyes was darkening but still blue. No telling if she was the child of that barely remembered man.
    " Well, if showing up with a female companion driver is insufficient, they will just have to be shocked." December shrugged the question away. "Which dress?"
    " The black with the embroidered panels." Liz was firm. "And you need some dainty slippers to go with it. Those riding boots won't do."
     
    ***
     
    Liz had to admit that she had never owned a pair of shoes like High Born Ladies wore with their dresses. And the shops didn't keep such things on hand, except as examples. A cobbler agreed to stitch up something from some thin black leather, and have it done by evening. The lady seemed glad to escape, but still insisted on stops to look at cosmetics and perfume.
    Liz took Quail away, as the l ady wished to be alone for awhile. When she returned, she was scandalized to find the lady sitting cross-legged on the floor, her thin shift rucked up around her thighs.
    " What do you think?" She held out a teardrop shaped crystal pendant on a gold wire, and placed it around her neck. Two smaller pendants were on wires cleverly twisted into spring clamps that would hold them on her ears.
    They were different, but attractive.
    Liz spent the next morning collecting the shoes from the cobbler, and arranging the coach from the livery.
    And finally helping the lady dress.
    December had to practice walking in the shoes, with their elegant high heels. "Hopefully I'll only sprain an ankle, not break my neck. Whoever heard of shoes you could fall off of?"
    Her short curly hair, light brown, almost blonde, was combed severely back from her face, and she rose now to sit at the table with her cosmetics. A little powder, a little pencil on the eye brows, and touch of charcoal around her deep blue eyes, a touch of color to cheeks and lips.
    Liz sighed. December was not classically beautiful, but she was going to catch a lot of attention tonight.
     
    The coach and four horses was well enough turned out, and the horses not so old that they didn't look good. This was the coach that many young couples hired for their weddings, to pick up honored guests and then for the trip from Church to home or hall. Quail was fed and burped, and bedded down in the coach, and Liz, in the lady's riding suit of fine wool, drove the four chestnuts through the east gate of the Town, and almost immediately tuned into the baron's Gates and pulled to halt under the portico. She set the brake, hopped down, and opened the carriage door to hand down the lady. When she turned, both the captains were there to take over escort duties. The Prince caught her eye and winked. She narrowly