Chapter 3.7

Next morning, as usual, they all woke up early and started with their own tasks. Sweeping the yard, watering the herbs, collecting firewood, harvesting the ripe vegetables, washing clothes, feeding the animals. There was always something to do in the house.

Since all the pillow cases were embroidered, Isabelle wanted to deliver them early in the morning and then roam around the market to see what she could buy. Maybe she could visit that fabric shop again!

When she told the brothers about her plan during breakfast, Ethan quickly volunteered himself to accompany her, claiming he wanted to see if he could get a better job after his two extra lessons. Isabelle thought it was too pretentious of him to start looking for a better job with his level of education, yet she had also noticed he was getting jittery at remaining in the house with 'nothing to do'.

Is he a work addict?

It was actually not that surprising, considering that he had been working for sixteen years nonstop. To be jobless for so long (three days) was starting to make him restless. In consideration of his condition, and because she really needed one of the brothers to accompany her, Isabelle thought it would not be bad for him to tag along.

And if he could really find a job that required the use of his recently-acquired abilities, then it was his fortune.

While she prepared the things, she totally missed the hushed and hurried conversation between the brothers. Unaware of the happenings at home, she single-mindedly walked to town together with Ethan.

Halfway through their way, her legs burned from the exertion of walking at a faster pace. She had also bravely, and rather stupidly in her opinion, skipped one of her rest-stops even when Ethan suggested it. Truthfully, she had wanted to challenge her resistance, but it seemed to have been a mistake. She had no resistance to begin with!

Luckily, Ethan noticed her condition and suggested an impromptu rest stop. Isabelle did not pretend to be strong and almost threw herself onto a slanted rock by the roadside.

"You ok?" Ethan worriedly asked, quickly giving her his sack of water, hers already gone into her stomach.

"Peachy!" Isabelle said, smiling. The rivers of sweat were because it was a hot day!

"Don't try too hard." He said, drying her sweat with the stolen and forgotten (on her part) handkerchief she embroidered. "You might think you're healthy, but ye still come from an injury, gettin' tired easily's normal. Don't force yerself." His words were rather comforting, but she did not think her past injury was to blame for her lack of stamina.

She was just lazy in the past, before she lost her memory!

Not one to give up once she had a goal, Isabelle stood up as soon as she felt a bit rested. "Let us go." She gestured. Being easy on herself was not going to help with her plan. Though, she also learned not to be too harsh. She kept the fast pace but did not skip the rest stops. Maybe, with time, she could decrease the number of rest stops until she needed none.

By the time they got to town, she was dead tired. However, her legs were not burning like before. It was working! She only had to make walking a habit, and then her stamina would improve. Happy with the progress, she quickly made her way into town. If she used Ethan as a crutch, nobody was complaining.

They first headed to Mrs. Priddy's shop to deliver the pillow cases and see what else she could make. The bag idea was still in progress because she needed to test the fabric she bought. If the fabric was resistant enough, if the colors were good and if the design was functional. She was even thinking on skipping taking embroidery works for as long as she took testing on sewing the bags.

The bell chimed as they entered, and Isabelle immediately found herself under the penetrating gaze of one Mrs. Priddy. It was a bit strange, but since the younger woman had no idea what was going on, she politely greeted and stated her reason for being there.

"Good morning, Mrs. Priddy. I came to deliver the embroidered pillow cases."

The older lady ignored her words and walked up to Isabelle, clamping her hands on the latter's shoulders. "Such a blessing you came! A rather urgent order just came in. Cordelia is sick and the others are busy with other orders. As soon as you came in, I remembered the beautiful embroidery you made on your top."

And, coincidentally, Isabelle was wearing that exact same top. Mrs. Priddy noticed that as her eyes looked down at the embroidered flowers. Her eyes sparkled and she decisively nodded.

"It's not hard. Just urgent. You'll have to do it here. The Commissioner's daughter is ending her schooling soon, so he wanted to give her an embroidered dress as a gift. Nothing too ostentatious, but still noticeable. Mrs. Soxanne heard about the matter from the Commissioner's wife and recommended us, that's why we landed this order that would have otherwise been done by their seamstresses."

As always, Mrs. Priddy provided the gossip for the order. But it was a blessing indeed! Just when the family of five were in dire needs of money!

"Can I see the dress?" Isabelle asked the older woman before the latter got too excited with her story and continued rambling on.

"Sure. It's upstairs. Follow me." Mrs. Priddy nodded and hurried to the back of the store.

Turning to Ethan, she sheepishly smiled at him. That was not their plan. "I guess you will have to go alone looking for a job. If you find anything, make sure to read whatever they try to make you sign carefully. You already know many words. I will be here if… Just bring me some food for lunch because it seems I will be here for quite a while." She said.

Ethan nodded and pecked her lips. "Wish me luck." He grinned.

"Isabelle!" Mrs. Priddy called out, interrupting their moment.

"Coming!" Isabelle replied. "Take care and good luck." She kissed him again and strode away. Mrs. Priddy was waiting for Isabelle at the threshold of a room. She beckoned the other inside and turned.

The moment Isabelle entered the room, she noticed the rather small dress on a table. Not only was it short, maybe reaching the knees, it was also very thin. It was a very daring design for a town were women mostly used skirts and dresses below the knee or longer. The color was very beautiful though. It was of a very deep blue.

"The Commissioner's daughter recently turned fifteen and was engaged to the son of a Captain in Silk Town. Everyone thinks it's a good match; the boy is only seventeen and already has a high rank, a Sergeant they say. Both families are waiting for her to finish her schooling before setting the wedding date. So, the dress is also like an engagement gift from the Commissioner."

Trust Mrs. Priddy to know every single detail behind the person who made the order. Though, Isabelle was a bit stupefied to hear the girl was going to marry so soon. So young! The size of the dress suggested she was still developing her body… Or maybe she was that… plain.

"Nothing too flamboyant, then?" Isabelle carefully asked to make sure she did a good job. Especially when the dress was already that short.

"Yes." Mrs. Priddy nodded and then paused. "Make something pretty. The Commissioner's daughter really is too plain." Isabelle's lips twitched at the other's straightforwardness. Only Mrs. Priddy dared to say something like that so naturally. Isabelle just nodded. "Good. The Commissioner's going to pay a pretty penny based on the result, so don't hold back." After giving some last instructions, Mrs. Priddy left Isabelle with the rather troublesome order.

Isabelle looked at the dress and reached with her hand to admire the silky texture and shine on the fabric. It was a very good fabric. The dress was too straight though. No curves at all… Isabelle once again felt pity for the rather young girl who had to marry without having the chance to become a proper woman. To come into her own femininity and avoid following others' standards.

Right, maybe she could make something that gave the illusion the girl had some curves. It was a deceit, but Isabelle hoped the girl did not remain so… plain in the future.

With a plan in mind, Isabelle pulled over the materials Mrs. Priddy had prepared and started dividing them into the ones she could use and the ones that she would not use. All good quality materials. Isabelle was definitely going to get a big discount for using them, yet she only had to impress the Commissioner with the dress so he paid more for it.

A knock on the door startled Isabelle out of her focus. She almost pinched her finger with the needle, but, luckily, stopped on time. She was using white thread for goodness' sake! If it became stained with blood…

Isabelle looked up as the door opened and Jean's head peeked in. "Hi!" Jean cheerfully greeted after seeing her friend. "Long time no see! How have you been?" She walked in after closing the door behind her and happily skipped towards Isabelle, throwing her arms around the latter in a hug.

Fortunately, Jean quickly released Isabelle and did not lean on the dress Isabelle was working on. "Hi, Jean. It has truly been a while." The other greeted back.

"I heard you talk with Mrs. Priddy earlier. I'm working right beside you. The month's stuff, you know." Isabelle nodded in understanding. Jean, then, looked down at the dress Isabelle was embroidering and gasped. "Is that the Commissioner's order?"

"Yes. Mrs. Priddy was generous enough to leave it to me." Isabelle carefully put the dress on the table so Jean could see it. What she was aiming for, though, was an opinion about the design she was embroidering.

Jean gasped again, and her eyes shone. "It's so beautiful!" She reached out, but took her hand back. "How did you do it?"

Isabelle looked at her design and a face-splitting smile formed on her face. She was very proud of her creation, even if it was not completely done. It had been a bit difficult to embroider as it was not a simple design like the ones from pillow cases or handkerchiefs. The hardest part of it all was to make it look elegant, but still with that illusion of curves.

Starting from the top, there were a few tiny flowers adorning the shoulders, then thin vine-like stems coiled down until the chest area where big leaves unfurled and cupped it to simulate a bigger chest. More vine-like stems fell in a curve to accentuate the waist. Then, the same type of flowers from the shoulders, just bigger, were embroidered at the hips to give more fullness.

Some details were missing here and there, but the design could be considered done.

"Well, Mrs. Priddy said the girl needed a favor and this is what I came up with." Isabelle told Jean who nodded understanding the situation. After all, who in town did not know how… young-looking the Commissioner's daughter's body was.

"She's going to love it. I love it already! I want one!" Jean exclaimed, clinging to Isabelle's arms and looking at the other with sparkling eyes.

Isabelle looked at her friend from top to bottom. "You're perfect like this." And praised her.

"You! That's so sweet!" Jean blushed and squealed. She really behaved the age she was. "Right! I came to invite you to eat at the restaurant. My Husband wants to meet you after everything I've told him about you." She stated the reason why she had come into Isabelle's room to interrupt her work.

Isabelle eyebrows shot up in surprise. Had Jean really talked about her with her Husband? Also, the mention of food reminded Isabelle it was time to eat. And, more importantly, that Ethan had not returned from his job hunting. She wondered if he was doing well.

"I, um, I have to wait for Ethan to eat together." Isabelle said with an apologetic smile.

"Ethan…? Oh! The man from before?" Isabelle nodded. "When's he coming? We can go together!" Jean immediately proposed.

"Is it fine?" Isabelle hesitantly asked. She did not want to impose after all.

Jean waved her hand to dismiss the other's concern. "Of course! If my Husband denies two dishes of food to my friends, then he'll sleep on the floor tonight!" She triumphantly said. With her tone, it seemed it was not the first time her Husband slept on the floor.

Isabelle helplessly chuckled. "Fine then. Though, I am not sure when Ethan will come." A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The one who opened the door was another employee at the workshop. Isabelle had seen her before, but she did not know her name.

"Um, I-Isabelle… a man's looking for you..." The young woman shyly relayed.

Talk about the devil!

"Thank you..." Isabelle trailed off, prompting the young woman to present herself.

"Patricia." She softly supplied.

"Thank you, Patricia. I will go down now. Is it fine if I leave the things here like this? I will return after eating." Isabelle gestured at the unfinished dress and the threads she was using.

"Um, yeah, it should be fine. Amelia – the other employee – already left home. And Mrs. Priddy went to eat, too. It's just me and you two in the workshop. Not many people come around this time, so if you leave, I can manage on my own." Patricia stated, having heard on their plan to eat outside as she stood outside the room gearing herself to knock.

"You not going to eat?" Jean asked.

"I brought my own food." Patricia sheepishly smiled. She saved money and time if she brought her food from home. Besides, she did not like it when others manipulated her food.

"Oh, right. Then, we'll return as soon as possible so you're not alone for long." Jean promised. Isabelle nodded in agreement. After thanking Patricia for her help, Isabelle arranged the things at a corner to not confuse other threads and make it easier for her to work on the dress once she returned.

Only then, she joined Jean to leave the workshop.