“I think it’s Tuesday, Miss.”
Looking around at the people on the cobblestone paths, the men were mostly in dark pants with white shirts, but a few of them had shirts of light blue and green. The women wore extravagant dresses in all manner of colors. I had assumed it must be Sunday best. Did people dress like this on weekdays? It seemed amazing.
Larry guided me around a corner, toward a large shop with a sign that read, “Gerrard’s Fabrics and Notions.”
“That must be it,” I said. I’d never been to a new town before, but somehow visiting my favorite kind of store was very exciting.
“As you shop, Miss, I’ll stay out of your way. But I can hold your purse, and carry everything for you.”
“Okay.”
“It’s okay to let people think I’m your servant,” he said softly.
“Why on earth would I do that?”
He shrugged. “People don’t think much of seafaring folk, or strangers. I’m so big that if I’m quiet, most people assume I’m slow. It’s okay to let them think that. It keeps them from being afraid.”
As we walked into the store, my hand flew to my mouth to stifle my gasp. The shop was huge. The selection was incredible. I’d never dreamed of so many different kinds of fabric in one place. And the colors… my head was nearly swimming.
I walked around the shop in a slow circle, noting what colors the men wanted for their shirts. The Captain had told me to choose something for him. My eyes fell upon a dark, mysterious green fabric that would make him look even more tan, even more beautiful. The thought of dressing a man had never occurred to me before. The thought that he was my man, in a way, fluttered through me with a strange warm glow.
The shopkeeper was a sturdy older woman who was very efficient. She cut me lengths of every fabric I needed, and helped me assemble needles, thread, a new marking pencil, and other little notions I required.
“Is that everything, Miss?” she asked. She seemed quite pleased, as if this was a big sale for her.
“Almost. I’ll just need a moment to double-check.”
Larry had been standing silently near the door. “Miss, did you get fabric for a new dress for yourself?” he said softly.
“Oh, yes, thank you.” I turned to examine a dark silvery gray fabric that would have been the nicest dress I’d ever had.
Looking to Larry, I pointed. “Is this appropriate?”
He shook his head, smiling softly. “Perhaps for an everyday dress.” He pointed to a bolt of cloth in a brilliant sea blue. “I think that one might suit you better, Miss. You should definitely get material for at least two.”
The thought of owning a bright blue dress, just for the amusement of having it, was something I couldn’t even fully think through. It was as if the idea were a circle and my mind was a square. It wouldn’t fit inside.
“Oh, yes,” the shopkeeper gushed. “Blue is very stylish this season. Anything related to the sea and the water is very fashionable.”
I heard a little gasp as she noticed my collar. My hand fluttered to my throat. I’d forgotten that in an attempt to look dressier, I’d made myself a collar of a black and blue velvet ribbon with a sea shell glued to the center.
“That’s the most unusual necklace I’ve ever seen, Miss. Wherever did you get it?”
I smiled, but felt suddenly shy. “I made it, Ma’am.”
“Where did you get that type of shell? I’ve never seen one in with peach streaks like that.”
I stifled my giggle. There was a large bowl in the ship’s sewing area filled with the prettiest stones and shells that the men had found throughout their many adventures. They’d said that I could help myself to anything.
“My friends travel a lot, Ma’am. They’ve explored many beaches, and kept a few pretty tokens.”
“Have you ever made more?” she asked eagerly.
“I’ve never thought about it, Ma’am. I easily could.”
“If you make more, please come to see me. I’ll buy twenty of them at twopence each.”
I turned toward Larry. “How soon will we be back in Parrinport?”