To Be Unseen Part One
The gown would never do.
It was too big with frills around the bottom and a mass of petticoats, not to mention cap sleeves.
But she couldn’t tell Hilga that. This was the current fashion and in any other situation, Menna would’ve loved to wear it. But frills and petticoats made sneaking very difficult, if not impossible.
“Hilga,” Menna called.
The plump woman rushed in still chewing on a muffin. Crumbs trailed down the front of her dress. Noticing these, Hilga shook the fabric but the bread pieces stubbornly held on.
Dear Hilga. Menna shook her head but didn’t comment.
“Yes, Mistress?” Hilga asked.
“It’s a wonderful dress…”
“I hear a but…”
“But Lady Addina about strangled me when I out dressed her last time. I’ve got to keep relations smooth, you know.”
Hilga scowled. “Shame. I picked this specifically to bother Lady Addina’s Dresser.”
Menna chuckled. She forgot sometimes that the politics between the servants were just as conniving as they were between the nobility. And Hilga had flare when she wanted to.
“Hang onto the dress. We’ll let them think they’ve out done us and then show them better later.”
Hilga shared a smile with her and took down the dress from where it hung on the wardrobe. “What shall it be, then, Mistress? Last year’s fashion? Something gaudy? Patterns maybe?”
Menna cringed. No patterns! ”Let’s try sleek with the current violet color. It’ll keep them guessing.”
With a nod, Hilga disappeared out the door. While she waited, Menna fingered the letter on her dressing table. It shone slightly silvery with dark purple lettering.
You are invited to attend dinner at the Milens Manor…
It stated a date and time. Menna had already sent back the RSVP card by way of her runner, Teken. Flipping the card over, she fingered the edges of the card. Subtle bumps ran beneath her fingers. It was a style current with the nobility to add texture to their invitations. That’s why it was so clever to hide messages in the bumps.
Menna ran her finger top to bottom on the left side. Attend dinner. Then bottom to top on the right side. Spy on meeting in office.
It didn’t tell her exactly what she was looking for. Only to listen and report.
Hilga’s shuffle alerted her to the return of her Dresser. The plump woman carried a dress over her arm in the violet color she’d requested. Hilga held it up and shook it to make sure everything fell neatly.
“Will this do, Mistress?”
Menna loved it. It flared below the knees is a wispy sort of way down to the floor and left her arms free to move by slicing a neat line from the shoulder down. In other words, it didn’t really have sleeves, just fabric that hung in wisps to.
“Perfect,” Menna said.
Hilga assisted her into the dress and stepped back. “Fashion or no, you’ll be all the talk.”
“You’re too kind,” Menna shoed her, “now let me finish my preparations in peace.”
Hilga bowed as best she could, she wasn’t a terribly graceful woman, and left. The Dresser may not be graceful but she was efficient and efficient was what Menna needed. Plus, she never questioned why her Mistress came back from such occasions with dust covered dresses or dirty hands. It was better Hilga didn’t know and the servant was smart enough to realize it.
Menna sat at her table and applied her makeup. She always insisted on making her own finishing touches. That way, she had time to prepare for other things without being watched.
Pulling her hair into a neat braid and then curling the braid against the back of her head, she pinned it in place. Then she opened the top drawer and pulled out the false bottom. Beneath sat two small daggers. These she attached to her calves. Lastly, she pulled out a necklace in the shape of a heart. It appeared to be a locket but inside was a tiny vial with just enough liquid to make someone pass out.
It never hurt to be prepared when you spied on important people. Menna rose and called for her carriage. Time to listen in on Duke Milens. It didn’t surprise her that she was called to spy on him, he was, after all, in direct line for the throne. But it would be dangerous. Menna smiled. She liked dangerous.
To Be Continued on Wednesday…
Blessings,
Jennifer
P.S. I love feedback, so if anyone has suggestions, questions, or comments on what they like or what doesn’t seem to work, please let me know. Just be gentle to my poor thin skinned feelings. Thanks.
