Part 13 (2/2)
I wish I had left everything in the workshop. Our whole stock would have survived if I had.
We should praise G.o.d for sparing our lives. Joanna adjusted the knot in her scarf. And we still have a roof over our heads.
You are right, little sister. Things could have been much worse. Sometimes I forget that reality. And I forget to be thankful, too.
Elianna? Did we lose the money for my dowry in the fire?
Dont fret about that. Ethan and I will take care of you and Chuza.
I am sorry I am a burden to you.
I dropped my rag and wrapped my arms around her tiny waist. How can you be a burden to me? You are G.o.ds sweet blessing.
I want to help. Put me to work in the workshop. I am certain I can learn quickly.
I laughed. We arent that desperate yet. I might give you some embroidery as soon as we have more fabric.
The afternoon had turned unusually hot; you couldnt tell we stood at the threshold of winter. I felt sticky with sweat; the smell of soot clung to every part of my body. In my chamber, I washed quickly and pulled out a fresh tunic from my chest with haphazard haste. A rectangular piece of purple fabric, caught in the folds of the tunic, floated in the air before landing on the carpet. For a moment, I did not recognize it. It was a deep shade of purple, with just the right hint of scarlet. Where had I seen it before? And then I remembered.
Lydias gift.
Months had pa.s.sed since the night she gave it to me. Of course it had sat in the protection of a closed chest. Still, the color had not faded; the texture remained soft and inviting. Its vibrant, supple folds hinted at extravagance. I rubbed it between my fingers thoughtfully.
Joanna, put on your veil. We are going to visit Master Ezer.
I stopped to talk to Ethan first, seeking his advice before plunging ahead with my plan. This new scheme offered both opportunity and danger. My father, I knew, would have avoided exposing our trade to such risk. Ethan was a different kind of man. More daring, more willing to try new things, and less fearful of failure. He never took foolish chances. But he did not allow a good opportunity to pa.s.s him by, either.
I knew that if he agreed with my scheme, we stood a chance at recouping our losses from the fire. A sliver of a chance. A tiny shadow of a chance. But a chance.
Ethan listened to me patiently, as he always did, before examining Lydias cloth with care. The corner of his mouth tipped up. We have everything to gain and little to lose. You should do it, Elianna.
Are you certain? Its the last of our money. And if I am wrong . . . ! I shook my head. I could bury my fathers business for good.
Or save it. Its a promising plan. Worthy of my clever Elianna. He touched the tips of his fingers to the back of my hand in a brief caress. Now go and speak to my father.
I had lost all interest in speaking to his father. I wanted to linger and ask like a foolish child if he really thought I was clever. And he knew it, the wretch. I could tell from his wolfish smile that he hoped I would ask for further a.s.surance so that he could pounce on my desire for compliments with a teasing retort.
I sniffed and walked away. It didnt help to have his laughter ringing in my ear as I turned my back.
Yes, I did cave in and order some of that purple dye in the end, in spite of my best intentions to resist it. Ethan talked me into taking a gamble. The dye arrived last month, but as I feared, even Ethan has not been able to sell it. No one wants to take a chance on a new dye from an unknown supplier. Especially purple. Many of us have at some point tried Thyatiran purple and been disappointed. Eumeness dye may be half the price of the royal purple derived from sh.e.l.ls, but it is still quite an outlay of money. Our merchants prefer to spend their coin on surer prospects. Master Ezer scratched his chin. Are you interested in trying it, Elianna?
Perhaps. How much do you have?
Master Ezers supply was thankfully small. I took a deep breath and plunged. I will take the whole of it.
Dont want any compet.i.tion? He gave me a toothy smile.
Not just yet, Master Ezer.
I will give it to you for what it cost me, including taxes and transport. I need not make any profit just yet. He held up his hand to silence me as soon as I opened my mouth. Hear me out, child. Once the other merchants see how well your fabric sells, they will be climbing the walls of my shop to get their hands on the new supply. You are doing me a favor, you see, promoting a dye I could not sell at the best of prices.
In fact, I am so certain of your success that I will place a large order with Eumenes in time for the arrival of the spring wool. After seeing your substantial sales, others will want a taste of the new color. Then it will be my turn to make a little profit of my own.
I knew his generosity had more to do with pity than business ac.u.men. Given our enormous loss in the fire and the fact that I would finally be his daughter-in-law in less than a month, he wanted to come to my aid while sparing my pride. In truth, for the sake of my family, I could afford no pride. I accepted his generosity without demur. In spite of his help, I was risking the last of our available cash to pay the modest sum Master Ezer had demanded.
I prayed that I would not bring ruin to my family. Lord, for the sake of Joanna and Ethan and my mother and father, please bless this enterprise. Please dont allow me to commit an error that will bring greater hards.h.i.+p upon the head of my family.
That was when the trembling started. I began to s.h.i.+ver even in the heat of the day, and not even the warmest clothes could stop the quaking of my limbs.
SEVENTEEN.
For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.
PSALM 143:3-4.
FOR THE FIRST WEEK after the fire, we dined at Master Ezers house every day. Jerusha had p.r.o.nounced our home uninhabitable for seven days and insisted that we eat there.
I found the mealtimes awkward, for I could not forget Avigails harsh words. Joseph died under her care, she had accused. What had she said that was untrue? Yet I could not forgive her. Resentment and a dread of another tongue-las.h.i.+ng made me keep as far from her as I could.
It proved difficult. She and Daniel often joined the rest of the family, bringing with them their baby. They had named him Isaac, which fit the child to perfection, for he smiled often, showing off his toothless gums.
One evening I arrived at Master Ezers home, wilting and disheveled, for I had had no time to change my clothes after my long hours of labor. Mistress Jerusha had invited a large company, most of whom were Avigails relatives, visiting from Galilee. Embarra.s.sed by my rumpled appearance, I found a spot toward the lower end of the spread, as far away from the guests of honor as I could manage. To my surprise, Avigail joined me, Isaac at her breast.
What do you think of my son, Elianna? She turned the baby in her arms so that I could see his face better. Isaac flashed his wide smile, fat cheeks dimpling.
I shook my head. He could melt a stone with that smile. You are truly blessed.
If you had married Ethan instead of making him wait all this time, you could have had one of your own by now.
I sealed my lips, reciting Davids words in my mind: I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence. As far as it concerned me, Avigail was the wicked. Sauls medium in Endor had probably been a close relation. And yet, what would it gain me to offend her? It could only cause exasperation for Ethan and his brother, Daniel.
Close to the head of the wide spread laid out on the floor, I noticed a young woman seated with her hands folded in her lap, her feet tucked demurely beneath her. She lifted her head for a moment. Her large brown eyes fixed on Ethan before she lowered them. Her cheeks turned red. A few moments later, she sought him out with another mute glance. Ethan had moved to the far side of the chamber by then. She searched the room, her eyes wide until they found him. I recognized that lookâhungry, longing. I must have looked at Ethan the same way a thousand times myself.
Who is that young woman? I asked Avigail. The one with the cinnamon veil and brown tunic.
That is my cousin Sarai. She and her parents have come from Galilee to visit Jerusalem.
She is very pretty.
Yes. Even Ethan says so, and he is hard to impress.
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