The next few days were without events. Mira completed all the embroidery work that she had bought home by the time Jack returned home on Thursday.“I will come to the city with you tomorrow.” Mira informed Jack as they sat for supper.“So fast?” Jack raised his eyebrows “Didn’t your Madam give you 10 days?”“Um” Mira nodded “But I finished them early.”“Love don’t tire yourself. I will work harder.” Jack frowned. He knew she was straining herself too much.“Not hard.” Mira smiled “The stand you made for me is too good. I don’t get tired that easily. We need to pay our debts and get better.”“I will make those stands.” Jack pursed his lips “Let me do the hard work.”“We will work together.” Mira smiled sweetly as she leaned onto his shoulders.“Um” Jack nodded with determination. He would work harder so that his wife didn’t have to tire herself.“The seedlings have all grown.” Mira remembered as they laid down.“Um” Jack nodded. “I will go to Godfather’s to pick up the horses for ploug
Mira was so happy, she literally skipped all the way to Almera’s shop. “Someone’s very happy.” Almera spoke with a lopsided grin. “Your brother called you a dragon.” Mira giggled and whispered. “And he’s the baby dragon.” Almera scoffed. “What are you going to do with this?” Almera asked curiously as she saw Mira playing around with the cloth, she took from the rag section. “I was still thinking.” Mira kept fiddling with the cloth before asking with a curious expression “How long does it take to make a neckerchief normally?” “Varies on the pattern and experience.” Almera shrugged “My most experienced worker might take a day for a complex pattern with embroidery. The less experienced can take 2 days.” “Um” Mira nodded pursing her lips. “Do you embroider?” Mira asked curiously. “Yes… but only my own clothes.” Mira nodded as she carefully took the watch pendant Almera gave her, like a precious treasure and opened to look at the time. It was getting almost 2 pm. She decided to sl
Jack hurried over to Uncle Harry’s place. He wanted to get back to his wife quickly. He saw Uncle Harry loading sacks on to a cart. Jack rushed over to help. “Godfather” Jack called out as he bend down to pick a sack and load it. “Jack…” Harry laughed “I thought you guys have forgotten when I didn’t see you yesterday.” “That…” Jack scratched the back of his head; his face filling with an unnatural color. How could he tell Godfather that he forgot time staring at his wife? “Ha….ha….ha….” Harry laughed even louder without giving him any face. “Godfather, can I borrow the plough horses again this week?” “Yes… yes… I have got everything ready for you.” Harry pointed at the cart that was loaded. “This….” “It is the manure that you need. I had to go to Larkin’s and got it along the way.” Harry lied with his eyes wide open. “There’s 10 bags of cow manure, sheep manure and hen manure. You have to mix it properly before spreading it.” Harry started to explain but soon sighed shaking hi
“Love, what are you doing?” Jack raised his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair that fell on to her face. “I am getting dinner ready.” Mira smiled bashfully before raising her eyebrows in concern “Hungry?” “Um” Jack nodded truthfully; He lowered his voice and asked, “Is there enough for everyone?” “Um” Mira nodded “I have used all our eggs and fish.” She added in after thought “Luckily we went fishing yesterday.” “Um” Jack chuckled “My wife is clever.” “I have made a special something with the eggs.” Mira smiled mysteriously as she lowered her voice and whispered, “This is something I learned in my previous life.” “Love, I am even more hungry now.” Jack feigned a pitiful expression. “There is enough for everyone.” Mira tapped his hands that were extending towards her but sighed softly “I hope.” “Help me bring the table from the outer storeroom.” “There’s a table in that room?” Jack asked in surprise. He had never really paid much attention to the things in the room. “Um… ther
Mira opened the second room and started to work once everyone went. She finished the neckerchief for Godmother before the daylight went off and then with the light from the fireplace, she started to look at the work she bought back from Almera. She chose one that she thought was easier. The pattern was a floral design starting at the waist going all the way down to the hem of skirt of the ball gown. This had to be repeated eight times. The design was a narrow single vine near the waist and would grow thicker as it went down, ending up at least 5 inches wide for a single pattern. The hem of the skirt was a single vine connecting all the vines radiating down. The cloth was a royal purple in color; Mira chose to use darkest shade of purple for the inner shadings of the flowers on the pattern while the parts were done in a lighter shade… almost close to pink… like a purple pink. The vines and leaves were done using dark and light shades of teal green. Jack cleared the backyard; He tidie
She lighted the rushlight and placed it near the stand. She examined the next 2 works before deciding on which one to start. She looked at the time on the pocket watch, it was 6 and a half hour, she scribbled the time on her cloth. The one she selected to work on, required a floral pattern all over the skirt; it was 5.5 yards wide and 1.5 yard long. Mira drew the pattern on skirt; the pattern was 1.5 yard long and 1 yard wide. She divided her work into 5 parts and set the task for her to finish one part today. Jack came in another 2 hours later “Love, I am hungry.” “Um.” Mira nodded as she quickly finished the stitch she was doing and got up after scribbling 8 and half on her cloth. “Finished?” Mira asked curiously; She had not seen him the whole day. “Um” Jack lips curled up slyly as he saw her walk out of the room. He quickly entered and opened the back door. He came out and locked the door near the front room as Mira always does when she leaves the work room since learning the r
“How are we going to take the slate stands to the city?” Mira frowned as she ate her breakfast and thought of the troublesome problem. “You stay.” Jack hurried to the carriage ride stop. Sometimes they would be carts for hire at 50 silver pieces for a day. Luckily there were two; Jack needed only one. He decided to spend the money. He paid from the pouch Mira had given him and rode back home. Mira was waiting anxiously at the door. “How did you get it?” Mira asked as her frown disappeared. “Hire for a day.” Jack pursed his lips “Wife, I have spent 50 silver pieces.” He handed the money pouch back to her. “That’s okay.” Mira smiled although her heart was bleeding; She knew there was no other way for them to carry the frames. Jack loaded all the five frames and helped Mira into the cart before getting in. They talked all the way and rode at a leisurely pace. Along the way, Jack taught Mira to ride the cart. Even so, they reached earlier than normal. Jack left the cart with Mira so
Almera wanted to find her younger brother and box his ears out when his footman arrived requesting if she could go over to his shop. “My dear sister, tell me which one of us loves you best when I show what I have for you.” Aldrin grinned as he saw his sister entering. Almera hooked her eyebrows. Aldrin took her to the back room where stock was stored and showed her the adjustable height stand that he bought from Mira with a grand unveiling gesture. “Just this!” Almera twisted her lips in disdain. “Just this???” Aldrin shrieked miserably. If he put this on display, the grand madams would buy it for even 20 gold coins without blinking. He thought of his sister and wanted the best to be hers and didn’t even flinch at the thought of losing the easy pie. “I own one better than this.” Almera rolled her eyes and lifted her chin with feigned contempt. She would have drooled if she saw this yesterday, but today…. Mira had already gifted her one that could not only adjust the height of the