It was the 5th day in a row of an ongoing rain spell and everyone was growing irritable with being cooped inside all day. Even kindly Cook would be flustered with the nasty weather and get angry at the simplest of mistakes.
"Nora," I knew she was testy when she addressed me by my name, and not 'Child', "for heaven sakes, how could you be so clumsy?"
I knelt down and picked up the tray of pastries that was knocked over and apologized profusely. It looked like lunch would be without raspberry tarts. Not that is mattered; Camille did not even like them.
Both Ladies of The House didn't even rise when they found out it was still raining outside. I was continuously running to either of their rooms to be given bedside orders. It could be worse, I thought, they haven't asked me to do anything outside in the rain.
I too was tired of the on-going rain and stared out the windows whenever I was given a break. I kept wishing for an excuse to escape to Maureen's room and at least find a good book to read since I finished the one lent to me weeks ago, but never found the chance. Why would anything need to be cleaned in a vacant room? Soon, Madam Scheffield and her daughter ran out of chores to assign me, and my very presence frustrated them, and eventually, I was in fact assigned to get out of the house.
"Go to the market and buy me something!" Madam Scheffield demanded, handing over a few gold coins from her nightstand.
"But not many villagers will be selling anything in this weather.
"Girl," Madam Scheffield angrily stated, "I gave you an order!"
Apparently not caring if the cold, rainy weather would affect my health, she pointed out her door. I exited wondering what business I would find in such dreary weather. I trudged down the sodden path that led from the manor house to the peasant village my basket in hand and a grey flannel cape covering my head and back. Not very far, but because of the weather, difficult to travel, the trip seemed longer today. Managing to make it through all the mud, I was surprised to find the market as bustling as sunny afternoons.
Walking into the miller's shop, since this was no weather for the customary stalls, I found his wife measuring bags of wheat flour for customers. Thankful to be out of the rain, I removed my cloak and draped it over my arm. Not needing any and not wanting to take anyone's time, I waited to the side of the slate counter, which was covered in a fine dusting of white flour.
"Norie!" she chirped, when the last of the store's patrons left to return to the rain showers, "What on earth are you doing out on a day like this?"
As if on cue, the rain started to come down faster, the sound audible in the store.
"Madam Scheffield got tired of my presence I guess," I said, then trying to be witty, added, "I don't know why, considering what good company I am."
She laughed tightly, but frowned again. "I don't see how she could have sent you all this way. What did she want that was so important?"
"She didn't say. Just said for me to buy her something."
"There is a lot of 'somethings' here, dear. Pick one and hurry home." The miller's wife looked serious.
"I don't think we need anymore flour," I said looking around her shop, "I didn't even expect the village stored to be open on days like this."
"Business can't be ceased by a little rain. We need the revenue so we can't break for weather. Anyways, people always need flour, and its times like this people seem to notice it the most." Nora laughed at the villager's lack of preparation, "Count on us to start worrying after the rains fall."
I laughed, and bid my adieus and was about to leave, when she said, "Wait." Then, grabbing something from behind the counter and passing it to me, she said, "It'll at least cover your head." I put my cloak back on and when out the door, opened her umbrella and joined the throngs on people trying to get their shopping done as fast as they could, so they could go home. I wandered the shops, their warmth welcoming from the wet of outside. However, I couldn't think of what Madam Scheffield would want to me to buy. I bet she is glad I am out of her way, I thought, and in reality, was glad to be out of her way myself. I just wished it hadn't been so cold out.
Finally, after a good amount of time in the rain, I stumbled upon a perfumery in the grander part of the village. Under normal circumstances, lord and ladies could be found milling about the shops, walking along the streets that were actually paved! I hated being in this area, because the peasants that dared to shop here were constantly being ridiculed by the upper class customers. However, the nobles were smart enough to keep indoors, and the streets only had a few workers, and lit store fronts. Madam Scheffield always spoke of the store owner's perfumes with admiration, so I thought it would be an ideal purchase.
Opening the door, I was hit with hundreds of scents, creating a pleasant atmosphere as I walked in. On display were countless bottles of clear and colored liquids in beautiful glass bottles. An old woman with gnarled hands and frizzy grey hair stood hunched over the counter, boiling flower petals in a small dish under a large candle. She looked up at me as I walked around the store, noting my unappealing attire, and declared, "What is the likes of you doing in here. I am not a haven from the rain."
Ignoring the insult, I declared in a clear voice, "My mistress requires a perfume."
"How do I know you aren't lying to get out from the weather?"
I handed over the coins Madam Scheffield gave me. She looked closely at them to make sure they were genuine, and stated, "This won't buy much perfume. What did she have in mind?"
I explained that I was to take her advice and buy whichever perfume she suggested. "Because you don't seem like the type to know much about scents, eh?" She laughed at me from behind the shop counter. I attempted to stand tall and not let her taunts affect me. If anyone was staying too long among the nobles it was her!
She handed me a small vial in the shape of a apple blossom. "Your mistress I think would like this one." She opened the lid and suddenly I was immersed in the scents of spring. I knew Madam Scheffield would like this. She placed it in a small box for me and hinted for me to leave. As I turned to exit the shop, a small group of the 3 royal guards rushed in. "Good lady," one anxiously declared, " the Queen Mother is ill, and we ask for your help."
"Do I look like the apothecary or a healer to you?" she flatly stated, not intimidated by the presence of the kingdom's elite fighters. I saw her turn her back on them and commence boiling the flower petals, dismissing their existence.
"Madam," the guard said, this time giving her a more respected title, "We couldn't find either the apothecary or a healer among your village residents. Your knowledge of herb lore is well known among serf and noble alike. Please, we are desperate."
She turned back around and sighed. "I can't promise any results, but I'll try." She then saw me, still standing by her door. "Get out, you wench!" The guards stared at me, as I was caught off guard by her remark, and apologized to the woman. I spoke so softly and incoherently she didn't understand a word I said, and I must have looked foolish. "Just leave me to my business. I don't house poor little servant girls like you in here!" I nodded, and rushed out embarrassed, hearing there laughter at me in the background. Later, I was just grateful that the guard I ran into before wasn't among those laughing at my expense.
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Madam Scheffield stared at the bottle I placed in her hands. "It took you half a day to find this?" she asked me.
"I couldn't think of what you would want Madam," I said, staring at the ground. She wasn't as impressed with it as I had thought. I would never do anything right in her eyes, would I?
"Well, the scent is too juvenile for me, and Camille doesn't like such sweet scents. Save it for Maureen when she returns from school. I don't want her to think I have forgotten her while she was away." With that, the flower bottle was placed back in my hand, as Madam Scheffield let her head drop back among the pillows on her bed. I curtseyed and left. At least I was able to go into Maureen's room, I thought, then wondered what books I would find there.
I put the vial of perfume on a lower level of her book shelf, and let my eyes run over the volumes there. I wouldn't have to worry about anyone seeing me. The mistresses were in their chambers, and Cook and her scullery maids started dinner preparations in the kitchen. Running my fingers over the spines of the books, I finally selected one on the Code of Chivalry that knights had to follow and snuck out of her room, the book behind my back. I escaped the house, and put the book under my cloak ad I walked though the rain to my room. I hid it under my mattress with the other book of Maureen's. remembering my umbrella I left at the front steps when I came into the manor, I ran and grabbed it then hung it on the knob by my door. My apron tossed aside. I knew the importance of thoughtful (and useful) gifts and not to take them for granted. Hoping I wasn't missed, I reentered the house in time to serve dinner. I was proud of myself that I managed to do it all unnoticed. Maybe being invisible wasn't so bad.