I considered the question as I finally dismounted at the request of the groom who had been assigned to care for my mount. As he led her away, I turned to wander through the people. Many of them wore nightclothes, and only half had shoes. As I walked, a thought came to me, and I directed my path toward the supply wagons that had been sent with us before dawn. Peeking into the one that had held the blankets, I smiled for the first time since I had smelled Medellan on the breeze.
I ran my hand along the inside, my fingers lingering on the contents, and then I hurried further down the line looking for the wagon that held the personal supplies of the Tour participants. There turned out to be several, but after some searching, I located the one that held my belongings. Rummaging through it, I produced a small bag, which I tucked under my arm.
Returning to the group of bereft townsfolk, I began to walk among them, my eyes assessing each of the older girls with special attention to their fingers. Whenever I spotted what I was looking for, I tapped the girl on the shoulder and directed her to follow me. Not one raised a protest, and I soon had a string of youngsters behind me. Many of the older women seemed occupied with the care of the children, but any that stood idle were added to my string. When I had counted out the precise number that I needed, I began to issue further directions.
“Oh, there you are, Evie…” Frederic stopped and regarded us with astonishment.
I had set my team up in a nook between several wagons where we would not be disturbed, and we had been hard at work for most of the day. I snipped a thread neatly and climbed to my feet.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, were you looking for me?”
“Frederic, remember?” he said absently, his eyes still on my assistants. “What are you doing back here?” He paused. “Are those blankets?”
“Not anymore,” I said proudly. Several of the younger girls smiled shyly at the prince, the haunted look in their eyes having abated somewhat now that they had a way to be useful.
“The sewing is rough, I’m afraid, but the wool is good quality, and the clothes will be hardy. I just hope the good people of Medellan like gray.”
Several of the older girls scrunched up their noses, but the elders shook their heads. “It will wear well,” one of them said, “and that’s what’s important. We’ve plenty of hard work ahead of us before we’ll have use of party finery.”
The girls ducked their heads as if cowed, but I noticed several of them exchanging wry smiles. Frederic drew me away from the others.
“I just wish I’d brought more needles,” I said as I followed him. “But it never occurred to me that I would have need of so many. Thankfully most town girls are taught at least some proficiency, and the fingers of the most experienced always give them away. I—” I stopped abruptly and looked up at Frederic, a sudden worry filling my mind. “I checked with the steward, Your Highness, and he said all the blankets were for the use of the townsfolk. The guards had already handed them out to anyone who wanted one, and with the weather so mild at the moment, I figured they had more use for clothes than…”
“It’s Frederic,” he said, halting my flow of words. “And you are perfectly in the right.” He frowned. “I just wish we had such a simple way to produce shoes for them all. I don’t see how they are to clear the ground of debris and raise new buildings bare foot.” He shook his head and looked down at me. “But none of that is your problem. You are already doing far more than I could have hoped for and proving once again that my little sister is right. Not yet a full day, and you are showing your value.”
I flushed and dropped my eyes away from his face. They fastened instead on his shoulders and chest, and I almost smiled at how well his clothes fit his broad frame. Their line looked regal and elegant but had obviously stood up to a day of harder work than any of us had anticipated. My night’s labor had been well worth it.
I frowned at the new soot stains and hoped the Tour’s washerwomen could get them out.
“Evie,” he said, and I looked back up, reminded he had come looking for me.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, dismayed that I had been neglecting my primary duty. “Did you need me for your own clothes? I hadn’t even thought, but you can hardly wear that again tomorrow.”
“Stop,” he said firmly, holding my gaze with his. “I don’t need fashionable garments for breaking down fire damaged walls or caring for those with smoke sickness. I can wear one of my old outfits tomorrow.”
He shook his head. “I came looking for you to ask if you could discuss ideas with the town mayor’s wife for replacing some of the burned clothing. And here I find you’re already halfway toward solving the problem yourself.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thank you, but you’re being far too complimentary. Even with so many assistants and keeping the clothes as simple as possible, we’re far from clothing half of the townsfolk.”
“Some managed to grab a few items on their way out, and most who managed to do so have agreed to share with their less fortunate neighbors.”
I raised my eyebrows. Some hadn’t agreed? I almost felt sorry for them. I had lived in enough communities to know that some things were universal. Anyone who refused to share in such a situation was likely to find their position within the group in peril.
“Yes,” said Frederic wryly, apparently reading the unspoken thought on my face, “perhaps they’ll change their minds in time. For now, will your assistants be all right without you? I would appreciate it if you could come and talk to the mayor’s wife, anyway. She will be able to help you best distribute your new creations.”
I nodded and, after a few words to my team, followed him. My legs welcomed the stretch after spending so long hunched over cloth, and the sight in front of me told me how many hours had passed while I worked. The confused mass of people had disappeared to be replaced by a semblance of industry and order. A small city of tents had sprung up in the fields around the town, and several large fires wafted delicious smells around this new camp. My nose turned toward one of them, my stomach growling in response, and Frederic immediately waved down a passing servant.
“Have someone deliver warm meals to the workers sewing behind that wagon,” he directed, pointing back toward my assistants. “And then have someone deliver a plate to Mistress Evangeline.”
“Certainly, Your Highness,” said the servant with a bobbed curtsy before disappearing.
We resumed walking while I observed the prince out of the corner of my eye. He took his responsibilities seriously, and I admired that in him. I could not fault his treatment of me in even the smallest way. And his somber air befitted this situation. I just wished I had heard him laugh. Not now, of course, but previously. He didn’t look like the sort of person who spent enough time laughing, a strange thing for someone who had spent most of their life with the dramatic Celine.
My contemplation was interrupted by our arrival at the tent of the mayor and his wife, and Frederic took his leave as soon as he had handed me over. The mayor’s wife was unexpectedly young and pretty, but any reservations about her fitness for such a role soon disappeared. She seemed wise beyond her years, and her energy would be needed for the long road ahead.
Between us we had soon dispersed all of the clothes already crafted and allocated as many again from our anticipated next day’s work. I dismissed my team to a well-deserved rest and was just wondering where I would be sleeping when I noticed a small figure following me.
I stopped and turned, placing my hands on my hips and raising one eyebrow. “And what are you wanting, young master?”
The short lad grinned at me. “I’m no master, and I reckon you know that. I been watching you, and you seem a knowing one.”
His face looked familiar, and after a moment I placed him from his clothing. He had been the recipient of one of the outfits we had made, and he had sorely needed it, though his original garments had appeared to be clothes—of a sort—rather than a nightshirt. My estimation of the mayor’s wife had risen when she used the opportunity to re-clothe an obvious street urchin.
“I never had new clothes before.”
I smiled. “I’m only sorry I didn’t have the time to fit them properly for you.”