Darling Evette,
I hope this missive finds you inspired and prosperous. It has been far too long since our last meeting. I miss the company we used to keep before the plague threw all our lives into chaos.
If you are available I would like to meet once again. Your letters are precious to me, my friend, but they can not compare to the joy I find in your presence.
Let me know when to come by the shop.
Love as thou wilt,
Aimée
~
Evette nó Eglantine re-read the letter in her hands, and the warm feeling it had instilled in her heart only grew. She had not spent meaningful time with her friend since before the plague. Aside from very short meetings for the business of Cereus House or personal commissions from Aimée as an adept, they had not been in each other’s presence for longer than an hour. The last time that happened had to have been at least a year or two before the death of Cereus’s previous Dowayne, controlling bastard that he was.
Evette carefully folded the paper and walked towards the large counter that dominated the front room of her shop along the Rue de Courcel. Around her in nearly every inch of space held different fabrics and notions. A plethora of ribbons, lace, tassels, and beadwork were displayed. It was a nearly overwhelming kaleidoscope of patterns, colors, and textures. Muted chatter could be heard from the workshop deeper in the building where Evette’s employees and apprentices busied themselves with patterning, cutting, and stitching commissions for the elite of the City. Evette reached under the counter and brought out a piece of fabric about the size of a small handkerchief in a rich Cereus Blue. She laid the fabric on the countertop and smoothed it flat before reaching for her tailor’s chalk. With a little smile, she wrote a day and time on the square before carefully folding and wrapping her note into a tiny parcel.
“Thibault!” Evette called out for her youngest apprentice. With a scramble of quick footfalls, a waifish child popped out from behind the heavy curtain that separated the shop proper from the rest of Evette’s creative domain.
“Yes, Mistress Evette!” The tiny eleven year old squeaked excitedly. Evette’s eyes gained a soft quality to them as she looked at the young boy.
“I have an errand for you in Mont Nuit,” she said, squatting to the boy’s eye level. “You will deliver this to Cereus House for Aimée nó Cereus, she is a senior adept.” Evette continued as she tucked the item into the interior breast pocket of Thibault’s half open waistcoat. She stood and pulled the boy in for a quick hug and finished saying, “And if you make haste, you will be just in time to meet your mother at Eglantine for supper, she has no assignations tonight or tomorrow and has asked if you would like to stay the night.”
“Really?!” Thibault cried out.
“Now remember, the summer is busy for us all, and this will probably be the last overnight at the House for at least a month, so make the most of your time,” Evette warned good naturedly, while the over excited child quickly ran for the apprentices’ quarters to retrieve a small satchel.
Thibault returned near instantly, practically vibrating. “I will. I can’t wait to show maman how much my embroidery has improved!” He responded eagerly.
“She will love to hear all about your studies.” Evette agreed. “Now, pay attention. Who are you to deliver the parcel to?” She quizzed while holding him in place. Evette’s hands gently rested on his shoulders.
“Cereus House, Aimée nó Cereus, senior adept,” Thibault rattled off quickly.
“Well done. Now off with you,” She replied as she nodded her head approvingly. Evette quickly spun Thibault around until he faced toward the door of the shop and gave him a slight nudge in that direction. He took off like a shot.
“Mind the horses and don’t talk to strangers!” She immediately shouted after him, but Thibault was already out the door and gone.
“Where does he find that energy?” She muttered to herself. A soft warm smile rested on Evette’s face as she turned back to her work. The City of Elua wouldn’t dress itself, you know.