Aleida had never left the Flatlands. She had thought to live forever in this wooden shingled dwelling, paddling the pattern into her cloth and creating an architecture of threads. She knew every gnarled bump of the wall panels, every crack that needed to be stoppered come winter. The earthy smell of fungus from the damp corner by the washstand was her constant bed fellow. She carried an image of the world in her head from all the stories her Father and Brother told but she was provincial at heart and would not have wished it to change.
When her brother, Bastiaan, had broken the news of their father's shipwreck her unexpected joy at seeing her brother home had vanished like a ghost and she had sunk to the floor and wept. She grieved not just for the loss of her father but for her future which now lay in tatters. She was not yet betrothed and had no dowry. Without her Father to represent her Aleida felt she must let all of her modest dreams slip beneath the waves along with her Father's cargo. But a month later Bastiaan had returned with almost incomprehensible news. By some strange turn in the sails of fortune their fathers trunk had washed ashore and been taken to the merchants guild for identification. In it had been the fine smoking jacket she had woven for him and the matching slippers. They were of such fine work that they caught the eye of the Mayor and Master of the Guild, Herr Diederick. He was intrigued to meet any lady capable of such artistry and architecture of cloth.
Bastiaan was glad to acknowledge his sisters skill but would not see her used. It would be easy for Herr Diederick to bring her to the city and turn her head so instead Bastiaan told him he must visit Aleida in the country and that if he liked what he saw when he saw more of her work he could bring her to town and set her up in her own business. It was a bold move on Bastiaan's part but he was learning fast that a man must make his own luck in this world and he wanted what was best for Aleida: a secure future. If his sister was as desirable as the men of the Flatland suggested she may have a chance of marriage in town but if that was not to be at least she would have a secure business and future prospects.
Herr Diederick had visited just as her brother had promised. Aleida had never seen his like before. He was dressed in a fine linen shirt with heavily laced collar and a matching tooled leather doublet. He bowed deeply as he introduced himself and she felt awkward at the formal gesture but curtsied to cover the blush that worked its way loose from her bodice and he seemed well satisfied as she stood again.
Two weeks had passed since Herr Diederick had called on her and now came the day of her departure. She wrapped her travelling cloak about her and climbed on to the dray that would transport her and her loom to their new home in the city. The daffodils that bowed to her as she passed along the road had bowed to him when he had left a week earlier to secure her use of the light North facing room on the upper floor of the guild as working premises. Lulled by the rhythm and music created by the wheels and the hooves on the track Aleida drifted into another world as she did when she was seated with her loom. This was not the domestic life she had pictured before: a bearded Lord of the Woods and a glowing hearth in the winter with five bright faced babies competing for love,this was a future of courtly courtesies, rustling skirts and fine buildings. Maybe she would find love too. She had enjoyed her time with Herr Diederick. He was intelligent and had shared generously in conversation and laughter as well as being attentive and interested in her. There was much she would like to learn from him and much more of him she wanted to know. Could he be as interested in her as he seemed? Or was that just the manner of men in the city? There was no cost to her dreaming of what a kiss from his sweet bearded face would feel like as it brushed against her neck, or reliving the heat she had felt from his gaze as their hands grazed each other's in farewell.
His admiration of Aleida had swelled quickly. She may have been a simple country girl but her open hospitality, creative energy and truthful conversation had the feel of a warm summer breeze after the overcooked closeness of people in town. Next to all the silken dolls that had been flaunted at him as marriage proposals it was Aleida who seemed luminous to him however simply dressed. Since their hands had touched on parting he had never hoped to win any woman's heart so fervently. For the first time in his life he believed,with her at his side, he could weave the cloth of his life story the way he wanted.
Lovely Holly, thanks for sharing
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