“Oh heavens, no!” Fronicka stood. “We certainly won’t bring these special goods down here where anybody could see them. Come on. Let’s go to your room.”
The women climbed the stairs, and Agathe unlocked the door. She carefully spread the two dresses out over the beds. Fronicka gazed at them, rubbing her chin as she pondered. “And you say that you’re planning to change them?”
“Yes, of course. What do you think?”
“They have to be different than anything the women here have seen.”
“I know,” Madlen said suddenly, picking up a dress. “I noticed that the ladies wear almost all their jewels around their necks. What if we sew the jewels directly onto the dresses?”
Agathe looked at Madlen; she was speechless. She had never heard such creative ideas from her. She was just about to speak when Fronicka beat her to it.
“That’s it! Why didn’t I think of that?” She looked excitedly from Madlen to Agathe, inviting their opinions.
“But where could we get those kind of jewels?” Agathe argued. “Something like that is expensive. The ladies would have to pay a fortune for every dress.”
“They’ll gladly pay you a fortune, believe me,” Fronicka assured her. “But you’re right, these types of fine jewels are hard to find.”
“How about necklaces and cording attached so that they drape like jewels?” Madlen said daringly.
“Exactly!” Fronicka held up her finger. “I know a woman who creates almost all the gold jewelry for her husband. He’s very famous, far beyond the borders of Emmerich, but in reality, it is his wife who makes the goods. Anyway, he’s so drunk most of the time he can’t even walk straight.” She laughed. “I’ll speak with her to see if she’d be willing to create simple gold chains for you.”
“Oh, Fronicka, that would be wonderful. When can you meet with her?”
“Now.” Fronicka wasn’t the kind of woman who wasted time. “I’ll go to her right away, and you should accompany me so she can begin fashioning your order as quickly as possible. I’ll prepare a way to sell these unique dresses to a very wealthy lady.” She looked at the dress’s cut. “But you’ll need to let out some fabric from around the middle. The woman is rich and eats accordingly.”
Agathe laughed. “About how big is she?”
Fronicka blew some air out of her cheeks and lifted her arms to indicate that the woman was at least twice her size. “I think about so. And think what she’ll say when you present her with a dress that fits her like a glove, sight unseen? You won’t be able to sew fast enough to keep up with her orders.”
“We’ll share some of our profits with you for your help,” Agathe announced.
Fronicka waved her off. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Not necessary? You don’t need money?”
“You know, I fought my way through life for a long time by myself. And it gives me such pleasure to help women like yourselves. Our goldsmith is a drunkard and a lazy bastard; the most wonderful pieces of jewelry come out of his workshop because his wife is quite skilled at the craft. The wine I offer here is sent from a large vintner in wonderful oak barrels and is popular because his wife has quite a refined palate. The baker here can’t even haul sacks of flour, and yet we have the best bread because his wife and daughter work themselves to death. Wives and daughters create fine goods that merchants come from far and wide to purchase. And yet it’s always the man who gets credit. I see it over and over again.” She looked at Agathe, then at Madlen. “And here you stand, two women who work and want to find happiness. Who could help you better than a woman who all too often had to get what she wanted all by herself?” She smiled. “No, I don’t want your money. I want you to succeed.”
Agathe and Madlen were speechless. The people here in Emmerich were different. Madlen wanted to begin her new life more than ever.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Johannes took the time to write a long letter to the archbishop, informing him that he was in the process of tracking down the secret healer. He didn’t reveal her identity but announced that it wouldn’t take much longer until he’d be able to bring this woman as his prisoner to Trier.
He gave the letter to Elsbeth to send. His mother promised to send it, even though she hated the thought that there would be no turning back once the message was delivered. Afterward, Johannes packed up some things, tied up the bundle, and said good-bye to his parents. He went to the harbor, where the skipper was waiting for him.