“It’s not always going to be like this,” Agathe tried to assure her. “Johannes will make every effort to find you. But after a while, his ambition will dwindle.”
“Are you sure?” Madlen looked up. “What if this is how it goes my whole life?”
“One of these days, something else will come up, and nobody will talk about the secret healer anymore. You have to be patient and be smart.”
Madlen nodded, though she was too choked up to respond. She quickly stuffed the rest of her things and pulled on the bundle cord tightly. “I’m ready. Can I help you with anything?”
“No, this is the last little bit. We can head out now.”
Fronicka had told them she would wait for them downstairs. Their hearts broken, they descended, making sure that no one else was in the lounge. Fronicka heard the creaking of the stairs and came in from the next room. She took the dress for Apollonia and hung it over her arm.
“Come on. We don’t have any time to waste.” The three women left the house. Fronicka stopped briefly and looked in all directions. Johannes was nowhere to be seen. She waved at Agathe and Madlen, and they hurried across the market, then down a street and into a small alley. There were frescoes high on the facade of a building. Fronicka stopped and knocked on the door without hesitation. A young man opened it, and his face brightened when he realized it was Fronicka.
“Greetings, Barthel. Is your mistress available?”
He nodded eagerly. “Please, come in. I will inform her immediately that you wish to speak to her, my lady.”
After the servant disappeared, it wasn’t long before a large woman appeared in the upstairs hallway. “Fronicka, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Apollonia!” Fronicka opened up her arms. “I just couldn’t wait to show you something I know you’ll love.”
The lady of the house gracefully stepped downstairs.
“I’d like to introduce you to two seamstresses that have made a wonderful dress especially for you. I hope you like it.”
Immediately, Agathe took a step and bowed. She wasn’t used to this. In Worms, she was the one to whom people bent their knee. She asked Fronicka for the dress, then signaled Madlen to grab one side; together they held it up by its sleeves.
“What makes this dress unique is the jewelry sewed right onto it. Do you see?”
Apollonia moved close to the dress, then fingered the gold chain sewn around the collar.
“I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“It’s a completely original design.”
“And do you think it will fit me?”
“I’m afraid it could be a little too big,” Madlen lied. “The dress’s cut is unusual in that it is quite narrow around the waist.”
“On the other hand, it could drape even more beautifully,” Agathe argued, having seen through Madlen’s little charade.
The words had the calculated effect. “I’d like to try it on,” Apollonia said effusively. “Will you help me, Fronicka?”
“But of course.” The landlady took the dress from Agathe and Madlen and followed Apollonia upstairs. Barthel, who’d watched the whole scene quietly, sighed almost inaudibly as he watched Fronicka. Then he said good-bye to Agathe and Madlen and went across the hall to one of the adjoining rooms. A short time later, Apollonia came back out of the room with Fronicka. “I didn’t expect it to fit so magnificently,” she announced as she stood behind the upstairs railing.
Apollonia turned around to show off the dress, obviously enjoying the amazed looks on their faces.
“Oh, it looks wonderful,” Madlen exclaimed sincerely. She was surprised. The dress fit Apollonia like a glove, and the chain draping softly around the collar was an exquisite complement to the entire outfit. Agathe smiled.
The women quickly came to an agreement. Thanks to Fronicka, Agathe and Madlen got their full asking price, without negotiation. Apollonia kept the dress on. After the women left the house, it was clear that all they had to do now was say good-bye.
“I’ll take you to the harbor so that you can find a reasonable price from a good skipper.”
“We can’t possibly thank you enough,” Agathe said, touching Fronicka’s arm lightly. “Why are there incredible people like you, and also those who want nothing more than to see people hang?” She tried to smile.
“So that balance is not lost.” Fronicka also tried to smile, yet the closer the women got to the harbor, the slower they walked.
When they finally reached the harbor, Fronicka stopped, looked over the many boats, then pointed. “Over there. The man’s name is Jacques. He’s from Bruges. I’ll ask him when he’s sailing out and whether you can sail with him.”