"Hurry child, dry off before you catch a fatal chill! When you are dressed, Rashi will escort you to the dining room." Madame Coeur closed the door.

Quickly Lydia scrubbed herself dry. She rubbed all the water out of her hair. It stood on end. A comb was on the pile of clothes. She pushed it aside and put on the clean undergarments, pants, thick wool stockings and a beautiful tunic. She ran her hand down the length of the tunic. It was woven in lovely shades of green. She felt like a woodland creature. Moder had liked her in green. Grasping the comb she pulled it with vigor through her short hair. It was quite a battle, but finally, all the snarls were gone. A few dead fleas were caught among the comb's teeth. She wiped them out with the towel and grabbed the pair of brown leather boots on the floor. The boots came up to her knees. With deft fingers she laced them tight and tied them. The fit perfectly and they would be much warmer than her old boots. They would also protect her legs from brambles, thorns and stinging insects. Feeling strange and new she stepped into the hall.

Rashi bowed to her and said, "This way Monsieur." He moved down the hall as if he were made of liquid. When Lydia entered the dining room she noticed the other guests were gone. Only James, Brother Matthew and Antone remained. Each was finely dressed in shades of brown. For the first time in days her eyes made contact with Antone's. For an instant his eyes took on a most curious expression. Something in the reached out to her and then his face turned pink. The pink became angry red. He cut his eyes away from her. What had she possibly done now? Lydia glanced at James, he smiled. His smile told despite Antone all was well. She took her seat beside Brother Matthew.

Brother Matthew shook his head. “Madame Coeur, I appreciate these clothes but it is not right that I should forsake the robe of my vocation to dine at your table. My moder taught me I must always represent my station.”

“Ah,” said Madame Coeur, “and how is your mamma?”

“Fine for now, but when she hears of my death by chill, she will be desolate.” Brother Matthew grimaced.

Madame Coeur laughed. “Does your mamma still have her visions?”

“Oui.”

“Does she still have prophetic dreams?”

“Oui.”

“Well when you get home I would like you to share my dream with your mamma. A twelvemonth ago I started having terrible nightmares about a dirty cloud covering the civilized world. Little black specks were falling on the land bringing death. I dreamed of a great wave of frothy water washing the specks off and huge plow. Suddenly, the people stopped dying. I consulted with my seer and she said, that the meaning would come to me in its own time. It took a while. The wave to me seemed to symbolize cleansing so I began to bathe. The nightmares vanished, but when I had guests they returned. One evening I had a visitor with the stench of travel on him. He asked to bathe. That night I did not have my nightmare. I soon discovered that if I had my guests bathe I was not troubled by bad dreams. And, I like pleasant smelling company.” She smiled at Brother Matthew. “It is good to see your freckles again.”

Brother Matthew turned purple, but he held his tongue.

Servants filled their plates with roasted spice chicken, plum pudding, fine wheat bread, and sweet meats. Wine was poured into delicate cups made of a substance Lydia had not seen before. It was good wine. The food was richer than she was used to, and she was not sure she liked it.

After the meal Madame Coeur took them to a sitting room. There was a lute on the shelf. Antone picked it up and began to tune it. Brother Matthew groaned, "Surely not more music Antone?"

Antone pretended not to hear. He strummed the lute and fixed his eyes on Madame Coeur. His voice had a strange edge in it as it rose in song.

There once was lady

With mysterious eyes

Who caused young men to heave

Ardent sighs.

One fine man

Did hope and pray

Her lips upon his own

Would lay…

Lydia glanced at the Madame Coeur. Was she pleased or amused? She was not sure. Must Antone be so obvious in his flirting? There was something almost angry in the way he was attacking the song.

*

Back in her room, the tub was gone. It was such a beautiful room. Lydia doubted she would ever sleep in such a fine room again. On the table by the bed was a silver metallic mirror. She had never seen her face in a mirror before. The only times she saw her reflection was upon the surface of water, or in a glass window. What did she really look like? With trembling fingers she picked up the mirror and studied her face, why she had a pretty face! Surely Antone would think so. Her eyes were like Aunt Rachel's and her nose and mouth were Moder's. Possessing their likenesses was a comfort.

A soft tap sounded on the door. Carefully Lydia put the mirror down and went to the door. "Who is it?"

"It is Madame."

Lydia unbolted the door. When Madame entered she said, "Good, you must keep this door bolted while you are here. I have guests in another part of the house who like to wander." In Madame's hands was a pouch. "I have brought you some things you may need to continue your journey." She closed and bolted the door behind them. She went to the bed and dumped out the contents of a pouch. There were strips of rags for menstruation, a bar of soap, an ivory vermin comb, a small dagger and container with something in it. The menstruation rags sent a chill through Lydia. She was not as regular as the moon and currently she could not remember the last time she had had her cycle. It must be close. It was sure to be a complication.

In a low voice Madame Coeur said, "I read the dame's letter. I am convinced you are the angel in her dream. I do believe you are on a holy pilgrimage. Perhaps not for the salvation of Lord George Paston's soul, but for the salvation of your own. It is curious or perhaps providential that Dame Paston would send you to Rome now. There have been rumors that Pope Boniface VIII will declare 1300 a year of Jubilee. If so, all sins will be forgiven, even George's whatever it might have been." She looked at Lydia and asked, "Do you know what he did?"

"No."

"I am sure James does, but it will do not good to press him for information. He is loyal to his core." A faint smile came to the Madame's lips. "And what of Antone?"

Jealousy ripped through Lydia. "He does not know."

"Of course he does not. I expect Brother Matthew knows, but I will never get a word out of him. Are you not curious as to what George did?"

"Not really."

Madame Coeur let the topic drop and reached for the box. Inside of it was an oddly shaped bit of wax. Madame asked, "Do you know what this is?"

"No."

“This is protection.”

“From what?”

Madame closed the box. “It goes inside of you. It will stop a man’s flow from reaching your womb.”

Offended Lydia gasped, “I assure you I have no need for such a device.”

“In time you may. When you do use it wash it well. It can make you sick if it becomes foul. I got it from your Aunt Rachel. I see her in you. Your aunt I were friends. I am sure, she would want you to have this.”

Stunned to silence Lydia nodded. There was so much about her Aunt Rachel that she did not know.

Madame Coeur picked up the dagger. “This is also for your protection. I heard about the friars. The road is a dangerous place especially for a woman." She unsheathed the dagger. On its blade the Latin word Debeo was inscribe. Madame Coeur asked, "Do you recognize this word?"

She nodded. "It translates, I must."

"Indeed it does. A weapon of protection is used because it must be used to preserve life. It is never used to exact punishment or revenge." She tilted the dagger toward the candle light. How its blade did gleam. It was double-edged and very sharp. A good hard thrust would kill a man. Lydia wondered if she could kill? Had this dagger ever brought death? Something inside of her told her it had.

With her delicate hand, and deft movements Madame Coeur showed her several times where and how to thrust the dagger. It was called a kidney dagger because it was long enough to puncture the kidneys. When she finished her demonstration she put the dagger back in its sheath and handed it to Lydia. "Keep this on your person at ALL times. You never know when you may have need of it." The weight of the dagger was not great, but Lydia could feel the power of it.

Repacking the pouch, Madame Coeur said, "Wash as often as possible and comb through your hair every night. Vermin must be fought not given nice tangled beds to sleep in. Promise me."

"I promise."

Madame Coeur asked, “Have you ever seen a button?”

“Button?”

“Oui." She pointed to the discs that held her dress together. "These are buttons." Madame Coeur then demonstrated how they worked by slipping her top button through the hole in the fabric.

Amazed, Lydia said, “That must make dressing ever so much faster. Laces take so long to tie, and then they often get into knots.”

Madame Coeur smiled at her. “They do indeed. Many inventions in fashion have resulted from these buttons. Wait till you see Paris, you will be astounded by the clothes." Madame Coeur stood up. "I will leave you now." Gently she touched Lydia's cheek with the palm of her hand. "Sleep well my child."

The soft touch of a female hand, Lydia had forgotten what it felt like. She watched Madame Coeur sweep out of the room and close the door behind her.