A peasant girl's life will change forever.
"I observed your
apprentice."
The Countess looked better. As her lady-in-
waiting had suggested, she had called for mother early the next day. She did
not, however, speak of herself, but seemed inclined to other matters.
"She is my daughter,
your ladyship."
"She is young."
"It is never too early
to study the craft, Milady."
The Countess nodded. Her
great gray eyes turned thoughtfully upon me.
"You wish her to
follow you."
"I do hope and pray
she will, Milady of Warwick, God willing."
"Her touch hath
healing. How does she in your garden?"
"Well, Milady. She
is my eldest, obedient and clever."
"Come here,
child."
I did as I was told.
Sunlight fell precipitously through a window, a sudden break in the eternal
galloping clouds of spring. I was walking, although I did not know it, into
another world.
The Countess stretched
out a long-fingered white hand. I had never seen so many glistening jewels. They
danced before my eyes like blue and red stars.
"Give the Countess
your hand, child!" From behind, the lady-in-waiting delivered a jab
between my shoulder blades. Thus prompted, my small freckled fingers met the elegant hand of
the lady.
"Such beautiful
eyes!" Hers met mine and I knew that her spirit was exactly as hard and
as brilliant as those jewels upon her fingers.
"What is your name,
child?"
"Rosalba."
"Rosalba—White
Rose."
The name made her smile and once more I was astonished. Unlike most
breeding women of our village, she had all her teeth....
~ Juliet Waldron
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