With Gwendoline’s battle won, she and Cora now completed the tasks that lay before them. Between the two of them it took half the time and after a stop to purchase a sliver of freshly cooked pork and an apple, Gwendoline and Cora laid their purchases into the empty seat and prepared for the journey home.
Greater sun still held his throne just above the swaying elm branches as together they spun shadow and light across the gilded carriage as it bumped across the dirt road. Gwendoline bounced about. Her hat brim pressed into the carriage wall at times as she struggled to stay upright. The ride back always met their bodies, already wearied from a day at market, a bit rougher as the driver always wished to hurry home.
Gwendoline looked to her side to see Cora reaching out to assure newly acquired goods did not spill into the floor. She felt satisfaction resting upon her traveling companion’s cheeks. Yes a very prosperous day it had been. Gwendoline now had a fine scarf to add to her collection and a ruby ring for her mother. And Cora had her shopping done for a least a couple days.
Gwendoline twisted the ruby ring around a slender finger. She would have to remember to take it off before she saw her mother. She could not stop thinking about that jeweler woman. Increasing the price by a margin to make a profit, that she could understand. Her father had been a wealthy merchant. But trying to increase her price nearly fivefold out of some anticipation that Gwendoline, having seen merely fifteen harvests, would easily part with her silver held greatest insult that she just could not shake. Did she really think that her smile disguised her intent? “Cora?”
“Yes, Child.” Cora spoke in the most pleasant tone. It equaled the pleasant nature Gwendoline could see in her heart, never unkindness, never ill will, only duty to her uncle and affection for her.
“Why do merchants smile as they ask an unfair price?”
Cora’s cheeks widened in smile. “What do you mean?”
Gwendoline suddenly felt within Cora a slight suspicion, though the old servant continued to smile. The young girl did not know what she wanted to say. Something just did not seem right. The man in the market who filched the boots did not smile. His face bore upon it cautious anticipation. It matched the intent she saw inside him. But when she saw the look upon the jeweler woman’s face, it seemed to contradict her true intent. “It just seems a strange thing, a smile that accompanies malintent.” Gwendoline released an innocent smile before she felt Cora’s mood shift so subtly though her loose face did not.
“What do you see, Gwendoline?” Cora continued to smile though suspicion overtook her.
Did Gwendoline also detect fear? It hurt her to feel such a thing in her dear friend.
Gwendoline could not understand what she saw in Cora but maybe if she explained. “Well, a smile does not hide anything if we can see within them that they know that their price is not justified.”
Cora’s expression went rigid. Her smile disappeared into an expression that matched what Gwendoline saw inside her. What was wrong? What had she said? She had never seen such a mood in Cora. Gwendoline scooted away from her slowly, though she held no awareness of the action.
Cora did not speak to her for the remainder of the journey.
Gwendoline could feel why though it filled her only with questions. She dared not break the silence.