After the meeting with the other senior circus members, Alexandra wandered the halls of the castle. Absently, she stroked the ancient tapestries and brocade wall hangings. With the sunlight streaming in through the wide windows, they seemed to sparkle to her with their beauty.
Unfortunately, the headache that the fortune teller had been fighting off was beginning to come back again. She considered heading back to the ship to make some tea and take a small nap, but she didn’t want to head back yet.
Alexandra spotted a small chaise lounge, covered in comfortable, tempting pillows in a small alcove. Sighing, she took a seat and rested her forehead against the arm of the couch. Much of what had been worrying her was slowly being taken care of. Marguerite was finally getting her own ship again, which meant Alexandra could finally have it clean again. Truthfully, she didn’t mind too much that Marguerite was living in it, but she was getting tired of having to burn incense to cover the animal smell and having bits of her tent start randomly smoldering. She had also been worried about how the conflict in France with the Hirondelle would resolve. The one problem that continued to bother her, however, was what to do with Asmodeus. Alexandra was grateful to him for arranging a performance so quickly for the Cirque, but he could be so arrogant!
Exhaling and pressing her face into the arm of the lounge, Alexandra sighed. Her fingers absently stroked the fabric of one of the pillows. After a few minutes, she sat up and noticed the seams. The stitches were far too straight to have been done by even the most skilled seamstress, so they had to be made by machine. The fortune teller had heard about the new steam powered Wheeler and Wilson Company sewing machine was the height of technology and which could not only sew fabric but also sew leather and balloon canvas.
As she wandered the castle, she hoped that she might stumble up on the room where these amazing machines were kept. Movement at the end of the corridor caught her eye, she saw a very tall and broad shouldered woman carrying large bolts of fabric.
“Excuse me, Madame?” Alexandra called to her, picking up her skirt hems as she hastened down the hallway towards her.
“Yes?” The woman turned towards her, setting the bolts more solidly onto her hip.
“I’m sorry to have bothered you, but I was wondering if you could direct me to where the steam sewing machines are kept?”
Seeing the confused look in the woman’s face, Alexandra elaborated, “I’m the seamstress from the Cirque that’s here to entertain the King for his birthday. And I had heard about the new steam powers sewing machined and I thought that as the castle is so large that there might be one that I could see.”
“A circus seamstress, eh? You’d enjoy our costume shop, with all of Ludwig’s eccentricies we’re constantly making new clothing for him.”
Balancing the bolts of fabric with one arm, the woman held out her hand, “My name’s Ingrid, I’m the fabric acquirer for the costume shop.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, I’m Alexandra Arista.”
“If you’re interested, then follow me, I’m headed back to the shop to drop off a new shipment of brocade.”
Ingrid led the way down the hallways and up a wide set of stair to a large room at the top of one of the towers. When Alexandra pushed open the door and stepped into the room, she gasped at the sight. In her eyes everything in the room was a wonder. Huge banks of windows filled three-quarters of the stone walls and heavy oak fabric cutting tables sat in the center of the room with baskets of heavy shears on top of them. Under the tables, cedar chests were filled with piles of fabric and by the windows were comfortable chairs where hand mending could be done. But what fascinated the fortune teller the most was the solid metal sewing machines set on top of heavy wood and iron tables attached to a large insulated copper steam chamber.
The costume shop was almost empty except for one slightly built gray haired woman hunched over one of the steam sewing machines, replacing the needle.
“Madam Rosamunde?” Ingrid called to her, setting the bolts of fabric she was carrying onto one of the cutting tables.
“Yes?” She turned from the machine, “Wonderful! I’m glad the new shipment of fabric has finally arrived. I was getting worried it wouldn’t be here before the celebration. And who is your guest?”
Alexandra stepped forward, “My name’s Alexandra Arista, Madame. I’m the seamstress for the Cirque de la Vapeur.”
“Ah!” Rosamunde stood and shook the fortune teller’s hand. “I’m glad to meet another professional. Do you have to make all of the costumes for them?”
“Yes, and I design them as well; although I consult with the performers to see how to best enhance their show.”
“Very good. Well, I would love to show you around. We have quite a large shop here to take care of the entire castle as well as all of His Majesty’s wishes,” Rosamunde offered, gesturing around to the expansive tower room.
“Also, if it’s possible, may I see the how one of the sewing machines works?” Alexandra asked timidly.
“Of course,” Rosamunde smiled, “let me show you.”
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