would have to watch closely what her mother did; it might well be that next year at this time she would be buying salt and spices for her own huge family of servants and retainers.
Edwina hid a smile tinged with bitterness, for Leah's thoughts could be read easily in her transparent face. Possibly she would be mistress in her own castle. More likely by this time next year, even if Radnor was still alive, he would have tired of her and some other woman would have the thrill of shopping at the fair. Nonetheless Edwina explained carefully to her daughter.
Salt was the first great need of every keep, and salt was purchased in large quantities. Edwina showed Leah how the quality of the salt might be tested. First, it must be white; greyish or brownish salt was contaminated with the earth of the pits in which it was made and the sand would grit in the teeth. Only a hundred pounds or so of this white salt would be purchased, however, for the salting of the food for the high table and the salting of meat for use at the high table. The poorer quality of salt was purchased, at a much lower price and in much greater quantity, for the servants' food and for giving to the serfs. Also, Edwina pointed out, some salt should be taken from each sack, not always from the top of the sack either, and put into a little water. Of the white salt, not a speck should remain and the water should be as clear as it was before the salt was added. Of the brown, the dark matter should sink instantly to the bottom, leaving the water clear in a moment or two. Clouded water meant that the merchant had mixed chalk or some other matter with the salt to make it whiter or to make extra weight.
Pepper was the next need, and Edwina moved to other booths after making arrangements to have the chosen salt delivered. She reminded the merchant before she left that the salt would be tested again at the castle and if the quality was found to be changed, woe betide him. Pepper too might be tested for quality. The little peppercorns should not break between the fingers; when they were broken by a hammer blow, they should crumble to tiny pieces; they should not fold together or stick or form lumps. The black peppercorns should burn the tongue greatly when applied; the grey should be sharply pungent but burn a little less. Leah should be sure, Edwina said, glancing up at her daughter's absorbed face, to make the merchant spread out his wares on a light cloth so that she could see the little black bugs that sometimes infested the pepper. Leah was never to buy what was not perfect for food. If she was sorry for the merchant, she could throw a few coins, but she must not buy bad spices.
Finally they came to the tents of the cloth sellers. The other matters had interested Leah as something for which she would be responsible, but the booths of the cloth sellers she approached with bated breath. All her life she had been dressed in homespuns for every day and Edwina's made-over dresses for special occasions. Now she was to choose all new cloth for gowns for herself, cloth of the very best materials, and she had been set no limit on the amount or the price. She turned from side to side, blushing with pleasure as more and more rolls of material were laid out before her.
"Leah," Edwina said finally, "you jump from one thing to another and accomplish nothing. Come, let us do this right. Look first at the fine linen for your undergarments. When you have chosen that, we may look at what will be needed for your tunics and then the bliauts."
Leah sighed and turned away from a roll of lavender silk so thin that it would float. She chose finally a bolt of linen fine enough to see through and a bolt of wool the same, both in white. Two more bolts of heavier wool and linen for winter undergarments were also selected. Cloth for tunics, the longsleeved, high-necked garment worn under the bliaut in such a way that it showed at the neck, sleeves, and sides, was chosen in pieces just large
Edwina hid a smile tinged with bitterness, for Leah's thoughts could be read easily in her transparent face. Possibly she would be mistress in her own castle. More likely by this time next year, even if Radnor was still alive, he would have tired of her and some other woman would have the thrill of shopping at the fair. Nonetheless Edwina explained carefully to her daughter.
Salt was the first great need of every keep, and salt was purchased in large quantities. Edwina showed Leah how the quality of the salt might be tested. First, it must be white; greyish or brownish salt was contaminated with the earth of the pits in which it was made and the sand would grit in the teeth. Only a hundred pounds or so of this white salt would be purchased, however, for the salting of the food for the high table and the salting of meat for use at the high table. The poorer quality of salt was purchased, at a much lower price and in much greater quantity, for the servants' food and for giving to the serfs. Also, Edwina pointed out, some salt should be taken from each sack, not always from the top of the sack either, and put into a little water. Of the white salt, not a speck should remain and the water should be as clear as it was before the salt was added. Of the brown, the dark matter should sink instantly to the bottom, leaving the water clear in a moment or two. Clouded water meant that the merchant had mixed chalk or some other matter with the salt to make it whiter or to make extra weight.
Pepper was the next need, and Edwina moved to other booths after making arrangements to have the chosen salt delivered. She reminded the merchant before she left that the salt would be tested again at the castle and if the quality was found to be changed, woe betide him. Pepper too might be tested for quality. The little peppercorns should not break between the fingers; when they were broken by a hammer blow, they should crumble to tiny pieces; they should not fold together or stick or form lumps. The black peppercorns should burn the tongue greatly when applied; the grey should be sharply pungent but burn a little less. Leah should be sure, Edwina said, glancing up at her daughter's absorbed face, to make the merchant spread out his wares on a light cloth so that she could see the little black bugs that sometimes infested the pepper. Leah was never to buy what was not perfect for food. If she was sorry for the merchant, she could throw a few coins, but she must not buy bad spices.
Finally they came to the tents of the cloth sellers. The other matters had interested Leah as something for which she would be responsible, but the booths of the cloth sellers she approached with bated breath. All her life she had been dressed in homespuns for every day and Edwina's made-over dresses for special occasions. Now she was to choose all new cloth for gowns for herself, cloth of the very best materials, and she had been set no limit on the amount or the price. She turned from side to side, blushing with pleasure as more and more rolls of material were laid out before her.
"Leah," Edwina said finally, "you jump from one thing to another and accomplish nothing. Come, let us do this right. Look first at the fine linen for your undergarments. When you have chosen that, we may look at what will be needed for your tunics and then the bliauts."
Leah sighed and turned away from a roll of lavender silk so thin that it would float. She chose finally a bolt of linen fine enough to see through and a bolt of wool the same, both in white. Two more bolts of heavier wool and linen for winter undergarments were also selected. Cloth for tunics, the longsleeved, high-necked garment worn under the bliaut in such a way that it showed at the neck, sleeves, and sides, was chosen in pieces just large
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