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Authors: Jayne Ann Krentz
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be convinced that she was soon going to be a totally unsuitable candidate for the position of wife to Saint Augustine.
Out in the hall a horn sounded and a loud voice called out,. "Hear ye, hear ye. The festivities are about to begin. Sir Richard, Grand Master of the Order and Lord of Revelry for this convention, commands all guests to appear in the main hall in half an hour. Those summoned shall obey Sir Richard's command to eat, drink, be merry." Another blast on the horn followed the announcement.
Letty straightened away from the door and went purposefully toward the wardrobe to see what costumes had been provided. She was going to have fun, she vowed silently. She was going to kick up her heels and live. And Xavier Augustine, whoever he was, could have his fancy private investigators go find him another suitable wife.
Letty flung open the wardrobe doors and gazed at the apparel hanging inside. A small thrill of delight went through her as she reached out to touch the brilliant orange and red and blue garments. She took one gown off the hangers and examined it with a sense of wonder. Everything looked beautifully authentic, just like clothing out of a textbook on medieval costume design.
Letty made her choice for the evening and placed the garments on the bed while she took her shower. A few minutes later she stood in front of the mirror and carefully arranged her attire.
First came a cotehardie, a long gown with long tight sleeves and a flared skirt that moved delightfully around her ankles. It was a wonderful shade of sapphire blue and it neatly skimmed her figure, drawing attention to her slenderness. The neckline was wide and rather low. There was also a leather belt studded with bright glass jewels that rode low around her hips.
Over the long gown went a sideless jumper called a cyclas that was open from shoulder to hip to display the sapphire dress and the belt. The cyclas, done in panels of red and orange, had a deep neckline to show the low-cut neckline of the cotehardie.
When she had finished adjusting the gown Letty studied herself for a long moment and then decided to go for the whole effect. She brushed out her dark chestnut hair, parted it in the middle and arranged it into a heavy coil over each ear. Then she picked up a crespinette, an elaborate gold hair net, and put in on over the coils. She anchored the hairpiece with a gold fillet studded with blue glass gems. The fillet circled her forehead, fitting like a small crown.
Letty grinned as she surveyed herself in the mirror. She felt wonderfully medieval and altogether daring. She loved the long, graceful lines of the gown and the subtle sensuality of the cutaway cyclas. Through the opening at the sides of the garment one caught glimpses of the low, jeweled belt. It glittered and sparkled with each step she took.
The only anachronism was her glasses. Spectacles were not unknown in the Middle Ages, Letty knew, but they had been quite rare and had certainly not been worn by women of fashion. But Letty was not about to spend the evening wandering around in a fuzzy haze. She left the glasses on her nose.
Then she slipped her feet into the soft, absurdly pointed shoes that had been provided and decided she was ready for the world to meet the new Letty Conroy. Dropping her room key into a small, hidden pocket in her gown, she went out the door to try a taste of the exciting life.
Letty stepped OUT of an elevator on the balcony overlooking the main lobby of the old Greenslade mansion and studied the remarkable scene below. She was instantly enchanted by the colorful medieval spectacle that awaited her.
The rustic hall was filled with laughing, chatting people in full period costume. The women were dressed in outfits similar to the one Letty wore. Some had elaborate wimples and veils held in place by small hats and fillets. The men were attired in tunics and surcoats anchored with low-slung belts, The main difference between their costumes and those of
Out in the hall a horn sounded and a loud voice called out,. "Hear ye, hear ye. The festivities are about to begin. Sir Richard, Grand Master of the Order and Lord of Revelry for this convention, commands all guests to appear in the main hall in half an hour. Those summoned shall obey Sir Richard's command to eat, drink, be merry." Another blast on the horn followed the announcement.
Letty straightened away from the door and went purposefully toward the wardrobe to see what costumes had been provided. She was going to have fun, she vowed silently. She was going to kick up her heels and live. And Xavier Augustine, whoever he was, could have his fancy private investigators go find him another suitable wife.
Letty flung open the wardrobe doors and gazed at the apparel hanging inside. A small thrill of delight went through her as she reached out to touch the brilliant orange and red and blue garments. She took one gown off the hangers and examined it with a sense of wonder. Everything looked beautifully authentic, just like clothing out of a textbook on medieval costume design.
Letty made her choice for the evening and placed the garments on the bed while she took her shower. A few minutes later she stood in front of the mirror and carefully arranged her attire.
First came a cotehardie, a long gown with long tight sleeves and a flared skirt that moved delightfully around her ankles. It was a wonderful shade of sapphire blue and it neatly skimmed her figure, drawing attention to her slenderness. The neckline was wide and rather low. There was also a leather belt studded with bright glass jewels that rode low around her hips.
Over the long gown went a sideless jumper called a cyclas that was open from shoulder to hip to display the sapphire dress and the belt. The cyclas, done in panels of red and orange, had a deep neckline to show the low-cut neckline of the cotehardie.
When she had finished adjusting the gown Letty studied herself for a long moment and then decided to go for the whole effect. She brushed out her dark chestnut hair, parted it in the middle and arranged it into a heavy coil over each ear. Then she picked up a crespinette, an elaborate gold hair net, and put in on over the coils. She anchored the hairpiece with a gold fillet studded with blue glass gems. The fillet circled her forehead, fitting like a small crown.
Letty grinned as she surveyed herself in the mirror. She felt wonderfully medieval and altogether daring. She loved the long, graceful lines of the gown and the subtle sensuality of the cutaway cyclas. Through the opening at the sides of the garment one caught glimpses of the low, jeweled belt. It glittered and sparkled with each step she took.
The only anachronism was her glasses. Spectacles were not unknown in the Middle Ages, Letty knew, but they had been quite rare and had certainly not been worn by women of fashion. But Letty was not about to spend the evening wandering around in a fuzzy haze. She left the glasses on her nose.
Then she slipped her feet into the soft, absurdly pointed shoes that had been provided and decided she was ready for the world to meet the new Letty Conroy. Dropping her room key into a small, hidden pocket in her gown, she went out the door to try a taste of the exciting life.
Letty stepped OUT of an elevator on the balcony overlooking the main lobby of the old Greenslade mansion and studied the remarkable scene below. She was instantly enchanted by the colorful medieval spectacle that awaited her.
The rustic hall was filled with laughing, chatting people in full period costume. The women were dressed in outfits similar to the one Letty wore. Some had elaborate wimples and veils held in place by small hats and fillets. The men were attired in tunics and surcoats anchored with low-slung belts, The main difference between their costumes and those of
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