Free Belle by Beverly Jenkins Page A

your mind at ease about the future.”
    Belle nodded. “You have.”
    Mrs. Best stood. “Good. Now, get some sleep. The hurt will dull, Belle, I promise.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Best.”
    “You’re welcome, dear. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    She departed as quietly as she’d come.
     
     
    As Belle lay in her bed she reflected back on the day. Learning her father’s fate had been devastating—it seemed she’d carry the pain of his uncertain future for the rest of her life. Had she not been in such dire need, being comforted by Daniel would’ve been thrilling. Him holding her while she cried had made her feel so special, so cared about. She’d been embarrassed to the soles of her feet when Francine showed up, though, and Belle didn’t need the ability to read to decipher the sneering, contemptuous look on the Queen’s golden face. Belle hoped she hadn’t made an enemy today. Mrs. Best’s kind words had soothed her hurts, but Belle felt as if she’d been whipped about by a windstorm. She’d no idea where it would blow her or who she might be when everything settled, but she was surrounded by sterling examples of the person she could be. Content with that, Belle offered up one more prayer for her father’s safety, then closed her eyes to sleep.
     
     
    The next day, Belle placed her father’s memory deep inside her heart and prepared to start her new life as a free young woman of color. To that end she planned to ask Mr. and Mrs. Best if it would be all right if she began taking in sewing and if they had any ideas as to how to drum up customers.
    “Well, I need a dress for a ball next month. Maybe if I wear something you’ve created it would stir up interest,” Mrs. Best replied as Belle and the family sat around the breakfast table.
    Belle looked so surprised, everyone grinned.
    Belle finally found speech. “Mrs. Best, I didn’t mean that I had to sew for you. I’m sure you have your own dressmaker. I—”
    “Are you saying you can’t make me a fancy gown or you won’t? ”
    Belle studied her for a moment. “You would trust me to do that? Without even knowing if I can or not?”
    “I’ve seen some of your work, dear. I trust you can do what you say you can.”
    Daniel said, “I could use a couple new shirts if you don’t want to make Mama’s gown.”
    Mr. Best asked, “Can you tailor suits, Belle?”
    A wondrous Belle looked over at the grinning Jojo who said, “Guess you have your first customers, Belle.”
    Belle guessed she did.
    After breakfast, Daniel drove Jojo to Trudy’s house for school while Mr. Best headed out to his carpenter shop in the barn behind the house. That left Mrs. Best and Belle to see to the cleaning up, a job Belle didn’t mind in the least.
    “How about I wash today and you dry?” she asked her hostess.
    “That’s fine, then we can drag out some of my old Godey’s Lady’s Books, and see if we can’t find a dress to make for me.”
    Since she’d been owned by a seamstress, Belle knew all about Godey’s Lady’s Books. Each issue had beautiful plates featuring the latest fashionable gowns and accessories. Because Belle couldn’t read she paid little attention to the many articles on proper etiquette the magazine was also known for but devoured the well-done plates with their lovely dress designs.
    “How about this one?” Mrs. Best asked Belle as they leafed through the pages of an issue.
    Belle studied all the ruffles and flounces. “May I be truthful?”
    “Of course.”
    “Well, you’re tall, Mrs. Best, and all those ruffles and flounces will look silly on you. There was a lady back home. Mrs. Parly. She was tall, and I told her the same thing, but she knew better than me. So she made me sew it for her anyway. When she put it on, she looked like a Christmas tree.”
    Mrs. Best chuckled. “Then I will let you guide me.”
    Belle turned a few more pages, leafed through a few more issues, then said, “This is more you.”
    She handed it over.