Ravenna rose early the next morning to prepare for her day. She brought in water for a bath, and heated some on the stove top. She readied her bath, and locked the bathroom door. Ravenna slipped out of her night dress, and stared at her reflection in the tall mirror. Her skin was pale, but didn't appear unhealthy. Her body, similar to her face, had a light dusting of freckles. Her long hair pulled over her shoulder, covering one of her round breasts. With her slim waist and rounded hips, her grandmother told her she was a desirable woman. Entering the warm water, Ravenna washed her skin and hair, enjoying the warmth and the peace.
Ravenna stepped out of the water and into a towel. She dried her hair, and wove it expertly into a braid, which she twisted into a bun. If she was going to help her friend at the market today, she couldn't have her hair down and in the way. Ravenna wriggled into a green dress, and called Anne to help her lace up the back. The sleeves of the dress were long, and would protect her from this morning's chill.
After a breakfast with her grandmother and Elijah, Ravenna headed toward the town market. After a half hour of walking, she saw Teresa at her small shop, her small son in tow. Teresa's son Thomas began to jump up and down, shouting "'Venna! 'Venna! 'Venna!"
"Good morning, Teresa! I have come to see if you would be interested in any help these next few days? You mentioned not getting enough rest, and Grandmother insisted she can handle the blacksmith's son alone. Are you interested in some company?" Ravenna asked her friend, who was waddling behind her small child.
"Praise the Ruler, Ravenna, you truly are an angel! Please, join me! Little Thomas here would love to have someone besides myself to entertain him, and you are always more than welcome to come to my shop!" The heavily pregnant woman sat on a crate. She placed one hand at the small of her back, and rested one on her swollen stomach, and heaved a sigh of relief, knowing she had someone to help her at her market stall today.
Ravenna picked up Thomas, and played with his perfect golden curls. The child laughed; he loved Ravenna with as much as his little heart could love someone. She sat on a crate next to Teresa, bouncing little Thomas on her knee. The small boy giggled and squealed with delight.
The two women spent the morning chatting, and Ravenna told her friend about Peter Jones and their unpleasant tea.
"You poor soul, dear, I couldn't put up with that man if he was the last available! I do hope some proposals come along for you- it is too bad you rejected so many before in hopes of remaining a healer! But your grandmother is right, having a family is important to being a healer as well! You need to have children to carry on the family business!" Teresa rubbed her stomach. "Although this part of having children is far from easy!" Ravenna laughed, and placed her hand on top of her friend's. She felt a small kick, and pulled her hand back quickly, surprised.
"That has been happening so much more lately, I think the child is trying to fight its way out!" Teresa giggled. Ravenna still looked surprised. She had known that babies move and shift in the womb, but she had never felt it for herself. Could she handle that sensation when it came to having her own children? Ravenna shivered. Such an odd thing to experience.
Around noontime, a young man came by Teresa's shop. Little Thomas had fallen asleep in his mother's arms, so Ravenna took care of the man. He was Samuel Reed, one of the men Ravenna had previously rejected. He was a miller, and in his late twenties. His arms were thick from physical labor, and his smile was so wide that it wrinkled his eyes. His bright green eyes shone when he noticed it was Ravenna helping at Teresa's shop. "Good afternoon, Miss Ravenna", Samuel beamed.
"Hello, Mr Reed, is there anything I can help you with?" Ravenna asked politely.
Samuel leaned forward, placing one of his hands on Teresa's textiles stall, and smiled wider. "Well, I had come to see if Miss Teresa here had any more sacks for my mill, but I found much more for myself at the shop today", Samuel paused and winked. "I know you had turned my offers down before, but word around Canden is you accepted a tea invite from Mr Jones. I was curious if you had changed your mind towards my offers as well?"
Ravenna fidgeted. She did not know Samuel very well, but he couldn't possibly be worse than Peter Jones.
She cleared her throat. "I would love to join you for an afternoon, Mr Reed, although I am promised to Teresa here today..."
"Goodness! She said yes!" exclaimed the excitable miller. "I will meet you here tomorrow afternoon...." Samuel slowed down to look at the young woman. "I mean, if you are available tomorrow afternoon I would love for you to join me for lunch."
Amused by his excitement, Ravenna agreed, and Samuel nearly floated away from the shop. Teresa laughed, and Ravenna blushed. "Oh, I remember how my husband was when I first agreed, he nearly fell into the market fountain over there. Those were the nice days."