The sewing circle was busy with the second shipment of uniforms. Lady Talbot was sitting at her usual corner bench, but today a young woman sat beside her. Alina had never seen her before.
Lady Talbot looked at Alina and signalled her to come to her. Alina set down the fabric and went to her.
"Alina," Lady Talbot said, "This is Eleanor. She is the wife of Lord Merrick."
"Lady Talbot said I could trust you," Eleanor said, hesitant.
"You can," Alina replied as she sat on the bench beside her.
"I was sold into a debt marriage at seventeen," Eleanor began. "My father owed Lord Merrick and the marriage cleared the debt. I've been his wife for six years."
As always, a woman's body was used to settle a man's accounts.
"Lord Merrick is not cruel," Eleanor continued. He has given me his name, and I run his household. But we hardly talk to each other."
"Umm…why are you here?" Alina asked, directly.
