weather is glorious.’
To my surprise, Brigitta listens. ‘Maybe you’re right. Bring me the shipping almanac, will you?’
I fetch the book from the cupboard and hand it to her. If only Brigitta had just gone back to sleep, I would have been able to dash out and buy a fresh canvas and a piece of lapis lazuli.
‘Greta, I need to pop out to the market. There’s no treacle left to bottle the poultry.’
Greta, who is busy scrubbing the floor in the hall, glances up. ‘Yes there is! There’s another jar in the cellar.’
‘That one’s gone off, it smells strange. I’ll buy another.’ I throw on my shawl.
‘Should I go?’
‘No, thank you. I’ll just nip out myself.’ I hurry to the front door but Brigitta’s voice stops me in my tracks.
‘I fancy a trip out. Let’s have a stroll and look at the progress they’re making on the new development, Catrin. Adriaan wants to buy a house there if everything keeps going well. The gardens are much bigger than around here.’
I turn to face her. ‘That’s quite a step, madam. Are you sure you feel well enough?’
‘I think a walk is exactly what I could do with. Were you on your way out?’
‘Yes, we need treacle.’
‘Then we’ll pick some up while we’re out. Step aside, Greta, you can see I’m trying to get past. And don’t make such a mess on the floor – I might slip.’ Brigitta walks into the hall holding onto the wall for support and picks up her cloak. ‘I feel a lot better than yesterday,’ she tells me. ‘Tomorrow I’m going to get right back to work.’
By the time we return in the afternoon there’s little left of Brigitta’s energetic mood. I help her into bed and gently close the door behind me as I leave the room.
‘Keep the noise down,’ I tell Greta when she comes into the kitchen with clattering buckets. ‘I don’t want the mistress to wake up. I’m going to slip out and get the treacle.’
‘Weren’t you supposed to have picked that up while you were out?’
‘The mistress got so tired on the way back, we took a shortcut home. I’ll be back before you know it.’ I leave the house again without waiting for a response. Normally I take my time when I go out shopping; I don’t often get out of the house. Now I march along at a swift pace.
Luckily, it isn’t too busy at the apothecary’s. I’ve brought a few coins from my stash and use them to buy the lapis lazuli. I wince at the price, but there’s no other option. After that I go to the frame-maker and pick out a canvas the same size as the one I used. With the stone in my hand and the frame under my arm, I head back to Keizersgracht.
Once I arrive at the house, I go in through the servants’ entrance, slip into the studio and set the canvas against the wall. I place the lapis lazuli on the work bench and decide to go back and grind it into powder as soon as possible. In the hall I run into Brigitta.
‘Mistress!’ I say in surprise. ‘You’re up again already?’
‘I wanted something to drink. Why didn’t you come when I called?’ says Brigitta sharply.
‘I didn’t hear you, I was busy in the cellar.’
Brigitta eyes me suspiciously. ‘Then why have you come from my studio? What were you doing there?’
I rack my brains for an excuse. ‘I put away a piece of lapis lazuli, madam. I’ve just been to buy it.’
‘Why?’
‘I knocked over a pot of paint. I used my own money to buy a new piece.’
‘Really? That must have cost you an arm and a leg.’
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