Yvetot was a downstream city of Rouen's textile industry. In other words, it was a giant factory that supplied Rouen with twisted yarn.
The spinning wheels found in museums twisted loose wool and cotton into a single strand—that was spinning. Jane's spinning jenny could spin several cotton threads at once, but each thread was single-ply. Several strands had to be twisted together into ply yarn, because only such yarn was strong enough for weaving cloth.
There were many ways to dye fabric. Entire bolts of white cloth could be immersed in dye, or the ply yarn could be dyed instead. Early that morning, officials from France had gone to tour the local factories. In truth, they could have stayed somewhere more comfortable the day before. Madame Barillon knew many wealthy local businessmen and could have arranged for them to stay in their homes at any time.
But as Matilda had said sourly over breakfast, staying in the Palace of Versailles was an honor, even if the tiny suite assigned to them had no access to the Marble Courtyard and did not even have windows.
Georgiana knew perfectly well that she was not a lesbian, but she had met Miss Chamoro in Lyon, a famous lesbian. Thus, in the rumors, Georgiana had become a British lesbian spy.
That was not even the most outrageous rumor. There was also the affair between Napoleon and Hortense, which had been spread as though people had witnessed it with their own eyes. Georgiana had almost believed it herself.
Louis was not in very good health. He was a rather refined man, yet he had joined Leclerc in the Portuguese war. He had not gone to the front, however, because he had fallen mildly ill, though somehow it had turned into a chronic condition. He had