Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

“You are not used to wearing colors?” Esmeralda asked,
curiously.
“My people decorate their clothes with color, but the basic fabric
is usually white linen,” Ayisha said. She tugged loose a swath of
crimson silk. “What do you think, Esmeralda?”
“Lovely, for evening wear,” the lady said. “For a young woman like
you, I would temper the drama of the red by using it judiciously. A white
underskirt and bodice, trimmed with white lace. If you wished to, you
could embroider the white panels with some red. Lots of white lace
ruffles. And some white lace overlay on the red silk.”
“Very complicated,” Ayisha murmured. “Difficult to visualize.”
“I have some dresses you can look at for ideas.”
“I would love that.”
With a decisive motion, Ayisha added the crimson silk to the pile.
Then she chose some cotton prints, green with yellow, pale gray with
small blue figures, and rose with pale green. “Cool, for dresses when it
is hot.”
Ayisha hesitated over a bolt of gold satin, then put it back. “I would
have nowhere to wear that.” She did choose a bolt of heavier weight
brown fabric, and a similar one of dark gray, then another of dark blue.
“I can use these to make britches for my brother and Tarek. And
everyday coats or waistcoats.”
She stood and brushed off the skirt of her dress. “That’s all.”
“Are you sure?” The lady pirate laughed a little. “They cost me
nothing.”
“I am sure,” Ayisha said.
The two women went back to the captain’s cabin. When they
reached it, Ayisha, without comment, left her shawl hung near the door.
She saw Esmeralda’s eyes widen, then the older woman simply
nodded, but said nothing. The lady pirate walked around to stand
beside her. “You’re quite a bit taller than I am, now.”
Ayisha nodded.
Esmeralda raised her skirts a bit, and extended her right foot. “Let
me see your foot, dear.”
Mystified, Ayisha raised her own skirt and extended her foot.
Esmeralda nodded. “I think I have a pair that will do.” She rummaged