The Headswoman (ePub)

As was customary at that hour, the Council of the little town of St. Radegonde met in the top chamber of the Hôtel de Ville. Despite the assembly's early sixteenth-century location, its participants had many characteristics in common with those of other gatherings in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and even nineteenth centuries. The girl who stood in front of the table, erect but at ease, facing the members in general and Mr. Mayor in particular, seemed to contain all the character in the room. After her brief encounter with her cousin, Jeanne had a relatively difficult night. She woke up feeling down and unrested. She enjoyed being around Enguerrand, and she particularly enjoyed his affection for her.
She had never imagined for a second that choosing a professional vocation would prevent her from receiving the proper amount of awe to which, as a female, she was rightfully entitled. In St. Radegonde, executions were still carried out, but once the fair Châtelaine stopped performing them, much of the previously present pure amusement vanished. After being appointed to the position, Enguerrand married Clairette because, in his words, she was a better mental and temperamental fit than the others. High-ranking officials' domestic trials, however, have a right to be treated with respect.