How did you feel about Ella? What does the garment she embroiders reveal about Ella, about history, and about who tells it?

Ella and Libertie have an initially hostile relationship, but over time, their relationship deepens as Libertie comes to understand her. How did you feel about Ella? What about the garment she embroiders—what does this reveal about Ella, about history, and about who tells it?

Ella's embroidery was a means to transfer her fear onto an object. It is what kept her from becoming undone.

Emmanuel revealed that Ella's demeanor was an act. I'm not sure that was totally true. She was basically insecure and alone, even with others around. I actually felt some sympathy for her as time progressed. Her anger at life was expressed I'm her embroidery.

Initially hostile, Ella gradually opens up to Libertie who is both sympathetic and appalled. When Libertie looks closely at Ella's embroidery, she realizes that Ella is both unstable and a religious fanatic. Ella believes that Emmanuel will take care of her, as long as she participates in the charade of being unwell/insane.
Instead, Ella is a lonely, delusional figure clinging to the dreams of others.

I wasn’t sure what to make of Ella. I’m sure she saw Libertie as competition for Emmanuel’s attention, but other than that I didn’t see her as a significant character in the novel.

I thought it was sad how Ella’s brother manipulated her for his own privileges. I thought the embroidery was a clever way she developed to work out her frustrations with her situation but still be a great cover to supposedly safe guard her against her father.