The Apothecary's Daughter Part 28

"Will you?"

He smiled shyly, then returned his gaze to the ca.n.a.l. "It is a bit early to tell."

"I warn you," Lilly said. "If I stay, Haswell's will give you a run for your money."

He grinned at her. "I have no doubt you will prove a worthy adversary-though I do not like to use that term to describe you, Miss Haswell. It will be a friendly compet.i.tion, I hope. I for one believe there are plenty of patients for everybody, what with Honeystreet's labourers and ca.n.a.l traffic, and Alton so close by."

"You are surprisingly fair and generous, sir."

He shrugged. "I have no longing for great wealth. For great adventure, yes, to travel widely and love deeply these things I value more than profits. Though certainly one needs enough of those to finance the former things."

She chuckled. "So I am learning."

"And you, Miss Haswell. What is it you want?"

She stared thoughtfully at the turbid water below. Once, she had wanted to experience life and love beyond Bedsley Priors. That, and to find her mother. In London, she had experienced a small measure of each. What did she want now? Instead of trying to verbalize her jumbled thoughts, she parroted his own words back to him. "It is a bit early to tell."

My dear Aunt @ Uncle Elliott, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I will be remaining here in Bedsley Priors for the foreseeable future. My father is quite ill and his shop failing. Though he does not ask it of me, and though much of my heart is still with you in London, I know I must stay to help Father and look after Charlie. It pains me to be apart from you and to miss all the events and travels we'd planned, but I hope you will understand my decision, painful as it is. I regret the great expense and trouble you have taken over me, but I for one do not count it wasted. My months with you will forever be a treasure in my memory and in my heart. While I enjoyed the education and all the entertainments, what I valued most was coming to feel as though I were truly part of your family. I love you both and always shall.

I plan to write to Christina P-W myself, but please give my regards to others of our acquaintance, as you judge best.

With love @ grat.i.tude, Lillian She did not write to Dr. Graves, knowing it was improper for an unmarried woman to write to any man not of her family, unless they were formally engaged. Had Dr. Graves asked, her uncle might have given him permission to write to her, though her aunt would not approve. But as the weeks pa.s.sed without correspondence, she realized anew that Dr. Graves did not wish to continue their relationship, regardless of the call her aunt had mentioned. Lilly had already guessed as much but still felt the silence keenly.

She did write to Christina, congratulating her on her engagement and asking her to pa.s.s along her farewells and warm felicitations to her family. She knew Christina would not stay in touch. As much fun as they'd had together, their friendship was not deep like hers and Mary's. Lilly did not think the worse of Christina for it. Out of sight, out of mind, the saying went, and in Lilly's brief experience, this was a rule effortlessly observed by others. She sometimes wished she could do the same.

Desperate affairs require desperate measures.

ADMIRAL HORATIO NELSON.

CHAPTER 23.

illy asked Charlie to sc.r.a.pe the peeling paint from the many-paned shopwindow. He seemed to take to the repet.i.tive task effortlessly. She purchased new paint from the ironmonger in Huntley's Yard, and arose early to paint the window frames herself. Her arms ached from the effort, but she felt satisfaction at doing the work on her own, saving money she desperately needed to restock the shop.

Most mornings, she and Charlie worked in the physic garden, harvesting all the flowers, seeds, and roots they could. She hung the flowers upside down to dry in the herb garret and shop rafters, and ground what root they needed immediately, while storing the rest in the cellar. When the shop bell rang, still unfortunately a rare occurrence, Lilly would hastily lay aside her garden work and jog into the shop, wiping her hands on her ap.r.o.n as she went, fretting over what each patron might require. Recommending remedies for everyday needs headache powders, laxatives, hair and complexion creams, tooth sponges, and the like was no problem. But when a person especially a man wanted medical advice, that sent her adrift in murky waters.

"Mr. Haswell is occupied in his surgery at present," she would say, "but I shall nip in and ask him what he would recommend." She would indeed ask, "Father, what would you recommend for Mr. James's rheumatism? " Her father would usually try to rouse himself, sometimes asking for clarification and offering sound advice. But when he could not, she would continue on as though he had. "Yes, the same symptoms as before. Do you think he ought to stay with Burridge's Specific, or try another? Very well, I shall let him knowa."

Fortunately, she had known what to dispense for the few ailments presented to her so far mostly by patients they'd had for many years. She would not risk anyone's health. But neither would she send a paying customer to Shuttleworth's or Dr. Foster until absolutely necessary.

In the meantime, she wrote another letter.

Dear Miss Lippert, I have returned to my father's apothecary shop in Bedsley Priors. Like you, we also now face greater compet.i.tion. I am seeking to help my father compete against a young new surgeonapothecary. I remember our discussion about your brother's keen business sense, and I myself witnessed your skills in displays and ladies' items. I wonder if I might I ask your advice as well as that of your brother and father?

Polly Lippert wrote back promptly, including a kindly penned list of the most popular ladies' items, toilet articles, and perfumes in their shop. The letter included a few lines written in the shaky hand of Polly's father, saying he would be happy to offer what advice he could and that his son, George, would write to her directly. A few days later, she received a letter from George Lippert himself.

On his advice, she ordered new exotics, new patent remedies, and even an "electricity machine," reportedly highly effective in the treatment of epilepsy, gout, and other disorders of the nerves. Following Polly's list, Lilly ordered French perfumes and cosmetics and other pretty things London ladies liked. She got rid of the jar of putrid bear grease and in its place displayed fragrant Maca.s.sar oil from India, which promised to "bestow an inestimable gloss and scent, rendering the hair inexpressibly attracting."

She updated all the displays, adding feminine touches like a vase of flowers and a fabric runner in the window display. She set out bowls of dried flower petals and cinnamon to sweeten the air. She offered free samples of ready-made items like skin lotions and breath tablets. She prayed as she balanced the ledgers and then, prayed some more.

Francis Baylor opened Haswell's back door as he had without thought all the years he'd lived at the shop. He supposed he should have gone around to the front, but he already had his foot in the door and wanted to see how Mr. Haswell was faring. Mostly, however, he wanted to see Lilly.

When he stepped inside, he saw her standing before the laboratorykitchen cupboards. She looked sharply at him over her shoulder. "Oh, Francis! You startled me."

"I should have knocked. Forgive me."

"That's all right a" She was clearly distracted, pawing through drawers, crates, and tins.

"What is it?" he asked. "What are you looking for?"

She hesitated, then sighed. He realized she was whispering. "I was sure Father would have plenty of calcium phosphate. I have already searched the drawers and jars in the shop. Have you any idea if he'd begun storing it elsewhere?"

"No. It was always in its jar on the shelves out front."

Lilly pressed her hands over her eyes.

"Lilly a ?" Francis grew concerned.

"A new family in Honeystreet has the ague. All six children. The mother is in the shop now. When I did not find any fever powder, I told her I would just step into the back to prepare some fresh for her. Now I shall have to send her to Shuttleworth's. Can you help her? A Mrs. Todd Hurst. In those new lodgings on Chimney Lane?"

"I know it."

Lilly shook her head. "Such a fine prospect. Her husband a trained barge builder. Six children a I dare not wait any longer. I must admit defeat and hand the family to you."

Francis had not seen Lilly so discouraged since the first few days after her return, and he did not like to see her so now. He held up his palm. "Don't say anything. Get the calcined antimony and sleeves ready."

"But we haven't-"

But Francis was already out the door.

Wringing her hands and pacing, Lilly tried to pray but only succeeded in worrying and feeling guilty. Treating the children promptly was so much more important than who provided the remedy. She should have sent Mrs. Hurst to Shuttleworth's directly. But she was sure her father would have the materia medica. Was it so wrong to want to prove Haswell's still viable? Make a sale? She chuckled dryly. If her London friends could see her now and witness her thinking like a tradesman! She should simply march back into the shop and explain to Mrs. Hurst that she would not be able to supply her needs after all.

The back door banged open and Francis barged in, pottery jar in arms. "Come on, we've powder to prepare. You can box my ears later."

"I was not going to box your ears," Lilly whispered. In fact she felt like embracing him. Instead, she turned her attention to the fever powder.

As the two worked side by side, Lilly surveyed his deft motions. "You have become quite good at this."

"You sound surprised."

"Wella"

He held out his hand for the sleeves. "I should be glad you went away to London."

The words startled her.

"Turns out your leaving was good for me," he continued. "I had to learn to do things myself. When you were here, it was easier to ask you rather than haul out those c.u.mbersome tomes and find the answer myself. Took more time, but in the end, I remembered the answers.

"I am glad someone benefited from my absence."

"I did not say I was glad you went away. Nor am I sorry you've returned."

How final that sounded. Uncomfortable, she merely nodded.

"If only you were not sorry," Francis said wistfully.

She hesitated, but thought of no suitable answer.

Francis rubbed his palms together. "Now, what else do we need?"

In short order, they had the medicine in individual paper sleeves ready for Mrs. Hurst. She squeezed his arm and whispered, "Thank you.

With a faint smile, he covered her stained fingers with his own.

Lilly returned to the front of the shop to apologize for the delay and explain the dosages to the mother. Once Lilly had paid Mr. Shuttleworth for the calcium phosphate, she would make little profit on the sale, but hopefully Haswell's had gained a customer who would return often.

The following week, Lilly opened a letter from her aunt with some trepidation. How would she respond to the news that Lilly would not be returning after all?

Dear Lillian, Your letter was both bane and balm. How your uncle and I feared you would be drawn in to your former life there. All our efforts in vain. I confess this is the second letter I have begun to you since reading yours. The first was a blatant attempt to convince you to return at once. Filled with details of all you were missing, of all that might be. Utterly selfish, I realize now. Well, not utterly I sincerely believe you could be a success in town yet. But of course you must stay as long as your father needs you. I witnessed that n.o.ble quality in you when we first met when you were so eager for your brother to have every advantage you have since enjoyed. We admired your selfless loyalty then. How could we think the less of you for the same honorable trait now?

My dear, what balm your kind words of affection delivered. I know I said this would very likely be your last season, but I certainly do not want you to imagine that you have spent your last days here with us. You are ever welcome, Lillian. We hope that when things with your father are in hand, you may yet return to us, if not for securing a suitor, then for enjoying the felicity of society with those here who love and admire you your uncle and I chief among them.

What is the situation with your father? You were quite vague, my dear, and if that was your intention, I shall pry no further. But if there is anything we can do to help, you have only to ask.

In that light, I am enclosing a bank draft. Please do not refuse it. In all truth, I had every intention of sending this amount home with you to help address whatever situation you found there. But at the last, I withheld all but a token amount, scheming again, I confess, to keep you on a short tether in hopes of hastening your return. You see how we depend on your company! Please forgive my foolishness and gratify me by using the funds as will do you and your father the most good.

Do write back and keep us apprised of your situation there.

We remain, Your loving aunt and uncle How kind they were! How the affectionate words even the admission of machinations brought warmth and longing to Lilly's heart and made her miss her dear aunt and uncle all the more. And with the much-needed funds they enclosed, she could pay Francis back for the things he'd procured for them, place new orders, and begin chipping away at her father's other debts.

She would be so relieved to fulfill past obligations and start anew. Still, she could not deny that her aunt's letter stirred embers of longing for all she would miss in London. Besides the Elliotts, would anyone in London miss her?

A skillful leech is better far than half a hundred men of war.

SAMUEL BUTLER, ENGLISH SATIRIST.

CHAPTER 24.

illy was surprised a few days later when Mr. Shuttleworth knocked on the shop door with his walking stick an affectation she knew to be all the crack in London.

"Mr. Shuttleworth! How do you do?"

He cleared his throat. "As a matter of fact, Miss Haswell, I am a concerned."

"Oh? Is there some way I might help?"

"Indeed there is." His signature smile was noticeably absent. "I understand Mr. Baylor has been securing powders and other simples for you from my shop."

She swallowed. "Yes, on a few occasions. When the need was urgent."

"Well, I do not like it at all. Quite insupportable."

She had never known the man to be so somber. Hadn't Francis told her his employer would not mind? "We did pay for the items full price.

"Yes, yes. I am not accusing anyone of stealing. However, I cannot allow things to go on in this manner."

She felt truly chastened. A sneak caught. "Please forgive me, Mr. Shuttleworth. You are quite right. I should have asked you first."

"Indeed you should. For I should never have allowed it."

She bit her lip. She had never seen this side of him before. She hated the thought of losing the man's goodwill. Of jeopardizing Francis's position. "It will never happen again," she a.s.sured him.

"I should hope not. Next time, come to me and I will give you whatever you need at wholesale. Full price indeed. Are we not colleagues? Part of the same professional society?"

There, she saw it. Just a hint of a twinkle in his dark eyes.