“And does Mary fix your hair each morning?” Henry asked me. “Would she also have access to your hairbrush and combs?”
“Mary would never act against me,” I protested. Though certainly not the brightest creature, Mary was a very sweet girl. I couldn’t imagine her harboring ill intent of any kind. “I’ve known her for a year and we’ve always gotten along perfectly well.”
“It’s true,” Mrs. Ryan confirmed. “Mary doesn’t seem the type of girl who would do something like this. All the same, I’ll talk to her in the morning.”
“You will speak with every servant who has access to Selah’s room,” Henry added. “If Mary is innocent, then someone else living under this roof is up to no good.”
“I’ll see to it first thing tomorrow, sir,” Mrs. Ryan promised. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be turning in unless there’s anything else you’ll be needing tonight.”
I wanted to be alone with Henry, to further discuss the situation. “We’re fine, thank you, Mrs. Ryan,” I said. She gave a small curtsy and then left the room, taking the nasty bottle with her.
We listened in silence as her footsteps retreated through the house toward the servants’ quarters. “Well, this is a fine kettle of fish,” I said once we were alone. “To think, one of my own servants has been conspiring against me with that fiend, Nathan Crowley. Whoever it is ought to be pitched head first into the pond this very moment.”
Henry knelt down in front of me. “We’ve nothing to do till morning when Mrs. Ryan has had a chance to question the servants. Needless worry will get us nowhere, and we’ve more important issues to deal with tonight.”
“More important than witch’s bottles and two-faced servants?”
“Yes, of greater importance even than those,” he said, with a slight smile that told me he was up to something.
“Don’t leave me in suspense. Pray tell what could possibly need our attention above a malicious thief sneaking about, stealing my...personal effects.” This sounded more dignified than hair and urine.
“Your toe,” he replied.
“You can’t be serious? My toe is of no consequence in light of these other offenses.”
“Who takes care of Selah Kilbrid, the most skilled healer in all the Colonies, when she’s been hurt?” His brows rose in question, but he forged on before I could answer. “Your foot can hardly bear weight and needs to be properly tended tonight. Now, if you’ll be so kind and accompany me to the apothecary there will be no need for further persuasion.”
He might be right, but the prospect of limping all that distance was daunting, especially with my bedroom so much closer. “It’s not so bad. I’ll just take care of it in my room.” I stood slowly, making sure not to put any undue pressure on my sore foot.
Thinking the matter settled, I turned to hobble away. The next instant my feet left the ground and I found myself in his arms. “What are you doing?” I gasped.
His eyes glinted with a mix of determination and mischief. “Being more persuasive. Now take one of those candles so we’ll have a better time of it.”
His arms were like iron, and squirm as I might there would be no easy escape. Deciding to make the best of the situation while sparing myself from an undignified struggle, I grabbed a candle to light our way. “On second thought, I’ve reconsidered. A trip to the apothecary is an excellent idea after all.”
“I knew you would see reason, with the right amount of persuasion.”
“Yes, you have been most convincing in a brute force sort of way,” I laughed. “Do you actually have any experience with doctoring, or should I expect more of the same when we get there?”
“I’ve knowledge enough to find your toe and tie a bandage around it.”
“How reassuring,” I teased.
Once in the apothecary, he set me down on the wooden table rather than the floor, leaving my feet to dangle freely in the air. “What will I be needing?” he asked.
“Water, to start, from that smaller pot there.” I pointed toward the fireplace. “And a salve would be nice, from one of those jars on the far end of the second shelf. You’ll also need a linen towel and some bandages.”
While I sat watching, Henry collected all the items and set them together next to me on the table. He then carried over the chair and placed it directly in front of where I was sitting. Instead of taking a seat, he turned around and put his back to me. “Please remove your stocking.”