fret now.â
Relinquishing his burden of anxiety for the moment, Daniel took the advice and ate heartily, feeling strength and optimism return with each mouthful, each draught of ale. They had just finished when the door openedto admit Jake and an old man in none-too-clean smock and britches, carrying a jar of leeches and a small bag.
ââEreâs leech,â announced Jake, helping himself to jugged hare.
âWhere be patient?â The old man peered myopically around the room, although his nose twitched, following the scent emanating from the pot.
âAbovestairs.â Daniel rose to his feet. âThe goodwife is with her.â He led the way, trying to quash his unease at the prospect of this individualâs employing his dubious knowledge and skill on the fragile creature raving on the cot.
The goodwife greeted the new arrival matter-of-factly, deftly removing the patientâs shift, holding her still as the leeches were applied to arms and chest, lifting her so that more could be placed on her back. Daniel felt the jugged hare rebel in his belly as he saw the loathsome creatures swell, engorged with blood. With a muttered excuse, he went down to the kitchen again, leaving the physicking to those who ought to know better than he what they were about.
Loud screams came from the loft, giving way to the most heartrending sobs. He thumped his tankard back on the table and leaped up the stairs again. âEnough! Has she not lost sufficient blood already?â
ââTis the only way to cool the blood, sir,â the leech informed him placidly, pulling his little pets off the girlâs skin and dropping them again into the jar. The girlâs body was covered in angry red bites and her sobs wracked the slender frame as if they would burst from it in solid form.
âGet out!â Daniel ordered savagely, striding to the bed. âShe is out of her mind with pain and fever and you have done nought but add to it.â
The leech looked indignant. âAnd what about my fee, sir?â
âYouâll have it!â Daniel reached into the pocket of his doublet and pulled out a shilling.
The old man seized the coin, pocketing it and hastening down the stairs as if afraid that the gentlemanwould change his mind and exchange the shilling for a groat.
âWell, if yeâll not have the leech, sir, weâll have to see what we can manage for ourselves,â the goodwife said. âI donât âold with all this bloodletting, meself. Weakens âem when they most need their strength, seems to me.â
âAye,â Daniel agreed. âSo why did we send for him?â
âYe wanted a chirurgeon, sir, and âeâs the nearest weâve got in these parts,â the woman said a shade tartly. âOâ course, thereâs old Dame Biddyâ¦a wonder with herbs, she is, but thereâs those that say she âas the evil eye. I donât âold with it, meself, but you takes your chance.â
Herbs were a deal more gentle than leeches, Daniel reflected, and he did not believe in the evil eye. âSend Jake for her.â
Â
Henrietta awoke, aware of one amazing and most glorious thingâthe absence of pain. Tentatively, she twitched her toes, wriggled her fingers, moved her head. There were no ill effects, so she tried opening her eyes. It seemed to be very bright after the dark, pain-wreathed world she had been inhabiting recently, but although she was obliged to blink several times, her eyes no longer hurt and her head did not pound.
ââBout time too,â came a mutter from across the chamber. Henrietta turned her head to see a figure who seemed vaguely familiar. A pair of green eyes, alarmingly crossed, squinted in a face wrinkled like a prune. âNearly gave ye up.â The crone shuffled across the wooden boards and Henrietta, who knew all about the evil eye, instinctively shrank back from the cross-eyed