The Apothecary's Daughter Read Free

never realised before what a handsome man he
     is.’
    After Martha had left, Susannah began to wonder where her father had gone, all dressed up in such finery.

    Two weeks later Susannah was baking sugar jumbals with the maid, Jennet, when Cornelius came into the kitchen. He stood by
     the fire, shifting from foot to foot and watching as Susannah pounded the sugar and Jennet washed the salt from the butter.
     His dead wife’s recipe book lay open on the table, a sprig of dried lavender marking the place.
    ‘Was there something you wanted?’ Susannah asked after a while.
    Cornelius picked up the lavender and twirled it between his fingers. ‘Your mother’s favourite flower,’ he said.
    ‘And we’re making your favourite biscuits.’
    ‘So I see.’ He replaced the lavender and in so doing knocked the book to the floor.
    A dozen scraps of paper flew out and Susannah scrambled to pick them up and tuck them back between the precious pages. ‘Father,
     why don’t you go into the parlour and I’ll bring you some of the biscuits when they’re baked?’
    ‘Yes, perhaps that would be best. There’s something …’
    ‘Hmm?’ Carefully, she broke eggs into a basin.
    ‘Later.’
    ‘He’s as jumpy as a cat with fleas!’ said Jennet, after he’d gone. She dried her hands on her hips. ‘I think he’s up to something.’
    When the jumbals were ready Susannah dusted them with powdered sugar and carried them up to the parlour where she found Cornelius
     standing by the window, staring down at the street. He turned, his face taut with worry.
    ‘Father, what is it?’ she asked, suddenly anxious.
    ‘You are so like your mother. Sometimes I catch sight of you with your pretty auburn hair and just for a moment I can almost
     believe Elizabeth has come back to me.’
    ‘I never feel she’s really left us.’
    ‘I know.’ He sighed deeply. ‘But she
has
gone. And it’s been eleven long years. You have been a great comfort to me, especially since Tom left too.’
    She squeezed his hand. ‘We’ve been a comfort to each other.’
    Abruptly he turned again and paced across to the hearth.
    ‘Susannah, I fear I have done you a disservice.’
    ‘A disservice? How could that be?’
    ‘I’ve been selfish. Your companionship has been so dear to me that I have kept you close to my side …’
    ‘But that’s where I want to be!’
    ‘You’ve learned my craft better than any of the apprentices I’ve taken on over the years and your writing is neater than my
     own. Even your Latin is as good as any scholar’s.’ He smiled wryly. ‘But you should be married by now, with a brood of little
     ones, like Martha.’
    ‘I’ve never wanted babies.’ It wasn’t true, of course. She wanted children as much as any woman but … she shuddered, remembering.
    ‘I have been remiss in finding a husband for you.’
    ‘I’m perfectly happy keeping house for you. Besides, what man would I find who could match up to you?’ There had been Nicholas,
     of course, but Father hadn’t considered him good enough for her. And then there had been the young man with the smiling eyes
     who delivered herbs to the shop from the farm in Essex …
    ‘Susannah, times change.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    He took her hands between his, not meeting her eyes. ‘I love you as much as any man could love a daughter, but we’ve grieved
     for your mother for too long. I have made a decision.’ Still he didn’t look at her. ‘I intend to take another wife,’ he said.
    She gave an uncertain laugh. ‘You should not jest about something like that.’
    His mouth tightened. ‘I’ve made myself perfectly clear. I shall be married again. And I have met a suitable lady, a widow.’
    ‘But we manage very well.’ Susannah helped to keep the account books for the shop and she knew that they were far richer than
     anyone might suspect from the simple way they lived. Puzzled, she shook her head. ‘Your old age is secure; you have no need
     to marry to