The Apothecary's Daughter

by Betts, Charlotte

  ‘Visitor?’

  ‘Your friend. That Mr Savage.’

  ‘Oh!’ A sudden stab of pleasure made Susannah smile. ‘Perhaps you should put on your best dress?’ Jennet gave Susannah a sly look over her shoulder.

  As Susannah hurried upstairs, her father poked his head out from the parlour. ‘There you are! Mr Savage is here.’

  ‘Jennet told me. I’m just going to wash my face and I’ll join you.’

  ‘Quickly, then!’

  In her bedchamber Susannah poured clean water into the basin to remove the dust and tear-stains from her face. Her underskirt was dirty from her dash through the streets and she hastily brushed the hem before running downstairs again. She paused outside the parlour door to pinch her cheeks to bring the colour back and then went in.

  ‘Susannah, at last!’ said Arabella with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. ‘As you can see, Mr Savage has come to visit us.’

  ‘How kind of you to call,’ said Susannah.

  Henry Savage, dressed in a gold brocade waistcoat and with a froth of lace at his cuffs, came forward to take her hand. ‘I was determined to wait until you returned home and your father and stepmother have been plying me with excellent cakes and ale.’

  ‘Mr Savage has a particular reason for calling upon us today,’ said Cornelius, smiling at her.

  It was then that she knew why Mr Savage had come. Her heart began to beat as fast as a drum and her mouth turned dry.

  Arabella stood up with a rustle of taffeta skirts. ‘Cornelius, my dear, I think we should allow Mr Savage a few moments alone with Susannah.’ She swept from the room and Cornelius followed with a backward look of encouragement to his daughter.

  After the door had closed behind them, Susannah and Mr Savage were left face to face in awkward silence.

  ‘I expect you can guess what it is I wish to say to you?’ His teeth were very white when he smiled.

  ‘No, indeed,’ stammered Susannah.

  ‘Come, there is no need to dissemble with me,’ he said. ‘You must know that I hold you in high regard? I have been in London for some weeks now and my importing business is going well. My prospects are good and I intend to put down my roots here.’

  ‘Do you have no intention of returning to Barbados?’

  ‘My future is here in London. And to that end I wish to ask if you would do me the honour of becoming my wife?’

  Susannah swallowed and looked out of the window. What to say? The thought of escaping from a household where she was little more than a nuisance was vastly appealing. And she liked Henry Savage. She liked him a great deal. He was charming and cheerful with a sense of humour that made her laugh. She didn’t love him, of course, but in time she might. But how could she possibly risk …

  ‘Miss Leyton; Susannah. May I call you that?’

  ‘I … I’m not sure you should, Mr Savage.’

  ‘But if we are to become betrothed it is perfectly allowable.’

  She held her breath, her thoughts whirling as if she teetered on the edge of a precipice.

  ‘Susannah?’

  ‘It would be allowable, if we were to become betrothed.’

  His smile slipped and he was silent for a moment. ‘Do you not wish it? I had thought …’

  ‘I am flattered and honoured, of course …’ She wondered if he could hear the rapid hammering of her heartbeat.

  ‘Your father was sure you would consider my proposal favourably. And Mistress Leyton is delighted at the prospect.’

  ‘Of course she is! She cannot wait to be rid of me.’

  ‘I have noticed that your relations with your stepmother are sometimes a little strained and I hoped that the thought of a household of your own might appeal to you.’

  ‘Oh yes, it does! You cannot imagine how much I should like that.’

  His face fell. ‘Then … it can only be that you do not find the thought of me as your husband to be pleasing. I am sorry for that since I thought we had become good friends.’

  ‘We have! I like you very much, Mr Savage. It’s only that …’

  ‘There is someone else who has captured your heart?’

  ‘Oh no!’

  ‘Are you sure? Someone your father would not approve of, perhaps? Believe me: I do know that Cupid does not always fire his arrows where it is fitting.’

  ‘There is no one else.’

  ‘Then please tell me why my proposal makes you look so unhappy.’

  Apprehension made her voice sharp. ‘It is not your proposal, it is any proposal. You see, I am very anxious about … the married state.’

  Some of the tenseness left Henry’s eyes and he gave a wide, confident grin. ‘Susannah, my dear, all brides are a little nervous of the married state. I can promise you that I would always treat you with the utmost gentleness in that way.’

  ‘It’s not that …’ She bit her lip and looked at her feet to hide her blush. ‘My mother died in childbed,’ she said in a low voice. ‘It was the most terrible experience. And … and I am frightened to have a child.’Once again she heard in her mind her mother’s piteous screams.

  ‘I am sorry for that. But every day thousands of women give birth and live long and happy lives.’

  ‘I will never forget what happened.’

  A fleeting expression of impatience raced across his face. ‘Natur -ally. All I ask is that you give my proposal your consideration.’

  She resisted the impulse to run from the room and looked back at him with a steady gaze. ‘I have, Mr Savage. I’m sorry, but I will never marry.’

  ‘I see.’ He shrugged. ‘Then I will take my leave of you.’ He turned back to her again, his hand on the latch of the door. ‘I won’t give up so easily, Susannah. I like an independent woman with spirit and you certainly have that. And I would allow you the freedom to follow your own pursuits. I will come again in one month’s time and see if you have changed your mind. I bid you good day.’

  He was gone.

  Susannah sat down and covered her eyes with her hands. Had she made a terrible mistake?

  The door burst open. ‘You might well snivel, miss!’ spat Arabella, her fists clenched. ‘How could you refuse him? He’s handsome and charming; what more could you ask for, at your age? I doubt you’ll get another offer like that.’

  ‘I’m not accepting a proposal simply to please you, Arabella. I won’t let you push me out of my own home!’

  ‘This is my home now and there isn’t room for both of us. Can’t you see that you’d be much happier if you had a household of your own? Though how you’d manage it I can’t begin to imagine. Your father and I cannot have you underfoot any more.’

  ‘Then if I am not needed, you had better start looking after your own children for a change instead of leaving it all to me and Jennet.’

  Arabella lifted her chin and smiled. ‘Well, I can tell you now that there will be a great deal more effort required from you in that direction in the future.’

  ‘Are you threatening me?’

  ‘Not in the least. But you should know that your father and I expect a happy event. Our baby will be born in the new year.’

  Susannah was unable to contain her gasp of shock. ‘What have you done!’

  ‘Made your father a very happy man.’

  Arabella’s triumphant smile made Susannah feel sick.

  Chapter 5

  ‘That child needs a purge,’ said Susannah. She was standing in the kitchen doorway and watching Harriet outside in the yard as she defiantly kicked up a cloud of dust perilously close to the drying washing. ‘It might dispel some of her spleen.’

  ‘Might not do you any harm, neither.’

  ‘How dare you!’

  Jennet raised her eyebrows. ‘I’ve known you long enough, Miss Susannah, to know when I can speak my mind. We can’t go on like this. Everyone is out of temper.’

  It was true. Despite her earnest desire not to let Arabella win the battle of wills, Susannah had begun to consider seriously what employment s
he could take up that would allow her to escape from the turbulent household. Her life now was nothing but duty and strife and she was sick of it.

  Her mood wasn’t improved by the fact that she missed Henry. She had enjoyed the way he had taken her out and about, regularly devising some little entertainment or treat for her. Of course, Arabella had always been there, the thorn in Susannah’s side. And irritatingly Henry, like most men, was oblivious to her stepmother’s barbed comments, uttered as they were from smiling lips.

  Now Henry had gone and there was nothing to amuse Susannah any more. It was only her terror of childbirth that prevented her from changing her mind about his proposal. Why, oh why, could they not simply remain friends? Or be married without sharing a bed? But she knew the answer to that every time she saw her father’s melting looks as he caressed Arabella. As Martha had said, all men were made fools by desire. Henry would expect a wife in the fullest sense and that was an end to it.

  The morning passed in relative peace. Arabella went to visit her glovemaker in the Exchange, while Jennet attempted to restrain the children from causing complete mayhem. Susannah instructed Ned on the proper use of marigolds in the preparation of a poultice to strengthen the heart in a fever, while all the time she pictured Henry’s face and wondered if she’d made a terrible mistake.

  Arabella returned from her shopping expedition carrying an armful of parcels, which she dropped onto the counter in the shop. ‘I should have taken Jennet with me to carry my purchases,’ she said. ‘Fetch me a chair, Cornelius. I’m exhausted.’

  ‘You must take care, Arabella! In your condition …’

  ‘Susannah, call the maid to bring me a glass of ale. It has never been in my nature to be lazy, Cornelius, which turns out to be your good fortune since you will not allow me to employ a nursemaid.’

  ‘You know we have no room for another servant, my dear. As it is Ned sleeps under the counter in the shop.’

  ‘Nonsense! Jennet could share her bed in the attic with the new girl.’

  ‘Her room is barely more than a cupboard …’

  ‘You are not listening, Cornelius. I simply cannot manage the smooth running of the entire household, three children and a new baby without any help.’

  ‘But you have Jennet!’ said Susannah, unable to contain herself any longer.

  Arabella carried on as if she had not spoken. ‘If your purse strings are so tight, Cornelius, then there is no option but to take Susannah out of the dispensary and put her to work in the nursery.’ She spoke calmly but directed a challenging glance at Susannah.

  ‘You will not!’ Horror at the thought of it made Susannah clench her fists as she planted herself in front of Arabella, her eyes blazing. How dare she? ‘Already I am forced to nursemaid your unruly children while you recline on your bed eating candied apricots or make visits to the Exchange to shop for fripperies. You needn’t think I’m going to stop my valuable work simply to indulge your indolent ways.’

  ‘Susannah!’ Fury made Cornelius’s face white. ‘I will not allow you to speak to Arabella in such a manner. Apologise at once!’

  To her? Surely he didn’t mean it? ‘Certainly not!’ Anger and betrayal burned inside her chest. ‘Has she bewitched you so much, Father, that you have taken entire leave of your senses too? How would you manage in the shop without me?’

  Arabella held up her hand as Cornelius opened his mouth to speak. ‘You place too great an importance upon yourself, Susannah. Your father has a perfectly good apprentice. I shall be gracious enough to overlook your uncivil behaviour this time but you had better get it into that red head of yours that I am the mistress here now. Your insolent ways will change at once or I shall find you a position as a scullery maid in another household.’

  ‘Father?’ Susannah turned to Cornelius for support.

  Cornelius’s s mouth was set in a thin line and the corner of one eye twitched. ‘I …’ He swallowed. ‘I …’

  ‘Father?’ Her voice quavered in disbelief.

  ‘I am going out to the coffee shop,’ he said, looking down at the floor. ‘I shan’t be back for dinner.’ He snatched open the shop door and was gone.

  Susannah stared at the door, shaking with shock.

  ‘It’s no good you looking to him,’ said Arabella with a curl of her lip. ‘All men are weak.’

  Susannah, cut to the quick by Cornelius’s betrayal, was unable to speak.

  Arabella sighed. ‘Let me speak plainly. When I married your father I had not meant to make an enemy of you, Susannah, but you flout me at every turn and I will not have it. The simple truth is that this house will never be large enough for both of us.’

  ‘That is certainly true.’ Susannah leaned against the counter, suddenly feeling as if her legs wouldn’t hold her up for a moment longer. Below her breastbone a cold, hard knot of certainty began to form.

  ‘I am your father’s wife,’ continued Arabella, ‘and here I shall remain. For the sake of harmony, you must leave. You should have accepted Henry Savage’s proposal but you’ve missed your chance now. I saw him at the Exchange this morning. He had Miss Horatia Thynne upon his arm. She is not so well favoured as you, in fact someone less generous than myself might call her ugly.’ Arabella gave a wry smile. ‘Perhaps I am not as mean-spirited as you might think, Susannah? I do acknowledge that you are an attractive young woman, if you are prepared to overlook red hair.’

  ‘How very kind!’

  Arabella ignored Susannah’s comment. ‘Horatia is the daughter of Robert Thynne who was an acquaintance of my first husband. Robert Thynne has made his fortune importing silk from the East and if he has to buy his unfortunate daughter a husband that is what he will do. No matter what the price. So if you had any intentions of enticing Henry back to your side, you should give them up now.’

  Susannah was silent. In the back of her mind she had toyed with the thought that she could always change her mind if life at home became too difficult.

  ‘In my condition I am not prepared to live in a continual state of discord,’ continued Arabella. ‘You will leave by Michaelmas. You will find yourself a position or I shall find one for you. I have a friend who may be in want of a companion and I shall make enquiries.’

  ‘Father will not allow it!’

  ‘My dear.’ Arabella smiled a smile so dreadful in its self- confidence that it made Susannah blink. ‘You can be sure your father will do whatever I wish him to. His life will not be worth living if he does not.’

  Susannah put on her plain grey skirt and jacket, hid her curls under her hat and went downstairs.

  Cornelius was advising a customer on the best course of action to rid himself of a tapeworm so she waited in the dispensary until she heard the shop bell ring.

  ‘Are you going out?’ Cornelius asked.

  ‘I have made up my mind to visit all the apothecaries in Fleet Street and find myself a position.’

  Cornelius shook his head. ‘My dear, what you hope for is unattainable.’

  ‘You could speak for me.’

  ‘It will make no difference.’

  ‘But why not? Have I not worked beside you since I was a child?’

  ‘It might be different if you were an apothecary’s widow; there would be no bar to you continuing with his business then but …’

  ‘Someone will know my worth and give me work!’

  ‘You were always headstrong, Susannah. But you are wrong about this. By all means humiliate yourself if you must but I promise you that no apothecary of my acquaintance will allow you to work in his dispensary. You had much better seek more suitable employment as companion to a lady.’ He turned his back on her and began counting pills into boxes.

  Susannah left the shop, slamming the door behind her. She walked briskly up the street, anger burning in her cheeks. Taking a few calming breaths, she stopped outside the first apothecary shop she came to. The shutters were up and by the heap of detritus wedged against the door it looked as if no one had been inside for weeks.


  Several other apothecaries were shut up too and she supposed they must have left in the general exodus to the country. She hadn’t realised just how many premises had closed. Even more upsetting were the two with red crosses painted upon their doors.

  She peered into the gloomy interior of another shop but it looked so ramshackle that she knew this was not the place for her. The one next door, at the sign of the lavender bush, appeared more promising. She had known the owner, a Mr Gordon, for years. Inside the shop was empty but there was a half-mixed concoction in a basin on the counter. She dipped a finger into it and touched it to her tongue. Thyme, fennel, ginger, salts of tartar and magnesia. A remedy for indigestion and flatulence, she guessed. The mixture would be improved with a few drops of oil of peppermint.

  Gordon appeared from the back and folded his hands across his chest. He smiled, exposing a fine set of yellowing teeth. ‘Miss Leyton, is it not?’

  ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Has your father sent you to collect some ingredient he is lacking?’

  ‘No, not at all. I came,’ she hesitated, but it would not do to lose courage now, ‘I came to ask you if you have need of some extra help in your dispensary?’

  ‘A new apprentice?’

  ‘Not exactly. As you know, my father has recently married and his bride has three children. There will also be a new addition to the family soon and our house will become too small for so many. Therefore I have taken the decision to seek work in another apothecary’s shop. I have considerable knowledge, having worked at my father’s side for …’

  ‘You?’ Gordon frowned. ‘You cannot mean that you are seeking to practise my profession?’

  ‘Although I have no formal training I already practise …’

  ‘But you are a woman.’

  ‘Yes, but …’

  ‘It is against God’s will to have female apothecaries.’

  Rage swept over Susannah in a red tide. ‘And how do you know that?’

  Gordon drew himself up to his full height, puffing up like a toad in self-righteous indignation. ‘Are you questioning the doctrine of the Church? What other blasphemous thoughts have you? You will leave my premises at once!’