The Bride Sale by Candice Hern

of the syrup every three hours. If he gets any worse, there are other treatments we can try.”
    â€œThank ’ee, ma’am,” Mrs. Chenhalls said. “Thank ’ee. I do be grateful ’ee come to stay with us. Gras e dhe Dhew. Drusona!”
    Verity darted a questioning look at the woman’s daughter, but the girl kept her eyes averted. “She do thank God that ’ee came,” Gonetta whispered.
    â€œCome along,” Verity said, eager to escape the emotions that tugged at her. “Let me teach you and Mrs. Tregelly how to make more of these remedies, so you can tend to Davey after I leave.”
    Gonetta followed in silence. While Verity gave instructions for making both the infusion and the syrup, Gonetta did no more than nod now and then. Mrs. Tregelly made precise notes.
    â€œNow, the only problem,” Verity said, “is the supply of hyssop. I have enough horehound to leave with you. It takes very little to make the syrup. But I do not have much hyssop left. Do you suppose your mother has hyssop in her kitchen garden, Gonetta?”
    â€œDon’t know, ma’am. Wouldn’t know it if I seen it.”
    â€œBut I would,” Verity replied. “Let’s take a look.”
    Gonetta led her to a tidy, prosperous kitchen garden just beyond the scullery door to the outside. There were rosemary, sage, parsley, dill, fennel, thyme, tarragon, lovage, tansy, and lemon verbena. Verity scanned the plantings for the familiar tall stalks of hyssop. Sure enough, there they stood, next to their minty relatives.
    â€œSee here,” Verity said, breaking off a leaf and rubbing it between her fingers. “You have everything you need. This is hyssop, which is used in the warm infusion. But I used dried leaves. You must doublethe amount if you use fresh leaves. Can you remember that?”
    â€œProb’bly not,” Gonetta replied in a petulant tone. “I do think ’ee ought to stay. Then ’ee can take more time to teach us and make sure we don’t do somethin’ bad wrong. We do be simple folk, not educated like ’ee. We do need ’ee to help us, ’specially with no doctor an’ all.”
    The girl’s plaintive tone was almost more than Verity could bear. She wanted to help, she really did, for against her better judgment she found herself growing quite fond of Gonetta. And she could not forget the grateful, trusting look in Mrs. Chenhalls’s eyes.
    Even so, she could not do as they wished. It was impossible.
    â€œI cannot stay, Gonetta,” she said without looking at the girl. “I am leaving Pendurgan, as I’ve told you. Today, if I can finish my packing and locate his lordship.”
    â€œâ€™Ee don’t have to go. Not yet. ’Ee could stay just till Davey be better, like.”
    â€œOh, Gonetta.” Verity steeled herself against the doleful look in the girl’s eyes. She had to leave Pendurgan. She had to get away from Lord Harkness, who, whatever his motives, still made her decidedly uneasy.
    â€œPlease, ma’am. Davey woulda died if ’ee didn’t been here. We do need ’ee, Miz Osborne. Please don’t go.”
    â€œGonetta—”
    â€œPlease, ma’am. Stay. His lordship won’t mind. Will ’ee, my lord?”
    Verity stiffened.
    â€œNot in the least,” said a deep voice behind her.
    Â 
    James watched her tight shoulders relax somewhat as she brought her discomposure under control. Even from behind he could see her chin tilt up at that defiant angle he’d seen last night. He could not suppress a mocking smile as she turned around.
    But the smile slid from his face, leaving his mouth slightly agape. It was the first time he had seen her in full light without a bonnet shielding her face, and without a heavy cloak or that ridiculous mountain of clothing of last evening. He had not realized how attractive she was. He might almost call her beautiful,