Page 75 of Treating a Sinful Earl
The journey to London was filled with anticipation. Catherine felt great conviction, and also, she felt intense love. If she could heal Jasper, they would have a lifetime to themselves. Nothing would make Catherine happier than that.
The shop was located down a sooty London street. There was so much hustle and bustle around them. Catherine felt the desire to flee, but she knew there was no turning back. Oh, how she already missed the calm streets of Bath! But fear would not deter her. Off in the distance, she saw the little shop window illuminated with candles and just as she hurried there, her chaperone complaining all the while, a cart went by and splashed a great deal of muddy water upon her gown.
Catherine froze, hating the cold, dirty feeling of the water. She looked down at her skirt and frowned to herself.
“We should turn back, my lady,” the chaperone said.
Catherine shook her head. “A little muddy water will not deter me. Come, the shop is just this way.”
She continued on, pushing through what felt like a crowd of people before arriving at the shop. The sign in front of it read, “Advik’s Remedies.” Peeking through the window, she noted that the shop was entirely empty. Was she in the right place? Why was no one else there?
“Wait out here,” she said to her chaperone.
“Truly?”
“Yes, truly.” Catherine pushed open the door to discover a tiny Indian man seated on a rug, several candles lit around him. His eyes were closed, and he appeared to be deep in prayer. “Have I disturbed you?” Catherine asked in a whisper.
He did not open his eyes. “No, I was expecting you.”
“You were expecting me?”
He nodded slowly. “Be seated.”
She did so while asking, “Are you Advik?”
He nodded again. “I am he. And although I was aware that you were coming, I do not know your name.”
“I am Catherine Trowbridge,” she replied with a smile. “How did you know I was coming?”
“I know such things. I am a great shaman, after all.” There was humour in his voice. “Miss Trowbridge,” he opened his eyes, “how may I help you today?”
The words fell out of her mouth quickly. “I am here on behalf of the Earl of Simmons, a very ill man with only six months to live.”
“Tell me of his symptoms,” Advik said, perfectly calm.
“The doctors are unable to tell him what the disease is, merely that he has little time. If you ask me, the diagnosis comes from the mere fact that they do not know what they are dealing with. He has been told that his symptoms mirror a severe lung or heart condition, and when he feels faint or breaks into a sweat, he truly sees his life flash before him. These bouts can be frequent and ongoing. I have made several remedies of my own to amend this, and although they helped, nothing has healed him completely.”
Advik took a weighty breath. “I see. You are an apothecary, as well?”
Catherine could not help but smile. “I am. I take great pride in what I do, and I wish to learn from you.”
Advik grinned, exposing more than a few missing teeth. “I am glad to hear that. Might I be honest with you? Women are the best healers. This is something the Hindu tradition keeps secret.” He spoke eloquently, with a rich Indian accent but perfect English.
“Is that so?” Catherine asked, delighted.
“Oh yes. Women have a far greater power to heal. What they lack is the knowledge. In India, only the men are taught the secrets, but the women have a secret touch. It is all too clear.”
“Then will you teach me, Advik? I am so desperate to learn. In my hometown of Bath, I am constantly experimenting with herbs from my garden and also herbs that I find in the forest. I have success, but not the kind of success that I really crave. Will you teach me?”
“You must be close to an Indian spice market,” he instructed, lifting a finger into the air. “The spices blended with the herbs are the key. I can provide you with everything that you need to heal this man, but if you truly want to learn, you must come to me so that I can share with you all that I know.”
Catherine was speechless yet had so many questions. “Why are you being so generous to me? Why is there no one here?”
“Because in my morning prayers, I was informed that my pupil would be arriving today. I am an old man, and this is necessary for my transition into the next life. When I learned that you were coming, I closed my shop for the day.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You appear no older than thirty years.”
Advik laughed. “I am ninety-five years of age. I have lived a good life.”
