Page 3 of The Nabob's Designing Daughter
“Thank you, Errol.” Edme raised one strawberry blonde eyebrow at him.
“Heart problems?” Ann bit her lip. “Culpeper’s Guidedidn’t mention heart problems. Do you have a reference?”
He was looking at her as if she’d sprouted two heads.
She lifted her chin. “If there’s aught you know—new research, that is, perhaps when you visit William, you could tell me—”
“Not likely, Mouse. I mainly meet him at the warehouse or a pub.”
Anger rose in her. “You blast…” She bit her lip again. She’d grown up with male cousins and knew all the words for cursing, but it didn’t mean she had to stoop to use them on this arrogant numbskull. “You could… you could write to me about your pharmacopeia lectures and books. Edme, do you think Aunt will mind?”
“Why would she if you can cure her cough? Come on, the both of you, stop,” she waved a hand, “whatever it is you’re doing here, and come out of the rain. William is looking for you Errol. And Mum needs that tea.”
Her aunt’s needs must come first. She could start a new batch of plantings.
With a glance at the poor wee things, Ann wrapped her shawl tighter and let herself be led along by Edme. While she brewed tea for her aunt and helped her to bed, William would talk to Errol, and what would her cousin say? She’d heard some of the whispers about the money troubles. With her uncle dead, creditors were more careful about advancing capital to the son.
William was competent, though, and honest; he would find his way. She could offer to invest, but she doubted he’d accept financial help from a woman, and his cousin the mouse to boot. She’d wait and see before mentioning the subject.
Errol likely wouldn’t want a woman’s help either, but he must finish his education. If William couldn’t help him, she’d find a way to do it herself.
A few days later…
Ann lingered outside William’s study, shamelessly eavesdropping on the masculine voices within.
“’Struth, I’m relieved, Errol. I could pony up some of your school fees, but not all, and not for all the terms you have left. Though mayhap if things turn around with the new shipment from Bruges—”
“Doona worry. This Henderson fellow assures me there are funds aplenty to finish my education. I’ll call on him tomorrow to sign the agreement.”
“And are you free of Da’s year of servitude?”
Errol’s agreement with Uncle had included a year of servitude? She pressed her ear to the door.
“He didn’t mention one. Though I didn’t begrudge your father that obligation. ’Twas the least I could do, spending a year tending to the warehouse folk and their families.”
“And who is this generous benefactor?”
“I’ve no clue. He wishes to remain anonymous.”
“Fancy that. Will you say goodbye to my mother before you leave? Have a look at her? Ann’s been dosing her with a tonic that seems to be doing her good.”
Errol’s chuckle rumbled through the door. “Women’s potions. Watch them though. Some of those plants can be dangerous in the wrong doses.”
“Ah, yes. I hear you had words with Ann about her valerian tea.” A chair creaked through a long pause. “That was after you were having warm words when Edme interrupted you. My cousin has grown up, hasn’t she? You’re a sly one, Errol.”
Errol laughed, and it sounded false. “Me and the mouse? The silly lass fell off a ladder and I caught her, was all.”
Mouse? Silly lass?
Ann bit her lip.
Silly, was she? And the big lout thought herpotionswere a joke. She ought to go back to Mr. Henderson’s office and…
A year of servitude? Why hadn’t she thought of that?
She squared her shoulders, rapped on the door, and pushed it open. Two sets of startled eyes turned her way and both men stood.
Oh heavens, the tingling and melting started again, and she steeled herself against the shivers. Errol was more handsome than ever today. Tall and broad in a well-cut coat of dark superfine—his benefactor, Beecham was in the textile trade, after all—his curls had been tamed and his neckcloth sported an elegant knot. “Good day to you, Errol. William, Aunt says Errol must stop and say farewell. And this silly lass is wishing you my own farewell now, Errol.”
