Page 45 of A Fearless Heart
Chapter 17
Furious and terrified at findingGabe in the glasshouse, Cady had barely closed her eyes since. To think that when she saw a flicker of light in the glasshouse, her first concern was an accidental fire. Instead, she discovered the one new person she’d opened up to, proving that she’d been foolish to think he was different.
She remained in the glasshouse for the rest of the night, with oil lamps burning bright to ward off any return, to let him know that she wasn’t going to relax her vigilance now and let him back in to do whatever he’d planned to do. Destroying her carefully cultivated specimens, perhaps, out of a misguided belief that she was some evil creature out to hurt people? Or perhaps just wanting to see what was forbidden, as if myths and fables hadn’t warned humanity over and over again that nothing good came of such curiosity. Eden, Pandora, Bluebeard… How many times did the lesson need to be taught before it was learned?
She woke up from a fitful slumber on the floor of the glasshouse. The panes were thick with condensation. Getting up, Cady moved back to her bedroom so as not to alarm the servants. She had to move Oscar, who had made himself quite comfortable on her pillow. He meowed in protest as Cady shooed him off.
As for Gabe Court, she avoided him entirely that day and the next days, again funneling all instructions for the gardens through Mr Rundle (who didn’t like it, but of course didn’t complain). She should have sent Gabe away the very next day, but two things held her back. First, she desperately needed the help. And second, the memory of the way he kissed her lingered in the depths of her heart, and the thought of never seeing him again was too painful to contemplate at the moment.
What was certain was how his betrayal sent her emotions into a tumult. She’d found a fragile happiness in his little lessons in bravery, genuinely believing that she was improving in some way. And then there was the thrill she felt every time she saw him, that flutter in her belly and the flush under her skin that was so delicious after months and years of coiled, cold fear ruling her body and mind.
Then he had to go and ruin it by invading the one space she told him not to go.
She should have known. What was in it for him? The lure of discovering deep, dark secrets and finding out if all the worst rumors were true? He seemed like the type of man who would be drawn to that. The type of man who didn’t let little things like rules or her attempts to keep other people safe get in the way of his need to know.
Stupid, stupid Cady. Trusting a stranger who showed up at her door, taking his word at face value. She knew he was still watching her, still curious about what she did. No wonder she once again couldn’t sleep at night, and the iron bands were tight around her heart again, and the whole world beyond her home felt like a trap.
But she needed to make more medicines.
And spring was advancing, meaning she could finally harvest some different specimens growing outside on Calderwood land.
One day, Cady went to a particular patch of woods in hopes that she’d find the first crop of the mushrooms she used for making a tea that calmed the mind. It was a good recipe, but it couldn’t compete with the more severe attacks. Cady considered it a stepping stone on her way to a more effective solution.
The mushrooms she sought were so tiny and unremarkable that most people would never even see them. They grew only on the rotting logs of birch trees—a fact she found fascinating. Cady had ordered several birches felled and their trunks dragged to this spot in the hopes of encouraging more mushrooms to grow, which they finally had.
She harvested her crop very carefully, selecting only one in every five specimens, leaving plenty to remain and spread throughout the warm months. The final harvest barely filled her handkerchief. She folded it up into a little pillow and tucked it into her pocket, smiling with relief that she’d be able to create a batch of the medicine she needed.
Cady was so intent on her future work in the laboratory that she failed to hear the footsteps on the path behind her. Only when she heard a male voice did she stop in her tracks.
“Hey, isn’t that the witch of Calderwood?” someone called out.
Cady’s stomach dropped. She turned to see two men, one older than her, one younger. But both much, much bigger than she was. They stared at her and sniggered.
“I think it is,” the other man said, sounding smug. “Why are you out in the daytime, witch?”
“This ismyland,” Cady said, wishing her voice sounded stronger.
“Not what I asked,” the older man said rudely. “I asked what you’re doing out here. Up to no good, I’ll bet.”
“What I’m doing on my land is none of your business.”
“Maybe we’ll make it our business. After all, we can’t just let a witch and a murderess walk around free.”
They moved closer, cutting off her access to the footpath.
“Leave me alone.” Cady looked toward the leather bag she’d left on the side of the path. There was a small knife inside, in case she needed to cut any plants tougher than mushrooms. But it was ten feet away, which was practically the other side of the world. She had no way to defend herself against these men if they got violent.
“Maybe we should tie her up and drag her to the magistrate,” the first suggested.
“Maybe there’s a reward,” the other agreed with a nasty grin.
They both lunged toward her, reaching, clutching, putting hands on her skin. Cady let out a cry of panic and tried to twist away, to shrink down into the young undergrowth like the prey she was.
But by now the meaty paws of the two poachers gripped her shoulders and arms, their fingers pulling at her cloak. One man casually flipped it back to reveal her gown and her exposed neck underneath. His leer made Cady’s throat close up.
“You can’t do this,” she whimpered, knowing that they could do whatever they wanted.
Then without warning, the older man grunted in surprise, and the younger went flying backward.
