Free Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

on pulling her full weight.”
    Johanna blushes and looks away.
    “Do you have any stinging nettle in the gardens?” I ask Cook. “With that and some licorice root, I can make a salve that will draw the infection out.”
    Cook nods. “We have the nettle, but licorice root we’re out of.”
    “I can get more at the market tomorrow,” Maddy volunteers. She brings the tea tray over to the table and we gather around it while she pours. “It won’t be any trouble.”
    She hands me a cup, and the warmth is soothing in my hands. “Can I go with you, Maddy? I would love to see what the market looks like here in Philadelphia.”
    “Of course you can, miss.”
    The conversation ebbs and flows as we discuss herbal remedies and poultice preparations, and it feels very much like being at home again with Mother. I take another sip of tea, and my thoughts turn to Allan again as I look down at my fingers. I don’t want him to see them looking so poorly. “Maddy, do you know remedies that will soften hands?” I say suddenly. “Or something that will make spots from the sun disappear?”
    “Rosewater an’ lemon juice. Once in the mornin’ an’ once in the afternoon.”
    “Can I find those ingredients at the market?”
    “You can. You don’t need that, though, miss. Yer hands are just fine.”
    “But Madame LaFleur said—”
    “Pshaw, what she said,” Cook interrupts. “She’s just full of herself. Madame High an’ Mighty.”
    “I don’t want Allan …” I stop, but his name has already slipped out.
    Maddy grins knowingly. “I see how it is, then. It’s fer Master Allan.”
    “Did you see he asked about my finger today?” Johanna remarks. “He saw the bandage an’ asked right away.”
    “He’s always a gentleman, that one,” Cook replies.
    “He’s very different from his cousin, Edgar,” I say. “I’m amazed they are even related.”
    The room instantly goes silent. Cook stares intently at her tea as Maddy and Johanna exchange glances. My cheeks start to burn when the silence wears on.
Did Edgar tell them that we were alone in the library? Has my reputation been ruined?
    “I did not know he would be in the library,” I say. “Truly, I thought I was alone. Please, do not tell Mrs. Tusk.”
    Cook gives me a sharp look. “Did he do something to you?” she asks fiercely.
    “N-no,” I stutter.
They cannot know that he touched my bare wrist, can they?
    “When did you meet him in the library, miss?” Maddy asks.
    “Last night. I came down for some biscuits and got turned around. I ended up in the library. He came in and introduced himself. I left as soon as I could. Forgive me if I did something wrong. I did not realize—”
    “You did nothing wrong, miss,” Maddy says soothingly.
    “That’s right.” Cook nods her head. “Just stay away from him, miss. Stay away. He’s a right nasty one.”
    “Why? What has he done?”
    But the silence returns, and no one will say anything more. My frustration mounts at the overwhelming number of secrets this house seems to hold.
    “Miss Annabel was telling me all about Siam,” Maddy says, abruptly changing the topic of conversation. “You would never believe it.”
    “What a long journey it must have been, miss,” Johanna replies. “Until the Grandmaster said you were coming here, I did not even know such a place existed.”
    Cook nods. “I didn’t know the miss even existed. What a happy surprise it was to find the Master has a daughter.”
    I try not to let her words sting, reminded that my father was not the one who wanted me to come to Philadelphia. Instead, I join their excited chatter and tell them more about my homeland. When I find myself growing sleepy, I finally bid them good night.
    But I cannot stop wondering what they wouldn’t tell me about Edgar, and why they warned me to stay away from him.

Nine

    I expect to have another restless night with so many questions running through my mind, but I sleep well and Maddy wakes me early