Free Death on the Romney Marsh by Deryn Lake Page A

repeated uneasily.
    â€˜Don’t worry. The moment I feel discomfort I will stop. If I get into dire straits, my bag of potions is at The Salutation. We can always send the girl for it.’
    â€˜Well, if you feel sure.’ She sat down and passed John the bottle of claret. ‘If you would be so kind as to open this, I’ll join you in a glass.’
    â€˜Certainly.’
    They sat on either side of the fire, the Apothecary studiously sampling the damson wine, Mrs Rose erring on the side of caution and drinking the contents of the other bottle. And slowly the warm and pleasant atmosphere had its soothing effect. If only temporarily, all thoughts of poison and the horrors of the past were forgotten and they chatted and laughed, the hostess’s enamelled cheeks becoming quite rosy at the pleasure of the Apothecary’s company.
    â€˜Tell me,’ said John, his thoughts returning to Henrietta Tireman, as they had done several times that morning already, ‘about your neighbours. Describe them to me.’
    â€˜Well, there’s the Squire, Sir Ambrose Ffloote, an extremely noisy baronet who lives in Paradise House.’
    â€˜What an exotic name!’
    â€˜Isn’t it. Not really suitable for him. Then there’s Captain Nathaniel Pegram, who lives in Grey Friars.’
    â€˜Another interesting title.’
    â€˜It’s a manor house now but was once a monastery which after the dissolution was sold into private hands. The ruins of the chancel of the chapel stand nearby and are most interesting to visit.’
    â€˜And what is he like? Captain Pegram?’
    â€˜Shy and retiring. He hardly socialises at all. His wife died many years ago and they say he never recovered from her loss. Apparently, his greatest pleasure is to spend all day in his library.’ Mrs Rose paused, then added, ‘He’s quite a handsome man in his way.’
    The Apothecary nodded. ‘Obviously something of a recluse. By the way, I met Sir Ambrose on my journey here.’ Almost without thinking, he poured himself a little more of the damson wine. ‘I can’t say I took to him enormously. He’s married, I believe.’
    â€˜To poor long-suffering little Faith, who is greatly plagued with the headache. Can anyone be surprised? Needless to say, they are childless and pour out all their affection on an aged and decrepit dog which they refer to as The Pup.’ Elizabeth Rose threw back her head and laughed, and John joined in uproariously, his suspicion that the wine, far from being poisoned, was of the most potent variety gaining ground with every moment.
    â€˜And what of the others? Rector Tireman for example?’
    â€˜You’ve heard of him?’ Mrs Rose looked faintly astonished. ‘Well, he has two beautiful daughters, one of whom has achieved the triumph of all time. The younger, the fair Rosalind, has managed to get herself betrothed to the Marquis of Rye. There is to be a great wedding in the spring. All of Sussex and most of Kent are talking about it.’
    â€˜How did she do that?’ asked John, interested.
    â€˜I believe she went to his house to act as governess to his young sister. Of course, no sooner did he lay eyes on her than he was at her feet as, indeed, are most members of the male sex.’
    â€˜Her sister, Henrietta, was also on the coach with me,’ the Apothecary remarked. ‘I thought her very pretty.’
    â€˜She is, of course, but she pales in comparison with the other. It must be a great misfortune for her constantly to be likened to her sibling.’
    â€˜Does the rector have a wife?’
    â€˜Yes, most certainly. A
femme formidable
. A big, dominant woman who stands no nonsense. How she gave birth to those two lovely girls I will never know.’
    â€˜Why? Is she plain?’
    â€˜She is what is called handsome, if you understand me.’
    â€˜Yes, I think I do.’
    There was silence while both of them