out. "We've arrived. The apothecary's shop is down the block, tucked in the alley. I'll wait here."
Kate sighed, wondering how she could convince Melanie to heed her warnings. Stamford could drink a thousand gallons of the drug, without it producing any change in his behavior. He was despicable, would trifle with his own stepmother, with Kate, herself, so in what other debauchery might he engage? What female would willingly tie herself to such a dissolute villain?
She switched tactics. "Melanie, you've met Lord Stamford. You saw what he's like."
"So?"
"Your mission is fruitless."
"It is not. Mother claims he's very eager. Especially with his being aware of how pretty I am."
"She's hoping, Melanie." It was perilous to contradict Regina, so Kate was treading on hazardous ground. Regina often infuriated Melanie, but Melanie would never admit that her mother might be lying to her. "What if he proposes? He's so much older than you, so much more experienced and sophisticated."
"Are you implying that I'm not good enough for him?"
"No! I'm merely pointing out that he's not the man for you. You'll be miserable."
65
" I will not," she mutinously insisted.
"There are so many boys in town for the Season. They're closer in age, and they enjoy the same hobbies and diversions. Why don't you broaden your search? You needn't settle on him from the very beginning."
"Mother has decreed that it will be Stamford and no other, so I have no doubt he will be my husband." Bitterly, she added, "So shut up, and fetch me that potion!"
She yanked at the door and shove d Kate out, and a footman rushed up to steady her as she maneuvered the stairs.
They shared a wan smile, neither shocked by Melanie's temper. Her moods erupted frequently, and as Kate walked down the street, she pondered how intertwined her life was with Melanie's, how odd their association.
Kate had been born with everything and had had it snatched away. Melanie had been born with nothing but had had great wealth and position showered upon her, yet they were both unhappy.
Kate entered the shop, and as she glanced around, a bell jangled. It was a quaint place, filled with exotic odors and potted plants. The walls were lined with shelves containing peculiar bottles and jars.
The proprietor emerged from the rear, and Kate could barely keep from laughing aloud. Attired as he was in a flowing robe, he might have leapt from the pages of an ancient tale of dragons and knights. His hair was silvery, and he wore a pointy cap.
"May I help you?" he inquired.
66
"Yes," Kate answered. "A few days ago, an acquaintance of mine purchased a love potion from you, and I would like to buy another. For her. Not for me."
"Another?" he gasped. "The ingredients are very powerful. I wouldn't feel comfortable dispensing more."
She retrieved the wad of bills Melanie had provided and pushed them toward him, figuring cash on the counter would spur a different decision. Melanie could be insufferable, and Kate wouldn't climb into the carriage without a new vial.
"I dropped the first one. It broke."
Suspicious, he studied her. "You must guarantee that you haven't administered it to the gentleman of interest. I can't have you overwhelming him with a double dose, for there's no predicting what mischief you might render. If the poor chap grew too enamored, his heart could fail. I won't be responsible for ... for murder."
"Oh for pity's sake." She rolled her eyes and raised her hand as if taking an oath. "I swear I dropped it."
"Well, then ... I expect I could be persuade d — i f the price is right."
"I'm not giving you a penny more, yo u charlatan. This is all the money I have."
"No need to get huffy." He traipsed to the adjacent room, and after a lengthy delay, he brought her another vial, which she tucked into her reticule.
She was about to leave, but at the last second, she paused. Since she was positive he was a fraud, she hated to quiz him, but she didn't know where else to
Kate sighed, wondering how she could convince Melanie to heed her warnings. Stamford could drink a thousand gallons of the drug, without it producing any change in his behavior. He was despicable, would trifle with his own stepmother, with Kate, herself, so in what other debauchery might he engage? What female would willingly tie herself to such a dissolute villain?
She switched tactics. "Melanie, you've met Lord Stamford. You saw what he's like."
"So?"
"Your mission is fruitless."
"It is not. Mother claims he's very eager. Especially with his being aware of how pretty I am."
"She's hoping, Melanie." It was perilous to contradict Regina, so Kate was treading on hazardous ground. Regina often infuriated Melanie, but Melanie would never admit that her mother might be lying to her. "What if he proposes? He's so much older than you, so much more experienced and sophisticated."
"Are you implying that I'm not good enough for him?"
"No! I'm merely pointing out that he's not the man for you. You'll be miserable."
65
" I will not," she mutinously insisted.
"There are so many boys in town for the Season. They're closer in age, and they enjoy the same hobbies and diversions. Why don't you broaden your search? You needn't settle on him from the very beginning."
"Mother has decreed that it will be Stamford and no other, so I have no doubt he will be my husband." Bitterly, she added, "So shut up, and fetch me that potion!"
She yanked at the door and shove d Kate out, and a footman rushed up to steady her as she maneuvered the stairs.
They shared a wan smile, neither shocked by Melanie's temper. Her moods erupted frequently, and as Kate walked down the street, she pondered how intertwined her life was with Melanie's, how odd their association.
Kate had been born with everything and had had it snatched away. Melanie had been born with nothing but had had great wealth and position showered upon her, yet they were both unhappy.
Kate entered the shop, and as she glanced around, a bell jangled. It was a quaint place, filled with exotic odors and potted plants. The walls were lined with shelves containing peculiar bottles and jars.
The proprietor emerged from the rear, and Kate could barely keep from laughing aloud. Attired as he was in a flowing robe, he might have leapt from the pages of an ancient tale of dragons and knights. His hair was silvery, and he wore a pointy cap.
"May I help you?" he inquired.
66
"Yes," Kate answered. "A few days ago, an acquaintance of mine purchased a love potion from you, and I would like to buy another. For her. Not for me."
"Another?" he gasped. "The ingredients are very powerful. I wouldn't feel comfortable dispensing more."
She retrieved the wad of bills Melanie had provided and pushed them toward him, figuring cash on the counter would spur a different decision. Melanie could be insufferable, and Kate wouldn't climb into the carriage without a new vial.
"I dropped the first one. It broke."
Suspicious, he studied her. "You must guarantee that you haven't administered it to the gentleman of interest. I can't have you overwhelming him with a double dose, for there's no predicting what mischief you might render. If the poor chap grew too enamored, his heart could fail. I won't be responsible for ... for murder."
"Oh for pity's sake." She rolled her eyes and raised her hand as if taking an oath. "I swear I dropped it."
"Well, then ... I expect I could be persuade d — i f the price is right."
"I'm not giving you a penny more, yo u charlatan. This is all the money I have."
"No need to get huffy." He traipsed to the adjacent room, and after a lengthy delay, he brought her another vial, which she tucked into her reticule.
She was about to leave, but at the last second, she paused. Since she was positive he was a fraud, she hated to quiz him, but she didn't know where else to
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