“Must be nice. It seems you’ve done all right for yourself. The tea’s hot, and the bread is sliced evenly. I’ll let it slide…this time.” Reaching for the plate, I ripped off a hunk of bread.
Derrick watched me chew. “Now I know where you keep the jam, I’ll get it right next time.”
Next time.
His words caused the bread to catch in the back of my throat. I coughed to loosen it, feeling heat climb my neck. Would there be a next time? And why did the thought make me want to get up even earlier and greet him with something other than a surly attitude and tangled hair? I downed my tea, letting the hot liquid burn the roof of my mouth.
“Let’s get a move on, Detective.” I collected his mug before he could finish, swiping it out of his hand. He didn’t argue but gave me a strange look, which I ignored.
I ignored him in the carriage too.
We parked in front of the apothecary. A light frost painted curlicues on the paned windows, and I shivered beneath the thick fabric of my cloak. Snow flurries tangled in my hair and stuck to my eyelashes, each flake melting on contact. The air tasted of the first bite of winter. I rubbed my numb fingers together and blew into the palms of my hands.
Derrick stood beside me, his gaze on the hanging sign. It swayed in the wind, whining on a rusty hinge. A bustling crowd surged around us, their heads low against the bracing chill.
“Ever been to the apothecary?” I asked, shuffling closer to Derrick to avoid being trampled by a merchant hauling a large sack over his shoulder.
Noticing my near miss, Derrick guided me in front of him. The crowd funneled on either side of us, keeping me out trampling range.
“No, I prefer being treated by a medical professional.”
“You mean, Old Sawbones McAllister? I guess you don’t enjoy living.” I shuddered. The so-called “Doctor” considered leeches to be a medical advancement.
Derrick nudged me toward the entrance. “I enjoy living just fine.”
The iron handle felt icy against my palm. Caught in the warm confines between Derrick and the door, I paused, reluctant to go inside.
“You know, there’s a lot to be said about natural remedies. I bet you didn’t know that ginger root can relieve cold symptoms, and peppermint leaves help with indigestion. In fact…” I trailed off when I noticed Derrick’s eyes glazing over and elbowed him under the ribcage. “You’re not listening.”
Catching my hand, he trapped it between his own and frowned as he rubbed the warmth back into my fingers. “I’m paying attention.” Tilting his head, he cast a wary look into the street.
I pretended to straighten his coat and glanced over his shoulder. A burly man with a turned-up collar lurked in the shadows of a shop canopy. Another man, lanky and grizzled, hovered near a wall of flyers.
“Do you know those men?” he asked.
Apprehension knotted my stomach. I did know them. More importantly, they knew me. Argus’s goons were getting sloppy—unless they wanted me to see them, which was certainly possible. I ignored their less-than-subtle intimidation. He had given me until the end of the month to pay my debt, so they’d leave me alone until then. The bigger problem was keeping Derrick from making the connection between me and the unsavory thugs.
“No. I’ve never seen them before.” The lie burned in my throat. I knew it made things more complicated, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. Our partnership was rocky at best, and any hint I might have an ulterior motive would get me thrown off the case. After my talk with Ella, I couldn’t jeopardize her trust. It was better this way. I could handle Argus on my own.
Derrick’s lips thinned. He stared me down, searching for the lie, but I was seamless.
Plastering a smile on my face, I pushed open the door. Waves of heat instantly thawed my bones, and I breathed in the sulfurous smell mixed with invasive pungent herbs. A weaker constitution would have run screaming. Derrick nearly did. He covered his nose with his coat sleeve.
“Come here.” I laughed and pulled him toward a bowl of a waxy substance. “Hold still.” I dabbed some onto a fingertip and lifted it near his nose. “It’s lemon balm, to mask the smell. It’s also very calming.”
He relaxed under the pleasant scent, breathing normally again. “And you wonder why I avoid places like this.”
“Can I help you?” A woman emerged from the back room and rounded the counter. Her gray apron covered a long purple gown with wide sleeves.
“Yes, you can. I’m Detective Chambers from the royal agency, and this is my assistant, Miss Daniels. We’re looking for information regarding a specific herb and the names of anyone who supplies it.”
The woman hesitated, eyeing us cautiously. An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
Derrick cleared his throat. “We’ll need a list of—”
“You have a beautiful shop,” I interrupted, admiring a display of glass jars. “I hear you have the largest selection of aromatic oils in the kingdom. I dabble myself, but I haven’t mastered the extraction process. Do you prefer the steam method?”
The woman gave me an encouraging smile. “I do prefer the steam method, it enhances the oils. I didn’t realize you practiced perfumery.”
