How like a cat to be indifferent to wolves.
Ezra led the way, ducking underneath the low lintel, with Tej and Rhys following. As Jessica entered, her nose caught even more unusual scents: resin and strange green fragrances, with hints of spice and citrus beneath.
She blinked to adjust from the brightness outside to the dimness within. When at last she could see, details emerged: heavy trestle tables covered with mortars and pestles, baskets of dried flowers, with more desiccated blossoms and plants hanging from the rafters, and glass bottles filled with liquids of all hues lining shelves along the rough plaster walls. A small iron cauldron bubbled in the hearth, dampening the air with herbal steam.
Another cat, this one a pretty gray tabby with long, silky fur, wound around Jessica’s ankles before finding a spot in the window to observe the yard outside.
A small, thin man came forward, wiping his hands on his apron. Reddish hair sprouted from around his head in russet clouds, and his eyebrows were equally red and wild. Those eyebrows rose when he beheld Ezra, Rhys, and Tej, though he tugged on his forelock when he caught sight of Jessica.
“Mr. Brody,” the man said, in a surprisingly deep voice for one so spare and slight. “Mr. Mehta and Mr. Davis. I…is there something you need? Are you ill? If you tell me your ailments, I can find something in my stores or, if you’ve time, I can prepare something to meet your needs.”
“Hale as always, Mr. Gunner.” Ezra glanced at Jessica. “Our local apothecary, is Mr. Gunner.”
“I gathered,” Jessica answered dryly.
“Fourth generation.” The apothecary puffed out his narrow chest. “Learned the trade from my mother, and she learned it from her mother, and so on. They say my great-grandmother Thomasina would provide tinctures and remedies to Good Queen Bess when her royal quacks could not heal her infirmities.”
“An admirable heritage,” Jessica said, with a respectful nod.
“My mother always lamented that she had a son and not a daughter,” Mr. Gunner continued, “yet she broke with tradition and taught her vocation to me.”
“I’m certain you make her proud.”
“Your kindness is immeasurable, madam.” The apothecary beamed at her before turning to Ezra, Tej, and Rhys. “If you gentlemen and the lady are not ailing, I’m not certain I can assist you.”
“It isn’t us who requires assistance,” Tej said. “But others do.”
Ezra pulled a stack of coins from the diminishing pouch and handed them to the astonished Mr. Gunner. “This is payment upfront for Daniel and Iris Church. Their babe, Will, is poorly and needs your remedies. It would be much appreciated if you could visit them tonight.”
“Of course,” the apothecary said at once. “But this is surely too much to cover the treatment for one small child.”
“That amount is to ensure that anyone who seeks your preparations can afford them,” Tej explained.
“It should cover at least ten people,” Rhys added.
“More,” Mr. Gunner said decisively. “Over a dozen families, I should say. It always pains me when I cannot treat someone because they lack funds. I do what I can with what I have, but…I must feed myself…rent to pay…and there are costs that must be shouldered.” He spread his hands.
“Then this will help you help them,” Ezra said.
The apothecary dipped his head in gratitude before Tej approached him. As they talked in low voices, Jessica stepped closer to Ezra.
“At this rate,” she murmured, “you’ll have nothing left for yourselves.”
He shrugged. “We’ll find a means to manage.”
“There are always more carriages on the Essex road,” Rhys threw in. “More men like your former employer, with sparse charitable impulses but ample purses.”
She almost smiled—the Welshman was on the other side of the apothecary shop, yet his sharp lupine senses allowed him to hear things an ordinary human might not.
The church bell tolled five of the clock, and both Ezra and Rhys frowned.
“The next mail coach is at half past the hour,” Ezra said flatly. “Then nothing until tomorrow morning.”
“Where is the coaching inn?”
“At the other end of the village. If we leave now, you’ll have quarter of an hour to purchase your seat.”
She could find nothing to say in response. Her time with them was shortening at a disheartening pace, yet what could she do? London was her home, all she knew of how to exist.
