Page 43 of A Potion for Passion

Wasn’t now as good a time as any?

“Flora!” he exclaimed cheerfully, as he unlaced the wagon flap and let her in. “What brings you here?”

“I just thought, as you’re staying here tonight, we could talk about tomorrow’s show. What’s that delicious smell?”

A chill scudded through his veins. Never before had he manipulated anyone with his nostrums. Could he really go through with this?

Act,he told himself. He’d been an actor for years—he could do this. “Oh, it’s just a potion to induce sleep,” he said airily. “Nothing too powerful, but I’m going to take some tonight. It can get noisy in the inn yard.”

“That sounds quite remarkable. If it tastes as good as it smells, we should advertise it tomorrow.”

Bless her, for the faith she had in him! Yet another reason to remedy his feelings for her.

He turned away. “Indeed,” he agreed, adding cold water to his mixture and taking a sip. “Hmm, very warming. But I can’t start selling it untested.”

“Well, I’ve been sleeping badly over the last couple of nights. I’ll help you test it,” she offered.

This was too good to be true.

Should his conscience be pricking him? No. Nipping these inappropriate feelings in the bud would be helping both of them. And prevent an untenable situation from developing that could change their lives forever…and not for the better.

Feeling like a wicked stepmother from a folktale, he strained the mixture into two horn cups and handed one to her. “Here’s to an untroubled night’s sleep,” he said, avoiding her eyes. This was the right thing to do.

“Wait.”

He jumped guiltily. “What?”

“How quickly does it take effect? Perhaps I should take it with me when I go back and not drink it until I’m in bed.”

That wouldn’t do, at all. Too many things could go wrong. “Best take it here, just in case. If it upsets your stomach, I’ve all my cures to hand.”

“I trust you not to poison me, Lawrence,” she said, laughing. “Your good health!”

She took a hearty sip, and so did he, but he barely tasted it for the conflicting emotions raging in his breast.

Surely, this was the best course for both of them. And if this anti-love philter worked, he could bottle and sell it, too. He couldn’t be the only one in the world developing feelings for the wrong person.

“So, what’s this you’re working on?” Flora inquired, moving across to look at his notebook. “Is this the herbal you plan to publish?”

He leaped up quickly to remove the book, but she was already leaning over it.

“An anti-love philter?” She turned to him with a frown.

Now would be a good time for him to invent an invisibility potion.

“Yes,” he blustered. “I thought people might find it useful. Ladies could deter unwanted suitors by giving it to them.”

“And men could deter ardent females they wanted nothing to do with,” she said, shooting him a penetrating look.

“It probably won’t work, anyway.”

“Just a moment.” Her finger jabbed at the list of ingredients he’d scrawled down. “Honey, port wine, cinnamon. And some Lady’s Smock flower. It’s what we’re drinking now, isn’t it?”

“Of course not!” he exclaimed, rolling his eyes. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

The atmosphere in the wagon changed dramatically. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

“You forget, Lawrence,” she said icily, “that I’ve been with you for over a fortnight and have tasted most of your remedies. I know what’s in them. And I know you. There is guilt written all over your face.”