Page 67 of The Witch of Threadneedle Street

When she was done, she knew not how much time had passed.

At last, she approached the pot. ‘Twas time. With her heart in her throat, she lifted the lid and held her breath.

A pool of gold-tinted brew shimmered there. A flame of hope began to kindle. Careful not to waste a single drop, she poured the brew into two earthen cups.

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

There was enough. Barely.

‘Twas only then she saw Taran still there, leaning against the foot of the table with his arms loosely crossed over his broad chest. “Aye, lass,” he said with a smile. “I dinna doubt ye, not once.”

She wanted to kiss him, but there would be time, later. Instead, she held out one of the cups.

“For Charlotte,” she whispered. “’Twill be best if she drinks from the cup in your hand.” She so very much wished to sit by the young girl’s side, but ‘twas not her place, not this time. She knew it in her heart.

“Aye.” He took the brew reverently, then lifted a brow. “I’ll not send ye to the keep by yourself. Doughall will accompany ye.”

“’Twould please me right well.” Carefully, she picked up Lady Haddon’s cup. “I will join you as quickly as I may.”

With one last touch of her cheek, Taran escorted her through the door and into the afternoon sun.

Doughall arrived, and the exchange between the men was a short one, a mere word of, “Follow,” combined with nods. Then, Taran was striding toward the north tower and the chamber beyond where Charlotte lay.

Moll closed her eyes, willing Charlotte to hold on, and then followed Doughall across the castle grounds. Several of the queen’s guards milling about the keep watched her in outright suspicion, but with Doughall stalking at her side, they kept their distance and didn’t stop them from hurrying into the keep.

At last, they reached the iron-studded door.

“I’ll wait here, my lady,” Doughall announced with a grunt as he dropped his hand to the hilt of his dirk.

My lady. As ever, he was the courteous man. Moll nodded and attempted to smile her thanks, but the stress of the last day and the direness of the occasion were like anchors upon her lips.

The door opened on the first knock.

“Lord Haddon bid me wait for you,” Bridgette whispered as she quickly ushered Moll inside. Her gaze dropped to the cup and her lips trembled as she asked, “Can you save her?”

“I can only hope,” Moll breathed in reply.

“This way.”

A wave of doubt swept over Moll as she followed. What had she done? She wasn’t so strong a witch to attempt such a foolish brew, made of a single stalk. ‘Twas something even her mother couldn’t do. Her hands began to shake. What had she done? Even more, what would Lord Haddon do when she failed?

The smell of death hung heavy in the air of Lady Haddon’s bedchamber. Lord Haddon knelt at his lady’s side, pressing her fingers against his lips. ‘Twas so dark in the room that Moll couldn’t see. She’d have to take care of that first.

“Open the shutters, Bridgette.”

“Nay,” Lord Haddon objected harshly. “The physician ordered them closed.”

“Nay, my lord,” Moll firmly disagreed. “’Tis life that is needed now. Open them, Bridgette, and hurry.”

After only hesitating a moment, Bridgette rushed as bid.

As the sunlight, warm and bright, streamed through the diamond panes, Moll approached the bed.

Her breath caught in her throat. So much had changed in the short time she hadn’t seen Lady Haddon. She’d missed only one restoring brew, but already, ‘twas clear by her shallow breathing and gray pallor that she stood at death’s door.

The silver locket still glittered about her neck, seemingly more alive than she herself. Moll brushed her fingers over its engraved surface. ‘Twas filled with a mother’s love, and doubtless, the only thing still keeping Lady Haddon alive.

The babe in Lady Haddon’s belly stirred as Moll placed an ear against the woman’s swollen abdomen. Concentrating, she closed her eyes and held her breath. As if from miles away, she heard the heartbeat, slow and steady and saw the face of a laughing boy with bright green eyes. The vision startled her, and she blinked and straightened.