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Chapter seventeen

Uncovered

“Ah.ThelovelyMistress Evans. I wondered when I would see you again.” John Dee looked up from a book he was poring over.

“How did you know you would see me again? Are you a fortune teller?” He wore the same black robe and his hair looked as if it had not seen a comb for the past week.

“I am not a fortune teller, but I can cast an astrological chart that shows broad patterns and possibilities. I could draw up your chart if you would like. You have the mark of destiny about you. Do you know what time you were born?” He indicated for her to take a chair.

“I do happen to know. I had a twin brother. I was born a few minutes before midnight, he a few minutes after. The midwife noted the chimes.”

“And the date?”

“August ten, fifteen eighty-four.”

“Naturally. A Leo. I shall draw up your chart and have it sent to you, unless you would like to come visiting again? No? I thought not. Years ago I had many beautiful young women visit my chambers. Alas, those days are gone.”

“For the purposes of charting their destiny or plundering their skirts?”

John Dee roared with laughter. “Oh I like that expression, plundering their skirts. A bit of both. Never an innocent, mind you. I am a man who has always admired knowledge over ignorance in whatever form it takes. I presume you have come here for a reason and not merely to admire my crystal or to remind an old man of his wicked past?”

Lucinda was intent on gazing into the crystal. It was a most fascinating object the way it split the light into rainbows. She should think carefully about what she wanted to ask, but instead, as usual, she blurted out what was on her mind.

“I would like some more of that brew you gave to Rosalind. I have other friends with the same need of recall.” He sat for a very long time stroking his white beard and considered her request for such a length of time she needed to check if he was still breathing. If he died on her that would be very awkward and hard to explain and not terribly pleasant for him either.

“I shall give you the brew as long as your friends are a similar size to the other unfortunate young woman. The weight of the person is important. The wrong dose can be lethal.”

“They are close enough, I believe.”

“Very well but you need to know I only have enough for one person. Some of the ingredients are hard to come by and can only be harvested at a certain time of year.”

“I would follow your instructions precisely. How much does it cost?”

“I do not want nor need any coin. I would prefer payment in kind. It takes quite a deal of time to prepare an astrological chart. When I finish preparing yours, I would like you to collect it personally. I am in need of conversation and company. You see, I am so old most of my friends have died, and it is rare to encounter someone who raises my curiosity. The curse of getting old is that you have seen it all before. I was very close to our dear Queen Elizabeth, God rest her soul. You remind me of her when she was young. You have the same fire in your belly and quick tongue.”

She looked at the old man and did not see any deception or evil intent, just a lonely old man living on past glory, passed over for younger men. “That payment seems quite fair. I would be satisfied with that arrangement. I hope I do not disappoint you. I am not really anything exceptional.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

The next Wednesday she brought the brew out from its hiding place in her chamber pot, it being the only place she could think of that her grandmother would not look or touch. When all the Sisters of the Sword arrived, she told them she had acquired the “truth serum“.

“I knew you could do it,” Lizzie said, hopping on the spot with excitement.

“Who goes first?” Maud asked, her light brown eyes wide and anxious.

“Ah,” Lucinda said, “we have a decision to make. I was only able to acquire enough for one.”

“Then I shall take it.” Lizzie pushed her way forward. “It was my idea.”

“It was indeed your idea, though I wonder if Maud might have more need of it. Please correct me if I am wrong, but since Maud was a virgin when she was attacked, her mind may have found more reason to keep the details buried.”

There was a loud outbreak of noise as they each jumped in with an opinion until Lucinda raised up her hands and implored them to hush. “Why don’t we put it to the vote? That would be the fairest way to decide.”

“Let us all stand behind the person we think should have the brew,” Moll suggested.

A few moments later after much scuffling and shifting it was clear who would be drinking the truth potion. Only Annie lined up behind Lizzie. No surprise, since they were best friends. Moll, Rosalind and Lucinda lined up behind Maud. Lizzie was clearly unhappy, going by the scowl that clouded her face, but did not have the numbers to go against the decision.

“Might we do it now,” Maud said. “I would like to get it over with.” A perfectly sensible request. Doing it straight away also allowed more time for her to recover if the brew had any ill-effect as opposed to doing it at the end of their fencing lesson.

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