Of Monsters and Madness (18 page)

After my quarrel with Father, I cannot bear the thought of having anyone else upset with me.

I’m in the middle of washing my face, when there’s a knock at the door. “Come in,” I call out.

Maddy enters. She’s silent as she helps me get dressed. When I turn back around to face her, her fingers lock together nervously. “I felt awfully bad when we came upon the Master an’ Grandmaster this
morning, Miss Annabel. I did not mean for trouble to come to you.”

“It was my choice to help your mother, and it’s one I would gladly make again. Do not be concerned.”

“Thank you fer helping me,” she says earnestly. “I was sick to my soul with worry about what to do. If you wouldn’t’ve come …” Maddy shakes her head. “I never could’ve paid a doctor myself.”

“Let’s hope what I did will be enough. I’m not a doctor yet.”

“It’s more than I could’ve done on my own,” she replies. “That has to count for something.”

She nods eagerly, and I smile at her. But my smile falters. “Do you think … do you think I’m abnormal because of my interest in medicine? Perhaps it is not natural. Perhaps it would be better if only men were doctors and—”

“If only men were to be int’rested in such things, we would surely be in a sorry place,” she interrupts. “You have a good an’ kind heart. There is nothing abnormal about that.
Nothing
.”

“But Father thinks it is unseemly.”

“Forgive me, but the Master also thinks the sun rises up ev’ry day just for him.” She lets out a short
laugh, and then her face turns serious. “You have a gift, Annabel, an’ surely it would be more of a spite to God’s face to not use the gift he gave you than to not follow yer father’s decree.”

“You’re right, Maddy. I should not let him make such a decision for me.”

She blushes and touches something at her neck. When she moves her hand away, I see a string around her throat.

I peer closer at it. “What’s that, Maddy?”

She pulls the string from beneath her collar, drawing out a tarnished oval locket. “Mama gave me this long ago.” Her face is filled with happiness as she gazes down at it. “I wanted to wear it today to keep her close.” She holds the locket out for me to see, and then places it next to her heart once more.

“It’s beautiful, Maddy. I’m sure you treasure it.” Turning toward the bed, I lift my pillow and remove the zodiac book. “I do the same thing with a book my mother gave me. I carry it with me so I’ll never be alone.”

Maddy blinks rapidly and looks away. When she’s regained her composure, she says, “Come an’ take a seat at the desk now, miss. Let’s finish yer toilet before I go all soft in the eyes.”

My lessons with Mrs. Tusk go very well, and she even offers me a begrudging compliment for my recitation of the French alphabet. When we stop for lunch, Maddy tells me that a message from Madame LaFleur has just been received.

“Yer dresses are ready earlier than Madame thought,” she says. “They are to be delivered tomorrow.”

“Would it be improper for me to pick the dresses up, rather than waiting for them to be delivered? I long to be free of this gown I’ve been wearing ever since I stepped foot off the ship from Siam.”

“Not if you send yer maid,” she says with a smile.

“May I go with you? I hoped to stop at the apothecary again to see if they have coconuts.”

“Of course, Miss Annabel.”

As soon as Mrs. Tusk has finished our afternoon lessons, and taken her leave, I find Maddy and we set out for the marketplace. But when we reach Madame LaFleur’s shop, I hesitate. I remember what she said about associating with Father. Will she be unhappy to see me, as well? What if she turns me away?

“Are you sure she will not be offended by the fact
that I did not wait for the wardrobe to be delivered?” I ask.

“Servants often fetch deliveries,” Maddy explains. “I’ll tell Madame you simply could not wait another moment to see her handiwork. She’ll be pleased grand by that.”

“As long as you’re sure …?”

Maddy nods and enters Madame LaFleur’s shop. She returns moments later with several packages wrapped in brown paper tied neatly with string. I offer to help her carry them, but she gives me a stern look. “Yer place,” she reminds me.

“Of course,” I say ruefully. “How could I forget?” We cross the street to the apothecary, and a woman behind the counter greets us. I look to see if there are any coconuts available, but unfortunately, there are none to be found. Something else on the shelf catches my eye, though. “You have angel trumpet?”

The woman glances at me apologetically. “Can you point to what you’re referring to?”

I gesture to the white, bell-shaped flower. I recognize it from home. It’s highly poisonous, and coming into contact with the blooms can cause a deathlike sleep.

“My apologies, I’m not familiar with everything in our shipments. My husband is normally the one who …” She grows flustered. “… who deals with such things.”

“Oh, are you Mrs. Williams?” I ask.

She nods, but looks down at the floor.

“Mr. Williams was very helpful the last time I came in. I hope he’s not ill.” She shakes her head and tears fill her eyes, but she does not say anything more. I share a look with Maddy and then briefly bow to Mrs. Williams. “I do not see anything I wish to purchase today. Thank you for your time.”

She mumbles a soft reply as Maddy and I leave the shop behind. I don’t have a chance to ask Maddy what she thought of such strange behavior, though, because a young boy is yelling in the streets. Several people have paused to listen, while a cap at his feet collects spare coins.

“Murder’s been committed!” he calls. “Murder most foul! Body found missing the heart!”

“Who is that?” I ask Maddy.

“A news crier. Says what’s happened before they can print up the news.”

Someone next to me shouts that the information is
too vulgar for the ears of women and children, while the person beside him shouts for more: “Missing the heart? What’s happened to it?”

“It was found beneath the floorboards of an empty house,” the crier replies.

“When did it happen?” someone else yells.

“Early this morning,” he answers back. “The gent worked at this very marketplace—at the apothecary!”

The crowd goes silent, but my heartbeat is suddenly echoing loudly in my ears.
It cannot be. It must not be …

“Mr. Williams,” the crier says. “It was Mr. Williams.”

Seventeen

M
addy and I are made somber by the news from the market, and when we arrive home, she silently unwraps the packages. I should be thrilled by the sight of the dresses, but I’m consumed with troubled thoughts. So much has happened with Father that I’d almost forgotten there is a murderer on the streets. Now to hear poor Mr. Williams is one of the victims …

Telling Maddy that I’m going for a walk, I slip down the back staircase and out into the courtyard. The air is cool, and the sun is rapidly sinking behind
clouds. The door on the far side of the courtyard stands open, and I see Brahm coming through it from the alleyway beyond.

He stops for a moment, and turns to speak to someone behind him. Then Father awkwardly steps through the door. He hands Brahm a piece of paper, and they speak again before Brahm nods and goes back through the door. Father continues across the courtyeard. Before he can see me, I move quickly back into the kitchen.

I wait on the staircase as he enters, thumping across the floor. I hear the sound of keys dropping and a muttered curse, followed by a door opening and closing. He must have gone down to his laboratory.

I leave my hiding spot, wondering if Brahm was one of the men I saw making a delivery for Father in the dead of night. Was it the horse’s head? Is that how Father receives the strange specimens he keeps in jars?

The sound of voices interrupts my thoughts, and I head toward the great room as I hear Maddy greeting someone at the door. I quicken my pace when I hear Allan’s voice returning her greeting. He’s dressed in a white shirt again, and dark pants. He smiles when he seems me, then bows and takes my hand.

Maddy watches our exchange with a hint of a smile,
then discreetly excuses herself. Allan gently touches my cheek.

“Is something the matter?” he asks. Concern fills his eyes. “You look upset.”

“I was with Maddy at the market when there was news of another murder. The victim was Mr. Williams, the apothecary owner. I’d just spoken with him a few days ago.”

His finger slides down to my chin, and he lifts my face. “I’m sorry, Annabel. I wish I could take this pain from you.”

I stare into his eyes for just a moment before he claims my mouth with his own. His fingers move down to my shoulders, across my rib cage, and wrap around my waist.

Even through the thick fabric of my dress, I can feel his touch as if there is nothing between us. A shiver runs through me. My breath is stolen again and again, until he finally breaks away. “Your father expects me. I must go.”

His breathing is ragged. I can feel his heart pounding.

I stand on tiptoe to wrap my arms around his neck.

“Annabel …” He breathes my name and, with a
groan, gives in and frames my face with his hands. They are rough against my skin, but the feeling of being connected to him, of feeling this unnamed
something
that burns like fire between us, makes me long for more. Our lips meet one last time and then I relent, pulling back so he may take his leave and go to Father.

“I’m sorry to have kept you.” I touch my scarf, and then place my hands on my cheeks. They are so very warm.

His collar is crooked and his left shirtsleeve has come unbuttoned. He sets himself to rights, and I give him a shy smile as he says, “I would gladly miss a thousand appointments for more time with you.” He traces my cheek. “I’ll have a break tomorrow morning. Can I persuade you to take a stroll in the courtyard to watch the sunrise?”

“I would not miss it for the world.”

Allan catches my fingers and gives my hand a quick kiss. “Tomorrow morning at seven fifteen, then. I’ll see you in the—”

He’s suddenly interrupted by a loud banging at the front door. It continues until he strides over and opens it.