The Apothecary's Daughter (30 page)

“Mr. Haswell is occupied in his surgery at present,” she would
say, “but I shall nip in and ask him what he would recommend.”
She would indeed ask, “Father, what would you recommend for Mr.
James’s rheumatism? ” Her father would usually try to rouse himself,
sometimes asking for clarification and offering sound advice. But when
he could not, she would continue on as though he had. “Yes, the same
symptoms as before. Do you think he ought to stay with Burridge’s
Specific, or try another? Very well, I shall let him know….”

Fortunately, she had known what to dispense for the few ailments
presented to her so far mostly by patients they’d had for many years.
She would not risk anyone’s health. But neither would she send a paying
customer to Shuttleworth’s or Dr. Foster until absolutely necessary.

In the meantime, she wrote another letter.

Dear Miss Lippert,

I have returned to my father’s apothecary shop in Bedsley
Priors. Like you, we also now face greater competition. I am
seeking to help my father compete against a young new surgeonapothecary. I remember our discussion about your brother’s keen
business sense, and I myself witnessed your skills in displays and
ladies’ items. I wonder if I might I ask your advice as well as
that of your brother and father?

Polly Lippert wrote back promptly, including a kindly penned
list of the most popular ladies’ items, toilet articles, and perfumes in
their shop. The letter included a few lines written in the shaky hand of
Polly’s father, saying he would be happy to offer what advice he could
and that his son, George, would write to her directly. A few days later,
she received a letter from George Lippert himself.

On his advice, she ordered new exotics, new patent remedies, and
even an “electricity machine,” reportedly highly effective in the treatment of epilepsy, gout, and other disorders of the nerves. Following
Polly’s list, Lilly ordered French perfumes and cosmetics and other pretty things London ladies liked. She got rid of the jar of putrid bear
grease and in its place displayed fragrant Macassar oil from India,
which promised to “bestow an inestimable gloss and scent, rendering
the hair inexpressibly attracting.”

She updated all the displays, adding feminine touches like a vase
of flowers and a fabric runner in the window display. She set out bowls
of dried flower petals and cinnamon to sweeten the air. She offered free
samples of ready-made items like skin lotions and breath tablets. She
prayed as she balanced the ledgers and then, prayed some more.

Francis Baylor opened Haswell’s back door as he had without
thought all the years he’d lived at the shop. He supposed he should
have gone around to the front, but he already had his foot in the door
and wanted to see how Mr. Haswell was faring. Mostly, however, he
wanted to see Lilly.

When he stepped inside, he saw her standing before the laboratorykitchen cupboards. She looked sharply at him over her shoulder. “Oh,
Francis! You startled me.”

“I should have knocked. Forgive me.”

“That’s all right …” She was clearly distracted, pawing through
drawers, crates, and tins.

“What is it?” he asked. “What are you looking for?”

She hesitated, then sighed. He realized she was whispering. “I was
sure Father would have plenty of calcium phosphate. I have already
searched the drawers and jars in the shop. Have you any idea if he’d
begun storing it elsewhere?”

“No. It was always in its jar on the shelves out front.”

Lilly pressed her hands over her eyes.

“Lilly … ?” Francis grew concerned.

“A new family in Honeystreet has the ague. All six children. The
mother is in the shop now. When I did not find any fever powder, I
told her I would just step into the back to prepare some fresh for her. Now I shall have to send her to Shuttleworth’s. Can you help her? A
Mrs. Todd Hurst. In those new lodgings on Chimney Lane?”

“I know it.”

Lilly shook her head. “Such a fine prospect. Her husband a trained
barge builder. Six children … I dare not wait any longer. I must admit
defeat and hand the family to you.”

Francis had not seen Lilly so discouraged since the first few days
after her return, and he did not like to see her so now. He held up his
palm. “Don’t say anything. Get the calcined antimony and sleeves
ready.”

“But we haven’t-“

But Francis was already out the door.

Wringing her hands and pacing, Lilly tried to pray but only succeeded in worrying and feeling guilty. Treating the children promptly
was so much more important than who provided the remedy. She
should have sent Mrs. Hurst to Shuttleworth’s directly. But she was
sure her father would have the materia medica. Was it so wrong to
want to prove Haswell’s still viable? Make a sale? She chuckled dryly.
If her London friends could see her now and witness her thinking like a
tradesman! She should simply march back into the shop and explain to
Mrs. Hurst that she would not be able to supply her needs after all.

The back door banged open and Francis barged in, pottery jar
in arms. “Come on, we’ve powder to prepare. You can box my ears
later.”

“I was not going to box your ears,” Lilly whispered. In fact she
felt like embracing him. Instead, she turned her attention to the fever
powder.

As the two worked side by side, Lilly surveyed his deft motions.
“You have become quite good at this.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Well…”

He held out his hand for the sleeves. “I should be glad you went
away to London.”

The words startled her.

“Turns out your leaving was good for me,” he continued. “I had
to learn to do things myself. When you were here, it was easier to
ask you rather than haul out those cumbersome tomes and find the
answer myself. Took more time, but in the end, I remembered the
answers.

“I am glad someone benefited from my absence.”

“I did not say I was glad you went away. Nor am I sorry you’ve
returned.”

How final that sounded. Uncomfortable, she merely nodded.

“If only you were not sorry,” Francis said wistfully.

She hesitated, but thought of no suitable answer.

Francis rubbed his palms together. “Now, what else do we need?”

In short order, they had the medicine in individual paper sleeves
ready for Mrs. Hurst. She squeezed his arm and whispered, “Thank
you.

With a faint smile, he covered her stained fingers with his own.

Lilly returned to the front of the shop to apologize for the delay and
explain the dosages to the mother. Once Lilly had paid Mr. Shuttleworth
for the calcium phosphate, she would make little profit on the sale, but
hopefully Haswell’s had gained a customer who would return often.

The following week, Lilly opened a letter from her aunt with some
trepidation. How would she respond to the news that Lilly would not
be returning after all?

Dear Lillian,

Your letter was both bane and balm. How your uncle and I
feared you would be drawn in to your former life there. All our
efforts in vain. I confess this is the second letter I have begun
to you since reading yours. The first was a blatant attempt to
convince you to return at once. Filled with details of all you were
missing, of all that might be. Utterly selfish, I realize now. Well,
not utterly I sincerely believe you could be a success in town yet.
But of course you must stay as long as your father needs you. I witnessed that noble quality in you when we first met when you
were so eager for your brother to have every advantage you have
since enjoyed. We admired your selfless loyalty then. How could
we think the less of you for the same honorable trait now?

My dear, what balm your kind words of affection delivered.
I know I said this would very likely be your last season, but I
certainly do not want you to imagine that you have spent your
last days here with us. You are ever welcome, Lillian. We hope
that when things with your father are in hand, you may yet return
to us, if not for securing a suitor, then for enjoying the felicity
of society with those here who love and admire you your uncle
and I chief among them.

What is the situation with your father? You were quite vague,
my dear, and if that was your intention, I shall pry no further. But
if there is anything we can do to help, you have only to ask.

In that light, I am enclosing a bank draft. Please do not
refuse it. In all truth, I had every intention of sending this
amount home with you to help address whatever situation you
found there. But at the last, I withheld all but a token amount,
scheming again, I confess, to keep you on a short tether in hopes
of hastening your return. You see how we depend on your company! Please forgive my foolishness and gratify me by using the
funds as will do you and your father the most good.

Do write back and keep us apprised of your situation there.

We remain,

Your loving aunt and uncle

How kind they were! How the affectionate words even the
admission of machinations brought warmth and longing to Lilly’s
heart and made her miss her dear aunt and uncle all the more. And
with the much-needed funds they enclosed, she could pay Francis back
for the things he’d procured for them, place new orders, and begin
chipping away at her father’s other debts.

She would be so relieved to fulfill past obligations and start anew.
Still, she could not deny that her aunt’s letter stirred embers of longing
for all she would miss in London. Besides the Elliotts, would anyone
in London miss her?

A skillful leech is better far than half a hundred men of war.

SAMUEL BUTLER, ENGLISH SATIRIST

illy was surprised a few days later when Mr. Shuttleworth knocked
on the shop door with his walking stick an affectation she knew
to be all the crack in London.

“Mr. Shuttleworth! How do you do?”

He cleared his throat. “As a matter of fact, Miss Haswell, I am …
concerned.”