Hawthorn & Bitter

I observed Lady Alicia covertly as we traversed through the house. She was beautiful, that rumor was true. The things men and women in Enniston had said about her looks were accurate, though I could now observe the subtleties. For example, her dark hair, neatly pinned up for the most part, seemed to want to slip out of its coils and frame her face most elegantly. As we rounded a corner, I had a fleeting moment to observe her eyes, which many had commented on as being cold and mysterious. I agreed that there were many mysteries behind them, but though I tried, I could not sense any of the cold nature so often spoken of. I stole several more glances as we neared the kitchens, but I could only observe Lady Alicia’s ocean blue eyes as being quite lovely. As we walked, I realized that I was getting as carried away as anyone in Enniston. Based on my observations, it was no surprise that Lady Alicia knew she could have any man she wanted. Anyone with her privilege would of course be full of pretension. When we reached the kitchens, Emma turned to Lady Alicia and curtsied. “You need not stay, my lady.” “And miss the brewing of the magical herbs?” Lady Alicia scoffed, “This is the most interesting thing that has happened to me all day!” Emma sighed as she put a hand to the door, but nodded. No one in the kitchens seemed surprised to see Lady Alicia, though I could tell they were on-guard now that a Broderick was in their midst. I tried to remember to look up, as opposed to at the floor, and smile in friendly greeting, as Edith had coached me. “Lets others know what’s on your inside,” She would remind me, “Share a bit of your light.” I wasn’t so sure Edith knew what she was talking about in those moments, but I tried to trust her. “What will you be needing, miss?” Emma asked me. I showed her my parcels of fresh and dried herbs, and asked for cold, clean water and a cooking pot suitable for boiling water. I also asked for hard spirits, and a large glass jar. Immediately, both Emma and Lady Alicia set to work procuring those things, bringing them back to me, and watching as I began preparations for a batch of headache tincture. As I started with the decoction of the sturdier herbs over the stove, I felt a presence beside me, and tried to remain calm. “What are those?” Lady Alicia asked of the dried feverfew leaves. I had not expected her to speak to me, and was frustrated at how nervous I was. I stirred the herbs and hoped that the heat from the pot could be blamed for the rising flush in my cheeks. “Chrysanthemum parthenium,” I recited the scientific name Edith had taught me. I mentioned a few of the herb’s properties and benefits to Lady Alicia. “Headache cure? That’s exactly what mother needs. Of course you know that. That’s why you’re here. I didn’t know though. There must be so much I don’t know about plants!” Surprisingly, she was interested, and I was delighted to have someone to listen. I had wanted to dislike her, but was caught off-guard by her friendly demeanor. I told her how to keep the infusions covered in order to preserve the beneficial oils, and discussed which herbs could be combined most successfully, and which should not be taken together. My anxiety came and went as I immersed myself in my work. I found that if I kept my hands busy, and did not look at her directly, I could enjoy both the medicine-making, and the company. Despite my attempts at indifference, I enjoyed the way she spoke to me. She was respectful in a way I had not anticipated. I could almost pretend we were both just going about our household duties. “What else?” Lady Alicia asked, after carrying a kettle of boiling water over to where I then took it and poured it into a bowl of herbs for a slow-brewing tisane. As I stirred, I realized I had forgotten the thyme. “Oh dear, oh dear…” I muttered to myself, trying not to curse in front of a lady, but all the while wondering what would happen if I created this herbal tea without one of its crucial ingredients. “What is it?” Lady Alicia looked at me, alarmed. Her gaze held my own, and temporarily distracted me from the task at hand. “Thyme!” Was all I could manage, what with the unfortunate predicament I was in, and the way Lady Alicia was looking at me. As I mentioned the herb however, she dashed over to the far corner of the kitchen. I watched as she garnered a stool from one of the kitchen maids, and climbed up on it to reach one of the many bundles of dried herbs. I noticed not only thyme, but sage, basil, and nettle. Lady Alicia brought the bundle of thyme back over to the table where I stood, and studied it carefully. Then she took a sprig, and tucked it into her hair. My mouth dropped open before I could remember my manners, and I wondered what she was doing. Then she tossed a stem in my direction, before carrying the bundle back to the corner and hanging it with the rest of the herbs. I looked down at the long green sprig, fingering the tiny leaves. What a peculiar woman she was.