Harbor for the Nightingale by Kathleen Baldwin

Author:Kathleen Baldwin
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ink Lion Books

Lyrics for A Lie

Lord Kinsworth covers my hand as it rests on his arm and toys with my fingers. “What sort of ailments does that particular plant cure?”

Fiddlesticks!

I thought I’d neatly escaped any problematic questions. Why is he looking at me like he knows I’m up to something?

I stammer in an attempt to avoid a lie. “Oh, um, it is a cure for any number of problems.” Such as the problem of how to stall our beloved monarch from meeting with the tyrant who wants to take over the world.

“I see.” He rubs his chin. “Does it help with fever and ague?”

“Doubtful.”

“Is it for stomach complaints, then?”

I press my lips tight, knowing a tea made of these leaves might cause a myriad of gastric disturbances, and shake my head. “No.”

“What then?” He lowers his voice as if the flowers and trees might be embarrassed should his next question be overheard. “Female problems?”

I almost laugh. “Hardly.”

“Gout, perhaps?” He stops walking and studies me with such obvious suspicion that he leaves me no choice. Either I must tell him the truth, in which case I might hang for treason, or I must lie. I choose the latter.

“Well,” I pause for a moment, thinking. “It does tend to purge the blood. So, I suppose it might help with gout.” Purge is an overly gentle way of stating the effect of this herb, a pale word in comparison to how the veins will burn and pump blood with such force into the extremities it will feel as if one’s hands and feet are going to burst.

“Does it, now?” He leans in, overly interested. “You’re quite sure?”

“As certain as one can be with herbs.” I kick a small stone in the path.

His face brightens suddenly, and he swoops me up, swinging me in a wild circle. “My dear Miss Barrington, you are a wonder. An absolute wonder!”

“What are you doing?” I shout at him and thump his shoulder. “Put me down this instant!”

He laughs, completely unchastised, and allows my feet to touch the ground in front of him. He still has hold of my arms as he grins broadly. “You truly are a marvel. I mean it. You are probably not aware of this, but our Prince suffers terribly from painful attacks of gout. I shall tell him of your remedy.”

Frog’s teeth.

It had only been a thought, a wild possibility to debate with Sera. And now he was turning the idea into reality.

“Oh, no! No, you mustn’t.” I try to pull out of his grasp. “My poor skills are not worthy of a member of the royal family, much less the Prince Regent himself. The very idea is ludicrous.”

He shakes his head. “Maya, Maya, you are too modest. His Highness will be thrilled to hear of it.” He tugs me closer. “We must go and tell him straightway.”

“No. Wait. Stop.” I wrench out of his arms. “You mustn’t—I beg of you.”

He tilts his head, watching me intently. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

Afraid of being executed for accidently poisoning the Prince? Yes!

I nod and hang my head.

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