The Jade Boy by Cate Cain

Author:Cate Cain [Cain, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Teen & Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mysteries, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Mysteries & Thrillers, Fantasy & Supernatural
ISBN: 9781848772335
Amazon: B00E78RFQI
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Published: 2013-09-01T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ludlow House was quiet as Jem crossed the hall.

“Jem!” Sarah’s voice came from above. He looked up and saw his mother leaning over the first gallery. She propped the bolt of cloth she was carrying against the rail and hurried down. “How did you fare with Count Cazalon?” she asked eagerly.

Jem thought about the man’s taunt, “Every time she looks at you, she is reminded of her shame.”

He couldn’t meet her eyes. “It was fine, mother,” he grunted.

“I hope you acquitted yourself well. He has connections that could be very useful to a boy like you.”

Jem gritted his teeth and spoke without thinking first. “And what exactly does that mean, mother? What sort of a boy am I?”

Sarah froze. Her face set hard into a pale mask.

Jem shuffled his feet and looked at the floor. After an uncomfortably long silence, he continued, “I think you’ll find I did exactly what the count wanted, mother… and I have the book for the duke.”

“Then you must take it to his room immediately,” came the duchess’s voice from above. “Immediately!”

She rustled down the staircase. “I know exactly the place where His Grace will expect to find it, Jem. Come.”

Sarah made to accompany them, but the duchess raised her hand. “I left my needlepurse in my bedchamber. Would you bring it to me in the blue salon?”

An odd expression crossed Sarah’s face as she looked from Jem to the duchess, but she nodded curtly, dipped the faintest of curtseys and turned towards the stairs.

The duchess led Jem directly to her salon. When they were alone together she gripped his arm.

“Give it to me.”

Jem felt in the pocket of his coat and handed her the leather pouch full of mummia.

She looked disappointed. “But there is even less here than before. This is not enough. I must have more!”

Jem looked up. The duchess’s eyes were gleaming with a feverish brilliance and her skin looked tight and sallow. Purple bruises bloomed beneath her eyes. Far from looking youthful, today she looked old and sick. The duchess noticed his stare and took a step back.

“You will have to go back for more.”

“No!” Jem almost yelped the word, before adding, “I… that is… he, the count, said that this is a very potent supply. It will be more than enough. You must not take more than a single pinch of the mu… medicine in a glass of wine. He ordered me to tell you that.”

The duchess looked suspiciously at the little bag and weighed it in her hand.

“Well, we shall see.” Her eyes narrowed. “I can always send you to collect more, Jem.”

Jem shook his head. “I am very sorry, ma’am, but the count is travelling to Paris. He is leaving tomorrow. He said that you must make that quantity last through the summer. It is very fresh, my lady. You must be careful not to use too much.”

The duchess looked furious. She turned her back on Jem and studied her face in a little gilt mirror on the wall.

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