A Foolish Heart by Martha Keyes

Author:Martha Keyes
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-03-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

It had been five years since Viola watched her aunt prepare the heartsease elixir. And, even then, it had been done on a day when her father was meant to return from a days-long visit to the other parish he oversaw, leading Viola to rush nervously to the window at any and every sound from outside.

But such anxiety at the possibility of her father’s sudden return had meant that Viola’s memories of the steps to create the mixture were somewhat hazy, and her memory of the words meant to be said over the finished elixir a bit tenuous.

She carefully picked off the flowers of the heartsease plant, setting them in a small basket, trying mightily to remember everything her aunt had taught her. She muttered the words of the incantation to activate the deepest properties of the plant, frowning as parts eluded her.

The opportunity before her was no small one. Certainly she would be glad if things could be settled happily between Deborah and Mr. Coburn, but she cared deeply what happened between Mercy and Mr. Kennett. She only wished her skill matched her will to help love flourish again between them. Would that her aunt was here!

Her hands paused at the stem of one of the shoots, and her brow furrowed. Was she to use the petals only? Or were the berries and leaves to be used as well?

She picked a handful of the dark, glistening berries for good measure, hoping that the evasive wisps of memory would return to her as she made up the elixir.

Armed with a basket full of heartsease—and a few roses and sweet violets in which to mull the petals—she rushed from the ruins toward the house, again muttering under her breath the beginnings of the incantation.

The servants of Chesterley House looked at her with raised brows as she entered the kitchens, but Viola was too focused to heed their looks and whispers for more than a moment.

Perhaps the best course would be to do whatever she could to help the magic along. Surely the mystical powers that be could take her poor but well-intended attempts at bringing about more love in the world and turn them to the benefit of Mercy and Solomon?

As she stirred the heating concoction, she glanced at the dark berries and leaves that remained in the basket. She squeezed her eyes shut. For the life of her, she could not remember what her aunt had said about the berries and when to use them. Or had she said anything about them at all?

Viola was most concerned that Solomon’s portion be strong, for he was obviously the most skeptical, the largest in stature, and the one most in need of the full strength of love’s power.

She drew out some of the elixir on her wooden spoon, blowing on it and bringing it to her mouth for a taste.

Her brows shot up as the warm liquid seeped down her throat and warmed her stomach. She had done a fine job indeed.

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