What if he realized the advantage pursuing Frances would bring to his investment plan?
Those questions were much different than the hopeful feeling she’d had on the way home from the dinner party last evening.
“The day looks to be an especially fine one,” she said when her mother continued to stare at her with a questioning look.
“Too fine to remain inside. Why don’t you come with me to the apothecary? Afterward, we can drive by Regent’s Park.”
Alarm kept Harriet in place. She hated not to be home if Joseph called.
Seeming to take her silence for agreement, her mother said, “I’ll have the carriage brought around and fetch my shawl.” Then she turned and left the room.
With a sigh, Harriet glanced out the window to the empty street below again and then went to her bedroom to get her shawl as well. Staring out the window watching for Joseph wouldn’t bring him by any faster.
Her mother had mentioned how much she’d missed her while she’d been gone. Harriet couldn’t bring herself to refuse to go with her again.
Soon they were driving toward Purdy’s Apothecary, her mother chatting all the way about the dog she was considering getting, thanks to Harriet’s uncle. They alighted outside the shop and the tinkle of the bell above the door announced their arrival.
Harriet always had mixed feelings when she looked around the establishment, though her mother had been a customer for as long as she could remember. A certain uneasiness always crept over her when she looked at some of the items available for purchase.
Luckily, her mother only required headache powder and a potion for unsettled stomachs rather than alligator tongues or leeches kept in jars of rainwater. Her mother frequented the shop less often as she rarely suffered from ills since the death of her second husband.
The brown curtain that hid the back room parted, revealing Mr. Purdy. The small man was several inches shorter than Harriet and wore thick glasses that made him look as if he were peering through one of his glass jars. Only the thin muttonchops along his jaw made it apparent he wasn’t as young as he first appeared.
“Good afternoon, Lady Chapman.” He bowed, his black suit covered by a white apron with two large pockets where he kept long tweezers, measuring spoons, and wooden stir sticks.
“Mr. Purdy, I am in need of more headache powder, please.”
“Of course, my lady.” He dipped his head and moved to where he kept the powder and retrieved a small bottle. “I’m happy you found it helpful.”
“Yes, it is amazingly effective. I advised one of our neighbors who suffers from frequent headaches that she should try some.”
He and her mother conversed as Harriet walked around the shop, studying the items available for purchase. Wafers, tonics, and pills were kept in jars and tins, some with labels and others unmarked. A tall jar stood in the corner with pickled eels. She couldn’t imagine an ailment that would convince her to take it.
She’d asked what they were used for once, and Mr. Purdy had smiled and whispered, “Sometimes, it’s believing that a remedy will aid one that provides the true benefit.”
Harriet was behind the front door when the bell tinkled once again and someone else entered the shop. To her dismay, the newcomer was Reverend Henderson. He walked slowly forward, his attention on Mr. Purdy.
Though she longed to depart before he caught sight of her, she couldn’t leave her mother. Instead, she turned to face the display case of remedies along the front wall with the hope he wouldn’t notice her.
“Lady Chapman,” the reverend said, causing Harriet to stiffen in surprise. “It’s been some time since I last saw you.”
Harriet hadn’t realized her mother knew the man.
“Reverend Henderson.” The coolness of her mother’s greeting was undeniable and almost made Harriet smile. Apparently, her mother didn’t like him either.
“I was sorry to hear of Lord Chapman’s passing.”
“Thank you.”
Harriet slowly turned, unease crawling up her spine. Any mention of her stepfather was concerning, but that was especially true coming from a man for whom she didn’t care.
Reverend Henderson’s gaze shifted to her. “Lady Harriet, what a pleasant surprise.” He glanced between her and her mother. “I didn’t realize the connection until now.”
Harriet walked to stand beside her mother. “The reverend was also a guest at the Melbourne’s house party.”
“I see. How nice.” Her mother nodded politely then turned to look at Mr. Purdy. “That is all I need today. We must be on our way.”
“Lord Chapman’s demise was most unfortunate. And so puzzling.” Reverend Henderson stepped closer and placed a hand on the counter, the move somehow threatening when he was so near her mother.