Rescued by the Apothecary (Preview)

Prologue

“Starlight!” Grace cried out, slipping down from her horse’s back in alarm. Her mare, Starlight, snorted; a sound that clearly showed her pain. Grace, heedless of her long skirts, knelt on the mud-slick path and felt with shaking hands down her horse’s front leg.

Her horse snorted, her black fur shivering with nerves as Grace felt her foreleg. She felt relief wash through her as she examined the bone carefully, taking heed not to alarm the mare.

“It is not broken.”

Grinning in relief as she said it aloud, Grace leant back, tucking a loose strand of red hair out of her green eyes. She had been terrified that her horse’s leg had been broken or irreparably injured when she stumbled in the path. 

Injuries like broken legs rarely healed well, if at all.

She looked up at her mare, whose eyes were still wide and troubled with pain. Grace frowned.

“You are suffering, are you not, lady?” she asked her horse gently. Her horse whickered softly, the pained expression on her face clearly conveying that Grace was right.

Grace swallowed hard. She had taken her favourite mare out for a ride, escaping the dull silence of Southbank Hall, her parents’ manor. It was a warm summer’s day, and she had looked forward to breathing some fresh air and getting some exercise along with her mare, Starlight. But the wet riding-track had proven too slippery, and, even though they were only going at little more than a walk, Starlight had stumbled on an uneven section. Grace could see she had clearly hurt herself. She stood with one leg set forward from the rest, the other one clearly too painful to bear her weight.

“Poor lady,” Grace said. She ran a hand down her horse’s nose, but her horse shifted her head nervously and was clearly too frightened to be touched, even by her close friend.

Grace let out a sigh. She could just see the manor from here, her vantage point on the hilltop, and she did not know how she was going to get Starlight back to the house. She stared back down the path. The long grass waved in the bright sunlight, the raindrops that still spangled it here and there sparkling in the intense glow. She swallowed hard. The groom, James, had said he had ride out with her—on her brother, Evan’s, orders—but she had ridden far ahead.

“He will come soon,” she told her horse. Her own fears were much less important than those of Starlight, who was clearly in pain. “When James comes, we will send him to fetch help.”

Her horse seemed to understand—or the tone in her voice conveyed the meaning of calm and help—because she stood in the path, her one foreleg twisted and clearly painful, her gaze fixed on Grace. She turned to look down the path, throat tight with nerves.

“James!”

She shouted to him, relief washing through her like a wave, then pressed her fingers to her lips, nervous of frightening the horse. The groom was about thirty paces down the path, riding up on the big thoroughbred who had been her father’s horse when he rode often. James widened his eyes in surprise and slipped down from his horse.

“My lady!” He ran over, his horse following behind. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Grace shook her head. She gestured at her horse, feeling frantic. Now that James was here and could fetch help, she was desperate to get her horse to safety as fast as possible.

“I am unharmed. Starlight is hurt.”

“Oh.” James frowned, turning his gaze to the horse. He went over and knelt in the path, doing what Grace had done earlier. His chestnut horse, Brightfire, whickered and came over to join them. Grace wrapped her arm around his neck, seeking support.

She glanced over to where James was examining her horse’s leg, watching him with a nervous green gaze. She was frightened he would say there was some break or crack in the bone she had not noticed.

“It is twisted, my lady,” he said, standing up. He brushed dirt off the knees of his brown trousers with flat palms. “It is not serious—or nothing that a week or two of rest and regular lineament would not heal fully.”

“Grand!” She smiled. She felt her spirit lift. James frowned.

“You need to get home, my lady. Lord Evan is expecting you for tea.”

She made a face, looking down at her dirty hands. She had left smudges of dirt on her cream riding dress—she had need to change into another dress for tea anyway, but she was sure she had dirtied her face and hair now, too. She shrugged. She did not have time to attend tea anyway. She had to look after her horse.

“It is more important to get Starlight helped,” she said. “I am sure my brother will understand.”

She winced internally upon saying that. Evan had always been a bit reticent, but since her father had all but handed the earldom to him to control, he had become overbearing. She had mentioned it to him, but he only excused it, saying it was befitting of a future earl to take charge. She could not afford to let him browbeat her on this, though.

She had to get help for her horse.

She looked over at James, who was all ready going back towards Brightfire. The brown thoroughbred snorted as he came over to stand beside him.

“My lady, I think it is best if one of us rides back to get help. I can go, but I reckon it would be safer for you to ride back to the manor than to stay out in the fields unaccompanied.”

“Thank you, James,” she said, nodding. “I will take Brightfire and get help.”

“You do that. I will stay here with Starlight, my lady—you can trust me to keep her safe.”

“Thank you,” Grace said. “I know.”

She slipped her foot into the stirrup. Usually reticent and slow to trust, Grace had learned that James was someone safe—somebody who shared her love of animals and the outdoors; someone who she could be more natural around without risking criticism. She mounted up swiftly, blushing. James had ridden on a saddle usually used only by male riders and trying to sit astride in her riding-gown made the skirt hitch up to almost her knees. James did her the courtesy of ignoring the fact.

“I will wait here for you.”

“Thank you!” she shouted. “I will come back as soon as possible!” She was all ready heading down the path. She slowed Brightfire to a trot, but he sensed her urgency and refused to go any slower. She rode along the path towards her home.

She did not know what her overbearing brother or her quiet, frightened parents would think about her riding astride, but right now she did not have the space to consider it. Her horse needed help.

And she was going to get that help, as fast as she could. 

 

Chapter 1: At the manor

Grace looked over at her brother. He was leaning on the door of the stables, his reddish hair tousled, brown eyes focused on the young man who knelt beside the horse. It was almost two hours after she had ridden back to the manor, and Evan was here, overseeing the healing of her horse, who James had somehow managed to get back down the hill.

She thought he looked interested, which was good. 

Her attention shifted from her brother, who leant on the doorpost, to the young man who was working, who cleared his throat and spoke.

“If she rests for two weeks, the leg should heal without further damage,” the young man said. He had his back to them, kneeling on the straw. Starlight stood still, with her fur unruffled. That she trusted this young man was something that made Grace feel less mistrustful of him herself.

He was the local apothecarist. A tall, thin man, she guessed he must be about her own age. He had dark hair and he wore a brown wool coat. 

She looked from his back to her brother. He looked relaxed and she felt calmer. He had resisted calling for help—he had made a face as if Grace was putting him out terribly with her fuss-making—but he had eventually agreed to go to the village to seek the only person who seemed to be able to help. 

Grace looked over at the apothecarist again, where he knelt beside the horse. He had taken a tin out and was rubbing lineament on Starlight’s skin. To her surprise, Starlight stood still, letting out a peaceable snort as the man worked. Grace had been concerned that her horse would be caused pain by his rubbing, but he was clearly being careful, and Grace felt herself relax as her horse seemed almost instantly to feel calmer.

“This lineament should be applied twice daily,” the man said, standing up. He held the lineament out, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief, with which he wiped his fingers carefully.

Grace stepped forward. She was seeing the man for the first time. He had big dark eyes a shade darker than his straight dark hair. His face was thin and serious, and he was just a little taller than her; shorter than Evan by a good inch or two. Her brother, when the man offered the tin of lineament to him, took it instantly.

“Thank you, Mr Murton.”

“Jerome, your lordship. Please. I do not use formality with any of my customers.”

“Well, then,” her brother said, grunting. Grace could almost hear his thoughts—he was thinking that he was unlikely to use the first name of a trader—but to her surprise, he kept that to himself. He was looking at the man with interest, and Grace thought that he had managed to impress her brother. 

She looked over at the man. He looked at her. His brown eyes seemed serious; his thin face warmed with a shy grin. He was a stranger, and she had no pretext to talk to him—nobody had introduced them or truly acknowledged her as a presence in the stable—but she felt she had to thank him for what he did. Starlight seemed better. And that was all that concerned her just now.

“You have all ready made a difference to my horse,” she said, forcing the words out. She blushed, hearing her own voice rasp with her fear of speaking to strangers. “You clearly know your work. I thank you. Starlight is very important to me.”

The apothecarist—Mr Murton—grinned. He also seemed shy, his hazel eyes holding hers for just a second—but he replied instantly. “I can see that,” he said. “I felt her calm when you came in here.” He gestured at the door.

Grace smiled. He looked into her eyes, and it seemed to her almost as though they shared some special understanding.

“Ahem,” her brother said. Grace jumped, face flooding with colour as she remembered he was there. She glanced across at him as he continued to address the man across from her. “I will see the account is sent to your business…Jerome. Will you be calling again to check the progress of the horse?” He raised one fine reddish eyebrow.

Grace watched as the apothecarist looked down, clearly unsettled. He wet his lips with his tongue and replied. “Um…I would like to. I will return in two days to check the progress. It might be beneficial to change the lineament to one that will support healing. The one I am applying now is just to reduce swelling and inflammation.”

“I see.” Grace looked over at her brother, trying to read the unreadable expression on his face. Evan was a handsome man—strong-jawed, pale-skinned and with a full-lipped mouth that everyone said was lovely—but of late his handsomeness had, to her at least, been overshadowed by his character.

He had become so controlling and critical of everyone in the house, especially herself.

“It would be of benefit to the horse,” Mr Murton said. He glanced at her. 

Grace was glad when her brother nodded. “Certainly,” he said. “By all means, visit the day after tomorrow. Your answer interested me—most apothecaries would simply sell us the priciest lineament and keep on recommending its use, even after the horse was healed. You, however, are taking genuine interest in your work. I admire it.”

Grace let out a breath. She had never heard her brother show interest in anyone—well, certainly not in a man he would consider a tradesman. Conscious of class, Evan tended to treat servants and tradesmen as though they weren’t visible. 

Mr Murton, across from her, seemed to noticeably relax. He nodded. “It is in my interest to further healing, my lord, no matter what is needed. I will return in two days’ time, with your permission.”

“Readily granted,” Evan agreed. “The gardener will show you out.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Mr Murton inclined his head politely, and Evan walked back across the lawn towards the house. Grace looked over at the man, watching him as he walked towards the gardener, who was waiting nearby under a tree, just outside the stables. Grace glanced hastily back to Evan, who was striding up the steps.

He went up into the house and she followed.

“Mr Linley,” he greeted the butler, shrugging out of his coat. “I checked the accounts this afternoon. If you could fetch the books and take them back to your quarters?”

“Very good, my lord,” the butler said. He took Evan’s jacket, hanging it up by the door. Evan stepped out of his high outdoor boots, leaving them by the doorway and changing his shoes. Grace hastily unfastened her cloak and handed it to Mr Linley, who hung it up for her.

“I think you are in need of refreshment, Grace. Tea is set out upstairs. If you will join me? I have a few things I wish to discuss with you in any case.”

“Thank you, brother,” Grace said politely—she had half-expected that tea would no longer be available, and her stomach was aching. She walked upstairs, following him into the drawing room.

“So,” her brother said, sitting down across from her. The drawing room was furnished in white chintz, the seats patterned with reddish flowers. The walls were white, the furnishings mostly in dark wood. The room conveyed an elegance that was slightly old-fashioned—the latest furnishings were spindle-legged chairs and Oriental porcelains. Red and black were becoming more fashionable as colours too. Here, things were pale and quiet, and the ornaments were from French or German porcelain works. Evan leant forward, pouring the tea. “You will be here for tea tomorrow?”

Grace paused. “Yes, brother,” she agreed. She wished that she could say no, that she was going to ride the whole day or disappear into the village for a shopping trip. But she had all ready been out all morning today, and she could not lie.

“Grand,” her brother said, stretching his legs under the table. “Lord Erford will be calling.”

“Oh.” She swallowed. She did not wish to hear the fellow’s name. Coarse, cold, and indifferent, Lord Erford was her brother’s closest confidante and a baron who held nearby landholdings—the particular strip of land that had always been contested by her ancestors belonged to his family, as did several parcels of very arable land further towards the county’s north. 

She did not like being here when he visited.

Evan cleared his throat. “Yes. He asked me to ensure that you would be here, as he wished to plan a ride with you. Of course, seeing that your horse is injured, you might want to discuss it.”

“Yes. I cannot go out riding,” she spoke quickly. She knew she had made her dislike obvious when her brother raised a brow.

“He is not a bad fellow, you know,” he said. “And he has expressed particular interest in you. He has heard of your skill at riding. He is a forward-thinking sort of a fellow, very modern.”

Grace felt her spine tense. She wanted to say that Lord Erford was the sort of person who would paint himself blue if he thought it would advantage him, but she did not risk it. Her brother admired the man and she felt too tired to address anything now and besides, it was her nature to avoid addressing unpleasant topics if she could choose to do so.

“Well, then,” Evan said, as if things had been finalised. “I will send to Erford House and let Patrick know he is welcome tomorrow. Of course, you can explain to him why you would not be riding.”

“Yes, indeed.” Grace reached for her teacup and sipped at her tea, searching for a distraction.

Upstairs in her bedchamber, she combed her hair, undoing it from the tight bun she had styled it in for riding. She looked at herself in the mirror, working the brush through her red hair. Thick and lustrous, it shone in the muted lamplight, making a curtain of coppery satin around her face.

“I wish Evan would be nicer.”

She sighed. She and her brother had always been close—they had played together as children, and he had been someone she trusted and cared for. Naturally shy, Grace did not tend to make friends quickly, and Evan had been her main companion in their isolated world. Her parents, the earl and countess of Stoughton, were naturally retiring, and they had become even more so of late. Her father seemed increasingly absent-minded and, because of his own fears of no longer being efficient at rulership, had ceded control of the earldom to Evan, thinking it for the best. 

Grace sighed again. She felt that if her father could become well, her parents would relax, and Evan would naturally cede the earldom to her father again, which would be better for all of them. Her father was only five and sixty, and she reckoned he was well able to govern for many years. Evan had been raised for the task, but he had changed because of it—mayhap it was the stress of having such responsibility.

At least, that was how Grace chose to view his recent altering of personality.

She combed her hair to lie behind her shoulders, and stood, pulling the bell. Her maid, Dot, came in from the hallway a few minutes later.

“Dot. Thank you. If you could fetch my dinner dress, please? The white one with the blue flowers.”

Her maid curtseyed. “Of course, my lady.” Her sweet, heart-shaped face dimpled as she smiled. Dot was a close confidante—older than Grace by a few years, Dot had been her maid since Grace was ten and seven. Five years later, they were exceptionally close. Grace appreciated her presence in her life. Unfortunately, though Dot was a good friend, she was not able to help Grace with uncomfortable situations like that with Erford. But when it came to someone who was friendly and kind, Dot was her first choice.

Grace went to the window, looking out over the garden. It was early afternoon, and the warm sunshine-soaked lawns ruffled under a gentle breeze. Grace found herself thinking about Starlight and hoping her horse would heal soon.

“I am going to take care of her myself.”

Her brother would not like that, but he was going to have to accept it. She would be the one to look after Starlight until she was better. She thought of the apothecarist, whose handsome face flashed into her mind, making her blush a little. She wondered about the strange experience she had had with him, when the world seemed to recede and she had stared into his eyes, forgetting about everything for a moment.

She heard Dot come to the door and she pushed away the thoughts, though she could not help feeling curious about what the apothecarist would say and looking forward to seeing him again sometime soon.

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“Rescued by the Apothecary” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Grace Burnell is the daughter of the Earl of Stoughton and a sweet-natured young lady who will care for all creatures that cross her path. When Starlight, her beloved purebred horse is injured, there is nobody in the village to help – until the charming and willing to help apothecary appears. Her secret daydreaming of Jerome though is disrupted by her brother’s wishes for her to marry a man she cannot stand…

Is it possible for Grace to find in the apothecary her everlasting refuge of hope and fulfilment?

Jerome Murton studied long and hard to become an apothecary and takes pride in his job. When he is summoned by a local noble family, he instantly notices the stunning daughter, but tries to fight his growing interest in her. After all, he is merely the son of a schoolmaster, and she is from high society. However, when life throws them together in various instances, Jerome cannot help but admit he has irreversibly fallen for the beautiful Grace.

If only there was a way to overpower the man standing in the way of his happiness with her…

Grace cannot bear the thought of spending her life with her unpleasant betrothed, especially while her feelings for Jerome become stronger and stronger. Jerome knows that he must sacrifice everything to prove to her noble family that he is worthy. Can they escape the restrictions of society together and embrace their love? Is there a way to please everyone without betraying their connection or will they kneel to everyone else’s desires and abandon their own?

“Rescued by the Apothecary” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Get your copy from Amazon!