The Victory Garden(72)

Eagerly, Emily turned the page. The writing was badly faded and the script so old-fashioned that it was hard to read, but there were drawings and a list of plants.

Necessities for all manner of healing in the herb garden: Hyssop, Wormwood, Rue, Coriander, Pasqueflower, Rosemary, St John’s Wort, Costmary, Lady’s Mantle, Lady’s Bedstraw, Angelica, Heartsease, Lily of the Valley, Marigold, Milk Thistle, Thyme, Sweet Woodruff.

To these I plan to add, as time permits: Wood Betony, Comfrey, Coltsfoot, Cowslip, Hawthorn, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Meadowsweet, Sage, Valerian, Yarrow and Winter Savory.

Emily had no idea what most of these plants looked like and whether they were actually all growing in the herb garden. She turned the page to what were indeed recipes. She translated from the ancient spelling as she went along:

For the easing of a chesty cough: Coltsfoot syrup.

Place two ounces (a goodly handful) of coltsfoot in two gills of water. Place a saucepan on the hob and cover with a lid. Simmer for twenty minutes then strain off the liquid and discard the herbs. Reduce by one third. Dissolve six ounces of sugar or honey into the liquid. Allow to cool.

Administer one spoonful three times a day.

She realized something else, too. Local people had spoken of the wise woman, and Emily had taken this to be an attribute of hers. But the writer’s name was Wise. A doubly wise woman. She looked up with reluctance when the church clock chimed the hour and she realized she should go up for her evening meal.

“I am going to start working on the herb garden around the cottage,” she said casually to Lady Charlton.

“Are you really? I am impressed with this enthusiasm for gardening.”

“I just thought Mrs Trelawney might appreciate herbs for cooking,” she said, not wanting to say anything about the recipes and the role of herb wife until she could prove that she was capable of making some of the remedies.

“Don’t tire yourself out too much,” Lady Charlton said. “I think you will find that the herbs can wait until spring. Most of them have probably died back for the winter anyway.”

“Yes, you’re right,” she agreed.

Lady Charlton looked up from her sherry. “Did you have an agreeable visit to Tavistock this afternoon? I never thanked you for bringing my items from the chemist.”

“It made a change to look in shop windows,” she said. “It’s something I haven’t had time to do for ages.”

“I don’t go out much any more,” Lady Charlton said. “I find it so depressing. One realizes how dreary everything has become since the war started—shabby, outdated clothing, tired-looking people and no young men on the streets. When the war ends, I wonder if we will have the energy to recover.”

“I’m sure we will,” Emily said, more brightly than she felt. “We are a resilient nation, after all.”

Lady Charlton nodded. “It is young people like you who give me hope. You have been through the fire, and yet you choose to believe in the future.”

“I have no choice,” Emily replied. “I am responsible for a child now, so I can’t give up or give in.”

“Quite right.”

Lady Charlton looked up as Mrs Trelawney came in with the main course. “The young lady managed to find you a bit of John Dory,” Mrs Trelawney said. “And there’s a rabbit, too. It will make a rabbit pie for tomorrow and a stew after that.”

“You seem to be a worker of wonders,” Lady Charlton said. “How long since I’ve had a decent piece of fish, Mrs Trelawney? And rabbit? What a treat.”

Mrs Trelawney gave Emily a sharp, hostile glance as she went away.

Emily hurried back to the cottage, anxious to read more of Tabitha Ann Wise’s book. She had just started making notes for herself when there was a tap at her front door. She opened it cautiously, half-expecting to see another tramp there, but instead Alice barged in.

“Well, there you are,” Alice said. “I hear you’ve gone all hoity-toity on us. Dining with Her Ladyship every night!” She put on a false upper-class voice. “And not enough time to visit your old mates any more.”

“It wasn’t my idea to dine with Lady Charlton,” Emily said. “I tried to tell her I needed to learn to be independent, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She’s starved for company, and I’m not saying no to a good meal.”

“And what about your poor, old friend?” Alice asked.

Emily laughed. “You’re not starved for company. You’ve got Nell Lacey and anyone who comes to the pub. How are you getting on there?”

“We get on like a house on fire, Nell and me. We’re always laughing and joking. Of course, it’s not all tea and crumpets, you know. We got a new barrel of beer delivered today and we had to get it down the steps between us. I don’t know how she managed before I arrived.”

“Any news on her husband?” Emily asked.

Alice shook her head. “Still much the same. I wonder if he’ll ever leave that hospital. So what have you been doing with yourself?”

“Working in the garden. I went into Tavistock to buy seedlings for winter vegetables.” She took a deep breath. “And I’ve found out that there is a herb garden around the cottage. I’m planning to see if I can make herbal remedies. You know they said a witch lived here once? Well, I think it was a woman who made healing potions. I’m going to try some.”