Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(56)
“Aye, and therein lies the problem. Arsenic combines with other elements to do different things. It’s a preservative and a fixative in its most poisonous form. But as long as one doesn’t go around eating wood and paint, it’s harmless to humans.”
“Paint?” she asked, looking up from gathering moss. “Wouldn’t it hurt the people mixing the paint? I have a sister who decorates rooms. Are she and her workmen in danger?”
Dare shrugged. “Not that I know of, but I just read a Russian scientist’s treatise on mad hatter syndrome that indicates the mercury used in making felt hats is poisoning the hatters. So it is possible that arsenic may be poisoning us in ways we don’t understand.”
“So, in the interest of progress and making money, we could all be killing ourselves?”
“Or we can be producing copper to sheathe ocean-going vessels so sailors needn’t risk their lives scraping barnacles. And it shows exciting possibilities in the field of electrical conduction that could make all our lives easier in the future. We simply have to be careful of how we use our discoveries, not stop experimenting entirely. If your sister isn’t drinking paint, then presumably, she is safe.”
“I need more treatises on arsenic,” she said worriedly, gathering her skirt and climbing up the hill. “I want to know what other symptoms it might cause. Could it have made your cough worse too?”
“I didn’t start taking Fowlers for a very long time after I developed the cough,” Dare warned her. “I doubt there’s any connection. What do you plan to do with that water?” he asked, climbing up after her and wishing he’d thought to bring a bottle of his own.
“I’m not sure.” His intrepid wife frowned and took his arm—something she was more willing to do these days he noted with pride. “Now that my pharmacopeia is complete, I’d intended to experiment and improve upon it. But this talk of minerals and arsenics and other naturally occurring substances. . . I want to know more.”
“I can help you with those studies. I’ve been learning to separate elements in hopes of finding new ones. Once we learn the composition of our planet, we can better understand how the building blocks fit together.”
Instead of yawning and changing the subject, she studied him with interest. Even men of his acquaintance hid behind newspapers when Dare expounded upon his theories. He waited to see how much she wished to know.
“How did you become interested in elements? Is there money in such discoveries?” She asked that last part skeptically.
He acknowledged her perceptivity with a nod. “There is seldom money to be made from scientific discoveries until some commercial inventor finds a way to put them to use and sell them. The steam engine took decades to develop and is just now becoming commercially viable. So, no, I do it because I like to know what makes things work. Until recently, I’ve not had time to invest much energy in a hobby that does not lead to a profit, so I’ve not made much progress.”
“Consumption keeps you home now,” she said sympathetically. “I understand the frustration of not being able to go about as one might like.”
“Which is why you were angry with me yesterday? You didn’t want to be left home?”
“Precisely,” she said in a clipped tone that indicated she still wasn’t happy with him.
Oddly, Dare realized he wanted her to be happy with him. He’d ignored the silly requests and complaints made by his family for years, but Emilia—didn’t want to visit a duke because of his title. She wanted to visit a man who could teach her. Dare could relate to the quest for knowledge.
“Shall I show you how to separate out the minerals in your water?” he asked, with a degree of trepidation, but he was honestly eager to share his knowledge.
She halted in the middle of the grassy field, stood on her toes, and covered his cheek in kisses.
Dare thought that might be a yes.
“M’lord, m’lady, Lord and Lady Pascoe-Ives have come to call.” One of the new maids stood nervously in the workshop doorway, apparently unwilling to enter the dim interior.
Emilia removed the protective spectacles Dare had ordered her to wear. “Oh dear, I had not thought they would arrive so precipitously. Take them tea in the parlor and tell them we’ll be right there.”
Dare growled irascibly and turned up the flame under his beaker. “It is almost boiling. Tell Pascoe to come out here.”
Emilia glanced longingly at the workbench where he was showing her how to separate the elements of her spring water. “That is rude. We asked them to call, if you remember.”
“Dying men don’t have time to be polite. Pascoe won’t mind.” He didn’t even look up from his work.
“You could be dying for years,” she retorted unsympathetically. “That’s just an excuse to have your way.”
That caused him to look up and flash her the glaring white smile that almost made her swoon. “You are a woman of rare perception.” Then he returned to work.
“I am beginning to think your doctor deliberately poisoned you,” she declared, removing her apron.
“I love your concern and sympathy,” he called after her as she left.
He shouldn’t be able to make her laugh when she was angry with him, but he did. He was so brave in the face of death—it broke her heart but gave her courage as well.