Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(67)

The maid scurried back moments later to lead them down the hallway—not into the parlor but into a study. The doctor preferred familiar male territory for this battle, Emilia realized in amusement. She was probably hysterical. She clasped her gloved hands to keep from flying apart.

Tess’s father wasn’t a tall man. Gray hair rimming his bald pate and wire-rimmed spectacles on his nose, he wasn’t even an intimidating one. But he was full-chested and twice Tess’s size. Tess cringed when he rose from his chair.

For that alone, Emilia wanted to slay him like a dragon. “Dr. Thomas,” she said coldly. She didn’t know how to do pleasantries, but she knew how to make demands. “I have come for the draft of my pharmacopeia that young Crenshaw claims he was taking to you. That was badly done of you, using Tess’s eagerness to please against her. I suggest that you apologize to her or you will most likely lose your daughter’s faith.”

“I don’t know who you are and have no idea what you’re talking about. No daughter of mine would have behaved as she has done. I have no daughter anymore. You will leave and take that wicked creature with you.”

Tess whimpered. Bridey caught her shoulders and hugged her.

“Your daughter was seduced by a piece of rubbish you allowed into your home,” Bridey said haughtily in her most cultured upper-class tones. “You are the one at fault for contaminating an innocent. Tess is an intelligent asset to my home, and I welcome her heartily. If you turn your back on your own flesh and blood, it is your loss. We are offering this opportunity to make amends. It may be your last chance to do so.”

“And who the deuce are you?” Thomas demanded, glowering.

“Brighid Pascoe, Baronetess of Alder Abbey, and the woman who will claim this gem you are throwing away,” Bridey declared grandly.

The physician’s expression turned red and ugly. “The witch who thinks to teach women how to be physicians! You may go to the devil with my daughter. We will have you up at assizes the first time you touch a patient!” Thomas shook his fist and rudely took his seat, as if they were mere servants.

Emilia wanted to bash him over the head with his own books. While Bridey lashed out with words, Emilia searched the room for any sign of her manuscript on the messy shelves and found none.

Deciding he wasn’t worth courtesy, she waited for Bridey to set him properly in his place. Then it was her turn. She leaned forward with her palms on his desk. “The Duke of Sommersville is in possession of the final manuscript. Keeping the draft is foolish and will only serve to raise the ire of the duke and my husband. You do not want them as enemies. Do not dig your grave any deeper, sir. Return my manuscript.”

“I haven’t seen Crenshaw in days,” Dr. Thomas declared angrily. “Your accusations are an insult. I will have the authorities in here if you do not leave at once and take that baggage with you. She is ruined and of no use to me now. You are welcome to her.”

Tess made a strangled sound, then caught Emilia’s arm and pulled her aside so she could face her father directly. “Charles forced himself on me that last time we met,” she said, the words barely loud enough to hear. “I told him I was carrying his child, and he tried to rid me of it by beating and raping me. You are the company you keep. I can no longer keep company with men who treat me as if I’m no better than a dog.”

She spun around and walked out proudly, although Emilia saw tears streaming down her cheeks.

That had taken strength. Emilia admired the child for her courage and wished she knew how to be the same.

All she had was her husband to throw at him. That was unsatisfying. With no other weapon but her wits, Emilia straightened and offered an unpleasant smile. “The draft pages are missing antidotes for the poisonous herbs in some of the formulas. I trust you are knowledgeable enough to know which ones so you don’t poison your patients. Should we receive any more threats, Lord Dare and the duke are prepared to take you to court. Good day, sir.”

Behind her, Bridey made a rude snort. They both hurried after Tess.

Once in the carriage, Bridey broke into gales of inappropriate laughter. “The look on his face when you told him he would poison his patients was priceless and well worth our journey.”

Catching her breath beneath the laughter that kept erupting, Bridey shifted to the backward-facing seat next to Tess and hugged the crying girl. “You were magnificent, my dear. He truly does not deserve you. It’s a pity we cannot choose our relations, but I would be proud to call you little sister.”

Tess turned into her shoulder and wept. Not certain that her feeble attempt at wit was worth laughing over, Emilia leaned out to order the carriage back to the abbey.

She wasn’t satisfied, but Bridey and Tess shouldn’t be taxed any more this day. They had accomplished what they’d set out to do, but Emilia still didn’t have her book. She wanted to grab Dr. Thomas’s ears and rip off his head for causing everyone such grief. It would have been nice if Dare had been there to accompany her, but she was no longer relying on him. Let him make money and feed his family and go his own way.

She wanted her own reputation for fighting back so no one dared cheat and steal from her again.

By the time they returned to the abbey, she’d made up her mind. After Bridey and Tess descended, Emilia stayed inside the carriage.

“Won’t you come in with us?” Bridey asked worriedly. “If Dare is gone, you shouldn’t be alone.”