A Place For Repentance (The Underwood Mysteries Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

young woman go without some relief from her very obvious discomfort.
    When she had left the shop, Jebson felt free to finally greet his visitor as he would wish to. He came around the counter and shook Underwood firmly by the hand, saying as he did so, “How very good to see you, Mr Underwood, and looking so well. Come into the back room and I’ll make a cup of tea.”
    “That would be most welcome, Will. I have ridden over from Dacorum-in-the-Marsh and let me tell you that my old bones had forgotten how it felt to ride a horse. I dare swear I shall be laid up for a week after this.”
    Will Jebson smiled fondly and led his guest into the room behind the shop, where young Joe, his apprentice, was busily rolling some pleasant smelling concoction on a wooden contraption which, with a few hefty pushes, produced perfectly round pills.
    “Leave that for the minute, Joe and take care of the shop, will you please?”
    “Yes sir,” said Joe, moving with such alacrity that Underwood guessed that pill-making was not his favourite occupation. He surmised it became rather tedious after a while.
    While he set the kettle on the bracket over the fire, Will invited Underwood to take a seat on the cushioned settle and asked about his state of health. He was rather concerned that his erstwhile patient did not seem to be particularly over-enthusiastic about how he was feeling.
    “What’s the trouble, Mr Underwood?” he asked, when he took the chair on the opposite side of the fireplace. “You don’t seem fully recovered to me.”
    “Oh, I’m well enough, Will,” said Underwood, “A little weak still, perhaps. But it is this infernal melancholy which I can’t seem to shake off. I feel hopeless and useless and there’s nothing to be done about it.”
    Jebson was more worried by this admission than he cared to show. He spoke in a rallying tone which owed more to his desire to help than from any real conviction in the truth of what he was saying, “Well, you know the poison you were fed will take a good while to leave your body, my friend. You were dosed little and often for a good while, and it makes sense that it will take the same amount of time to clean your system. You’ll feel happier when you are finally free of all that. Are you eating well, taking care of yourself in other ways?”
    “I try, but I don’t seem to have much appetite,” answered Underwood.
    “Umm,” muttered Jebson, “I think I’ll make up a tonic for you and see if we can’t get you fighting fit again.”
    “If you insist on doing so, make sure it is pleasant,” warned Underwood, “for I refuse to take anything which it not delicious! I have had a bellyful of foul tastes.”
    “I’ll warrant you have,” said Jebson, laughing, “Now, tell me how Mrs Underwood does, and your children?”
    Underwood explained that Verity was with him but had remained in Dacorum-in-the-Marsh, helping the vicar. “She intends to come with me, though, in the next few days. She wants to call upon the Petches and also you and your wife, if she might be allowed.”
    “Of course,” said Jebson heartily, “My wife would be honoured to have her to tea, perhaps. I’ll mention it to her and let you know.”
    “I would love to meet her myself – I have not yet had the pleasure. And I believe you also have children?”
    Jebson’s face was momentarily marred by a strangely sad expression, which he quickly banished, “Indeed I do. My two little girls are the light of my life, but I should warn you that they have a way about them that some people find a little odd.”
    Underwood was intrigued, but felt it impolite to pursue this further. He would doubtless find out how the children were ‘odd’ when the time came to meet them.
    They exchanged the relevant information, Underwood providing Jebson with his friend Draycott’s address and Will telling Underwood where to find his own little cottage.
    “You don’t live above the shop, then?” asked Underwood in