The Apothecary's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page B

is difficult enough without that.’
    Stumbling in distress, Susannah ran from the room.

    Some weeks later, Susannah called on Martha.
    Martha, six months into her pregnancy and as rounded and neat as a turtledove, ushered her into the parlour.
    ‘It is all far worse than I could have imagined,’ Susannah said, cocking her head and listening to the sound of shrieks and
     stamping feet on the floorboards above. She had been forced to bring Mathew, John and Harriet with her since Arabella pronounced
     herself far too busy to care for them and now they rampaged about upstairs, picking quarrels with Martha’s children.
    ‘Can you not persuade your father to change his mind and allow your stepmother to hire a nursemaid?’ asked Martha. She sat
     with her feet up on a footstool, mending her husband’s shirt.
    ‘We have no room for another maid. The house is bursting at the seams as it is. Besides, Father says he cannot see the need
     for it and as long as Arabella can foist the children off onto me or poor Jennet she has no need of a nursemaid either.’ Susannah
     was fairly burning with indignation. ‘He’d soon change his mind if
he
had the care of them. I had no idea children could be so disobedient.’
    Martha shrugged. ‘They must be taught from the beginning to respect their elders.’
    ‘Arabella will not allow the use of the birch.’
    ‘Then I fear you have a hard road ahead of you.’
    ‘It’s not just the children.’ Susannah heard the quaver in her voiceand blinked back tears. ‘Arabella begged for a pair of virginals and Father went straight out to purchase them for her. As
     a child I always wanted to learn but he said it was an unnecessary expense. Now he sits at her side every evening looking
     down the front of her bodice and caressing her shoulders while she plays.’
    ‘They are newly married, Susannah. Perhaps you should spend more time with your friends and leave them to be alone together.’
    ‘What friends? Apart from you, of course? I’ve always spent my free time with Father.’
    ‘Then it’s time you made more friends of your own.’
    ‘How do you suggest I do that? I’m either in the shop all day or minding those little villains. I can hardly roam the streets
     at night looking for friends or go into alehouses by myself, can I?’ She rubbed her eyes, gritty with exhaustion. ‘Harriet
     has taken up residence in my bed and I’m nearly kicked to death!
And
I’m expected to rise during the night to change the bedlinen. Surely Mathew should be dry at night by now?’
    ‘You must remember that he has lost his father and moved to a new home, which may have upset him.’ Martha reached out to squeeze
     Susannah’s hand. ‘Poor Susannah! You have all the drudgery of marriage and children, without any of the joy.’
    Martha’s sympathy was Susannah’s undoing. ‘It’s the way Father looks at her in that doting fashion,’ she wept. ‘He keeps touching
     her and kissing her and I feel as if my presence is always a nuisance to them. He has no use for me now.’
    ‘They need time together to learn each other’s ways.’
    ‘But we haven’t been to a play or one of the lectures at Gresham College for weeks. Father never wants to read with me or
     have any interesting discussions any more. We’re
always
interrupted by Arabella chattering about the colour of the ribbons she is going to use to trim her hat or some such trivial
     thing. And he listens to her as if she has said the most fascinating thing in the whole of the city. I just want everything
     to be back as it was before she came,’ she sobbed.
    ‘All men are made fools by desire. It won’t last for ever.’ Martha’shazel eyes were wistful. ‘It never does, not even in a marriage made for love.’
    ‘But what can I do? You can’t imagine how miserable I am.’
    ‘A woman’s life often is miserable and you have to accept that it’s God’s will …’
    ‘Please, don’t spout your Puritan ways at me,