“Ifindmyselfinapredicament.”
Vin’s head popped around the side of the pantry door. She’d recently proclaimed it was her new simples room - as if she were some medieval heroine living in a castle instead of a cramped two bedroom cottage with her remaining four unwed sisters.
“Is it a predicament that requires poison?”
Jess laughed despite herself. “You seem much too keen at the prospect.”
“I can make it undetectable. There are many ways to disguise it and fell one’s opponents. Or enemies.”
“I admit, that would be an easy solution. Especially since my predicament involves Cadoc Morgan.”
Vin’s expression grew speculative. “The inventor? Isn’t he the superintendent of your school?”
“Yes to both questions.”
“What’s he done? In the village they say he’s quite the rogue.” Her expression darkened with malice. “If he’s compromised you, I should poison him.”
“He hasn’t compromised me - yet.”
Vin’s brows flew to her hairline. “Yet?” She ominously asked.
“He absconded with my microscope last month. And he won’t return it unless I accept the terms of the illicit wager he’s proposing.”
“Why haven’t you gone to the magistrate?”
Jess shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
Vin’s eyes narrowed as she stalked from the doorway with one hand braced on her hip. “Why not?”
“He’s threatened to expose you.”
“That bloody blackguard polyp on the arse of a goat! He’s blackmailing you! Because of me.” Her face was dark with fury.
“What you do for the women in this parish is important.” Jess took a fortifying breath. “I’ll not jeopardize it. Especially since Fran’s busy with the practice she and Mac have and can’t assist you.”
“There has to be something I can do to help. To put the scoundrel in his place.”
Jess shook her head in refusal. “Our wager right now consists only of kisses. But I don’t trust him, or my own attraction to him, to restrict us. The most I’ve ever allowed a suitor is heavy petting over my clothes. And even that was repugnant.”
“You’re worried you’ll allow him to seduce you,” Vin narrowed her gaze and Jess felt like one of her own dragonfly specimens pinned to the corkboard.
She gulped. “Yes. And if that happens, I don’t want consequences. That's why I’m telling you all of this. I may be a scientist and I may know about biology and anatomy and procreation, but this is your field of expertise. I need to hear theentire lecture you give the women of the parish because I want to be armed with all the knowledge available to me.”
“I can do that. And I’ll provide you with the same contraceptives as well.” She turned to wipe her hands on the towel by the dry sink. “We should have it when Gert and Emily are occupied with other things. I know they’re both going to London after the holidays. Can you resist him until then?”
“I told him I wouldn’t give him my decision until the night of the school pageant. He’ll be there because of his niece and nephew.” Jess blew out a breath. “I can hold him off until then.”
Vin nodded sharply. “That’s plenty of time for me to gather what I need. Meanwhile, don’t let him waylay you.”
“He won’t have the opportunity to waylay me. I have far too much on my mind at the moment to allow him to do so.”
It was the last day of school before the winter holidays and although the look of the clouds made her uneasy, Jess was determined to stop in the village and purchase the dry goods she needed.
Vin had given her a list and coins that morning, and she had them tucked into the reticule hanging at her waist. The emporium was filled to capacity when the door chimed at her entrance, and Jess took her place at the end of the queue.
“John said he doesn’t like the look of the clouds,” one of the women ahead of her confided. “He bade me to pick up flour, sugar and salt.”
Jess had to strain to hear her over the hubbub, and Mr. Bennett’s voice tense when he called the next customer to the counter. “Does your husband think there’s a storm on the way?”
