1 pint common wine
2 drams common salt
2 drams green copperas
2 drams oxide of copper
4 drams bark of walnut
Boil no.’s 1, 2, and 3. Add 4, boil 2 minutes. Take from fire, add 5.Rub into the hair using a warmed cloth. Rinse with water. Repeat weekly.
Heart pounding, Pippa fumbled to open the drawer with the grooming implements. She took them out one by one until she found what she was looking for.
“Heavens,” she breathed.
“Did you find something?” Charlie’s voice came from behind her.
Pippa spun in her chair, holding a hairbrush.
“Mary Brown was ablonde,” she blurted. “At The Enchanted Rose, she was a brunette, and I just assumed that was her natural hair color. Her brother, Ellis, also has dark hair. But I found a recipe for hair dye containing green copperas and walnut bark, both used to create dark pigments in paint, and I realized…”
She held up the pale-blonde strands she’d plucked from the hairbrush.
“Excellent work, Pippa. We now have a means of distinguishing the two women. Which means—”
“We have a grave to dig up,” Pippa said resolutely.
35
Cull paused in the antechamber of the Griers’ house in Belgravia.
“Thank you for supper,” Cull said.
Fanny sent Grier a look.
The grizzled Scot cleared his throat. “You are welcome any time, lad. Now I must, er, see to a matter. Excuse me.”
He strode off. No doubt to give Cull and Fanny privacy.
“I’ll walk you to your carriage,” Fanny said. “I need a breath of air.”
Outside, the tree-lined street was quiet. The fog obscured the stars tonight, and the only light came from the windows of the stately white houses.
“It’s a different world from the one you and I came from.” The night breeze rustled the plum taffeta of Fanny’s skirts, and she looked like she belonged here, on the portico of her grand home. “Never thought I’d be living in a place like this. Some days I can’t believe it.”
“You’ve earned your life.” Cull meant it. “You deserve fine things, Fanny.”
“So do you, Timothy.” She paused. “You did the right thing, writing your sister. Knowing Maisie, she’ll be glad to hear from you.”
This morning, Cull had sat down and penned a letter. It had been the most difficult letter he’d ever written. Asking not only for forgiveness, which he’d done plenty of times before, but for another chance. To be her brother and an uncle to her son. He’d even told her about Pippa. About how, for the first time in his life, he felt deserving of happiness.
After he sent it off, he had experienced instant regret, anxiety gnawing at his gut. His first instinct had been to seek out Pippa…but he couldn’t explain the situation without betraying his promise to Maisie. The only one he could talk to was Fanny. She knew what had happened to his sister. Had helped Maisie through the birth and recovery. Although Maisie had wanted nothing to do with Cull, she’d accepted Fanny’s assistance. Fanny cared about both Maisie and him and could be trusted to give sound advice.
“I hope you’re right,” he said with feeling.
“When am I wrong?” Fanny snorted. “If you’re wise, you’ll take my advice on another matter too: marry that sweetheart of yours.”
Cull felt his lips twitch. “You do like her, don’t you?”
