A Rose For A Rose

Chapter 7

I smiled at the apothecary behind the counter as I closed the door. He was an older man who always looked stern, but those who came in here often knew he was kind.

"Mr. Wilson," I said as I approached the counter, pulling my gloves off my hands as I did.

"Lady Mazur," Mr. Wilson said with a cant of his head, "I can only guess you are here to settle the bill?"

I set my gloves on the counter and nodded, taking a list out of the clutch and handing it to him. "These too, please."

Mr. Wilson nodded and looked at the list before walking away to collect my items. I sighed and breathed in the smell of the shop. It always smelled clean and fresh, despite some of the items Mr. Wilson sold here.

"Is there a particular scent you would like?"

"Do you have anything with lavender?" I called out. Mr. Wilson made a noise but it wasn't exactly comprehendible. I waited for him to come back and toyed with the loose hair near my face. I wasn't exactly breaking any rules, but I was unaccompanied. I had a short window to get what I needed and to get back to the house.

"I think this is something you will like," Mr. Wilson said as he came back, holding a small vial in his hands. He unscrewed the top of it and held the top out towards me. "May I?"

I extended my wrist to him and he pressed the top against it gently. "You don't need much, just a dab on your wrist or your neck. Less is more," he explained. I lifted my wrist and took a short breath through my nose, smelling the oil on my skin.

It was pretty and light, but distinctly lavender with a hint of something else.

"Is it just lavender?"

"There is a little bit of lilac, orange peel, and sage. A new concoction," Mr. Wilson said.

"It's lovely. I'll take it, and the one I ordered for Lady Dragomir," I said as I took out the coins needed to pay. I was settling the bill for Ms. Ashford as well. Not that she knew that, but I was. I had made an arrangement with Mr. Wilson that if he gave the medicine to Mrs. Ashford at a lower price, I would pay the difference.

Mr. Wilson put all of my things into a cloth bag and took the money from me, counting out before putting it in the drawer.

"Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Wilson," I smiled as I put my gloves back on. Mr. Wilson smiled at me and nodded.

"You too, Lady Mazur."

I took the bag and left, carefully closing the door behind me. I glanced up and down the street before stepping out into the street, staying close to the shadows. It was late and I didn't want to be caught out alone.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and a chill run down my back. I was no longer alone. I took a hesitant glance behind me and found a man not far off.

I quickened my pace and clutched my bag to my chest, calculating in my head how far I was from the house.

"You shouldn't be out wandering at night, Rose. It's not safe for a lady like yourself."

I recognized the voice and glanced behind me again. There was a glow from a cigar or cigarette as the man brought it to his lips. I didn't say anything and kept walking, my eyes flitting around in the dark. I felt a little panicked knowing someone was following me.

I felt a sigh of relief when I saw the Dragomir house in sight, almost running to get to the door. I climbed the steps and slipped inside, catching another glimpse of the man. He stood at the bottom of the steps and watched as I closed the door. I spied through the small window and watched him turn and walk back the way we came, tossing the used paper to the ground.