Page 50 of The Laudanum Ladies' Society

‘Well, my dear friend, if you need another operation, then I will gladly pay for it, in payment for the many years of work that you have carried out for me.’

‘That’s very generous and kind. Thank you, Mr Rosewood. It’s a pity our son did not choose to follow in his father’s trade. I wonder if I should write to him and express our wish that he might reconsider,’ Gwen said thoughtfully.

‘You will do no such thing! That boy has made his bed and will have to lie in it,’ Archibald said severely.

There was an awkward pause, then Conrad lifted his hat to Gwen.

‘I must take my leave, but please know, my friend, that my door and my ears are always open for your troubles.’

Gwen bade the guests farewell and made a pot of tea before returning upstairs. She placed his usual mug in Archibald’s hands.

‘That was a pleasant visit, and a surprise, I must admit. Conrad is a true friend, and to think we didn’t know how well he would take the news.’

‘A woman’s explanation,’ Archibald growled.

‘I know it’s a woman’s explanation, Archibald. I am a woman. I fail to see how this makes it any less valid.’

Archibald thumped his hand on the arm of the chair. ‘I am diminished by his offers of generosity. Don’t you see that a man should pay his way without charity? He should not need to rely on another man to put bread on his table or in his wife’s belly. And you…’

He turned his face up to her with a grimace of pure malice on his lips.

‘You told him of my troubles and brought our son into the conversation. How dare you speak so out of turn!’

‘Archibald, I was trying to help. I didn’t think you would mind, and it’s true that I wish Archie had shown interest.’

‘I don’t.’

Gwen grew flustered, hearing this animosity. ‘Please accept my apologies.’

‘It’s a damned sight too late for apologies, isn’t it? Do you really think Rosewood will keep his word? The moment my eyesight worsens, he will throw us out onto the street.’

He was becoming so agitated that he was in danger of spilling his tea. Gwen knelt at his side. ‘Archibald, please calm yourself. You have no idea and it’s a grave insult to him to suggest that he is lying. He has made a great deal of money thanks to your hard work, and it is only fair that you should benefit from it.’

‘I should benefit? What radical nonsense is that?’

‘It isn’t nonsense,’ Gwen answered. ‘If you had had money at the time, you could have gone into business with Conrad.’

‘However, I didn’t. He was lucky that some wealth fell into his lap when it did,’ Archibald said sourly.

‘How did it fall into his lap?’ Gwen asked, intrigued by the odd expression. She vaguely remembered when Conrad had set out to buy the pharmacy from the previous owner.

Archibald pinched his mouth closed. ‘That’s not my business, and none of yours either. There’s a name for women like you.’

‘Women like me?’

‘Women who can’t keep their noses out of business that doesn’t involve them.’

Gwen’s stomach twisted at the clear dislike in his voice. ‘I was only making conversation with you. I don’t really care how your friend acquired his windfall, if I’m being perfectly honest. Don’t accuse me of being a harpy.’

Without warning, Archibald hurled the mug across the room and rose from his chair. He gripped Gwen painfully by the shoulders and shook her violently. She cried out in shock. The attack had come out of nowhere.

‘Do you presume to tell me what to do?’ he roared. He let go of her and lashed out with his arm outstretched. The back-handed blow caught the side of her face. The shock was worse than the pain and she sank to the floor with a small gasp. Archibald stood over her as she raised her hand to her cheek. She expected him to either attempt to strike her again or apologise, but he gave a guttural growl.

‘Take me back to my bed.’

He reached out a hand, fumbling in front of him. Gwen flinched. Crouching like a dog that expected a beating was more humiliation than she could bear. She stood and let him take her by the arm, glad he couldn’t see the tears that she couldn’t keep inside. She took him back to the bedroom and helped him into bed, then walked out of the room and leant against the wall. She covered her face with her hands. Never had she been so treated.

She went out for a walk to the small park at the end of the road. The weather was still unseasonably cold and rainy, and she huddled down under an umbrella and didn’t notice the man standing by the iron railings until he spoke.