The Apothecary’s Apprentice 24
The Apothecary's Apprentice
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- 1. The Apothecary’s Apprentice 24
The master’s offer had taken Jennet unawares.
Her mind had gone blank in disbelief, and ultimately she had begged permission to put the proposition to her parents, leaving matters open for discussion.
Her sudden alarming notion that Henry Gryce might have designs on making her the second Mistress Gryce, and that coming to her family’s aid gave a ripe opportunity of going about it, she would keep to herself.
She could be wrong. Yet what other reason could there be for the master’s unprecedented change of manner towards her?
Back in the terrace on Queen Street, Jennet saw the hope that flashed on all three faces at her stammered rendition of Henry Gryce’s words.
Her mother was the first to break the stunned silence.
“You are saying that Master Gryce is offering us shelter in return for keeping house and assisting in the stillroom? He will take us in?”
Jennet nodded.
“That is what the master said, Mother. You would be expected to cook his meals, wash his linens and do the housework.
“There would be no payment, but otherwise the position is all found.
“We would have a roof and our food in return for our services.
“The master has been seeing after himself since Mistress Gryce passed on. I can only guess at the state of the place.”
Alice Parry took a breath.
“It feels too good to be true. I daresay the position of housekeeper is not beyond my capabilities.
“’Tis only what I am accustomed to doing here, but on a greater scale.
“Perhaps I could fit in some lace-making between times,” she mused. “’Twould bring in a little cash to hand.”
Eira, who seemed to Jennet to have aged worryingly overnight, made a wry face.
“What of my goodwifery, I ask you? Slaving in Henry Gryce’s stillroom is all very well, but I have my own clients to consider.
“I cannot see any of them approaching me in the living quarters above the shop.”
Ned spoke from his bed in the corner.
“Then you must go to them, Mother,” he told her. “As you do already in some cases.”
Still weakened from pain, he nonetheless managed to inject a note of authority into his voice.
“I cannot see any other way out of this dilemma we are in,” he added.
The goodwife was not to be bettered.
“Henry Gryce’s views and mine do not always tally. I follow the doctrine of John Gerard.
“To my mind, Gryce is behind the times in some of his methods.”
“Mother, from what Jennet says you would only be required to make up remedies for the shelf,” Alice argued gently.
“You would not be dealing with the customers.
“And from what we have heard it is a very agreeable stillroom in which to work.”
“Since when did I need a stillroom for the making of simples?” the goodwife said dourly.
Ned gave a snort of exasperation.
“Mother, see sense. We are in a state of great need. I am no longer in a position to support us.
“We must be realistic,” Ned continued. “This would mean a rooftree for us. Hope where there was none.
“What is the alternative? In less than forty-eight hours we shall be turned out of here.”
“Please listen, Mother.” Alice wrung her hands in despair.
Her careworn but still pretty face was pleading.
“If we do not accept this offer we shall be reduced to living as vagrants, sleeping wherever we can lay our heads.”
“It might not come to that,” Goodwife Parry argued. “I cannot bring myself to trust Henry Gryce.”
“God bless us and save us!” Ned exclaimed. “We are in no position to pick and choose.”
On and on went the debate.
The goodwife seemed in denial of their circumstances, even though she professed not to be.
Almost at his wits’ end, Ned turned his attention to Jennet.
“Daughter, you are quiet. Why so?”
Jennet shrugged.
“The master is not one to act purely out of sympathy.
“Granted, he would benefit considerably by having us there, but even so.”
She let it hang. Best not put her fears into words – it made everything more real.
Alice was following her own train of thought.
“I cannot see Master Gryce wishing to keep daily company with us.
“Do you suppose we would have a separate living space?”
Jennet nodded.
“More than likely. The building extends a fair way back and there is a garden. It would be a lot of work for you, Mother.”
“Ah, well, what’s a speck of dust?” Alice replied.
“And Jennet could help you where need be, wife,” Ned suggested.
The goodwife was regarding Jennet keenly.
“What really troubles you, granddaughter?”
Jennet could see the way things were heading.
There was no sense in heaping more worry on to her over-burdened parents.
She pounced on excuses.
“It will be different for us. It won’t feel like home.”
Her father frowned.
“If I thought you were holding back . . .”
“Husband, calm yourself,” Alice chided. “Getting upset will do you no good at all.
“Neither will it help us reach any decisions.”
“Mother is right,” Jennet agreed. “Let’s leave it, Father.”
“I should think so, too. This is a generous offer.
“And as your father pointed out, what choice have we?” her mother reminded her.
It had been a foregone conclusion from the start.
Jennet said no more.
To be continued…
