A Family For Christmas (13 page)

‘Shall I get us some luncheon first?'
Eliza asked.

Getting no answer, she turned round to find Fay
slumped in the chair, her eyes firmly closed.

Worried that Fay was ill or worse, Eliza hurried
across the room. Then, seeing the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest and hearing her gentle
snores, she let out a sigh of relief. Really, she could do without any more shocks today, she
thought, gently removing the book from the woman's lap and replacing it with a sheepskin.
Catching sight of the illustration on the cover of the book she began flicking through the
pages. On the left-hand side of each was a delicate watercolour of a plant or herb with a short
description written underneath. Then on the right was a list of ingredients followed by the
receipt. Imagine being able to use plants and herbs for curing or easing all these ailments, she
thought, placing it on the table and carefully running her finger down the index at the
back.

It was fascinating and she was so absorbed, it
took her a few moments to realize Fay had woken and was staring across the room at her.

‘Interesting, isn't it?' the
woman asked.

‘Yes. I had no idea you could do all
this,' Eliza answered. Then a thought struck her. ‘I hope you don't think me
rude for reading your receipt book?'

Fay smiled and shook her head. ‘I've
been watching you for some time and it made my heart glad to see you so animated. Judging by the
way the fire's gone down, you must have been studying it ever since I fell
asleep.'

Eliza glanced over at the hearth in dismay. ‘Goodness, Fay,
I'm sorry. I had no idea the day had got so late,' she said, jumping up guiltily.
She raked the embers until they blazed red, tossed on a couple of logs then set the pot of water
over the fire to heat. ‘I'll go and bring in some vegetables for our
meal.'

‘Calm down, Eliza, we're not in any
hurry. I collected a couple of potatoes from the store when I came back and even managed to
prise a couple of leeks out of the ground as well. We could fry them up with that bit of rabbit
that's left. I was intending to do so much today and yet there I go sleeping the afternoon
away,' she said, clicking her tongue in disgust. Putting a spill into the fire, she
watched as it flared, then she turned and lit the candle beside her. ‘To chase away the
gloom,' she muttered when she saw Eliza's surprised expression. ‘We'll
need the wax for our elder salve anyway. Nothing's ever wasted here, girl. After supper
we'll look through the book and decide what receipt to use first.'

‘Can we make some of those flower
essences?' Eliza asked excitedly.

Fay shook her head. ‘It's the wrong
time of year. There's a season for everything, Eliza, remember that. You said the hunt was
out so this then is the season for curatives.'

‘Do you get paid much for them?'
Eliza asked curiously.

‘Generally, we people of the moors are cash
poor so we exchange our produce and labour. I thought you realized that. Living in these
wonderful surroundings brings greater satisfaction than any material goods. Thus I make my
special flower essences during the right season and add these to the curatives and remedies.
Then I bestow them upon the folk who have given to me over the past months.'

‘So you exist totally without money?' Eliza stared at
Fay in amazement.

‘I didn't say that. A person still
needs some income to buy commodities. It's just recognizing who has the readies to buy.
Like I said, the hunt's been out so there are sure to be sore muscles come the morrow.
They'll be staying at the hostelry in Dulvester and no doubt making merry far into the
night. Those men will pay well for salves and plaisters to ease their painful limbs along with
tinctures for tomorrow's tender heads. If fools and their money are easily parted, who are
we to stand in their way?' Fay rubbed her hands together in glee.

Eliza stared into the fire, mulling over what the
woman had said. It was such a different concept from the way her parents had lived.
Everyone's very existence at South Wood relied upon wages from working in the mine,
pitiful though they were.

‘Well, I don't have a farthing to my
name but if what you say is true, then by helping with the receipts I'll be repaying you
for taking me in?' she asked.

‘Indeed, and thus you can hold your head up
high. Of course, by helping with the chores you've already been paying your
way.'

The woman slapped down the old frying pan on the
hearth and tossed in a lump of fat. As it began to sizzle, she threw in the rabbit and prodded
it around. Before long the smell of frying filled the room, making Eliza's stomach growl.
Having become so engrossed in the book, she'd quite forgotten to have any luncheon.

‘Duncan said he'd be over soon to
empty the earth closet,' she said as they settled down to their meal.

‘Fine choice of subject when we're about to eat,
child,' Fay snapped, but Eliza was used to her moods by now and kept quiet.

That evening as they pored over the receipts by
candlelight, Eliza felt excitement stir inside her.

‘There are so many, how do you know which
to choose?'

‘By checking what ingredients you have
available. Then you need to consider the time of year and what ails folk. The cold and wet
weather causes pain in joints and so we'll need plaisters, remedies for fevers, salves for
sores and infusions for general health.'

‘It all sounds fascinating. Will you teach
me how to make them?' Eliza asked, excitement rising in her chest.

‘Certainly. You can read out the receipts,
then watch what I do. I have some elder buds stored and rosemary and sage oils made so
we'll make a start first thing in the morning,' Fay said, stifling a yawn.

‘We need to get an early night then,'
Eliza said, anticipating the woman as she dragged on her greatcoat.

Whilst she paid her visit outside, Eliza stacked
their dishes ready to wash in the morning, then covered the fire with blocks of peat so that it
would stay in all night. She'd just set out their mattresses when Fay returned. Before
long, the room was rocked by the sound of the woman's snores but Eliza hardly noticed.
With the musky, sweet smell of burning peat scenting the room, her senses reeled with excitement
at the prospect of the day to come.

They began at first light. Fay's spirits
had definitely revived and she eagerly showed Eliza where her supplies were
stored. Then, with equipment and ingredients set out, Fay donned
an enormous apron and set to work. Anxious to help, Eliza read the receipts and watched
carefully as Fay mixed and blended.

‘Can I help?' she asked after a
while.

‘You are. The best way to learn is by
watching,' the woman grunted.

Eliza read out the quantities and duly watched as
Fay melted pig fat and candle wax, then stirred in elder buds.

‘Right, now we need to stir this
well,' Fay instructed. Eliza looked at the gloopy, lumpy mixture and grimaced.
‘That's next month's bread and butter, girl, so it's no use you looking
like that. Make yourself useful and line up those jars ready for me to spoon this in …
Right, now for the rosemary,' Fay said, picking up a flagon from the table. As she went to
pour it, Eliza wrinkled her nose.

‘That smell's too strong for
rosemary,' she said.

Fay frowned then inhaled. ‘You must have
put the wrong flagon out,' she growled, but her hand was trembling and Eliza could tell
she was worried.

‘Make a start on those labels,' Fay
barked when she saw Eliza watching her.

‘Can't I help with the mixing and
making?' Eliza asked.

‘Not today. Time is of the essence,'
she said, then chuckled. ‘Sorry, my little jest. Haven't you learned anything this
morning? Essence is what I've just used.' Yes, and nearly the wrong one, Eliza
wanted to say but bit her tongue. She'd expected to be more involved in the making of
these magical lotions and potions but knew it would be stupid to annoy the woman.

Seeing her discontent, Fay shrugged.

‘When we have more time, I'll show you how
everything's done. Come summer there'll be so many flowers and herbs around,
you'll be sick of the sight of them. Now, have you finished labelling those
bottles?'

‘Almost.' She sighed, wondering how
anyone could be sick of the sight of flowers. She wanted to know what they all were and how to
use them. Sensing Fay's glare, she returned to her task and was just pressing on the last
label when there was a knock on the door.

As Duncan strode into the room with his disarming
grin, her mood lifted.

‘Ah, the very person,' Fay said.

‘I thought you might have some remedies for
selling at the Dulvester market. I'm taking some produce of Ben's so he's lent
me the wagon.'

‘Indeed I have,' Fay said, gesturing
to the table, which was lined with the result of their morning's labours.

‘You have been busy,' he said,
turning to Eliza.

‘Fay made them all. I just read out the
receipts and wrote the labels,' she muttered.

‘And beautifully labelled they are
too,' he said, picking up a little bottle and studying it. ‘She's got much
neater writing than you, Fay.'

‘No need to be cheeky, whippersnapper. I
suppose you want a brew and something to eat?'

‘No time, I'm afraid. I'll pack
up your wares then head straight down to Dulvester. I've people to see as well as going to
market so I'll be staying down there a few days.'

‘I hear the hunt's been out.
They'll be putting up at the Horn and Stirrup Cup as usual so presumably I can leave you
to do the necessary?'

‘Of course, Fay.'

‘And no taking less than top whack. Some of
those ingredients are costly.'

Duncan laughed. ‘Wouldn't dare bring
anything back other than your fortune, Fay, you know that. Any provisions you need?'

‘Honey, if it's a fair price. I used
the last for the mustard and honey plaisters.'

‘Can I come with you?' Eliza asked,
suddenly feeling the need to get away from this bossy woman.

Duncan looked at Fay who clucked her tongue.
‘And set tongues wagging, young missy. I think not.'

Eliza glared at the woman.

‘Perhaps you could help me load the
remedies onto the wagon?' Duncan suggested, gathering up the bottles and jars.

‘What's wrong?' he asked, as
they walked towards the fence, where the horse was tethered.

‘It's so unfair. I wanted to help but
all she let me do was read the receipts and write out the labels. Then she nearly used the wrong
essence …' Eliza burst out.

‘What! That's not like her. And she
let you read her precious receipts?'

‘She said the words have gone all skewed
since her fall but I think that was an excuse not to let me help make them.' As
Duncan's frown deepened Eliza felt her anger evaporate.

‘It's not like Fay to admit
something's wrong either. I'll check her out when I get back. It will have to be
done subtly, though, so don't mention you've said anything. See you in a few days,
little un,' he said, retrieving the last of
the jars from his capacious pocket and jumping into the seat.

Watching him ride away, Eliza felt a prickle of
unease. Could there really be something wrong with Fay? She'd been so bound up in her own
sense of injustice, she'd paid little heed, but from now on she'd watch her like a
hawk.

Fay was dozing in her chair and Eliza set about
tidying the room after their morning's work. Glancing over at the sleeping woman, Eliza
felt another pang for she looked really quite old and frail. She'd just have to curb her
impatience until Fay was ready to show her how to make the receipts.

‘Another day, another duty,' Fay
said, a few days later. Eliza smiled, pleased to see the woman had recovered her strength. The
strained atmosphere that had persisted since Duncan's departure evaporated like mist on
the moor.

‘Now the weather's warming nicely we
need to start digging over the vegetable plot ready for Duncan to empty the earth closet when he
returns. Lots of good fertilizer there, and once the chimney's been swept we can add the
soot to the saved ashes and spread those. I love this time of year: it's like a new
start.'

Eliza was pleased harmony had been restored but
thought the proposed digging of the plot sounded boring.

‘Wouldn't you prefer me to make a
start on the spring cleaning?'

Fay chuckled. ‘That can wait. We must get
the ground ready for planting. You can't eat a clean floor, now, can you?' Eliza
shook her head. ‘I know you're impatient to
start making those receipts but you only get out of the ground
what you put in.'

‘Well, that's obvious,' Eliza
giggled. ‘If you put in a leek you won't dig up a potato, will you?'