The Poison Diaries (19 page)
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Authors: Maryrose Wood,The Duchess Of Northumberland
With scarcely a backward glance, Luxton makes his way to the path and half stumbles, half runs back to the ancient ruins of his home. The antidote is still clutched tightly in his hands. I watch until he disappears over the crest of the hill.
Live, Jessamine.
I will it, with every drop of strength I possess.
Live, and remember me. I will never be far, and my friends—the flowers, the trees, the tender vine that curls around your window and guards you while you sleep—they will always be watching. And so will I.
As I stand, awash in rage and despair, a low, sad rumble from the distant forest offers me a refuge. I will go, for I too must live. My life’s purpose now is to watch, and protect. And, if need be, to avenge.
I step onto the path and turn my back to Hulne Park, to the cottage, to Jessamine—to the only happiness I have ever known.
Luxton’s satchel lies in the dirt before me. I lift it. I can tell by the weight and shape of it what it contains: his book of cures. Thomas Luxton’s poison diary. Filled
with the information I gave him, purchased nearly at the price of his daughter’s life.
It was his most precious possession.
Now it is mine.
Alas, my Jessamine; we do not have much time left.
What does that mean, Oleander? Does it mean I will die?
I don’t want you to leave me, Jessamine. There is so much I have yet to tell you.
You have already told more than I can bear.
We have hardly begun. The truth of things is so cruel, so beautiful—so much more thrilling than you can imagine. Stay with me. I will reveal dark secrets you never dreamed existed. We will fly everywhere you ever longed to see. Stay. You will not be sorry.
What secrets? Oleander—I cannot see you anymore—the silver mist turns to darkness—is it the end? Oh, I am afraid! Perhaps you are right, perhaps I should stay—for my father is a murderer, and Weed has abandoned me—why should I return to them? And you,
Oleander—cruel and strange as you are—you have told me only the truth… you have tried to help me, I see that now…. Oleander, I reach for you, where are you? I clutch something in the darkness, but it is only a leaf come loose in my hand—Too late, I am afraid. Good-bye for now, lovely lady. When you are ready to meet again, come to the poison garden…. I am always there…. I will be waiting….
My eyes open. Curtains flutter in the breeze, and bright yellow sunshine floods in my bedchamber window. The light stings. Tears form, blinding me again. But not before I see Father’s face hovering above me.
He looks like an old man. A frightened, evil old man.
And Weed is nowhere to be found.
I feel my leaden body, shackled to the bed by gravity and mortality. I ache everywhere. The sheets are damp with my sweat. My joints ache, my belly is full of pain, my head throbs.
I am alive.
About the AuthorM
ARYROSE
W
OOD
began writing fiction after many years performing, directing, and writing for the theater. Her novels for teen readers include
WHY I LET MY HAIR GROW OUT
and
MY LIFE:
The Musical.
For younger readers she wrote
THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE: BOOK I:
The Mysterious Howling,
the first book of a new series.J
ANE
N
ORTHUMBERLAND
is married to the twelfth Duke of Northumberland and is mistress of Alnwick Castle, often referred to as the “Windsor of the North.” The earls and dukes of Northumberland have lived in Alnwick Castle for seven hundred years. The Duchess has spent the last fourteen years creating beautiful public gardens in the grounds of the castle and, because of her fascination with and knowledge of poisons, has created the world-famous Poison Garden. Alnwick Castle and the Alnwick Garden are the most popular tourist destinations in the north of England, attracting more than 800,000 visitors each year.Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Poison Diaries is a trademark of Poison Diaries Ltd.
Balzer + Bray is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
The Poison Diaries
Text copyright © 2010 by Poison Diaries Ltd.
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EPub Edition © AUGUST 2010 ISBN: 978-0-062-00151-1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wood, Maryrose.
The poison diaries / by Maryrose Wood ; based on a concept by the Duchess of Northumberland. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: In late eighteenth-century Northumberland, England, sixteen-year-old Jessamine Luxton and the mysterious Weed uncover the horrible secrets of poisons growing in Thomas Luxton’s apothecary garden.
ISBN 978-0-06-180236-2
[1. Human-plant relationships—Fiction. 2. Poisons—Fiction. 3. Medical care—Fiction. 4. Plants—Fiction. 5. Supernatural—Fiction. 6. Fathers and daughters—Fiction. 7. Northumberland (England)—History—18th century—Fiction. 8. Great Britain—History—George III, 1760–1820—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.W8524Poi 2010
2009054427
[Fic]—dc22
CIP
AC
10 11 12 13 14 LP/RRDB 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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