The Apothecary Page 0,28

we’d been waiting for you to get home, to tell you that Olivia wants us to go on location for a few days, to film at a castle. The speech we’d prepared started with how responsible we think you are. But then you didn’t come home to hear it. It got later, and later, and we got pretty worked up. And now I think we have to take you with us.”

I stared at him. “But I have school.”

“It’s just a few days.”

“I’m so far behind already.” I couldn’t leave Benjamin to look for his father alone, and I cast around frantically for ideas.

“Janie, it’s a castle,” my father said.

“I know!” Once I would have loved to skip school to go on location to a castle, but it was unthinkable now. “What was your plan before, when you were going to say how responsible I am?”

My father frowned. “That Mrs Parrish, the landlady downstairs, would look after you.”

“Perfect!” I nearly shouted.

“But Janie, you came home at ten o’clock tonight. You can’t do that with Mrs Parrish.”

“I won’t! I promise!” I didn’t know, at the time, how true that would be.

My father shook his head. “We thought about telling Olivia we couldn’t go, but we’ve just started working for her.” He paused, looking at his hands. “We haven’t wanted to make you afraid or upset, Janie, but we really need this job.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry I was a pill about leaving LA. And I’m sorry I was late tonight. But I’ll check in constantly with Mrs Parrish and I’ll be fine. Really. You can go.”

My father sat on the bed thinking. Then he shook his head. “I don’t know what else to do,” he said. “You really did scare us. We got so mad because we love you and want you to be safe. You understand that?”

“I do. I love you, too.”

“Now lights out, okay?”

When the door clicked closed, Benjamin rolled out from under the bed. “Arrogant?” he whispered.

“But nice,” I whispered back.

“And irresponsible!”

“We were home really late,” I said. “And you wouldn’t tell him anything!”

“Oh, right, so I should have told him that someone kidnapped my father and stabbed the gardener with a sundial?”

“No,” I said.

We sat in silence. Then Benjamin said, “So you get to stay in London.”

I looked at him—was he glad? Had I done right to campaign to stay? “Yes,” I said warily.

He didn’t catch my eye, or give any indication of feeling. “What did the gardener leave us?” he asked.

The note! I’d forgotten to read it. My coat was hanging on the bedpost, and I drew out the little brown glass bottle. The note was tied to the neck with a piece of twine.

I unfolded the piece of paper and spread it on the bed. Benjamin sat beside me and his hand brushed mine, which made it hard to concentrate for a second, but then I was caught up in the letter.

Children,

After much reflection, I begin to think that my life may be in danger. The man with the scarred face is walking in the garden as I write. I will hide this letter among the only plants you know to be useful. If you return to the garden in my absence, perhaps that’s where you’ll go. I know of no other way to contact you safely.

It is clearly of the utmost importance that you find Benjamin’s father. I’m convinced that what he wants is for the good. I have tried to think what I could offer to help you find him, when I may have little time.

There was a transformative elixir you doubted could exist, and I have taken the liberty of making some for you, from the directions in your remarkable book.

I have contemplated using it myself, to escape, but I am old, and have nowhere to go. I would be lost outside the garden. Please give the elixir the respect it deserves—use it not as a frivolous plaything, but approach the transformation with the seriousness that your father has always brought to his work. That will be the best way to find him.

I pray that you will not find this letter under dreadful circumstances. I would prefer to pass the bottle directly into your hands. But I am not hopeful. I wish you all luck.

Your friend

I picked up the bottle when I finished reading the letter. “A transformative elixir,” I said. “It’s the bird spell.”

“Oh, great,” Benjamin said. “The nuttiest one.”

“Don’t you think it works?”

“No,” Benjamin said. “If it did, he would