Three Round Towers by Beverley Elphick Read Free Book Online Page A

It was clear she had never done any cooking so after I had shown her round her own kitchen we began preparing to make the dough.
    Farmer Elwood surprised us and at first he didn’t look too pleased to see his fragile young wife covered in flour and learning how to knead. Somehow, we all ended up laughing and I made a large pot of tea for us all to sit with while I chopped the apples.
    Beth crowed in delight and for a few hours I managed to put Becca to the back of my mind.
    â€˜Perhaps tomorrow we could do some preserving,’ I suggested. ‘I have found lots of my favourite herbs in your garden and it would be good to make use of them. I could preserve rosemary in oil.’
    â€˜Where did you learn all this Esther?’ Mr Elwood asked.
    â€˜My ma was a good cook and she grew a lot of herbs and vegetables to use in the kitchen and the house. We lived over the apothecary’s shop and had quite a big plot of land for the growing. My pa used some of her herbs for his own preparations. Mr Fuller, the apothecary, didn’t mind, as long as we didn’t copy any of the prescriptions that were for sale. Ma used to love to make soap and would press the herbs inside to give it a lovely smell. We sold quite a lot of things like that come Christmas and holidays.’
    â€˜You had a very busy childhood Esther. I wish I knew all the things that you do,’ said Cecilia.
    â€˜I can teach you,’ I offered.
    Farmer Elwood rose and laughed as he wondered why his wife would want to turn herself into a kitchen maid. We all ended up laughing at the thought of Cecilia with her sleeves rolled up and eyes streaming from chopping onions.
    My cakes were all prepared and I left the cooking to Cilla while I walked towards the town hoping that Billy-alone would come. I think he realised that I was anxious about this young woman who had been found and I was sure he would come back as soon as he had news.
    I looked towards Southover and stood awhile. Once again it was a beautiful mellow day. The sun had a reddish tone and though there were heavy clouds in the distance it didn’t smell or look like rain. The fields to the right of the farm track were all a lush green except where the plough and horses had been at work. I could see the path of the river and I wondered again about the family I believed to be in the area. I would have to make enquiries of Farmer Elwood. He owned property all the way downriver and my family might even be his tenants. It was an uneasy thought as I didn’t know what they would be like. I had recently wondered why my ma had left her family and hadn’t stayed in touch.
    What had happened to occasion such a rift; to marry and move household was one thing but to depart the district and never seek to return or want to talk of family was strange.
    Billy-alone was nowhere in sight so I returned to the warm kitchen to see how my bread and apple cakes were progressing. Cilla was a good and willing girl and I felt quite at home with her; we chatted together as the fire was encouraged to burn up and bake the bread wholesome and crispy with its enticing smell.

Chapter Twelve
    Medicinal Tea
    This country affords herbs much more wholesome than either tea or coffee, and if they were all imported from a distant region, and sold at a high price, they would, no doubt, be held in great estimation. The following composition is very superior to coffee or tea, inasmuch as the infusion is very agreeable, will strengthen the stomach and invigorate, instead of debilitate, the nervous system.
    Take of rosemary leaves dried 2 oz
    Sage 4 oz
    Rose 4 oz
    Peach 3 oz
    Hyssop 4 oz
    Balm 4 oz
    Male speedwell 4 oz (veronica)
    A wineglass of these mixed herbs is sufficient to make 3 pints of infusion, which is made in the same manner as tea, sugar and milk being added. The ingredients above may be diminished or augmented at pleasure. If too bitter lessen the quantity of hyssop and add dried mint leaves. In France