Its sensual lushness was lightened by clean, fresh lavender. A faint accent of sandalwood added an exotic note. Candlelight glittered on tiny amethyst coloured stones. Were they really amethysts? Or paste? It was hard to say. The stones appeared to be fastenings used to attach the emerald green feathers that adorned the little violet hat, which contrasted so becomingly with the lady’s blue-black hair. She was bent over a large open volume on the counter. Her inky brows were drawn together and her forehead wrinkled with concentration. Whilst the clock ticked by the seemingly endless stretch of moments, a burning ache spread through Rebecca’s lower back. Discreetly, she pressed her hands to the protesting muscles. She glanced to the large storefront windows of her father’s apothecary shop. He suffered from a touch of gout and couldn’t always stay at the counter a full day any longer. She lived here now and helped him to run the business.
