"A physician?" Dennis inquired, as he scribbled away on his desk. "Yes, my lord." Cornelia, who was standing at his side, sharply responded. "With all due permission, may I investigate further? If my lord wants to find out more, at least." She added, while scrutinizing Dennis's face. "Do you know who that physician is?" Dennis asked, while he paused what he was doing. "Unfortunately not, my lord." Cornelia said. "Very well then." Dennis said, asked he stretched his arms up for a moment. "I will give you till sunset to complete this report, I too am curious to know what Is so special that Beatrice and Sylvester are hiding from me." He said. "This servant will take her leave." Cornelia said, with a bow.
In the bustling streets, a lady, dressed In all black, with a black veil concealing her face, walked past. Unfortunately, she didn't know the name of the physician, if not she could have used that as a pointer to navigate around. But she could tell that she was at the right place though, it greatly fitted the coachman's description. A little boy, not more than five years old, bumped into her. "I am sorry, miss." The boy dusted himself as he apologized. "It's alright, child." Cornelia said, as she helped him up. "Child, is there a physician anywhere around here that you know of?" She asked. "A physician?" The little boy repeated, tilting his head. "You know, a person that treats sick people." Cornelia elaborated, assuming that he probably never heard that word before. "I know what that is, but the only one I know of in This area is my grandma." The boy said. "Really? Can you take me to her?" She asked him. "Are you sick miss?" The boy asked. "Yes, I have a daughter back at home around your age that has a terrible tummy ache, you don't want her to be sick, do you?" She pressed on. "No, I don't, I will take you to her right away." The boy said, grabbing her hand and dragging her off to the said location. "This is it." The boy said, pointing at the said building. Now Cornelia was certain that she was at the right place. "Child, don't leave yet." She called after the little child, who was about to play with his friends. "Here. Take this." She said, reaching into her bag and bringing out a piece of cake. "No thank you, my grandma says I shouldn't accept gifts from strangers." The boy said respectfully. "But you are hungry, aren't you? It is well past breakfast, I am sure you haven't eaten anything since the morning, and who knows if you will eat for the rest of today." Cornelia argued. Conflict showed vividly on the little boy's face, but in the end, the child accepted it at the end, thanking her profusely.
Cornelia walked into the house-like building. There was nothing fascinating about it, just a long passage as well as two benches set on either side of the walls, and a single door at the end of the passage, indicating the physician's office. At the very least, it was tidy and had good lighting, although it was crowded. She didn't mind till the physician attended to all her patients, she sat down and blended in with the crowd. "It sure is quite busy today." Cornelia began, initiating a conversation with the man that was sitted next to her. "Indeed it is." The man replied. Well, since she was going to be here for a while, why not use this opportunity to gather some Intel? "You don't seem to be from around here, miss." The man said, as he noticed her clothing. "No, I am not." Sje replied with a smile. One could tell that she was smiling, because of the way her eyes were curved. "How potent Is the physician's medicine?" She asked. "Very potent, she is one of the best physicians around. You can ask anyone from here." "She?" Cornelia asked. "Yes, she. Strange right- afterall, most physicians are men." He continued. "What is her name?" She asked once more. "Anna Vorismack." "Anna Vorismack... Anna.." Cornelia repeated, feeling a tinge of familiarity in that name. She recalled that when Beatrice first took ill, Dennis had sent a maid to call For Anna, was it this same Anna?
"I really hope her medicine works. You see sir, I have a little daughter back at home with a bad stomach ache. I met all the physicians that I am aware of but the medicines they gave to me are not effective, I really don't know what to do.." Cornelia said, as she wiped the 'Tears' from her face. "There is no need to Cry. The previous ones you went to are fakes. Don't worry, you came to the right place." The man said, as he patted her shoulder, as a way of comforting her. After that, not much was said, and Cornelia pretended to dose off on the chair, in order to avoid further conversation with the man. She didn't miss the moment that the child went into the office, though. Soon enough, she was the only one left unattended To. "Please, Miss, you are the last one here. Come in." Anna said, mentally exhausted. Cornelia went into the office, where there was a single chair in which Anna sat, and a desk. Two chairs were at the other side of the desk. There was really nothing more, except for a large magnitude of the documents of various patients. Fortunately, there was sufficient space for her to keep her condiments and the likes.
"Please sit." Anna said, and Cornelia sat down, while the corner of her eyes caught sight of the child, who was drawing pictures at a corner. "So, what can I do for you today, Miss?" Anna began, as soon as She saw that Cornelia was comfortably sitted. "I will go straight to the point- I am here for business." "Business?" Anna repeated, raising her glasses up. "What sort of Business?" The child stopped drawing, and hobbled over to where his grandmother was. "Grandma, my tummy hurts." He said. "Lucas, not now, grandma Is busy with a client, okay?" She said sweetly to the child. "But grandma.." "Lucas." Anna interrupted, changing her tone to become more strict. "I will go get food for you when I am done, alright?" She said, assuming that the child was hungry. Lucas begrudgingly sat in his corner, although he still held his stomach. Cornelia smirked. "Three days ago, the lady of the house of Lewis called upon this place, and her brother in law was with her- what exactly did they come here for?" She asked, while crossing her legs elegantly. "I am sorry but I don't disclose a client's personal information to their very own family member if they so will it, irregardless of a stranger." Anna responded. Cornelia chuckled to herself. "Is that your final answer?" She asked. "What else will my answer be?" Anna asked her back. Cornelia sighed. "You really should listen to the child more often." She mumbled. "What is that supposed to mean? Who are you? Who exactly sent you?" Anna asked, standing up, a bit alarmed. Cornelia just gazed up at her coolly, saying nothing. "Grandma..."Lucas said, as he made to get up. "What is it now?" Anna asked irritated. But she soon regretted that though, for her grandson was coughing, and he was coughing up.. blood. "Lucas!" Anna cried out In horror, nearly knocking the chair over, as she dashed toward the child. "What is wrong, Lucas?" She asked. "What a stupid question- how do you expect the child to know?" Cornelia asked, standing up and walking over to the corner where they were. "I am asking you one last time- what did lady Beatrice come here for? Afterall, your grandson's life is at stake." Anna said. "You." Anna began, looking up at her. "Do you have a hand in this?" "What do you think?" Cornelia smiled deviously. Although Anna couldn't see the smile, the way her light brown eyes glittered filled her with fear. "Still hesitating? What an old fool you are." Cornelia added. "I poisoned a cake, and I fed it to your grandson. You are a physician but let me tell you- that poison is very rare. Even all the money you attain from this petty occupation of yours won't be able to get you the antidote. Do you really want him to die because of some one else's business?" She pressed on. "He is your only family afterall." She hit the nail with the hammer. "How did you?" Anna began, with tear-streaken eyes. Cornelia shrugged. "You don't need to know that." "The poison won't take his life instantly, so think long and hard- you need to educate him, feed him. Cater for both his need and yours. You need to pay rent-for your house and for your business too. The locals give you shillings and pennies, I can give you gold, and six time more than that which Sylvester offers you." She said, and crouched down to her level. "Most importantly, you get to save the life of this little one." She added, reaching out to pat the now unconscious child's head. "Don't touch him, you shrewd villian!" Anna exclaimed. "My my, what a vixen you are." Cornelia clicked her tongue and stood up. "So, do you concede?" Anna sighed. "Lady Beatrice is.. expecting." She then went ahead to tell her the details. Cornelia raised a brow. "Can you give me the antidote now?!" Anna cried, when she saw that Lucas's breathing turned shallow. "Here." Cornelia threw a bottle of liquid at her. "You are a physician, so you should know how it is done. As long as I am alive, Sylvester will not find out about this." She assured Anna, as she turned round to leave, not forgetting to compensate her In the form of gold coins.
Cornelia stepped outside, looking at the angle of the sun. "It is quite late now." She said, seeing that the sun had begun to sink below the horizon. "No matter, at least I got what I wanted." She soliloquised.