The old woman turned to Drud's wife, who had silently returned with Father Mazzare. "Tell them, Uli."
"I don't know what do you mean, old woman."
"No one cares about that"—Tibelda shook her head—"but I took the fairy's glove from your own garden."
Suddenly Uli became very interested in examining the floor. "I grow it because it is pretty."
"Tell them!"
The command made Uli explode. "I grew the plant and made your tonic and gave it to Drud! I put it in his cider! Every day!" The farmer's wife clenched her fists, then she seemed to crumple. "He forgot to take the cask I put it in when he went to Jena two days ago. When they brought him back, they wouldn't leave. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't tell them."
"Well, why the hell not?" Sharon demanded. "Do you have any idea how much time it would have saved us?"
"Do you think I wish to be branded a witch? Like her?" Uli gestured wildly at Tibelda. "Live, like her? Hiding in the forest? I have Drud, and friends here! I would be despised, driven from my village!"
Anne felt the dregs of her migraine flaring up again. "But you had no problem with using her to clean up your mess."
"What else was I to do, when he came?" Uli pointed toward Harvey. "He would not go, he would not leave Drud alone. He would have had them burn me."
"This man might have died . . . simply because of my presence?" Harvey looked stricken.
Sharon touched his hand. "You didn't know."
With visible reluctance he turned to Tibelda. "I owe you an apology, madam."
"Do not strangle yourself on the words, physick." The old woman waved her hand. "I have no need of them."
Father Mazzare went to Uli, and took her hands in his. "I believe she needs more from you, my child."
The peasant woman cringed. "She hates me."
"No," Tibelda said, in an unfamiliar, gentle voice. "I have never hated you. I have always protected you, child."
Uli slowly walked over to kneel before the herbalist. "I've pretended for too long, but I was so afraid. You know that, don't you?" She buried her face in Tibelda's skirt and sobbed. "Forgive me, Mother."
As the Grantvillians stared, the old woman rested one hand on her daughter's head, and carefully stroked her hair.
* * *
Two days later, Drud had recovered enough to be moved, and the entire group relocated themselves and their patient to Grantville for further treatment at the hospital. By then Tibelda and Uli had reconciled, and were in agreement with James Nichols' decision not to perform heart surgery.
"Your daughter's herbal treatments have been successful for the past twenty years," Nichols told Tibelda. "I see no reason to discontinue the medical regime, unless you do?"
Pleased at being treated as an equal, the herbalist shook her head. "It is as you say, physick. Now, what is this about working in a lavatory?"
"Jeff Adams is setting up a laboratory where he can work with you on developing new medicines," Nichols said, and smiled as he took the old woman's arm. "Let me show you around."
Anne Jefferson was already working on Uli, and nearly had her convinced to move to Grantville, and begin interning as a nurse in Anne's fledgling training program. "You already know a lot about cardiac care," she pointed out. "And Drud is interested in joining our construction crew."
"I would like to stay close to my mother," Uli admitted. "And if we live here, we need not worry about being burned as witches if anything goes wrong."
She laughed. "No, you'll probably be drafted to help fix it."
Anne left work that evening to find the ambassador waiting patiently outside the hospital's main entrance. "Adam, what are you doing out here?"
"I wanted to bid you farewell before I leave." He sketched an elegant bow. "Would you allow me to escort you home?"
"Okay." She took his proffered arm and tried not to feel depressed. The man was an ambassador, after all, and travel went with the job. "So, are you excited about the trip?"
"The duke has requested I forego the second half of my journey after I complete my mission in Persia. He is quite interested in pursuing new trade with you Americans." He guided her around a puddle on the street. "I should be returning to Germany in a few months."
"I see." She felt better, for some reason. "Will you be stopping by Grantville on your way back?"