As Luck Would Have it

During the seventh month of pregnancy, Betsy had realized that her last attack of sporadic magic hadn’t been for close to two months. She decided that it was time to make a glamour potion so she would be attractive after she had the baby. She hated the way people looked at her and it was time for a change. She didn’t have the money to maintain a potion before and Henry allowed her to buy ingredients for potions without limit.

She measured the ingredients and stirred it in a large lobster pot. As she created her glamour potion, she thought about all the times the other women at the mill taunted her, the vile treatment her healer gave her and all the other things that being unattractive caused her. She wanted to look normal, being beautiful meant having regular features. She wanted the golden triangle and a face that would turn men’s head in lust, not disgust.

She planned on drying it on the screened in porch, as she smelled the foul odor coming from the pot. She cooked it until it was as thick and dry as possible. It could dry the rest of the way in the sun. She would have to stir it everyday to get all the parts evenly dry. Dried potions lasted indefinitely; ones kept moist were lucky to last more than a few days.

As Betsy waited for the baby to arrive, she was still attack free but it didn’t make her feel much better. One attack killed Helen Martin. Even if she could reduce the attacks to once a year, it wasn’t good enough. She needed to find the magic to get rid of them forever. She talked to Mary Jane about the attacks and Mary Jane suggested that fluctuations in her hormone levels may trigger them and she would find a medication that caused early menopause to stabilize her hormone levels. She didn’t want to have another baby anyway because she wouldn’t die until after her second daughter was born.

“I’ll give it to you after you have the baby. You’ll have to bottle feed,” Mary Jane said.

“I understand.”

“After I give you this medicine, I want you to track any episode that you might have and their intensity.”

“I don’t want one episode.”

“If the medicine works right, you won’t have any. You have to have patience.”

“Helen died.”

“We can’t go back in time. All we can do is prevent it from happening again,” Mary Jane said. “I’m sorry I was so cold to you before. I understand your concern and I’ll do my best to help you solve your problem.”

“Thanks.” Betsy laid awake most of the night timing her contractions. She remembered that Mary Jane said that first labors could last over a day and contraction could stop and start a few times before becoming active. As the dawn cracked through the window, Betsy told Henry that she was going to get Annabel to sit with her.

“When did you labor start?”

“Some time last night. I started timing my pains around three in the morning. They stopped twice so I started timing them again at five thirty. I might not have the baby until tomorrow.”

“But you want Annabel here?”

“Just in case. It’s dangerous for a woman to have a baby alone.”

“I’ll walk with you.” Henry hurried into his clothes. “You aren’t going anywhere alone.”

“I’m fine.”

“You could have a baby any minute.”

“I’ll have strong pain for an hour or more. Only second or later babies come that fast. The first one has to open everything up.” Betsy threw on a clean dress. “I’ll be fine. I’ll take the carpet if you\'re worried.”

“Take the carpet. I’ll wait here for my sister,” Henry agreed.

Betsy rolled out her carpet on the back porch. She had a pain as she sat on the carpet. After she waited for the pain to pass, she said, “Carpet, take me to Will and Annabel Flynn’s house.” Betsy relaxed on the carpet as it rose above the houses.

Annabel greeted Betsy at the door. “It’s rather early for a visit.”

“I have been in labor off and on all night. I don’t want to be alone if the baby should arrive faster than I expect.”

“I understand. Is Henry going to work?”

“He has the shoe factory to look after. He’s begging me to get a nanny and work there with him, saying that he could use my brains.”

“He just wants your company at the office,” Annabel said. Sarah followed her mother and Annabel put Jack in his sling. “Maybe you should consider it. James didn’t work with Henry since Henry claimed he had no business sense.”

“Why did he stay with him for over five years?”

“My brother isn’t a practical as he leads you to believe. He didn’t become practical until James broke his heart.”

“I doubt it.”

“In business matters, he has always been practical. He didn’t let James near his businesses.”

“All the same, I rather work for someone else.”

“We should drop Jack and Sarah with their aunt Kate. I can’t be much help to you if I’m chasing a baby.”

“Good idea.” Betsy told the carpet the address and waited on the carpet as Annabel brought the children inside to stay with their aunt, Kate. Betsy felt two more pains as she waited. Betsy felt the pains come at a little faster and seem hurt her lower on her body. It was like the pain was in her lower back and upper legs. The baby must have been pushing against her back.

Annabel rubbed her legs as Betsy complained about pain being deferred to her legs. “You’ll be able to walk after you landed the carpet. Bend your knees and I’ll try to rub the back of your legs.”

“Thanks.” Betsy bent her legs and Annabel massaged them until the carpet landed.

Annabel handed Betsy a nightshirt and told her to take off everything but her socks. Women in labor tended to get cold feet. Henry went down the street to get Mary Jane while Annabel sat with Betsy. Annabel wiped Betsy’s brow as she groaned. Betsy, wearing a white nightshirt, lay on the marriage bed she shared with Henry. Annabel put down towels for the bloody show and the afterbirth.

“We should wait until I heal from labor before we mess with a glamour potion,” said Betsy before she groaned, again.

“The head is coming. Another push should do it. Most women are in labor for about twelve hours on their first one.”

Betsy got into a squatting position and pushed. Afterwards, she took a deep breath. Annabel wiped Betsy’s forehead.

“You’re doing great,” Annabel said. “Try to wait for the midwife.”

Betsy grunted. “She doesn’t want to wait for anyone.” Betsy pushed once more for the baby’s head come out.

Annabel cradled the baby. “One more push should do it.” The baby came out. Annabel cleaned her with one of the towels. “She’s beautiful. Do you want to put her on your breast or do you want me to wet nurse?”

“Hand her to me. I’ll nurse her for now.” Betsy was nursing her child when Mary Jane arrived. “You missed all the fun.”

“I wouldn’t suggest that you bind your chest or return to work until your daughter is at least six weeks old,” Mary Jane said, delivering the afterbirth.

“I might stay home with her,” Betsy said. “I might attend University part-time. My husband thinks that I would be a wonderful college professor.”

“It’s your choice,” Mary Jane said. “You’re lucky to have a rich husband.”

“Where is he?” Betsy asked.

“He got me and then went off to work,” Mary Jane said. “I never expected to see Cynthia nursing on your breast. You surprised me.”

“Annabel will wet nurse for me if I need to bind my chest,” Betsy said. “I feel like a failure.”

“Betsy, you aren’t a failure. You just gave birth to a beautiful daughter,” said Mary Jane. “Enjoy her for awhile before you make any decisions.”

“My magic has been out of control during much of my pregnancy. I don’t want to risk pregnancy again.”

“I’ll give you herbs to take every day so you can delay your next pregnancy. It isn’t a good idea to have babies too close together anyway,” Mary Jane said. “I’ll be back in a week to do give you the pills that I promised.”

“I didn’t want to use a glamour while pregnant. I didn’t know if it would cross over to the baby,” Betsy said.

“Waiting was smart,” Mary Jane said.

“Henry tells me that it isn’t necessary, but I want to be pretty for me,” Betsy said.

“It’s up to you,” Annabel said. “My brother thinks you\'re lovely as you are. You don’t want him to become upset because other men are falling for you.”

“It might shake him up a little bit. It would be nice if the baker or druggist didn’t turn his face when I entered their stores.”

“Don’t overdo it,” Annabel said. “I heard that some glamour could make every man lose his concentration.”

“My father spreads rumors like that. He says glamour is his largest seller,\" Betsy said.

“Just be careful with it,” Annabel said. “It would be nice if my brother recognized you when he came home from work.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow morning. Can you come over and help me make the potion?” Betsy sat up holding the baby.

“I would love to,\" Annabel said.

“I’m leaving. I’ll bill you later.” Mary Jane took her bag and left the room.

Cynthia woke up crying. After taking the baby into bed, she placed the crying child on her breast. Feeling her child suck at her breast made her smile, Betsy enjoyed the touch of her baby’s warm skin against hers. Looking at Cynthia locks of thick brown hair, she didn’t want to give up nursing.

Annabel bought three spellbooks with her when she arrived in the morning. Betsy, wiping the sleep from her eyes, poured Annabel coffee. Annabel slipped her coffee black. “I found a few potions that will temporary slow milkductduction so you won’t have leaky breasts while you bottle feed Cynthia. Unless you rather that I nursed her until we\'re sure that glamour won’t pass into the milk.” Annabel finished her coffee.

“Sounds good. I can’t nurse anyway. Breast feeding could affect my hormone levels and I could have another incident.”

Annabel washed her coffee cup. “I’m sorry. I love nursing my babies.”

“Can you nurse Cynthia?”

“Of course, I can. I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”

Betsy took a packet of premeasured herbs from the cupboard. “Lord, blessed my meditations. Let my magic flow into these herbs.” Betsy poured hot water into a mug then put the herbs in a tea strainer.

“Now what?” asked Annabel.

“We let the potion steep for five to ten minutes. Ten minutes is better,” said Betsy. “Annabel, you\'re about to learn what real magic can do.”

Hearing her baby cry, Betsy went to check on her. Betsy returned to the kitchen to find Annabel hair looking shiner, her cheeks were rosier, and her breasts grew large giving her more of hourglass figure. Annabel’s dress was uncomfortable tight around her. “What happened? I have taken glamour; it has never done this.”

“Didn’t anyone tell you not to drink a potion meant for someone else?” shouted Betsy. “I can’t feed Jack. My milk hadn’t come in, yet. You’re lucky you weren’t wearing a corset or I would be repairing several broken ribs.”

“How long will this last?” asked the woman through her tears. “Do I look that different?”

“Yes. That normal stuff doesn’t work on me. This is my own formula. My father’s version of this had to be taken off the market. Men will literally be chasing you around town. In the mirror, you’ll only look a little better. I think it’s chemical.”

“How long will it last?”

“For you, two months to six months.” Betsy sat down then repositioned her daughter on her breast. “My magic actively fights this spell, so it only lasts a few days for me.”

“Will will kill me. I need a mirror. Do I look different?”

“Get out of those torn clothes. You can wear one of my maternity dresses. I’m going to the drug store to get a counterpotion and formula. Will you be alright?”

“As long as the mailman doesn’t come around. What about my brother?”

“It won’t affect him, but I’ll try to be back before Henry comes home.”

“Read a book. I’ll hurry back.”

“Are you going to take it?”

“After we get you back to normal.”

Annabel was sitting on the sofa watching Sarah and Jack play on the floor when Betsy returned with baby formula and a general-purpose counter spell. “Can you make the formula while I figure out this counter spell?”

“Of course.” Annabel smiled and her eyes grew wide. She raced into the kitchen with the powder.

Betsy mixed up the potion it up in a few minutes. Annabel drank it down and nothing happened. “I can’t stay this way for several months.”

“The problem is that you will stay this way for several months. I brought enough formula for both babies for the month. Would you feel better if I took the potion?”

“It doesn’t matter now.” Annabel went back to mending her dress.

“I’m going to pour myself more potion. Don’t drink it unless you want to be irresistible for a year or longer.” Betsy knew a second spell wouldn’t increase the length of the original spell, but she was very angry.

Annabel went check on the children and gave the babies their formula. Betsy sat in the kitchen and carefully watched her potion steep. While Annabel looked on, Betsy drank it down. Betsy watched Sarah play with her toys.

“Would you like me to call your husband?” Betsy said.

“No. He could be with a client.”

“I don’t think I could work on a counter spell this minute. My mind is going too fast. Henry is going to lecture you tonight.”

“You didn’t need to change your clothes.”

“My clothes seem loose enough. Henry has never seen me after I had taken glamour.” Betsy drank her potion. “Do I look different?”

Annabel mouth dropped open when she looked at Betsy. Betsy went from dog ugly to beautiful in seconds. “You look incredible. I wouldn’t have recognized you. I better stay so Henry will know you\'re his wife.”

“The effects of glamour are wasted on him. I’m no more attractive to him in this form as I was in the other.”

“Then, why do it?”

“For me. I have another potion for the bedroom. After he sees you, he won’t be in the mood. Thanks, for ruining my love life. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you what the spell was for. I hope that I can manage to find a counter spell within the week. We’ll still have to tell your husband what happened to you. I hope he doesn’t attack you on the way home.”

“How are you so sure that it won’t affect my brother?”

“He isn’t attracted to women; a potion won’t change that. This potion is so strong that being his sister doesn’t make a different.”

“How could you insult my brother like that?”

“But he’s smart enough not to touch anyone else’s potions.” Betsy suggested that she look for a counter potion at a store that specialized in sexual magic. “I doubt they would have it among the love potions and aphrodisiacs.”

“I’ll feed the children. Hurry.”

“I will.”