Page 308 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 42.
It can’t be you

In spite of the levity which his duke, lord, and master had struck at the conclusion of the
meeting, Zaccario was worried, deeply worried. What was that threat about opening an inquiry
into Joanna’s death? He’s clearly chosen the doctor over me. I know how these things go. A
jolly joke today (“Are you a virgin?” -- there had been a snide derision behind that joke, as
though no woman would have me) -- a cooling tomorrow. (“You’re to increase your attention
on your alchemical studies, but we’ll be entrusting Bianca’s cure to the doctor from now on.”)
Then an execution eventually. (“We hereby accuse Chimento Zaccario of the practices of
alchemical witchcraft and sentence him to be burned at the stake.”)

Dr. Ludovico Valerius must be stopped. No, must be discredited and then destroyed.
They must trust me and only me. So to the Duke’s face it will be “Yes, yes, certainly my liege,
I’ll brook no more discontent where the good doctor is concerned!” But behind his back and in
the offices and sculleries it will be “Poor Lady Bianca’s health! Do you wonder whether the
doctor knows what he’s doing? She seems to be getting sicker and sicker. You don’t suppose,
you don’t suppose someone is paying the doctor to weaken her, kill her perhaps...and perhaps
even the Duke himself? Plenty of powerful men would like to be Duke and the doctor is, after
all, only human. Watch him! Be wary of him. We must make sure the doctor isn’t harming
Bianca.

And meantime, of course, plant plenty of evidence to support that very scenario. There
will be only one of us left standing at the end of our battle, good doctor. And I can guarantee it
can’t be you.

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