Gloria POV
I lifted the mismatched cup to my lips without a second thought, exhausted from the day's tension and desperate for something warm. The scent of steeped bitter herbs rose from the steaming liquid as I brought the dark clay rim within inches of my mouth.
Martha's hand shot out and knocked it from my fingers before I could take a single sip, her face gone tight with alarm. The heavy chalice flew across the table, crashing against the far wall with a sharp shatter that sent shards of clay flying in every direction.
"What are you doing?" I gasped, jumping back as the hot dark liquid splashed across the wooden table edge and spilled over the rug.
"Do not touch it!" Martha screamed, her hand instantly wrapping around the trembling arm of the kitchen maid, who had already turned to
