A Death in the Asylum (15 page)

My legs gave beneath me. I knew I was lost. In the distance I heard the sound of running feet. More attendants. What would happen to Bertram? My eyelids felt like lead. I felt myself slipping away. I offered up a confused but earnest prayer for help.

The last thing I saw was the door shattering into pieces as Rory burst through it. All the colours were too bright. I could no longer tell if this was real or a dream. I heard myself utter a long sigh. My mind slipped down into darkness.

Epilogue

When I came to I was in my own bed back in the hotel. My head throbbed alarmingly.

‘Euphemia, can you ever forgive me?’ Bertram’s voice was both uncomfortably loud and seemed to come from a great distance at the same time.

‘Not if she’s any sense.’ Rory’s Scottish burr had never been so strong. ‘What were ye thinking of, man, to take her into such danger?’

‘I had no idea what she would try and do!’ said Bertram.

‘And how long have ye known the wench?’ retorted Rory. ‘Of course she had some plan up her sleeve.’

‘I could not have imagined,’ protested Bertram.

‘Where’s Alice?’ I asked.

‘She’s in hospital,’ said Rory. ‘The doctors say she’ll be fine and the bairn too.’

‘I was right,’ I exclaimed.

‘Aye, you were. Though how you worked it all out is beyond me.’

‘I didn’t,’ I confessed. ‘My plan was to find Alice and talk to her about Sophy. I never imagined what was going on there.’

‘Of course not,’ said Bertram. ‘It’s beyond imagining. Dr Frank was a highly respected doctor.’

‘He killed her, didn’t he?’ I said sadly. ‘Sophy?’

‘I don’t know if we will ever know,’ said Bertram. ‘But he will never have charge of any patient again.’

‘I hope they send him to an asylum for the criminally insane,’ said Rory. ‘I hear they are terrible places and far less than he deserves.’

‘How did you know to rescue us?’

‘I told you I would leave word of where we have gone,’ said Bertram testily.

‘But did you overpower them all yourself?’

Bertram snorted. Rory laughed. ‘No, lass. I called in a favour from Mr Edward. It seemed to me he could get things moving faster than your regular police service. It turns out he’d been looking for an excuse to raid the place for some time. He was more than happy to be of service.’

‘We must let Mrs Wilson know what happened to Sophy.’

‘All in good time,’ said Bertram in an oddly gentle voice.

‘What’s happened?’ I asked.

‘The doctor said you should rest, Euphemia,’ said Bertram. ‘We can discuss all this in the morning.’

Panic shot through me. ‘What’s happened?’ I demanded.

‘Word came while you were away,’ said Rory. ‘She died of her injuries.’

‘But she was recovering when we saw her!’

Rory laid a hand on my arm. ‘Oh, lass, don’t go making a mystery where there is none. She was seriously ill. The doctors said she could have gone at any time.’

There was a knock at the door. ‘That will be my brother,’ he said. ‘I’ll tell him you need to rest.’

‘Lord Stapleford is here?’

‘He came for the funeral,’ said Bertram. ‘Richenda and Tipton too.’

The door opened slightly. Lord Richard looked in. ‘I wonder if I might have a word with our heroine,’ he said.

‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea,’ said Bertram. ‘She’s been through a lot.’

‘Oh, I think Euphemia will want to hear what I have to say,’ said Lord Richard. ‘I have some good news for her.’

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘In private if you please, gentlemen.’

Rory and Bertram exchanged worried glances.

‘It’s all right,’ I said.

‘We’ll be outside,’ Rory whispered meaningfully as he passed me.

Lord Richard shut the door behind them. He pulled up a chair and sat down by my bed. ‘You do involve yourself in the most extraordinary adventures.’

‘It’s not intentional,’ I said.

Lord Richard laughed. ‘Since you arrived at Stapleford Hall life has been so much more, er, enlivened. When you left for White Orchards the life seemed to go out of the place.’

It was a pretty sentiment, but behind the words I heard an acknowledgement of the battles we had fought.

‘I do feel I left with my work undone,’ I said.

‘Quite,’ said Lord Richard. ‘And you know, somehow, Euphemia, I feel so much more secure when you’re working for my household. Bertram has been very lax as an employer dragging you all around London and leading you into such awful situations.’

‘I seem to remember a few awful situations back at Stapleford Hall,’ I said.

Lord Richard smiled. ‘Ah, but all that is in the past, isn’t it? You will be pleased to hear I have strengthened the locks and added bolts to the windows. I doubt any intruder will ever again force his way into my home.’

‘I’m sure everyone will feel safer for it,’ I said evenly. ‘Though there are often more dangers within a home than people generally imagine.’

‘Indeed. I think we agree it is always better to keep one’s eye on things personally?’

‘Certainly.’

‘Then you will understand why I feel it is the best course of action to offer you the now sadly vacant position of housekeeper at Stapleford Hall.’

I gasped. Stapleford Hall was more than five times the size of White Orchards. It was a substantial estate. It had been my dream on entering service to rise to the position of housekeeper at Stapleford Hall. I had foolishly promised my mother that I would quickly gain such a position, but I never imagined I would be offered it as the result of murder and unexplained deaths. It was on the tip of my tongue to refuse, but then I remembered Mrs Wilson saying she had papers on the family – papers that would incriminate them. Where would she have kept them but at the hall itself? I did not believe she had had any other home since her girlhood. If I was living under his roof I could not only watch Lord Stapleford, but search for Mrs Wilson’s papers. My head throbbed painfully. I closed my eyes. I had fought many battles against Lord Richard and I had never won. Did I want to enter the lion’s den once more?

‘I am grateful to you for finding Sophy,’ said Lord Richard. ‘After that séance of Richenda’s Mrs Wilson came to me accusing me of pushing the glass. I had no idea what the woman was talking about. My father had taken that secret to his grave. Strange to think I had a half-sibling I never knew anything about. Now, if her child had been born, it would have caused a lot of trouble. I never imagined it of my father, but then do we ever really know anyone?’

‘What do you mean? How would her child have caused trouble?’

‘My father’s will leaves the estate to the first of his children who has a son.’

‘But Bert-Mr Stapleford said it had to be a legitimate child.’

‘He must have misunderstood me,’ said Lord Richard. ‘How odd. I thought I had been most clear on that point.’

‘I see,’ I said. ‘So things have worked out very well for you.’

‘And they could work out well for you too, Euphemia,’ said Lord Richard. ‘Really, I am not the ogre you think. Why I’ve even brought you flowers.’ He turned and called behind him, ‘Baggy! Bring them in!’

The door opened once more and Baggy Tipton came in carrying a huge bouquet. ‘Richenda sends her regards,’ he said. ‘We all think you were very brave.’

‘Thank you,’ I stammered. As he laid the flowers on the bed he smiled at me. A cold chill washed over me. His eyes were bright blue; the same colour as my attacker.

I looked past Tipton and saw Lord Richard was watching me closely. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘It is very kind of you both. And yes, Lord Richard, I would be delighted to accept your offer.’

‘I’ll send in my brother and you can give him your notice,’ said Lord Richard. ‘I’ll ensure he doesn’t make a fuss.’

They left. Bertram and Rory practically fell over each other to re-enter the room.

‘He’s offered me Mrs Wilson’s situation,’ I said at once. ‘And I have accepted.’

‘You can’t!’ said Bertram. ‘I need you.’

‘I have no idea if Lord Richard had any part in what happened to Sophy, but I am sure Tipton was the man who attacked Mrs Wilson and me.’

‘Are you saying Lord Richard made him?’ asked Rory.

‘It seems the first male child of any of the late Lord Stapleford’s children, legitimate or otherwise, will inherit Stapleford Hall,’ I said.

‘He wanted to shut her up,’ said Rory.

‘She said she had papers at the hall,’ I said.

‘I can look for them,’ said Rory. ‘There’s no need to put yourself in harm’s way.’

‘But don’t you see, if he suspects I know about Tipton then I’ll never be safe. Sophy wasn’t safe in the asylum and Miss Wilton wasn’t safe here.’

‘Beatrice died a natural death,’ said Bertram.

‘If she did,’ I responded, ‘why did no one ever find her notebooks? All her notes on her investigation have vanished, haven’t they?’

Bertram looked uncomfortable. ‘I expect they will turn up. But I agree you mustn’t return to Stapleford Hall. I don’t know the extent of my brother’s villainy, but I would fear for your safety.’

‘I don’t have a choice,’ I said. ‘Lord Richard is a powerful man. If I run he will find me. If I show no fear he will never be sure how much I know.’

‘There has to be another option,’ said Rory.

‘There is,’ said Bertram. He took a deep breath. ‘After everything you’ve done for me and my family, Euphemia – after everything you’ve done in the name of justice and honour – it’s my duty to protect you from my brother.’ Then to my astonishment he went down on one knee. ‘Euphemia, you are an incredible, brave and intelligent young woman. I admire you enormously. Marry me! As my wife you’ll be safe. I’ll keep you safe.’

‘You!’ said Rory. ‘Man, you let her get stuck by a needle by yon mad doctor and his cronies.’

‘So what do you suggest she should do,’ asked Bertram waspishly.

‘Why, marry me, of course,’ said Rory. ‘Well, lass, will ye have me?’

Author’s notes
What will Euphemia do next?

This is and always will be the question. She’s a young woman out of time and place. Her father’s love of learning, her mother’s heritage, her own lack of inheritance and lack of family support place her in an isolated and vulnerable position. What is a young woman of spirit to do?

Of course, this is a story and I very much hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. However, Euphemia’s story is inspired by the actions of my own great-grandmother. She came from a very rich family, but when her own mother died she found she could not stand the woman her father remarried. The relationship between them got so bad that her father gave her an ultimatum: either respect and accustom herself to her new stepmother or leave the family home. No one expected her to leave, but she did. Just like Euphemia she went into service. Unlike Euphemia she found the reality of life as a servant harsh and exhausting. She became ill, but was rescued from her situation by falling in love with a young man her family would never even have allowed in the tradesmen’s entrance. She married him and they set up a tobacconist shop together. Her family never spoke to her again, but she and her new husband began a large, and I hope, happy family.

At the end of this story both Rory and Bertram are, to different degrees, suitors Euphemia’s mother would be unhappy to entertain. You can almost hear her saying that the brother of a man with a new (and very minor) title is not much different to that of a greengrocer’s son (Rory).

It seems strange to modern readers that a woman should be so defined by class and inheritance, but before World War I Britain was a land defined by class and place – and women were definitely in the second place. Beatrice Wilton is not the most likable of characters, but Bertram recognises in her a determination to make her own way in the world despite the obstacles of her gender and health. He admires her for it and, perhaps if Euphemia had not been so jealous and Beatrice not so class conscious, they might have been friends. In many ways they are similar.

The difference between them lies in the way they deal with others. Beatrice Wilton has an eye to the main chance and is prepared to use people for her own ends. Euphemia makes her way in the world by forging relationships. Her approachable nature, unselfishness, sense of honour as much as her intellect make her popular both above and below stairs. Euphemia is coming to understand more and more that she cannot change the world on her own. She no longer tries to do things all herself, but asks for help.

As the series progresses we have seen her lose some of her naivety, but none of her spark. In a world of gathering darkness, where greed and crime often seem to be rewarded, Euphemia will struggle on trying to do what is right. Forensic science is not available in 1910 as today. Criminals often went uncaught at this time – especially if they came from the right families. The police force was in its infancy, as were the seedling beginnings of MI5 and MI6, but then you worked out what Mr Edward and Mr Fitzroy were in book two
⁷
,didn’t you?

When I write about crime in Euphemia’s time I am writing as much about relationships as I am about the actual criminal acts. As Mr Edward says, connection is everything, and as every writer knows relationships make a story.

The big question remains: what will Euphemia do next?

Some of the answers will be found in book 4: A Death in the Wedding Party.

⁷
A Death in the Highlands

Book Club Questions for Discussion

1. How would you describe Bertram and Euphemia’s relationship at the start of the book?

2. What do you think of Merrit’s sudden relationship with Merry? Do you think like Euphemia that falling in love takes time? Or do you agree with Rory that in their situation they should grab their chance at happiness?

3. In 1910 masters and mistresses had a great deal of control over their servants. It was always possible for a servant to leave employment, but it wasn’t easy to find work and without a character reference from a previous employer near to impossible. Richard Stapleford is the worst of employers. How do you think he justifies his behaviour to himself?

4. Do you think Bertram is a good employer? What are his faults?

5. What do you feel about Beatrice Wilton? Do you sympathise with her situation – poor health and thwarted ambition? Try to find reasons for your attitude in the text.

6. Why does Mrs Wilson dislike Euphemia so much? What emotions are at play there? Bear in mind Mrs Wilson’s own story.

7. Do you think Euphemia made a good decision in going to White Orchards?

8. Do you think Beatrice’s death was natural?

9. Do you think the criteria for being institutionalised (or sectioned) today have changed from 1910?

10. From 1850 to 1910 there were an astounding number of asylums in the UK. Why do you think that was?

11. At one point Euphemia thinks this crime is full of coincidence, but is it? Take another look and think if there is a more nefarious explanation.

12. Is Madam Arcana for real? Is she a charlatan, genuine or merely well intentioned?

13. What do you think of the late Lord Stapleford’s decision not to let Mrs Wilson know her daughter lived?

14. What papers are still missing at the end of this story? Who might have them? And what would possession mean?

15. What do you think of Bertram’s behaviour in the asylum? Why does he act the way he does?

16. Describe Rory’s character in two sentences.

17. How do you think Euphemia feels about Rory?

18. How does she feel about Bertram at the end of the book?

19. It’s clear Rory cares about Euphemia, but what about Bertram?

20. What do you think Euphemia will do next?

21. Which proposal, if either, will she accept?

22. Who would you choose?!

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