Medicine and Manners #2 (18 page)

Pickwick sniffed as he walked away. “A stickler for proper manners, that one is. Would never dream of allowing you just to go up to see her.”

“I understand. 'Tis the home of an earl. Must follow protocol, mustn't we?”

“ 'Tis the way 'tis, I'm afraid.” Pickwick hesitated for a moment before she spoke again. “Nancy, love, what happened to you whilst you was gone? You can tell me the truth, you know.”

“I told you, Pickwick, I don't remember what happened. Just that I was attacked. Or hit. By a horse, perhaps. I was taken away somewhere then brought back home.”

“Attacked? Oh, dear. What exactly do you mean? You wasn't molested, was you?”

“Molested?”

“You know, was your honor soiled?”

Nancy gave her a look of surprise and shock. “Good lord, Pickwick! No, I was hit by something, I think, and given a potion of some kind. Something to make me sleep.”

“I see,” Pickwick said, her interest growing. “So the truth is you don't know what happened.”

“No, I don't know what happened. I told you that.”

“So something like that could have happened to you, and you wouldn't remember.”

“Something like what?” Nancy asked, although she knew perfectly well where Pickwick was trying to lead her.

“You know what I mean,” Pickwick said.

“No, I'm afraid I don't,” Nancy said, feigning innocence.

Pickwick seemed at a loss as to how to proceed. Nancy was silent also, mischievously waiting to hear what words Pickwick would come up with next. However, Pickwick was saved by the appearance of Stokes, making his way down the stairs.

“Dr. Gladstone is most anxious to see you, miss,” he said, when he was standing in front of Nancy.

“Thank you, Mr. Stokes,” she said. Before she started up the stairs, she turned around to speak to Pickwick. “Thank you for your help, Pickwick. We'll talk soon. Perhaps I shall remember more by then.”

Pickwick's face brightened, and she gave Nancy an enthusiastic smile.

Stokes followed Nancy upstairs and led her to a room. He opened the door and stepped in ahead of her. “Your maid is here, Miss Gladstone,” he said, then stood back to allow Nancy to enter.

She was surprised to see Miss Alex sitting upright, both legs dangling from the edge of the bed.

“Nancy, oh, Nancy, thank God you're safe,” Alexandra said, extending both her hands toward her.

Nancy took her hands, and Alexandra brought them to her chest in an endearing gesture. “You cannot know how worried I've been about you. You must tell me everything.”

“Oh, but you must first tell
me
everything. A broken leg! Why are you sitting like that? Don't you know you should have that leg elevated?”

“Certainly,” Alexandra said as she struggled to stand. “I've kept it elevated, but I also know that I must try standing a little at a time.”

Nancy placed both her hands on Alexandra's arms and tried to force her to sit. “But you always caution your patients to stay in bed until—”

“Yes, I know, but I've changed my mind. I think that perhaps if a patient gets out of bed and moves about sooner, with no pressure on the broken leg, of course, it brings about quicker healing.”

“Perhaps?”
Nancy sounded incredulous. “If you're not certain, then you must stay in bed. You must not take chances.”

“It's a theory only, but what better opportunity to test it without doing harm to someone else?”

“You are incorrigible, Miss Alex. Isn't that the word your father used? Well, he was right, now, wasn't he? If he were alive—”

“Don't tell me what he would do if he were alive, Nancy. You know I get enough of that from all his former patients.”

“Of course. I apologize. It's just that I am concerned,” Nancy said.

Alexandra brought her legs up to rest on the bed. “Yes, and I am concerned about you. Now, tell me everything that happened. You first, and then I shall tell my story.”

Nancy arranged pillows under Alexandra's leg to elevate it as she told her everything she'd told the boys, including about her lapse in memory and confusion when she awakened in the surgery.

Alexandra was alarmed. “You must have been given a drug.”

“My conclusion, too,” Nancy said. “But why?”

“I don't know, nor do I know why I was pursued and attacked on my way to visit Mr. Wolcott.”

“You set your own leg?” Nancy asked. She was both amazed and somewhat alarmed. “Then you were taken to a doctor in Foulness? Some say he's not a proper doctor. What if he—”

“Feel free to examine my leg now,” Alexandra said.

“I most certainly will,” Nancy assured her, and pushed the coverlet and nightgown away from Alexandra's injured leg. She felt along the length of the bone, examined the dressing, and pushed at the swelling in Alexandra's foot.

“Well?” Alexandra asked.

“Seems no harm's been done,” Nancy said, although she was a bit loath to admit it. She didn't like the idea of a doctor she didn't know being in charge of such a procedure.

“No harm at all,” Alexandra said. “Lord Dunsford inquired about Dr. Abercrombie's credentials before he would allow him to proceed.”

“Speaking of Lord Dunsford,” Nancy said, “where is he?”

“He's out searching for you,” Alexandra said. “As soon as I heard you were here, I instructed Stokes to get word to Nicholas and the constable that you're safe.”

“I'm afraid I've caused a bit of trouble,” Nancy said.

“We both have,” Alexandra said. “But much more troublesome is not knowing whoever it was who attacked us, or whoever killed three people in Newton. Perhaps George Payne as well.”

“George Payne?” Nancy said. “I thought he killed himself.”

“I wouldn't be so sure,” Alexandra said.

“But I thought he was the suspect in the other murders,” Nancy said.

“He may have had a motive to kill those men, but I'm not certain he killed himself.”

“Who would have…” Nancy paused. “Judith? Do you think she could have killed her father?”

“One could say she had a motive.”

Nancy shook her head and was about to protest that Judith Payne was most unlikely to murder anyone, and certainly not her father. Before she could speak the words, a soft knock sounded at the door.

“Who is it?” Alexandra asked.

Stokes's voice answered. “Lord Dunsworth, miss. And Constable Snow.”

“Come in, please.” Alexandra quickly rearranged the sheet to cover her legs.

“So good to see you, Nancy!” the earl said, going to Nancy. He gave her a quick embrace, leaving Nancy stunned. “Are you quite all right?”

“I was attacked, but I wasn't seriously hurt,” Nancy said, “and I'm afraid I've been such a nuisance to everyone.”

“Certainly not,” Lord Dunsford responded. “The real trouble lies with someone else, I'm afraid.”

“Oh?” Alexandra said before Nancy could respond.

“I'm afraid there's been yet another murder,” Lord Dunsford said.

Nicholas's face paled as he spoke those words. Constable Snow, as usual, showed no emotion at all.

“Oh, no!” Alexandra said.

Nancy spoke at almost the same time. “When will this stop?”

“The victim was Dr. Abercrombie from Foulness,” Constable Snow said. “He was killed here in Newton-upon-Sea.”

“Why was he here?” Alexandra asked.

“He came here looking for me,” Nicholas said. “Naturally, that makes me feel somewhat responsible for…for what happened to him.”

“You are in no way responsible.” Constable Snow's taciturn manner gave no suggestion that he was attempting to comfort Nicholas. Rather, he was simply stating a fact.

“Why would Dr. Abercrombie be looking for you?” Alexandra asked, sitting upright again.

“It seems he thought I kidnapped you and spirited you out of the hospital.”

“Then I must take some responsibility,” said Alexandra. “I'm the one who insisted we leave his surgery against his advice. You tried to stop me, Nic—Lord Dunsford, remember?”

“The responsible party is the one who killed him,” Snow plainly stated. “It is completely irrelevant why you left his surgery.”

“How did you learn all of this? About Lord Dunsford being under suspicion of kidnapping, I mean,” Nancy asked. Snow gave her a scathing look. He did not approve of servants joining in the conversation.

Snow's posture stiffened even more. “We've had a visit from the constable in Foulness, but that is of no importance to the matter at hand.”

“There's more,” Nicholas said. “The constable from Foulness is also in Newton to investigate the death of George Payne. Apparently, Dr. Abercrombie finally convinced him that Mr. Payne's death was not a suicide, and is somehow connected to the murders here in Newton-upon-Sea.”

Snow glared at Nicholas. “Begging your pardon, my lord, but that is police business, and this is no place to discuss the matter.”

Nicholas was unperturbed by the scolding and did nothing more than glance at Alexandra with raised eyebrows, as if he were dismissing Snow's protest. “In that case, let us hope the business is taken care of quickly. Let us also hope there'll be no more deaths.”

Snow showed no signs of having been chastened, except for a slight drop of his chin. “Of course,” he said.

“Forgive me,” Nicholas said, turning back to Alexandra. “In all the excitement, I've failed to ask you how you're feeling.”

“Quite well,” Alexandra said. “I'm most anxious to return home. I'm quite certain I would heal even quicker there.”

Nicholas frowned. “I can assure you that you would receive the best of care here at Montmarsh, and Nancy could stay on as—”

“I appreciate your generosity, my lord, but one always does better in one's own home.”

“I believe she's right, my lord,” Nancy said. “The doctor and I have both observed that patients fare better at home than they do in unfamiliar circumstances.” Her remark elicited another disapproving glare from the constable.

Nicholas did no more than breathe a sigh of resignation. “Very well. Certainly by now I know better than to argue with the two of you against me. I'll have the carriage readied for you, and Stokes can help me get you down the stairs. I suppose we could fashion a gurney similar to the one we used to get you up here.”

“I should like to walk at least to the stairway, not entirely on my own, of course, but if I could have the support of someone—”

Nicholas interrupted her. “My dear, walking is not even to be considered.”

“I insist, my lord. I will place no weight on the leg. I believe it will be better for the healing process to exercise my body at least for a short time,” Alexandra said.

“But…” Nicholas began.

“She claims 'tis a medical experiment,” Nancy said, “and as you mentioned, there's no point in arguing with her.”

Alexandra was already standing and steadying herself by holding the bedpost. “I cannot do it without help.”

Nicholas and Constable Snow hurried to her, each bracing an arm for her. She took a tentative step and then another and another, hopping on one foot and holding the other so as not to put weight on the leg.

“I believe I was wrong about attempting to walk all the way to the stairs,” Alexandra said. “I shall need to be lifted in that sling you mentioned before I reach them.”

“Never mind that,” Nicholas said, and scooped her into his arms. Before Alexandra could protest, he turned to Nancy. “Hurry down ahead of us and tell Stokes to see that the carriage is ready.”

Nicholas carried her in his arms all the way downstairs to the library, where he placed her on a sofa to wait for the carriage.

“I appreciate your concern about me,” she said to Nicholas, “but I hope you understand that I do not wish to be treated like an invalid.”

“I should like to say that because you are the doctor, you know best, but I'm afraid I can't agree with you in this case, nor can I allow—”

“No point in arguing with her, my lord,” Nancy reminded him as she entered the library after informing Stokes about the carriage. “She'll do what she pleases in the long run.”

“Nevertheless,” Nicholas said, “I do believe—”

“No point,” Nancy said again.

Nicholas took a deep breath and remained silent for the few seconds before Constable Snow appeared in the doorway. “I shall leave you in the care of Nancy and Lord Dunsford,” Snow said. “I must return to the village and prepare to meet the constable from Foulness.”

“I would like to examine Dr. Abercrombie's body,” Alexandra said.

All three of the others in the room looked at her with surprise. Constable Snow spoke first. “Excuse me, Dr. Gladstone, but I don't believe it is advisable for you to do that. It would require your going to the mortuary.”

“I shall be there later today, Constable Snow. I must have a little rest first, however.”

“My dear Alexandra—” Nicholas began.

“Was Dr. Abercrombie also wearing his Masonic apron when he died?” Alexandra asked.

Snow didn't answer at fist. Finally, he spoke one curt word. “Yes.”

“Was it smeared with blood?” Alexandra asked.

“It was.”

“The same as the other men who died.”

Snow nodded, his expression stern.

“I shall examine the body,” Alexandra said.

Nancy only breathed a heavy sigh.

“Are you quite sure?” Snow asked, and then scowled when Alexandra assured him that she was, indeed.

Alexandra and Nancy had just finished their late-afternoon tea when Nicholas returned in his carriage to transport Alexandra to the mortuary in the village. Nancy insisted on going along to see after Alexandra.

“You can rest assured that Zack will want to come along with us as well,” Nancy said. “ 'Tis not likely he'll let Miss Alex out of his sight after what she's been through.”

“I'm still against this,” Nicholas said. “I fail to see how you're going to be able to stand to do any sort of examination.”

“I shall need help, of course,” Alexandra said.

“She can use walking slings,” Nancy said. She showed Nicholas the two long sticks that fit under each arm with slings made of leather to support weight.

“Ah, yes,” he said. “Those contraptions the Americans made popular during their Civil War. A sort of crutch to aid wounded soldiers, I believe. Someone should patent that, you know.”

“They're not as easy to use as one might think,” Nancy said, as she helped Alexandra place one under each arm. “And you must be careful,” she said to Alexandra. “You must allow me on one side and Lord Dunsford on 'tother.”

Alexandra didn't protest, and she allowed Nancy and Nicholas to stand on either side of her as she hobbled to the door. Zack was close behind. As soon as the door opened, he raced outside with a bellowing alarm, coming close to knocking Alexandra off her feet.

Nancy scolded him in a loud, angry voice. “Zack! Stop that!”

Zack ignored her and thumped across the grounds, still with his maniacal bark. Alexandra saw what had excited him. A cat! She had never owned a cat, and they were seldom seen around her home.

“Look!” she said, when she recognized the creature. “That's one of Mrs. Fontaine's cats. What's it doing so far from home?”

“There!” Nicholas cried when he saw someone hurrying away and disappearing into the long shadows of the late afternoon.

“Oh!” Alexandra cried, and leaned heavier on Nicholas.

“What is it?” he asked.

“That looked like…I believe that is the same figure who was chasing me when I fell.”

“You said that was a man,” Nicholas said.

“I'm not sure,” Alexandra said.

“Could it have been a woman? Someone with cats?”

“You mean 'tis Mrs. Fontaine?” Nancy asked.

Alexandra frowned and shook her head. “I can't say.”

Nicholas pushed harder. “But it's possible.”

“Anything's possible,” Alexandra said, regaining some of her composure. “It's too late to pursue whoever it was. Please, take me to the mortuary so I can examine the doctor's body, then I suggest we proceed on to Mrs. Fontaine's home.”

Alexandra had to be helped in and out of the carriage, and she was reluctant to admit how painful it was. By the time they arrived at the mortuary, her leg was aching, but she didn't complain and managed to make it all the way inside with the aid of the slings. Both Percy Gibbs and Constable Snow were waiting for her.

“Are you quite sure you're up to this?” Snow asked.

“Most certainly,” Alexandra replied.

“Pride goeth before a fall,” Percy said.

“I should like Nancy to accompany me,” Alexandra said.

“Very well,” Snow said. “Under the circumstances, I believe that is a wise decision. I shall accompany you as well, in case—”

“You needn't trouble yourself,” Alexandra said. “I shall be quite all right.”

“Nevertheless, I shall accompany you for the sake of the investigation,” Snow said.

Alexandra nodded her consent, although she had hoped to examine the corpse outside of Snow's presence, since his concerns about the propriety of how much of the body she examined would most likely interfere.

As usual, Percy led all of them to the back room and then removed the sheet from the body. Alexandra noted the familiar odor as soon as the sheet was removed. Since the doctor's shirt had not yet been removed, she noted a stain on the front and leaned over to whiff it. It yielded another familiar scent—that of vomit.

“Dr. Abercrombie has been poisoned,” Alexandra said.

“Are you quite certain?” Snow asked. That seemed to be his favorite question to ask her.

“I can't be absolutely sure without an examination of the organs,” she admitted, “but based on what I have seen when I examined the other victims, I am reasonably certain they all died of poisoning,” she said.

Snow frowned. “Most unusual,” he said. “Where would anyone obtain that much poison?”

“I suspect it came from someone's flower garden,” she said.

Snow's face was pale. “Flower garden, indeed.”

“A number of flowers commonly grown in our gardens are poisonous,” Alexandra told him.

“And there are hundreds of flower gardens in Newton-upon-Sea,” Snow said. “I'm afraid that doesn't pin the source down very well.”

“I agree,” Alexandra said. “However, it wasn't the flower that provided the poison directly. It was honey made from the flowers. The poisoned honey made each victim vomit, and it also damaged vital organs. Damaged them enough to kill.” Alexandra didn't bother to tell Constable Snow that there was one garden in particular that she suspected. She didn't want another
Are you quite certain?
from the constable.

“Can you tell me the particular type of flower you suspect?” he asked.

Alexandra hesitated before she decided upon her answer. “Not without an examination of the organs.”

“I'm afraid that's out of the question under the circumstances,” Snow said.

Alexandra nodded but said nothing.

“Very well,” Snow said. “Thank you for your help. I shall send a telegram to Colchester requesting the doctor to perform the procedure.”

“The last time you sent a telegram requesting a doctor—Dr. Abercrombie, I believe—he never appeared in Newton-upon-Sea,” Alexandra said. She didn't mention that she was glad he hadn't.

Snow looked at her, but he didn't speak. For the briefest of moments he looked as if he might be blushing, but he soon returned to himself. “I was called away before I could contact him,” he said, then dismissed the matter in the next sentence. “I must get to work immediately. I shall ask Lord Dunsford to help you make your way out and into the carriage.”

Alexandra nodded again. As soon as he was out of the room, Nancy spoke to her.

“Called away, was he? Ha! My guess 'twas some wo—” She stopped speaking when she saw the stern look on Alexandra's face and changed the subject. “You know the flower in question, of course,” Nancy said. “ 'Tis rhododendron. I suspect you know the source as well. 'Tis Mrs. Fontaine's garden.”

“There are more than likely rhododendrons growing in Mrs. Fontaine's garden, but I would not be surprised to find them in other gardens in the parish.”

“But honeybees. Who else has honeybees? And the cat…”

“Precisely,” Alexandra said.

“I'm happy that you finished so quickly,” Nicholas said, striding into the room. “Now let's get you home so you can rest.”

“Nancy and I were just agreeing that we'd like you to drive us to Mrs. Fontaine's home first, as we suggested earlier,” Alexandra said.

Nicholas frowned. “That's unwise.”