Ardath Mayhar by The Clarrington Heritage

Author:The Clarrington Heritage [Heritage, The Clarrington]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-02-02T15:28:02+00:00

“It’s your mother. She … was dead when I went in to give her the three o’clock medications.” Those flinty eyes were softer than Marise had ever seen them, the sure hands unsteady.

She realized suddenly that this homely and unloved little woman had been genuinely fond of her patient and was grief-stricken now she was dead.

Perhaps that was the only emotional connection in the nurse’s life, Marise thought, as she tied her robe firmly around her waist.

“We’ll go with you right now. Ben, please call Aunt Lina while I go with Miss Edenson. Come, my dear.” She saw the woman was shaking, her teeth almost chattering. “You’re cold,” she said. “Let me get my sweater off the couch. Now … better? Let’s go up together.”

She took the nurse’s hand and held it tightly as they hurried to the second floor. Edenson did not object to having her hand held until they neared the door of the hospital suite. Then she tugged it loose, smoothed down her hair with a nervous gesture, and sank back, to some extent, into her professional mold.

“I can manage now,” she said, her voice steady and cold again. Her gaze flickered aside, then back to Marise. “Why don’t you … go up and see if your husband needs help.”

Marise nodded. “I’ll peep into Benjie’s room as I go back. I don’t want him disturbed. It won’t take long, but do call the doctor.”

“I did that at once,” Edenson said, offended.

“Of course you did. Listen for the bell and let him in when he comes, will you? Andy doesn’t wake easily, and we may be out of hearing.”

She turned and flew up to the third floor, knowing Ben would have gone there, after waking his aunt. The corridor was dimly lit, for Ben had switched on the flower-basket fixtures. She could see him as she turned the last corner, bent over the locks on that door.

“It was closed? Locked?” she panted.

“Tight as possible. She hasn’t been out tonight, I can guarantee that.

Poor Pen. Why did we immediately suspect she might have caused mother’s death, after all these years of expecting her heart to give out at any time? But it was the first thing that came to mind.” He fingered the middle bolt.

“Should we tell her?” he asked.

Marise sighed. “Not now. Not until tomorrow, anyway. “Come down now, dearest. We have to see the doctor and tell Hildy and Andy. How is Aunt Lina?”

“I tapped on her door and told her before she got there. Then I headed up here. I felt in my bones that I’d find the door wide open and Pen on the prowl. Thank God I didn’t. This should be one Clarrington death that holds no shadow of doubt.”

When they got back to the hospital suite they found the doctor there with Edenson. Aunt Lina stood like a pillar of fire in her red robe, her jade-green eyes wet. But she controlled her tears, as she seemed able to control most of her reactions, no matter how distressing the situation.

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