Bagpipes and Basil by Zoe Tasia

Author:Zoe Tasia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, fairies, Scotland, changelings
Publisher: Zoe Tasia
Published: 2022-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

The next day, I introduced the younger children to the Dewey Decimal System. Once I gave them their assignments and sent them to the library stacks, I wandered over to Courtney, who was sorting through a cardboard box.

“Hi, is that Dr. Murphy’s donation? I only got a glance, but some items looked interesting.”

“Yes, Susan cleaned out her husband’s office bookcase. I honestly don’t think I can use many of these. She’s sent old medical journals, several textbooks that I’ll inspect, and—what’s this?” Courtney pulled out a notebook. It reminded me of those old exercise books with cardboard covers students used to use, but the faded, maroon-patterned book had an older cursive so ornate that it resembled calligraphy despite how cramped the writing was.

“Can I see that?” I asked.

After quickly flipping through it, Courtney said, “Sure, it doesn’t look to be anything that would be on the library shelves.” She studied the table of contents in an anatomy textbook. “Maybe I can use these for a display about Florence Nightingale.”

“Mind if I take this to a table?”

Without looking up, she nodded. “Just be very careful. It looks to be old, and the pages are sure to be brittle.”

I carried the book to a back table where I could monitor the children and be visible in case they had questions. Most had finished reading the first of the instructions and were examining the bookshelves trying to find the various sections. I opened the ledger. It seemed to be a physician’s casebook. I wondered if reading it would violate some law about patient privacy, but when I saw the first date was a seventeen, followed by two smeared numbers, I realized I didn’t need to worry. I didn’t think it would fuss anyone if I read about Mr. Drever’s gout when Mr. Drever had long been dead.

As I skimmed the first pages, I realized that all the entries dealt with pregnancies. Each consultation was dated, had the name of the patient, and a description of the reason for the visit and the remedy. I flipped back to the front and found Property of, followed by a name I couldn’t read other than the first five letters of the first name, A R A B E, then blur, then the letter A. The last name started with a B, but that was all I could tell. Most of the owner’s address was also illegible, however, I could make out ‘Thistle, The Shrouded Isle.’ I felt a zing of excitement. Maybe I could find out something about Greg’s wife. I scanned through the later entries, searching for her name.

Muirne Puldreach, Mr. Ghillie’s wife, came in complaining of stomach trouble. I examined her and found her ready to give birth. Though early, the labor went well. The baby is small but has a loud cry. The child is to be called Goodeth.

Wait, the baby? Had Greg’s child survived? I anxiously turned the page.

A different handwriting took over the passage.

While I was out visiting one of our newest patients, a fire destroyed most of our cottage.

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