Death Behind Silent Walls by Blythe Baker

Author:Blythe Baker [Baker, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

The question on everyone’s minds that afternoon and evening was the medicine bottle that had been discovered.

Warrington seemed just as surprised as I was about it. He assured me he had never seen it before.

“How could Doctor Higgins have prescribed him something that I was completely unaware of?” I asked. “It does not make any sense.”

“It could very well have been a part of his therapy, madam,” Mrs. Bell offered. “Doctor Higgins did say that they had been making some progress.”

“I do not know if this sort of medicine could truly count as progress,” Warrington said, picking up the bottle from the desk in the drawing room, where Mr. Keats had set it down hours ago, on his way out. Warrington examined the bottle, swirling the dark glass around, the liquid sloshing against the sides. “There is no name on the label, no description other than how often to take it.”

I said, “Perhaps if I smelled it, I might be able to deduce what it could be.”

“Would that not be dangerous, madam?” Mrs. Bell asked. “We have no earthly idea what it could be. What if you became ill after smelling it?”

“I fear Mrs. Bell is correct, madam,” Warrington said.

I frowned. “If it was potentially dangerous, then why did Mr. Keats not take it with him?” I asked. “If it might have been evidence, wouldn’t he have wished to remove it?”

“I think Mr. Keats would consider the doctor himself as part of the evidence, but maybe not the bottle,” Warrington said. “Even still, he instructed me not to lose it, in case he wished to inspect it again.”

I leaned back in the desk chair, glaring at the bottle as Warrington set it back down on the desk. The fireplace behind me crackled merrily; the night was cool, despite the fact it was only the first week of August.

“What I do not understand is why this was in Daniel’s nursery in the first place,” I said, glancing over at the bassinet beside my chair. The baby was stretched out inside it, his little fists resting to either side of his head. I watched the steady and rhythmic rise and fall of his chest for a few moments, assuring myself that he was sleeping peacefully. I didn’t wish to wake him with my angered words.

“That is something I have wondered about, as well, madam…” Mrs. Bell said, folding her arms. “What if it rolled out of the master’s pocket the night he died?”

“I have thought the same,” Warrington said. “But the maids are so efficient at keeping the entire house spotless, it seems quite odd that one of them did not discover it sooner.”

“I agree, Warrington,” I said. “Which is why I have decided that I am going to go and see the good doctor for myself. I shall ask him precisely what this medicine was, and if there is any chance that it killed Duncan.”

“You wish to see the doctor yourself?” Mrs. Bell asked.

“Why, of course,” I said, looking up at her incredulously.

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