Some Touch of Madness by Victoria Hamilton

Author:Victoria Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuth, women sleuths, womens rights, british mystery, asylums, lady julia grey, strong independent women
Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Thirteen

Dinner was yet another dreadful concoction of stewed meats and vegetables, overcooked and under-seasoned, washed down with small beer. With all the money Leo was spending on her incarceration, one would think the food would be at least edible, but the profits must be going elsewhere, for it was not going into food, coal, decent cooks, linens or any other amenities.

After dinner they were given permission to read for an hour, then sent upstairs for ablutions and bed. No one had mentioned Maggie. Her disappearance had been remarked by some of the ladies. There were whispers and a cloud of unease among them all, but there was no official word from the cowardly doctor. Emmeline did not want to announce the murder. She had seen that some of the patients were fragile. Such an announcement should have come from the doctor they were told to trust, but he was not present, probably too taken up in trying to figure out how to best handle such a tragedy.

The day had been dreadful. She was exhausted and relieved to see a familiar face in Gillies. “How are you feeling?” she whispered, searching the older woman’s weary face.

“Not too too bad, miss,” she replied, undoing the pins that held Emmeline’s tucker in place. “A tooth botherin’ me. Time it was out. There’s a tooth drawer in Verburne, Cook says. ’E’ll have it out tomorrow in two ticks. The gatekeeper will be going airly to town, and I’ll ride with ’im.”

“And you’ll see Dr. Woodforde?” she whispered.

“Aye. What’ll I say, miss?”

“Tell him what happened, please. The truth, all of it.” As Gillies helped her disrobe, Emmeline murmured all she had learned of Maggie from Alexandrina and her chat with the vicar. She told her maid of the scene, and how Maggie was strangled. Gillies could relay it all to her friend. “Ask Woodforde if he can make the acquaintance of the local doctor and his apprentice, a medical student named Roger Parnell. They will be examining the body and will no doubt appear if there is to be an inquest. I’d like to know from someone I trust about the marks on Miss Padimore’s neck. Also, maybe he could send a note off to Samuel. My brother is a school friend of Reverend Tickner’s. Woodforde may even have been at school with Tickner and remember him, though perhaps not, for they would have moved in different circles. I’d like to know more about him, and I’d like to know what Samuel remembers about Maria’s time here. If Woodforde can find out anything about Mrs. Annie Horsfall I would be most grateful. She is accused of poisoning her granddaughter, but I’m not sure I believe it.”

“Is that all, miss?” Gillies asked with a humorous gleam in her eye.

“I know it’s a lot.” She didn’t ask if Gillies could remember it all; she’d never insult her that way. The woman had a superb memory. “I’d be most appreciative if Dr. Woodforde could visit one day. Or even Samuel.

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