The Girl Puzzle: A Story of Nellie Bly by Kate Braithwaite

Author:Kate Braithwaite [Braithwaite, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: darkstroke books
Published: 2019-05-05T05:00:00+00:00

At four o’clock, word spread through the ward that a new patient was to be admitted. All around, the women brightened but Elizabeth missed the new arrival as she was called to the sitting room.

She had never been there alone before. At first Elizabeth sat down on a small settee, thankful to be sitting on something other than a hard wooden bench. The three doors caught her attention. One led back to Hall 6; one gave access to the doctor’s office; and the third must lead to a different part of the asylum. She considered the door to the doctor’s office. What if it wasn’t locked? Might she find something there, some evidence, useful for her reports? She edged around the room until she sat in the chair nearest the door. Could she be seen from Hall 6? She didn’t think so. The wall between the sitting room and the hall held a large window, but the glass was thick and she was seated. She reached for the door handle.

“Miss Nellie Brown!” The third door opened and Elizabeth snatched her hand back and stood up. “No, no, sit down, sit down.” Dr. Ingram smiled kindly at her and she allowed herself to smile at him in return. He ushered in a man and a woman, both smartly dressed. The woman wore a fine velvet walking dress, and although her face was covered by a thin brown veil, it was clear that she was anxious. The man’s face lacked expression, but when he saw her he breathed out heavily through his nose. The woman’s hand was on his arm, but it fell away and her shoulders sagged.

“No.” The man shook his head.

“You are sure?” asked Ingram.

“Quite.” The couple turned to go and Ingram made to follow them, but Elizabeth stood and called his name.

“Yes?” he turned in the doorway and looked at her.

“Who are they?” she asked.

“A couple looking for their missing daughter,” he said. He looked sorry for them; sorry that she was not their missing child.

“That must be terrible,” she said.

“Indeed.” He frowned a little. “But now you must return to your hall, Miss Brown.”

He turned away. She heard the lock turn and put her hands to her cheeks.

She stared at the door, lost in thought.

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