The North Sea House_a gothic romance by Camille Oster

Author:Camille Oster [Oster, Camille]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

ONCE SHE HAD A decanter full of water, Vivienne ran up to Archie's room, where they already had him undressed and was placing him under the covers.

Brynnell took the decanter and the plate of charcoal and quickly created another charcoal concoction.

"Is he alright?" she asked, but no one answered her, which meant they didn't know.

With his knee on the bed beside Archie, Brynnell urged him to drink a glassful of black liquid. A sickly sheen covered all of Archie's skin and he actually looked green now.

"I have to go for the doctor," Brynnell said as he put the glass down.

"The storm still rages," John said. "Will he come?"

"I think in this case he will," Brynnell said and he moved closer. "Either you or your sister should stay with him at all times," he said quietly. "Someone did this and we don't know who."

It pleased her the certainty he seemed to feel that it wasn't either of them. But then it was worrying that he believed someone had tried to poison him.

Horace walked over, worry etched deeply on his face. "Hemlock would act this quickly. Wolfbane or Belladonna. A number of poisons could have been used. You cannot simply buy these things, though. They have to be distilled. Then again, a single leaf ingested could do this."

"Could it be accidental?" John asked.

"No one would grow these things in a kitchen garden. Although some would say they make terrific deterrents for rabbits. Cyanide would also act this quickly, depending on when he ingested it, but going from being fine to so very sick so quickly, it had to be ingested during supper."

"That is so very disturbing," Vivienne said, crossing her arms tightly. "Who would do this?"

"I cannot query it now. I must get to the doctor."

"Of course," Vivienne said and Brynnell left the room. She worried for him heading out in this weather. At least it wasn't as bad as before. "I do hope he's careful." Her attention turned back to Archie, who was lying utterly still in the bed. His breath was ragged, but it was still there. "We must feed him more charcoal."

"I think he needs to retch again," Lewis said, trying to help him up to sitting. They all rushed in and he threw up sheer blackness. It looked so very unnatural.

"I will make another glass of charcoal," Vivienne said. "We cannot poison him with too much charcoal, can we?"

"I think that is a lesser worry now," Horace replied.

Vivienne stirred in another spoonful of charcoal into a small cup of water before taking it to him. "Give him this when he can take it," she said, handing it to John.

Archie’s spasms seemed to calm again and John forced him to drink another glass of black water. He looked desperately sick and was clearly not conscious. There was a good chance he would die and it was something she couldn't bear thinking about.

Someone had done this to him. Brynnell's words echoed through her mind. Who would do something like this to Archie? Archie wouldn't hurt a fly.

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