The Tender Herb by Conyngham Lexie

Author:Conyngham, Lexie [Conyngham, Lexie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Mystery
Published: 2014-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

For the European settles in this enchanted realm, with or without a mate, like a cuckoo in another bird’s nest, or like a magpie, seizing the glittering prizes and absconding without a thought for their bereft setting.

The Duties of the Orient, Chapter 5: ‘The Damage Done’.

I

‘What a strange bird!’

‘Aye, and what a noise it makes!’

Murray was surfacing slowly from a series of curious dreams. In one of them his father had been telling him something of great significance which even in his semi-conscious state now made no sense whatsoever. His father’s tall figure had faded, to be replaced by the impression that he was back in his bedchamber at Letho, and that the room, logically enough, was full of hens. He was unable to focus specifically on any one of them, so he smiled and lay back, waiting for the eggs …

‘I think the bird will have to go out. I cannot see why it should be here in the first place.’

‘No,’ said Murray, ‘I want some eggs for breakfast.’

‘He’s awake!’ cried all the hens at once, and he reluctantly opened his eyes to see what all the fuss was about.

It was his bedchamber, but at the British Residence. The room was indeed full, but not of hens, though their clucking and fidgetting around him made the resemblance uncanny. Bending over him at that moment were Mrs. Parker and the elusive physician or surgeon, Rubislaw. Nimmo, Sparrow and their manager, Brighton, were clustered around the door, Nimmo and Brighton with an air of achievement, Sparrow looking like a schoolboy after a session with the tawse. Fraser, Dr. Esslemont, and Charles Metcalfe, the resident, were by the tallboy, regarding Murray’s friend the bird with some disgust. Miss Denning stood by the window, as detached as possible, but with her reticule beside her, and if anyone detected any relief on her face as she saw that Murray was conscious, it was probably a trick of the light.

Someone else approached the bed, and squinting against the sunlight Murray recognised Mary, tall and calm, and quite at ease amongst the hodge-podge of classes and conditions around her. Her head was still covered with a neat shawl, and she bore a glass of water in her hands.

‘It has been boiled,’ she said, ‘and cooled. Sip it slowly, then there is tea when you need it, sir.’ He had the impression that she had added the ‘sir’ somewhat belatedly, and saw Mrs. Parker give Mary a sharp look which seemed to confirm his impression. Then he realised who was missing from his room, and opened his mouth to ask where Robbins was, but already Mary was speaking again. ‘I shall go now and see if Mr. Robbins is back from the elephants.’

How had she known Robbins had gone to see the elephants? Miss Denning must have told everyone what had happened. What had happened? He remembered a stinking, sticky throng of people, and seeing Brighton, and losing Miss Denning … what on earth had they

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