Corridors of the Night by Anne Perry Read Free Book Online Page A

. . .’
    Hester looked from Magnus to Adrienne and back again. She saw an extraordinary change come over him. The irritation was smoothed away like creases under a hot iron. It was replaced by an intense pity; then that too vanished as a sudden energy filled him.
    ‘Tell me more, Miss Radnor. When did you first recognise the illness in him? Be as precise as you can. I’m sorry, please sit down.’ He rose hastily from his chair and hurried around the desk to pull forward a seat for her, completely ignoring Hester.
    Adrienne barely took time to arrange her fashionable, autumnal-shaded skirts, which so complemented her colouring. She sat a trifle awkwardly, leaning forward towards him. ‘I can remember the day very well. It was two months ago. Papa had been growing weaker for a period of time. At first the doctors thought it was just weariness. My father is over sixty and he insists on behaving as if he were a young man.’ She gave a slight smile but it vanished in an instant. ‘He travelled extensively. He was always very vigorous in his pursuits, climbing mountains, riding for days on horseback. He attended the opera and the theatre, visited Paris, Rome, Madrid.’ There was pride in her voice. ‘It was not foolish to wonder if perhaps a long rest would do him good.’
    ‘And did it?’ Magnus enquired with interest. His eyes were intent upon hers, and his expression very grave.
    She lowered her gaze and her answer was almost a whisper. ‘At first it seemed to, but I fear now that we saw only what we wished to see. He is failing very rapidly. Unless you are willing to help him, I think he has only weeks left.’
    ‘I must consult my brother,’ Magnus said with unusual gentleness.
    Adrienne leaned even further forward. ‘My father is a man of very considerable means, Dr Rand. He would be well able to recompense you for your skill, and to meet any expenses you might incur in treating him. Surely that is worth something?’
    Hester winced at the words, and yet in the young woman’s place she might have said the same thing, clumsy as it was.
    Magnus brushed it aside.
    ‘I will not take your money, Miss Radnor, unless I am certain that we have some chance of helping your father. I must still consult my brother. He is a chemist of more than skill – of brilliance – and it is his experiments that give us hope that we can cure this, and perhaps many other diseases.’
    ‘Then call him!’ she begged. ‘Call anyone, only please do not delay.’
    Magnus looked up at Hester. ‘Mrs Monk, you have heard Miss Radnor’s plight, and that of her father. Please inform my brother of the situation and ask him if he will be good enough to lay aside whatever he is doing at present and come to my office so he can ask whatever he needs to of Miss Radnor, and reach some decision.’
    ‘Yes, Dr Rand,’ Hester said willingly, and turned to leave.
    She was not accustomed to going to Hamilton Rand’s laboratory. It was closed to the hospital staff for excellent reasons. It was full of chemicals that were highly likely to be harmful if touched, mixed or spilled, and of experiments that could be ruined if disturbed. Hester believed it was also because Hamilton Rand did not wish his work to be interrupted for anything short of the building being on fire. But now she had no choice.
    She walked quickly, without distraction. She hurried past other nurses barely acknowledging them. She did not even glance at storerooms, other wards, even operating theatres. When she reached the laboratory door she knocked on it firmly and loudly.
    There was no answer.
    She knocked again, harder.
    Still there was no response.
    Hamilton Rand spent most of his time here, not only all day but frequently most of the evening. He had been known to work all night, which had earned him both fear and respect.
    Hester was moved not so much by concern for Magnus as pity for Adrienne Radnor. She understood painfully well her deep love for her father and the desire to