Symptoms of Death (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone Book 1) by Paula Paul Read Free Book Online Page A

could join him in that discreet investigation.

Chapter Four
    “Irish, she is, that kitchen maid up at Montmarsh, and the way I sees it, ’tis always the Irish at the bottom of things when it comes to trouble. Me husband feels the same, ’e does.”
    Nell Stillwell ’s head bobbed as she spouted her opinion, making it difficult for Alexandra to examine her infected eye. She had earlier given the butcher’s wife a solution of St. John’s wort and hyssop leaves to wash the eye that had become inflamed from a bit of straw from the pig sty. It was apparent to Alexandra, however, that Nell had not followed her instructions, judging from the almost full bottle of solution that remained on the woman’s shelf, not to mention the condition of her eye.
    “Why have you not washed your eye, Nell?” Alexandra dabbed at the oozing pus with a bit of cloth.
    “Well, there isn’t time, is there, Dr. Gladstone? What with all the extra work when the earl is back at Montmarsh, along with all of them guests and their fine appetites for beef and pork. It keeps me husband busy, it does, and meself along with ’im.”
    “But you could lose your sight in that eye. It has gotten much worse. You must be careful.” Alexandra dropped some of the solution into her patient ’s eye then placed a large bandage over the infected area and wound the gauze around her head to secure it. She glanced at Zack, who usually accompanied her on her rounds. He was pacing back and forth, agitated by the smell of fresh meat.
    “Lose me sight you say? ’Twould be better than this watery glob o’ oozing pus, the way I sees it, and all the time causing me the pain of Hades in that socket.”
    “But , Nell…”
    “Aye, if some things would but die, ’twould end our troubles, wouldn’t it?”
    Alexandra finished the bandaging and took a large bottle from her bag. “You mustn ’t think like that, Nell. There’s still a chance we can save your eye. I’m going to leave you with more solution, fresher and more potent. I want you to use it daily.”
    “And was that what the kitchen maid was thinking, was it?”
    Alexandra glanced at her patient, confused. “I beg your pardon?”
    “The kitchen maid. Elsie O ’Riley’s her name. The one what killed the earl. I guess she thought if someone would but die, ’twould end her trouble.”
    “What makes you think Elsie O ’Riley killed the earl?”
    Nell gave her a sly look. “Why, Dr. Gladstone, you was there yerself when she made the threats, so I hear. Why, the whole village has talked of nothing else since it happened the night before this last.”
    “Threats don’t make her guilty.” Alexandra spoke as she packed her supplies back into her bag, marveling at how quickly the news had spread.
    Nell gave a wave of her hand. “Go on, now. She had her reasons.”
    “You’re referring to young George’s death.”
    Nell ’s one eye brightened. “Aye, so you know, and did you know young George was a ne’er-do-well? Spent his time with other young thugs when he wasn’t with Elsie, ’e did. And young men with naught to do will make trouble, the way I sees it.”
    “I ’ve heard about George and his less than desirable friends, but that still doesn’t make—”
    “And did you know that some blame Lord Dunsford for George ’s death?”
    Alexandra ’s facade disappeared. She glanced at the woman, suddenly alarmed. “Nell!”
    “Aye, I sees that you know.”
    “I know nothing of the kind, Nell Stillwell. Who, exactly, blames Lord Dunsford for George’s death?”
    “Them that knows.” The Cyclops eye bore into Alexandra.
    “Knows what? What are you talking about, Nell? That’s only a rumor started by a frightened young girl.”
    Nell turned her eye away from Alexandra and stared at the window. She spoke only one word. “Aye.”
    “What do you mean, ‘aye’?”
    Nell faced her again, briefly. “I knows what I knows.” Once again she turned her glance a way to stare out the window.