Page 67 of The Premonition at Withers Farm
Men mingled there. She glimpsed Detective Poll. She noticed Jasper was there as well. A few others. They were wrapping Millie’s body in a blanket. She caught little snatches of it through the weeds and trees.
“What killed her?” Perliett attempted to right her emotions. She’d made a ninny of herself in her shock. She knew that now. Any credibility—well, not that she had any, but still—with George would be toasted and eaten for breakfast now. Dry toast. Difficult to swallow. Maybe it would choke the man as it went down.
“She was stabbed. The same as her sister.”
At least George didn’t withhold the gory details from her as if she were a child needing to be mollycoddled. “As many times too?”
“I won’t know until she’s taken to my office. I will examine her there.”
“I’ll help,” Perliett announced, shaking leaves and brushingmud from the skirt of her dress. Her beautiful emerald skirt. So pretty ... so damaged.
“No. You’ll go home to rest under the care of your mother.” George examined her, and Perliett could tell that while she wasn’t wounded, her screaming and her descent into hysterics as she called for help had made her shaky. Even so, George had no right to lord his authority over her now that she had calmed herself.
“I will come. A woman must be present to clean the body.”
“I have Miss Petra.”
“But you called for me when Eunice died,” Perliett challenged.
“Because Miss Petra was away for the day.” George lifted his face toward heaven as if to pray for extra patience. “Perliett, for once, don’t argue with me.”
“I never argue with you.” She knew she sounded petulant. Perhaps she hadn’t completely recovered from her shock.
“Perliett—”
“I can see Miss Van Hilton home,” Mr. Bridgers offered as he approached them. Concern practically emanated from him and warmed Perliett. She did a quick and completely inappropriate comparison between the two men and was surprised to note that George’s chest appeared broader, but Jasper’s arms stronger. Or maybe that was because he was in shirtsleeves and George was wearing a coat, regardless of the thick humidity in the air.
It surprised Perliett to catch George rolling his eyes in an uncustomary childish approach to addressing Jasper.
“Iwill see that Perliett returns to her home safely.” George put a definitive period at the end of the argument as he raised an eyebrow and glared.
Jasper’s mouth twitched a little. He looked past George. “Perliett, who would you prefer to see you home?”
“She’s not in a state of mind to make those decisions—”
“You,” Perliett said, interrupting George with a pointedlook. “I mean you, Jasper.” She realized sayingyouwhile looking at George gave the wrong impression.
“Very well.” Jasper stepped forward as if he were going to take her arm, but George moved in front of her and effectively blocked them from being together.
“I am her doctor, Mr. Bridgers, and I must insist I see her home and converse with her mother regarding any follow-up care that should be given to Miss Van Hilton. Which, incidentally, is none of your business.”
Jasper bowed slightly. “I submit to your vast knowledge and expertise.” Mockery was thick in his words, but George ignored him. He turned instead to Perliett.
“Come with me.”
“What nonsense.” Perliett waved him off. “I can administer myowncare, thank you very much, and my mother hasn’t...” She broke off before she revealed that for all the love she had for her mother, the nurturing side of Maribeth Van Hilton was lacking.
George looked as if it was all he could do not to take her arm and manhandle her to his carriage for the ride home.
Jasper met her eyes. “Go, Perliett. Dr. Wasziak has good intentions, even if his delivery leaves much to be desired. I will stay behind and see if I can be of assistance in this matter here.” He looked over his shoulder, muttering, “The poor girl. I pray she didn’t suffer.”
“Prayers that have come too late,” George inserted.
“Didyoupray prior to her death?” Jasper asked.
George glowered, his eyes darkening to that familiar deep shade of fathomless black. “I haven’t ceased praying.” He eyed Perliett for a moment, just long enough to make her squirm beneath his gaze—almost knowing, almost intimately acquainted with her soul. “And I will continue to pray until all are safe.”
Shewasstill shaken. But wild horses couldn’t drag her body across the plains long enough for Perliett to ever admit that to George.
