Page 75 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
Abigail rose from his side and backed away slowly, her hands clasped before her.
She wanted to pray in earnest, but the words failed her.
Spare him,was all she could think.Spare him ...
Chapter 54
Madeline kept her distance from the physician, a certain Dr Brightman. He was a white-haired gentleman, clean-shaven save for sideburns, with a serious look in his squinting, dark eyes, as if he studied everything on the minutest of levels. She was in awe of physicians and had been ever since she was a child. Their learning and studious manner and their grace in the face of medical horrors thrilled her. She wanted to be near them, but shrank from them as if they somehow carried some of the horrors they witnessed in a terrible air that surrounded them.
She stood next to her mother, Mama’s hand clasped in hers, and squeezed it tight as the physician came over to them.
“It’s his heart. He’s awake, which is a good sign, and which tells me that it was something of a minor incident. He is to remain at rest.”
“Doctor Brightman,” said Mama, “will you stay as our guest?”
“Of course,” said Brightman with an odd look that could in some dark sense pass for a smile on his face. “As a matter of fact, I’m glad you asked, for it saved me the embarrassment of asking if Icouldstay. I’d like to be available at a moment’s notice if need be.”
“How could we thank you, Doctor?” said Madeline.
“M’Lady, there is no need. However, in the interest of your becoming wiser to his situation, I’ve prescribed a course of chopped cleavers in gruel. I assume your kitchen is amply supplied?”
“We’ll make sure it is first thing in the morning.”
“Very good,” he said. “I’ve also prepared a distillation of burnet and gentian. He is to get three drops in half a glass of claret thrice a day. I’ve given the instructions to your man, Foster.”
“He’ll tell Molloy, His Lordship’s valet,” said Mama. “Foster is consoling him in the parlour at the moment. The poor fellow was very upset.”
Brightman cleared his throat. “Which brings us to Foster. He was, as I understand it, the last man to see His Lordship before the incident occurred?”
“Yes,” said Madeline. “And he found him.”
“Ah, well then, I should like to have a word with him if I may.”
“You may,” said Mama.
“I’ll find him,” said Madeline.
“I do not wish to put you through any trouble.”
“’Tis my father’s life, Doctor Brightman,” said Madeline. “There is no trouble too great to surmount in service of your prolonging it.”
#
A terrible commotion was coming from the parlour. She could hear Foster’s booming voice resounding with rage.
“Of all the selfish, malignant sow’s brood! You should be taken out and horsewhipped within an inch of your life just for thinking such a thing. You weed!”
Madeline’s heart skipped as she entered the room. Foster was pacing about. His face was afire, his body gesticulating wildly as if swatting at a plague of locusts.
Molloy’s plaintive voice interrupted. “If I may, sir—”
“You certainly may not! If His Lordship weren’t deathly ill at the moment, I’d have you carted off these premises on a rail!”
“Yes, Mr Foster.”
“Excuse me?” said Madeline.
Foster swiveled his massive form around. His eyes were wide. He straightened his waistcoat and quickly wiped his lips.
