Jude Dalby is dead.
He was killed here in Painswick, but please do not feel sympathy for him or look upon him as a helpless victim. Because before he was killed, he poisoned his aunt Lady Celia Fitzjohn to hasten her death and the inheritance he thought his due.
I don’t relish writing this, Fanny, I promise you. You were not alone in being deceived by him, so pleasedon’t chastise yourself. I would never have guessed the deeply evil streak in his character. We were all misled by him.
Even Dr. Marsland, the local physician, was taken in.
Anne summarized the part Dr. Marsland had played, from providing the poison to rendering Anne senseless, locking her in a cell, and threatening to kill her. She went on to describe Miss Fitzjohn coming to her rescue with bow and arrow.
Then she concluded,
Poor Miss Fitzjohn has lost her mother at the hands of her cousin—a once-cherished family member. And now that cousin is dead as well. However, she is stronger than anyone knew and seems to have found love at last. Although he is facing bankruptcy, I think she will marry Albert Palling despite the unavoidable gossip and the fact that her mother disapproved of the match while alive. I have seen them together, and they seem quite devoted to each other.
I am back in Miss Lotty’s guest room for the time being, although I think I will return to Churchdown after the magistrate’s hearing is over and there are no more questions to answer. I’m weary of all the whispers and suppositions. I will be glad when Dr. Marsland is convicted. It’s too late for Mr. Dalby to be tried publicly, but perhaps that is a mercy for his family.
Again I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I’m sure it is difficult to hear. I would like to see you again soon. Let me know if and when another visit might be convenient.
Yours with love,
Anne
Then she wrote a shorter letter to her father, summarizing the deaths and the inquest results and the upcoming postmortem and hearing. She also asked if he might come and collect her when he had time in his schedule and could get away from his practice for a few hours. Anne didn’t presume he would drop everything to come for her. She guessed it would be a week or more until he could fit her into his schedule.
Her heart thudded as she wrote. Would he be disappointed in her, doubt she had done all she could for Lady Celia?No.Anne reminded herself that she had been exonerated. She had done nothing wrong. Dr. Finch had even said Lady Celia lived longer than she would have thanks to her. In the end, Anne could not save her, but she had done her best. And she trusted her father would believe that as well.
In the meantime, Lady Celia’s funeral went ahead as planned. Since Mr. Dalby was dead and Dr. Marsland had admitted—at least to Dr. Finch and Anne while they were in the cell and in Katherine’s hearing—that Mr. Dalby had poisoned his aunt with a preparation he had made, it was decided nothing would be gained by attempting an autopsy on Lady Celia at that point, especially as several days had passed since her death.
Katherine ignored society’s custom of excluding “delicate” gentlewomen from funerals. Instead, she followed behind her mother’s coffin during the procession and stood at the graveside with Jasper, Mr. Palling, Dr. Finch, and the other men.
Anne did not attend. Not because the rules of polite conduct forbade her, but because she thought it wiser not to. With rumors and speculation about both deaths still circling like a drunken flock of gulls, she knew another woman’spresence, especially one not related to the deceased, would cause more talk and possible censure, which would detract from what should be a solemn and dignified occasion.
Instead she remained at Yew Cottage with Miss Lotty. Miss Birt joined them, and the three held a silent observance of their own. They watched from the windows as the bells tolled and mourners passed through the churchyard across the street. Anne’s eyes latched onto Dr. Finch among those gathered. Her heart gave a little flutter at the memory of their kiss.
Miss Lotty took her hand. “Again, I am sorry for involving you, Anne.”
“That’s all right. And by the way, Dr. Finch thinkshebrought Dr. Marsland around to the idea.”
“He certainly helped. I had already suggested it to Richard, though he pooh-poohed it at first. Of course, I never imagined what suggesting you as Lady Celia’s nurse might lead to. I hope you will forgive me.”
“My dear Miss Lotty. You have nothing to be sorry for. None of this was your fault.”
“Nor yours, my dear girl. Please believe me.”
“Yes, I ... am endeavoring to do so,” Anne said, and squeezed Lotty’s hand in benediction.
A few days later, after the postmortem had been completed, the local magistrate, Mr. Hyett, held a hearing to determine whether there was sufficient cause to commit Dr. Richard Marsland to Gloucester prison to await trial and sentencing at the next assizes.
So many people clamored to attend the magistrate’s hearing that Mr. Hyett was obliged to hold it in the parish church.
Anne was relieved not to be called upon to speak at the hearing. Instead she sat with Miss Lotty, Miss Birt, and Rosa. Miss Lotty held tightly to one of her hands, Rosa the other.
The surgeon, Mr. Humpage, reported that the autopsy had revealed telltale inflammation of Jude Dalby’s internal organs and small fragments of undigested yew in the stomach.
After hearing from him, then Dr. Finch, as well as the testimony of Colonel Paine and Miss Fitzjohn, Mr. Hyett quickly ruled that there was sufficient cause and evidence to send Dr. Marsland to Gloucester prison until he could be tried and sentenced.
The local constable and a prison bailiff, in attendance to maintain order, each took one of Dr. Marsland’s arms and pulled him to his feet.
For a moment, he sought Miss Newland’s gaze. She met his look, her eyes damp with disappointment. He hung his head as they led him away.
