20
Asound disturbed Anne’s slumber, and she startled awake. She must have cried herself to sleep for she still wore her day dress and darkness showed through the small window above her. For a moment she forgot Lady Celia was dead and there was no reason to rush to her bedside.
Then she heard it again. A jiggling door latch? She peeked into Lady Celia’s dim room and realized someone was trying to enter. Then a man swore.
Anne tiptoed through Sir Herbert’s room and gingerly unlocked that door, opening it only wide enough to see Mr. Dalby, candle lamp in hand, tromping down the stairs in defeat.
Anne waited a few moments, then crept from the room and stood peering over the banister.
His voice drifted up to her. “What’s going on? Her door is locked.”
“Is it?” Katherine asked placidly, coming into view below. “That’s probably because we are not to disturb anything in there until the coroner comes.”
“Whyisthe coroner coming?” Mr. Dalby demanded. “Marsland said her death was natural.”
“Because I insisted upon it. Apparently Mamma was about to sign a new will, and there seems to be some doubt as to why she died.”
“Only from little Annie Loveday. And she’s no doctor.”
Katherine suddenly glanced up. Her gaze flew to Anne like an arrow finding its target. Anne froze. Caught.
But Katherine went on as if she had not noticed. “By the way, I’ve asked Miss Loveday to remain here, should the coroner have any questions for her.”
“Why would you want her to stay? If Aunt Celia was helped along in departing this earth, certainly the nurse administering her medicines—and who knows what else—is the likely culprit.”
“Are you suggesting Anne Loveday has a stronger motive than, say ... you?”
“Kat...” A warning note laced his tone. “If you’re going to go around wildly accusing people, don’t forget our dear cousin Jasper—who, last I heard, is in the same position as I am where the inheritance is concerned. And now that he is about to be cashiered, he may be as financially desperate as I am too.”
“Are you sure you don’t know where he is?” Katherine asked.
“I don’t.”
“I hope he’s all right.”
A short while later, despite the late hour, the coroner arrived from Stroud with Dr. Marsland and the local parish constable. After speaking to Miss Fitzjohn and viewing the body on his own, the man issued a warrant to summon twelve substantial householders to serve as the coroner’s jury, and the constable left to carry it out.
A few hours later, men from all over the parish arrived at Painswick Court, some on foot, some on horseback, and a few in carriages. Together, the jurors were led upstairs to Lady Celia’s room to view the body. The coroner asked Dr. Marsland to join them and give his opinion. Not being acquainted with the younger physician, he didn’t summon Dr. Finch, who had returned home to care for Robbie.
Anne waited in the parlour with Miss Fitzjohn and Rosa. She was tempted to let herself into the dressing room, knowing she could probably hear what was said from there, but didn’t want to risk being caught. She nervously wondered if Mr. Dalby would voice his suspicions about her or adhere to Dr. Marsland’s conclusion instead.
To distract herself from her worries, she tried to read. Why she picked up the volume on nursing when her patient had died, she didn’t know. Perhaps to review its advice and see if she had neglected to do anything she should have.
Believe me,gentle reader,if there is abalm in Gilead,if there is anything to soothe thewounded mind when the beloved friend or relative is committedto the grave,it is the reflection that we havedone our duty,and that we have left nothing undonewhich it was in our power to perform. Happy isthat mind which feels no self-reproach....
Anne shut the book. She couldn’t say that was true for her.
A short while later, the jurors departed. The coroner, accompanied by Dr. Marsland, stopped briefly in the parlour to speak to Miss Fitzjohn. “We will hold an inquest at the Falcon, but it will be a mere formality, as Dr. Marsland is confident your mother died of natural causes. Of course I understand your reasons for wanting to follow official procedures to assure there is no doubt, or at least, no significant doubt.”
Anne’s ears pricked up at that. Had the man some doubt? Noticed some of what she had?
“And do you think a postmortem would be advisable?” Katherine asked.
“I do not. Unless you have a specific reason to believe there may have been foul play?”
Katherine looked across the room at Anne, hesitated, then said, “Miss Loveday, who is here as Mamma’s nurse, seemed to have some concerns.”
He nodded and turned to Anne. “Dr. Marsland said you noticed her pupils were constricted, and her breathing and pulse rapid before she died?”
