“Are you aware that Soothcoor, through his late brother, has an interest in exploring the healing plants from India?”
“No, I did not. Interesting. I shall have to speak with him about his investment when he returns to London.”
“Now, to the purpose of your visit. What is your opinion as to my wife’s health?”
“Though a lingering cough occasionally nags her, she appears healthy and will be fine to take this journey. I gather it is important to her.”
“But she seems so tired.”
“She was bedridden for many days with her illness, was she not?”
“Yes, I insisted on it.”
He smiled at James. “That was the right thing to do; however, it was also what tired her out.”
“What do you mean?”
“The body quickly learns to relax. It does not as quickly relearn how to be active. I would suggest daily walks to rebuild her strength. It will also be the best activity she might do for the baby.”
James frowned but nodded slowly.
“So, what can you tell me about the man murdered? I believe your wife called him Mr. Montgomery?”
James leaned back in his chair, taking in a large breath before he spoke. “Yes. Malcolm Montgomery from Scotland. From what Mrs. Montgomery explained to Lady Branstoke and me, Mr. Montgomery suffered from an illness of the mind, an illness that waxed and waned in severity.”
Dr. Nowlton nodded. “Many such illnesses do. Go on.”
“I’m uncertain how to explain it,” James said slowly. “It sounds fantastical. According to Mrs. Montgomery, it was like he had multiple people all living within himself. They had distinct personalities and names. And different strengths. Different personalities could take him over and he, Malcolm, would have no memory of the incident. He lived with his family and with this condition until the night he came back to himself, only to discover he stood in his eldest daughter’s bedroom with feelings of lust coursing through his body. It was one of his ‘other’ people. That this personality could come so close to violatinghis daughter, and he not being aware, deeply affected Mr. Montgomery and worried him. Shaken by the event, he decided he needed to be institutionalized so he did not, in any way, harm his family.”
Dr. Nowlton nodded slowly, his brow furrowed. “I have read of a similar situation,” he said. “I was incredulous as well. It read like some monstrous gothic tale my brother would write. In summary, a young woman had been raped by her father as a child on several occasions. To cope with the abuse, her mind splintered into different people.”
“Was she placed in a sanatorium?”
He nodded. “For a time. When she appeared to be better and no longer suffered with other people splitting her mind, she returned to her home. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long after that that her father attempted to bed her again, and she killed him and herself.”
James shook his head. “What was the conclusion?”
“The article espoused that illnesses of the mind are not curable and such people with any kind of mental differences would be permanently institutionalized.”
James’s brows pulled together. “That seems to be rather a large generalization.”
“It was, and it was the broad generalization that bothered me as well.”
“I wonder why Mr. Montgomery thought he should fake his death and why Dr. Worcham should support that decision? And he must have done so.”
Dr. Nowlton nodded. “If I weren’t tied here in London to see to the woman at Mrs. Southerland’s, I would be tempted to accompany you.”
“Thank you for the sentiment. But, if you determine Lady Branstoke is healthy enough for travel, we need to leave. My wish is to get to Cambridge today, weather permitting.”
Dr. Nowlton nodded and stood up. “I will show myself out. I wish you safe travel and Godspeed in your efforts to clear Soothcoor of this murder charge.”
CHAPTER 4
A FORTUNATE UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT
“You’ve been exceedingly quiet,” James said to his wife.
They had been in their carriage driving north for two hours. They would stop soon for a change of horses and postillions and to walk about a bit. Since leaving London behind for open roads, Cecilia had remained quiet, just swaying with the motion of the carriage and staring out the carriage window.
