“Mad Honey?” He frowned. “Yes, I have. Why?”
“Is it poisonous?” Julia asked, leaning forward.
“Not to a healthy person, no. It could be detrimental to a person already weak from another illness. Nothing I have read has suggested it is inherently poisonous. And the effects can vary based on the health of the person ingesting the substance.”
“Even if they had it repeatedly?” Julia insisted, her lips compressed.
“Why are you asking about Mad Honey?” he asked, a deep frown creasing his brows.
“We think Mad Honey might be responsible for the spate of illness that has been occurring at The New Bell Inn,” Cecilia explained.
“How do you know about that? I only heard about it this afternoon.”
“We know my son was coming to visit, and that he has taken quite violently ill repeatedly since staying at the inn.”
The doctor nodded.
“From Lady Branstoke I have learned that my husband was at The New Bell Inn shortly before Mr. Montgomery died, and he left a jar of honey with the innkeeper in keeping for our son when he next came to visit. I think it was Mad Honey, and I believe the original intended recipient of the honey was Mr. Montgomery.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because he tried to give it to Mr. Montgomery, but he rejected the gift, saying sweets are not allowed.”
Dr. Worcham raised his eyebrows. “That is true, and I commend Mr. Montgomery’s memory that he rejected it for that reason. How do you know that?” he asked, his tone turning severe.
“Ah, well?—”
“Please just accept our knowledge,” Cecilia said, smiling at Julia.
Dr. Worcham frowned again. “I don’t like it, but for the moment I will. What would be Baron Stackpoole’s motive?”
“I believe he didn’t want Mr. Montgomery and our son to meet,” Julia explained. “You see, Benjamin has recently asked Mr. Montgomery’s daughter to marry him.”
“Mr. Montgomery’s daughter?” Dr. Worcham asked, now giving the women his full attention.
“I know Mr. Montgomery was not single,” Cecilia told Dr. Worcham. “And I know you encouraged those here to believe he was single. I’m sorry if I spoke out of line to advise he was not.”
He waved his hand negligently. “That was Malcolm’s idea. I didn’t contradict him. Yes, I knew he’d been married. How did you know he wasn’t single?”
“I met Mrs. Montgomery last December at a musicale,” Cecilia said. “We became friends when she was able to provide information needed to rescue a kidnapped child.”
He looked at her with such intensity he made her uncomfortable. “You were in Scotland?” he finally asked.
“No, no. I met her in London. She’d brought her family to London to get them settled before the Season started.”
“Harrumph,” said Dr. Worcham, the frown back across his brow. He tapped his fingertips on his chair arm. “No one said anything about Malcom having a child,” he said fretfully.
“Three children,” Cecilia said.
“Three?”
Cecilia nodded. “Three. Aileen, Sorcha, and Hugh. And it was for Aileen’s season that they are in London. Aileen seems to have caught the fancy of Lady Stackpoole’s son, Benjamin.”
“My husband does not approve of the match as Mr. Montgomery is Scottish and that he resides here, at Camden House,” Julia said, picking up the story.
“If Baron Stackpoole denied the match, why would he want to keep them from meeting? Wouldn’t that be the end of it?” Dr. Worcham asked.
“My son is not under any control of, or obligation to, my husband. The baron could decry the match, but he could not deny it. He probably wanted to see if he could turn Mr. Montgomery against the match as well.”
