“Ashamed of what?”
He sucked in a shaky breath, his lips twisting into a sad smile. “I shall rue my last moments with Grace until the day I die. I was upset and rough with her.”
“You grabbed her?”
“I only touched her to emphasize my point.”
That explains the bruises on her arms, Kendra thought.
“If I’d known that would be our last encounter . . . ’Tis a pathetic lament. One cannot wish away one’s regrets.”
“What were you arguing about?” she asked.
He averted his gaze. “Lady Westford was always passionate about her causes. She believed that St. George’s was too far gone to be saved. I did not agree.”
Kendra didn’t bother to hide her skepticism. “Please. You’re telling me that you were arguing about the hospital’s future so passionately that you left bruises on her arms?”
He pressed his lips together and fixed his gaze on Tyche.
“Exitus acta probat,” she said softly, and watched Goldsten’s face pale. He looked back to her.
“W-what?”
“Did Lady Westford ever say that to you?”
“No. Why would she?”
Kendra ignored the question. “Did Lady Westford talk to you about meeting Clarice?”
“I . . . no.”
“Clarice had syphilis. Have you treated that disease?”
“Most of my patients are dockworkers and sailors. Of course, I’ve treated the French pox,” he snapped.
“Have you heard anyone claim they found a new treatment or cure for it?”
“The treatment is almost as worse as the disease. There’s no cure, other than those promised by charlatans seeking money. They’re always claiming to cure diseases for the most gullible.”
“Why would someone remove all of Clarice’s blood?”
“Good God. How would I know?”
“I’m asking you as a surgeon, Mr. Goldsten. Could it be for a transfusion of some kind?”
“Transfusions are prohibited,” he said stiffly. “And it involves an exchange of fluid. What is removed must be replaced.”
“Dr. Munroe was given the body, and then it was stolen. But by a strange bit of luck, the body was found again. Except someone removed the corpse’s eyes and uterus. Why would they do that?”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“I’m asking you for your medical opinion. To help me understand.”
“I don’t know. I can’t help you. Clearly, those are the actions of a madman.”
“Or someone conducting medical experiments.” She kept her gaze locked on him. “Have you heard of anyone conducting experiments to treat syphilis or any other diseases?”
“No.”
