“A diseased mind is difficult to comprehend at times, and identity confusion does occasionally come into play. Nevertheless, it’ll be difficult for me to know what patient you want to see if you don’t know the name she’s using here. What does she look like?”
Since he hadn’t actually seen Eugenia for seven years, and he wasn’t exactly certain of his conclusion that Eunice was Eugenia, it was going to be slightly problematic to provide the doctor with an accurate description. “Eunice is a little difficult to describe...” He paused before inspiration struck. “But I imagine she would have arrived in widow’s weeds and her face covered by veils.”
Dr. Franklin brightened. “Ah, I know exactly who you’re looking for now. She arrived yesterday, but I can’t recall her name.” He turned toward the door. “Nurse Kroener,” he called, “would you bring in my files from yesterday?”
A moment later, a nurse hurried into the room, files in hand. She set the files on his desk, a blush staining her cheeks when the doctor sent her a warm smile.
“Was there a specific file you wanted to see, Doctor?”
“The widow. The one who was examined yesterday.”
“Ah yes, the widow,” Nurse Kroener said. “She was an extreme case, and I was in full agreement with you and Nurse Grady for sending her off to isolation.”
Arthur frowned. “Why was she sent into isolation?”
“She was suffering from a severe mental episode,” Dr. Franklin said as Nurse Kroener began riffling through the files, pulling one out and flipping it open.
“Indeed she was,” Nurse Kroener agreed. “I was outside the door while she was being examined, and she was very belligerent and questioned the doctor relentlessly, especially when he asked to see her tongue.” She pulled out a file and flipped it open. “Eunice Hickenbottom is her name, and she was diagnosed as suffering from acute melancholy, delusions, and female hysteria.”
“And some of that diagnosis was derived from an examination of her tongue?” Arthur asked, his question left unanswered when another nurse hurried into the room, looking rather flustered.
“Forgive me, Doctor, but I have two women just outside the door. They’re asking to see a patient by the name of Eunice Hickenbottom. I’ve told them it’s not visiting hours yet, but they’re demanding to speak with someone in charge.”
Dr. Franklin glanced to Arthur. “How interesting that one of our patients has so many people wanting to visit with her today.”
Arthur was spared a response when two women came barreling into the room, two women he wasn’t exactly surprised to discover were none other than Miss Judith Donovan and Miss Elsy Evans. Hewassurprised, though, over how disheveled they looked as well as being remarkably wet. He rose to his feet, drawing Elsy’s notice.
She narrowed her eyes on him. “Mr. Livingston, I bet you weren’t expecting us to be dogging your heels.”
“Well, we weren’t dogging his heels fast enough, since we missed the ferry to the island,” Judith said, pulling a soggy handkerchief from her sleeve, which she used to dab at water dribbling down her face, smearing a streak of yellow paint still on her cheek. “Because we missed the ferry, we were forced to hire the only boat available, which turned out to be a sailboat—or more of a dinghy, really—with a sail I could have sworn was made out of a bedsheet and captained by a boy who couldn’t have been more than ten years old.”
“He told me mid-crossing he was nine,” Elsy said. “Bless his heart, he tried to give us a smooth sail over the river, but after the wind sprang up, we were in direct danger of capsizing.”
“Danger we wouldn’t havehad to face if you, Mr. Livingston, would have waitedfor Eunice to return instead of running her down whileshe’s—” Judith stopped talking, shot a look to Dr.Franklin, who seemed somewhat bewildered, then turned her attention toLloyd. “With all that said, and since we did manageto survive a perilous ride across the river, I’msure you’ll agree, Mr. Brevoorts, what withyou being such a chivalrous sort, that Elsy and I should be the ones to speak with Eunice first.”
“I’m beginning to understand why their agency is so highly recommended,” Chase muttered, coming over to stand behind Arthur’s chair. “That was a brilliant move, appealing to Grandfather’s chivalrous nature.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” Arthur muttered back as Lloyd took hold of his cane and limped his way over to Judith andElsy, making a big to-do about kissing their soggy hands before he smiled.
“If it were up to me, my dears, I’d be happy to stand aside and allow you to speak with Eunice Holbrooke, or Hickenbottom, or whatever she’s calling herself today, but I’m merely here as an observer.”
Elsy rolled her eyes. “I expected better of you, Mr. Brevoorts, but I suppose you can be forgiven, because you’re likely somewhat overwrought over the idea you may soon be run out of town by an angry horde of widows” She turned and sent Arthur a remarkably sweet smile, paired with a delicate arch of a brow.
It was difficult to swallow a laugh because clearly Elsy Evans had decided to turn on the charm for him, as she smoothed back hair that was currently a disaster due to their rough crossing of the river and then even went so far as to wring her soggy-gloved hands together, quite as if she were a damsel in distress.
He wasn’t buying it for a second.
“I believe it’s only right to allow Dr. Franklin to decide who gets to visit with Eunice first,” Arthur said, earning scowls from Judith and Elsy, which deepened when Dr. Franklin nodded at Arthur.
“Because you, Mr. Livingston, arrived before the ladies, it seems only fair that you should be allowed to speak with Eunice first. I’m somewhat confused, though, why all of you need to speak with the widow. She’s mad as a hatter and isn’t going to be much of a conversationalist.”
“Which is exactly whyweshould be allowed to visit with her first,” Judith exclaimed before Arthur could respond.
“And why is that, Miss...”
“Donovan. And this is Miss Evans, and the reason is... ah...we need to speak with Eunice first because I’m afraid these gentlemen are going to press her about a missing person named Miss Eugenia Howland, which could very well leave Eunice, ah, Hickenbottom in a more despondent state than ever.”
“Who in the world is Eugenia?” Dr. Franklin asked. “And whydoes it seem like there are so many names beginning withEbeing tossed around right now?”
