The Rakehell Regency(28)

"Aye, that thought had occurred to me too."



Dr. Gold shook his head. "No, it's monstrous. He's rough around the edges all right, for all the advantages he has had. But to commit murder?"



"I know it sounds insane, but he just have a very bad feeling about all of this."



"Are you sure it is nothing to do with the lady herself? She is after all reputed to be most, er, unusual," Dr. Gold said as gently as possible.



Clifford threw his hands wide in despair. "Murder or suicide. Either way this is a beastly affair."



"Unless of course you take the far more reasonable and sensible view," John said in a mild tone. "That it is a simple case of bad oysters, and have done with it. If anyone else consumed the food, and there was more than one spoiled in the batch, you will have found your culprit, without tumbling into the realms of Gothic melodrama."



Clifford sighed and gave a small smile. "I know I must sound as mad as the two of them are reputed to be, but the reason it's called coincidence is that two events coincide. She comes here, and is now looking for all the world like she's at death's door. So either she was so appalled at the idea of being gambled away to a stranger, and took matters into her own hands in a desperate or irrational way, or Gerald, whom we all know was desperate last night, has committed a most barbaric act."



"I still think it's the oysters, myself. Any almond smell could be something as simple as hand cream or one of her other toiletries. Really, Clifford, do please pull yourself together, or I will think you are becoming as irrational as she."



"That's another thing. Everyone around here says she was mad as a child. But I recall her being as sane and intelligent as Henry or I, just very shy and timid. Also ill at ease, as if she were always afraid of doing wrong, or being scolded. Gerald has always had a bit of a wild streak, not she."



"Yet if there were any strenuous objections to the young man, I am sure her aunt would have made other provision for Vanessa, rather than have her come back here to live with her half-brother.



"Please, Clifford, I know you detest him. He most certainly makes no bones about disliking you. But do not let a word of your suppositions leave this house. This whole affair of the card game is scandalous enough as it is without adding suicide or murder to the lurid tale."



Clifford nodded, and said contritely, "I'm sorry. I overreacted. I suppose it was the shock of finding her thus. And do please check her head for injury. My team nearly trammeled her when she ran out into the road."



The doctor looked up from the mortar and pestle he was using to prepare a dose of medicine.



"Not exactly the act of a rational woman."



"Perhaps not, but she was most certainly ill and losing her coherence by the time I got her into the carriage. Please, you told me not to let my imagination run away with me regarding Gerald. Let us both agree to not do that so far as Vanessa is concerned either."



"Agreed. Many maladies of the body can affect the mind. And who could blame her for being distraught over the death of her aunt? Maybe she did dose herself with something purely by accident. It could have been a badly labeled bottle, or a larger quantity of some sort of medicament than is her wont. But I still say it was the insidious oysters."



Clifford paced up and down uneasily, wanting to discuss it further, but also not wishing to alienate Dr. Gold by seeming too intent on laying blame upon Gerald. After all, he had no idea when her brother had last been home, or what had taken place between the siblings. Perhaps he had not told her the news about the card game yet? Mayhap he was trying to find another solution to his financial difficulties?



He sighed. He only wished that were the case. He knew his neighbor of old. Gerald was nothing if not selfish. And he was certainly always one to take the easy way out. He would use Vanessa as a pawn, a tool, without an ounce of compunction, he felt sure.



Malcolm returned with the hot water, and there was no more conversation upon that or any other subject as they sought to make Vanessa as comfortable as possible.



When the clock on the wall struck ten, the doctor pulled out his fob watch, corrected it, and declared, "She is doing as well as can be expected with a violent case of food poisoning. I'm sorry to leave you, but I really must go see how Esther Hancock is faring. It's her first baby, and she will no doubt be quite concerned. It's taken her so long to beget a child, her husband has been quite beside himself. I fear he will cast her off if it's not a son and heir."



"Ridiculous," Clifford blurted out. "A woman can be just as good an heir as a man. If not better," he added with a long look at Vanessa.