He does not love my mother. He loves her money and her social standing.
But part of what he said was the truth-Amelia, who did flirt shamelessly with soldiers, was mortified by my epilepsy, and often said that no one would offer her marriage, as it was widely known there was a madwoman in the family. But no matter what is said of me, I never harmed anyone. My epilepsy does not make me dangerous!
Tyler replied. No, of all the cases I have seen, epilepsy is only dangerous to the person who suffers it. I think we err in deeming it a form of madness. Alas, it is a belief I share with no more than a handful of my colleagues.
She sighed aloud, as if in contentment at finding this small amount of support. Thank you.
Tyler was vaguely aware of murmurs around the bed.
But I must continue, she said. Andrew was away at school when Amelia disappeared. Within the year, though, he left school to serve in the navy.
Soon after, when I reached the age of nineteen, my seizures abated and there was hope that I had been cured of epilepsy-my physician said he had seen such cases, where it passed off after childhood.
I was, for the first time in my life, allowed to be without a constant attendant. However, the fear that the seizures might return remained strong-and may I say, even stronger, the fear that I might embarrass the family should I have a public seizure-so I continued to be restricted to living on an upper floor of our home, although if we were not entertaining guests, I was free to walk about the grounds when the weather allowed.
Needless to say, I preferred the gardens and lawn to the confinement of the house. The property is bordered by woods, which I was strictly forbidden to enter. Of course I went into them secretly from time to time, and was caught at this once or twice, but it was well worth any lecturing or additional confinement I was ordered to endure for the transgression.
One drizzly day, while I sat reading near a window, I saw a man carrying a shovel, making his way across the lawn, toward the woods. He glanced back and I quickly leaned away from the window, although I doubt he saw me watching. His face was concealed by a woolen scarf wrapped round it, and his hat was pulled low.
My mother was away at a meeting of one of her societies. My stepfather, who is a portly man, not of the build of the man who crossed the lawn, was in his study. Neither was the man one of our staff-both the butler and my stepfather’s valet were much older; the stable lads much younger; the gardener taller and more slender; the coachman much taller, and away, driving my mother to her meeting.
Curious, I put on a dark wrap and stealthily made my way downstairs. I left the house unseen, or so I thought.
By the time I reached the lawn beyond the gardens, the man had disappeared into the woods, but I was easily able to follow his footprints across the dampened grass. The same was true within the woods. I followed them farther into the trees than I had ever gone before. I was a little frightened, but also excited.
Soon I heard the sound of the shovel at work and slowed my approach. I came within sight of him and hid myself well.
He grew heated from his labors and removed his hat and the muffler about his face. It was then that I recognized him as Mr. Briggs, the “detective” hired by my stepfather.
I came a little closer to see if I could determine why he was digging a hole in our woods. I soon saw that he was not digging a hole. He was exhuming a body.
My sister Amelia lay in a shallow grave, in a state that horrified me. Her pink dress was filthy but recognizable, her flesh decayed, so that little more than a skeleton remained. Strands of her golden hair, clotted with the dark stain of blood, lay near her head, where a great wound had been inflicted. Her locket lay on her sunken breast, her gold ring near the bones of one hand.
I saw the man take the locket and ring, and then…
She fell silent, and Tyler wondered if he was about to lose contact with her, but she went on.
I wish I could tell you more, but I have no memory of what happened next, other than hearing a sound behind me and feeling a blinding pain as I was struck on the back of the head. I have not been able to speak sensibly since, and have been subject again to seizures-quite different from the ones I suffered as a child.
They are probably a result of the injury, Tyler said, as is your difficulty with speech.
It doesn’t matter, except that I can’t tell you more about that day. The sisters should know my medical history if you need it. I am convinced that my stepfather is behind this, that he conspired with this man to murder my sister.
Show me your memories of the woods, of the man.
Quickly, she did. It is my mother I worry about now, Dr. Hawthorne-is it Dr. Hawthorne or Captain Hawthorne? Oh-I understand. It is both.
Whichever you please, or Tyler.
Tyler, then. This is most urgent, Tyler. With all three of her children gone, my stepfather stands to inherit all of the substantial fortune left to my mother by my grandfather. While she lives, it is out of her husband’s control. While he rightly understands that his social acceptance depends on her, it is only a matter time before he finds the requirement of her approval of his expenditures inconvenient. Promise me you will do what you can to help her, and to bring my stepfather and his henchman to justice.
“I promise,” he said aloud, then, realizing the others were looking at him, added quickly, “that all will be well. Be at peace.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. Oh, how lovely! I must be going, but I thank you with all my heart. She paused then added, I’m to tell you the fevers will come much later but be much worse this time, that Colby and Shade will care for you, and Colby will tell you where you are needed next.
Colby! In his surprise, he nearly said the name aloud.
Yes. Good-bye, Tyler. Good-bye, Shade.
The dog moved nearer the bed and gave a great sighing breath.
She opened her eyes again and looked at the faces of those surrounding her. “Thank you, kind sisters,” she said aloud. “Please thank Sister Rosaline for starting this place. Give my love to my mother and ask her to heed what Dr. Hawthorne has to say.”
She let loose of his hands, closed her eyes again, and a moment later, died.
FOR ALL ITS BREVITY, HER SPEECH TO THOSE AT HER DEATHBED caused amazement. Leaving the others to care for the body, Sister Elizabeth ushered Tyler and Shade into her office. “Dr. Hawthorne, please remain with me for a moment,” she said, taking a seat behind a plain desk, and inviting him to be seated in a more comfortable chair.
She sat silently for long moments, her head bowed. When she looked up at him again she said, “Susannah Bailey has not spoken so clearly since we brought her here!”
“Tell me more about her case.”