“In my experience, infection often proves more lethal than the original wound. But I’m sure he will recover nicely.”
“It is a relief to hear you say that. My housekeeper tells me that you possess great expertise in such matters.”
Lucinda contemplated Griffin. Behind the lenses of her spectacles, curiosity glinted in her eyes.
“I must say, I’m amazed at how quietly he is sleeping,” she said. “It is as if he had been given some opium concoction, but I do not detect any indication of the milk of the poppy.”
“I have some small talent for dealing with pain,” Adelaide explained.
Lucinda nodded, unsurprised. “Yes, I can sense that you possess some psychical ability, Mrs. Pyne. Do not worry overmuch about Mr. Winters. It is obvious that he is endowed with a very strong constitution.”
Adelaide looked down at Griffin’s broad, bare chest. So did Lucinda. There was a short pause while they both contemplated Griffin’s strong constitution.
“Yes, indeed,” Adelaide said. “Very strong.” She cleared her throat and hastily pulled the sheet up to cover Griffin’s chest.
Lucinda smiled. “Nevertheless, he will no doubt be in considerable discomfort when he does awaken. Men can get quite surly under those conditions.” She opened her satchel again and removed another packet. “I will leave you something for the pain, just in case. Mix a spoonful into his tea or a glass of warm milk.”
“Thank you.”
Lucinda buckled the satchel again and hoisted it in one hand. “Very well, then. I must be off.”
“A cup of tea before you leave?”
“Unfortunately I must decline. My husband is waiting for me in the carriage. We have another appointment this morning. Inspector Spellar from Scotland Yard has asked us to consult for him.”
“I understand. I will see you out.”
They left the bedroom and started down the staircase to the front hall of the big house.
“Again, allow me to express my gratitude, Mrs. Jones,” Adelaide said.
“Nonsense. Delighted to be of some assistance,” Lucinda said. “But I must admit I am surprised that you felt comfortable sending for me. My reputation in the press leads most people to believe that I am given to the pastime of poisoning people. How did you learn of my herbal skills?”
“I have had some experience of the press, Mrs. Jones. I am well aware of what it can do to a reputation. As for how I learned of your talent for concocting therapeutic remedies, I owe the knowledge to my housekeeper.”
“And who might she be?”
“Her name is Mrs. Trevelyan. She is acquainted with your housekeeper.”
“Mrs. Shute?”
“I believe that is her name, yes. The two have known each other since they started out in service together many years ago. Their world is a small one. Gossip flows through it just as freely as it does through the other social circles. Mrs. Trevelyan assured me that her friend would never have gone to work for an employer who was in the habit of poisoning the odd gentleman or two.”
Lucinda chuckled. “In other words my housekeeper provided me with an excellent character reference. I must remember to thank her for that.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jones. And congratulations on your recent marriage.”
“Thank you.” Lucinda appeared mildly surprised. “You are, I gather, a member of the Arcane community?”
“My parents were Arcane but they died a long time ago. I spent the past several years in America and have had no contact with the Society. Growing up I was well aware of the Jones family, however. When the announcement of your wedding to Mr. Caleb Jones appeared in the papers I recognized the name and made the connection. That was when Mrs. Trevelyan informed me that her old friend was in your employ.”
“If you do not have any close connections within the Society, you may not be aware that Mr. Jones and I have recently founded a psychical investigation agency. Let me give you a card.”
Lucinda reached into
“It is a relief to hear you say that. My housekeeper tells me that you possess great expertise in such matters.”
Lucinda contemplated Griffin. Behind the lenses of her spectacles, curiosity glinted in her eyes.
“I must say, I’m amazed at how quietly he is sleeping,” she said. “It is as if he had been given some opium concoction, but I do not detect any indication of the milk of the poppy.”
“I have some small talent for dealing with pain,” Adelaide explained.
Lucinda nodded, unsurprised. “Yes, I can sense that you possess some psychical ability, Mrs. Pyne. Do not worry overmuch about Mr. Winters. It is obvious that he is endowed with a very strong constitution.”
Adelaide looked down at Griffin’s broad, bare chest. So did Lucinda. There was a short pause while they both contemplated Griffin’s strong constitution.
“Yes, indeed,” Adelaide said. “Very strong.” She cleared her throat and hastily pulled the sheet up to cover Griffin’s chest.
Lucinda smiled. “Nevertheless, he will no doubt be in considerable discomfort when he does awaken. Men can get quite surly under those conditions.” She opened her satchel again and removed another packet. “I will leave you something for the pain, just in case. Mix a spoonful into his tea or a glass of warm milk.”
“Thank you.”
Lucinda buckled the satchel again and hoisted it in one hand. “Very well, then. I must be off.”
“A cup of tea before you leave?”
“Unfortunately I must decline. My husband is waiting for me in the carriage. We have another appointment this morning. Inspector Spellar from Scotland Yard has asked us to consult for him.”
“I understand. I will see you out.”
They left the bedroom and started down the staircase to the front hall of the big house.
“Again, allow me to express my gratitude, Mrs. Jones,” Adelaide said.
“Nonsense. Delighted to be of some assistance,” Lucinda said. “But I must admit I am surprised that you felt comfortable sending for me. My reputation in the press leads most people to believe that I am given to the pastime of poisoning people. How did you learn of my herbal skills?”
“I have had some experience of the press, Mrs. Jones. I am well aware of what it can do to a reputation. As for how I learned of your talent for concocting therapeutic remedies, I owe the knowledge to my housekeeper.”
“And who might she be?”
“Her name is Mrs. Trevelyan. She is acquainted with your housekeeper.”
“Mrs. Shute?”
“I believe that is her name, yes. The two have known each other since they started out in service together many years ago. Their world is a small one. Gossip flows through it just as freely as it does through the other social circles. Mrs. Trevelyan assured me that her friend would never have gone to work for an employer who was in the habit of poisoning the odd gentleman or two.”
Lucinda chuckled. “In other words my housekeeper provided me with an excellent character reference. I must remember to thank her for that.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jones. And congratulations on your recent marriage.”
“Thank you.” Lucinda appeared mildly surprised. “You are, I gather, a member of the Arcane community?”
“My parents were Arcane but they died a long time ago. I spent the past several years in America and have had no contact with the Society. Growing up I was well aware of the Jones family, however. When the announcement of your wedding to Mr. Caleb Jones appeared in the papers I recognized the name and made the connection. That was when Mrs. Trevelyan informed me that her old friend was in your employ.”
“If you do not have any close connections within the Society, you may not be aware that Mr. Jones and I have recently founded a psychical investigation agency. Let me give you a card.”
Lucinda reached into
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