Half a Mind TO Murder (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone Mysteries Book 3) by Paula Paul

eschewed the long trains that were the current fashion. Nancy had complied with her wishes and cut the skirt with only a short train and a bit of draping in the front. The only ruffles on the costume were at the ends of the tight-fitting, elbow-length sleeves.
    While Alexandra ’s back was turned to search through a stack of her medical notes, Nancy took the opportunity to place another frock into the trunk. This one was made of light green faille with a neckline cut a bit low in the front as well as the back. The edges of the neckline were trimmed with ecru lace. While Nancy had kept the train relatively short, she’d pulled the overskirt back to reveal a silk lining and a pleated underskirt of the same color as the lace. Alexandra had never worn the frock, and Nancy was certain she would protest her packing it now, so she quickly placed it beneath the plain linen dress. Miss Alex would say the dress was impractical for her trip, and she would insist on alternating between the cream linen and her equally simply made brown traveling suit of summer weight wool while she was there. But, Nancy thought, there was always the possibility that her mistress would want to indulge herself in a social event, and then wouldn’t she be grateful Nancy had thought to pack the green faille?
    Perhaps the possibility wasn ’t enormous, but there was at least hope, wasn’t there? Nancy had taken the liberty of sending a telegram to Nicholas Forsythe, remembering when Alexandra had met him at Montmarsh. Oh yes, those were the days, Nancy thought. The days when the earl brought his reckless, wealthy, and highborn friends to his country house each summer for dinners and balls and hunting parties. Miss Alex was sometimes invited to those parties, and why not? Wasn’t she equally as beautiful and charming as any of the ladies? And while she might be a few generations removed from the title, one of her ancestors had been a duke.
    The problem, however, was that Alexandra had never enjoyed the earl ’s friends or his parties, much to Nancy’s disappointment. Now, however, given the events of a summer past, Nancy had to admit, however grudgingly, that perhaps her mistress’s reluctance had not been without reason. That was the summer the earl had been murdered by one of his own guests and his own wickedness had been revealed as a result. The lovely house that was Montmarsh had remained closed ever since. Nevertheless, that was the summer Alexandra had met Mr. Forsythe, a London barrister and the younger son of a viscount. In spite of the fact that he dressed like a dandy and could be naïve about certain things in that odd way the highborn were, he had proven to have a head on his shoulders, and he seemed to have taken a liking to Miss Alex. Nancy suspected that Alexandra was equally fond of him. Nancy always enjoyed playing matchmaker, but she understood her mistress’s reluctance to encourage Mr. Forsythe. There were certain events in her mistress’s past. Well, she wouldn’t think about that now. Suffice it to say, Miss Alex was a challenge when it came to matchmaking, and Nancy always welcomed a challenge. So she’d notified Mr. Forsythe of the time and station of Alexandra’s arrival in London.
    “ I went early this morning to check on the Hastings’ baby.” Alexandra spoke over her shoulder to Nancy as she continued to write the report on the previous evening’s fruitless examination of the heart Clyde had found. “I think there is small improvement, but her cough lingers still.”
    “ More bleeding from her nose and eyes?” Nancy asked as she placed a lace-trimmed fan in the trunk, then took it out again. Alexandra hated fans. She placed a parasol in the trunk instead, in the hope that her mistress would at least acquiesce to that if the sun was sufficiently bright. She’d leave the umbrella out for her to carry in case of rain.
    “ Her mother told me of one more episode,” Alexandra said.
    “ I don’t have to tell you,