Symptoms of Death (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone Book 1) by Paula Paul Page B

whom I just happened to hear gossiping while I lurked outside the east wing parlor, Isabel and Eddie had been having an affair.”
    Nicholas paused as if to ga uge whether or not the subject was too indelicate, but Alexandra kept her countenance and did not comment. She waited for Nicholas to continue.
    “And it seems that Eddie had broken it off.” Nicholas appeared decidedly uncomfortable.
    “I can understand that she might have been chagrined, but that hardly seems a reason to kill him. One would think it would be enough just to make him…” Alexandra suddenly understood the reason for Nicholas’s discomfort, and it had nothing to do with the indelicacy of the subject. Isabel had obviously been using Nicholas to get back at Lord Dunsford, which was, no doubt, a blow to his ego.
    “To make him jealous?” Nicholas sighed as he finished her thought for her. “One would hope that would be enough, but Isabel was seen going into Eddie ’s room the night he died.”
    “Really? By whom?”
    “Lady Winningham. It seems she couldn’t sleep, and she had just stepped in the hallway on her way down to the library to fetch something to read when she saw Isabel going into Eddie’s room. She claims she was so shocked she simply ducked back into her room and never made it down to find a book.”
    “You overheard all of this while you were lurking, as you say, outside the east wing parlor?”
    Nicholas nodded.
    She paused a moment, collecting her thoughts. “Did Lady Winningham see Isabel leave Eddie ’s room?”
    “Apparently not.”
    “And did she say whether or not she carried anything? A long scarf, for example, or a knife?”
    “She didn ’t mention it.”
    “So Isabel could have been going to his room for a lover ’s tryst.”
    Nicholas shrugged. “I suppose that ’s possible.”
    “And Isabel,” Alexandra said. “Has she said anything?”
    Nicholas was about to answer when Nancy entered, carrying a tray of sandwiches, tea, and chocolate biscuits. She placed the items on the table and took a long time arranging them, then stepped back a few steps, waiting.
    “That will be all, Nancy. Thank you.” Alexandra watched as Nancy bowed slightly and walked away, but she sensed an unmistakable reluctance on Nancy’s part. Nancy loved a good story, and the recent goings on at Montmarsh would likely be the best one she’d hear in some time.
    Nicholas waited until Nancy was gone, and then said in a low voice, “Isabel took to her bed immediately after Constable Snow questioned her, and since no one will be allowed to leave for a while, she has sent for her London physician to be fetched to Montmarsh.”
    Alexandra nodded, remembering Isabel ’s remarks about her lack of trust in any physician other than her own personal one. “And no one has spoken to her since?”
    “I tried, but…” Nicholas cleared his throat nervously.
    “But what?”
    “Well, you see, I thought I would steal away to her room and interview her since she and I are… Or rather, that is, we have been…” Nicholas stretched his neck as if his collar was too tight, and Alexandra noticed a film of perspiration on his upper lip. “What I ’m trying to say is that we have been…”
    “I know what you ’re trying to say, Nicholas. That you and Mrs. Atewater have been considerably more than friends. That you have been lovers, perhaps.” Alexandra watched as his face went from white to crimson.
    “My dear Dr. Gladstone, I assure you that nothing could be further—”
    “No need to assure me of anything, Nicholas. I have no interest in your personal affairs. Why weren’t you able to interview Mrs. Atewater as you had planned?”
    In spite of Alexandra ’s well practiced detached tone, Nicholas still appeared immensely uncomfortable. “Well, it was rather awkward you see, since Jeremy never left her side.”
    “Jeremy? Mr. Atewater, you mean?”
    “Precisely.”
    “Do you have any reason to believe that Mr. Atewater had knowledge of