A Dark Anatomy Read Online Free Page B

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    â€˜Then it shall be mine also. It was indelicate of me to refer to a pun of Shakespeare’s, even though it is one of his better ones. Please tell me all you know about the matter.’
    While Sarah Brockletower rocked without stopping I gave an outline of what I had seen in the Fulwood less than an hour earlier. When I finished she again brought her chair to rest, struck by a thought.
    â€˜Then my sister-in-law killed herself.’
    â€˜No woman cuts her throat.’
    â€˜No womanly woman, perhaps. But the rough-riding hoyden that married my brother might have.’
    â€˜We found no knife or razor beside her. I left some people searching around, though I do not think they will find one. Do you have any particular reason to believe Mrs Brockletower wanted to take her own life?’
    â€˜None at all. Dolores and I hardly spoke. We were not sympathique to each other.’
    â€˜So when did you last see … I beg your pardon, when were you last with her?’
    â€˜Indirectly, yesterday. She was very angry about something. I sent my maid Honor down to say I had a headache and would
she be so kind as to stop banging around in the hall and screeching at the dogs.’
    â€˜Why was Mrs Brockletower angry?’
    â€˜I don’t know. There seemed no reason, though my message must have exacerbated it.’
    â€˜Then why did you send it down?’
    She smiled like a person tickled by a harmless jest.
    â€˜I had a headache, truthfully.’
    â€˜So her anger had no cause in the first place?’
    â€˜Honor wondered if it was a question of the time of the month, but I think not. It is more likely she was irritated by the building works. I never knew Dolores to be untowardly affected by her menses.’
    There was the faintest stirring of my old feeling for her. She had always been fiercely candid about all matters not normally discussed between men and women. It was one of the things I had most liked about her.
    â€˜In any case, you did not in fact speak to her yesterday?’
    â€˜I did not.’
    â€˜Silent meals, then?’
    â€˜Dolores and I did not sit down together when my brother was from home. I took my meals up here.’
    â€˜Why is that?’
    â€˜She and I both preferred it. We are – were – of different humours, you see.’
    â€˜So Mrs Brockletower did not communicate with you at all yesterday?’
    â€˜No. She did not.’
    â€˜And it was usual, this silence between you?’
    â€˜When Ramilles is not here, yes. As I said, she and I had little to say to each other in the ordinary way.’
    â€˜Did she not even read to you in the evening?’

    Sarah gave out a faint snort of derision.
    â€˜Read? I doubt she was able, unless it was a horse catalogue. ’
    â€˜And on Sunday? Did she attend church?’
    â€˜She did not. I went alone with my maid Honor.’
    â€˜Was it usual for her to avoid church?’
    â€˜No. My brother preferred that she go, but when he is not here …’ Sarah shrugged. ‘My sister-in-law was not the godliest of women.’
    â€˜No,’ I said, thinking of Miriam Patten’s words. ‘So I have heard.’
    At this point I stood. It was time to get along, and it did not seem that I would gain much from further questions.
    â€˜I wish I could stay longer, Sarah, but I have much to do. If all goes well, the inquest will be tomorrow. Will you attend?’
    â€˜Is that an enquiry, or an instruction?’
    â€˜Let’s say a request. I may wish to call you as a witness, you know.’
    She sighed.
    â€˜Then I must be there, mustn’t I?’
    As I closed the door behind me I thought that, though grief has many faces, Sarah Brockletower was not wearing any of them. The fate of her sister-in-law appeared to have touched her as little as that of a fly.
    I walked the length of the landing, turning each doorhandle and peering through until I came to Dolores