The Ghost of Christmas Past Read Online Free

Albert.”  Elizabeth winced at her
aunt’s callous words. Lady Bedlington continued, “Albert has been in a
sanatorium for many years. Completely out of his mind. His young wife was so
distraught, she took her own life.”
    “Albert
Sanderson’s wife, you mean?”
    “Yes,
that is what I meant. Pay attention! My husband, Lord Bedlington, knew the
family well. His daughter from his first marriage … you remember my
step-daughter Cassandra?” Elizabeth nodded, vaguely remembering a pale, slender
woman with sad eyes. “She was in love with Albert Sanderson and they planned to
marry, but your uncle forbade it because Sanderson was so clearly beneath her.
Oh she is a tiresome girl. She never comes to see me. Lives on our Devon estate
in a tiny cottage, and writes books. She is an old maid now of course.
Thirty-three years old. She shall never marry. That’s what happens when one
goes and falls for the lower classes. Men of breeding are more reluctant to
offer marriage. It really was very clumsy of her.”
    “So
she wasn’t the one who committed suicide.” Elizabeth was getting sorely
confused.
    “Good
Lord, no. Honestly child, you have met her, have you not? So she could hardly
be dead. She may be tiresome, but Bedlingtons are made of stronger stock than
that! It was Lucinda, Albert Sanderson's young bride, who took her own life.”
    “Lucinda!
Mr. Sanderson said that name. He said he’d seen her.”
    “Nonsense.
He can’t have. She’s dead. Now, can we please stop talking about such
distressing subjects? Ah, Doctor Wheston, you’ve arrived.”
    Elizabeth
spun around, to see Doctor Wheston, and his friend, Liam Doubleday. She
wondered how long they had been standing at the boudoir door.
    “Miss
Dearheart,” said Liam Doubleday, nodding his head in her direction. She bowed
her own head and blushed a little.
    “Who
is this?” asked Lady Bedlington.
    “This
is my friend and colleague, Doctor Doubleday,” said Doctor Wheston. “I hope you
don’t mind me asking him to accompany me, Lady Bedlington but he has a special
interest in cases like yours.”
    “What
I have is incurable,” said Lady Bedlington. “Doctors before you have tried and
they have all failed to find the reason for my malady.”
    “I
have no doubt you’re right,” said Liam. “You are beyond medical help.” There
was something in the wry way he said it and the slight curve at the corners of
his mouth that made Elizabeth want to laugh.
    “Well
I am not in the mood to be poked and prodded by a stranger, Doctor Doubleday. I
have had quite enough facing interrogation by my great niece this morning.
Elizabeth, take Doctor Doubleday to the kitchen and offer him a hot drink,
whilst Doctor Wheston and I attend to our business.”
    “Very
well, Aunt Arabella.” Elizabeth looked at Liam apologetically, but it was clear
he found her aunt amusing rather than offensive.  She went to the door, and as
she opened it her aunt called out,
    “You
need not return to see me, Elizabeth. However, you may invite those prattling
sisters to dinner at Bedlington Hall on Monday evening. Your father and brother
too. Tell the constable I expect his presence.” Given what Lady Bedlington had
said about having policemen in the house, Elizabeth was surprised, but she did
not argue. Her aunt was known to be capricious. “Doctor Wheston,” said Lady
Bedlington, “you, your wife and your colleague will join us.”
    The
invitations were couched as a command rather than a request. Elizabeth began to
suspect that like the sisters, her aunt had become enthralled with the recent
murder and wanted to know more details. Especially as it now seemed she had
known the man. “I believe you attended the murdered man yesterday, Doctor
Wheston. You can tell me all about it on Monday night. At this moment in time I
am more concerned about my own health.”
    Elizabeth
led Liam Doubleday down to the kitchen. The servants were about other business,
which meant they had the