The Hunt (A Case for Frey & McGray) Read Online Free Page B

it,’ Lady Anne grunted, returning to her seat. ‘That old nag is not to be trusted. The beating I’ll give her when we return –’
    ‘Don’t!’ Caroline said. ‘I forced her to tell me. It is my fault, I had to be here.’
    ‘You had to be here!’ Lady Anne mocked. ‘Whatever for?’
    ‘
He is my father!
’ It was then that a single tear rolled down Caroline’s cheek, but Lady Anne simply downed another sip of spirit.
    Dr Clouston ignored the usual formalities and gently placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder. ‘Pray, calm down, Miss Ardglass. Have a seat.’
    She took a step towards the remaining chair, but then shook her head. ‘No – no, I need to see him.’ She looked up at Clouston with imploring eyes. ‘Please, Doctor, where is he?’
    Clouston looked at Lady Anne.
    ‘The second bedroom,’ she said, and Caroline immediately ran to the staircase. Clouston heard her frantic steps above, and then a sudden burst of weeping.
    ‘What a brutal way to treat her at a time like this,’ he said, casting Lady Anne an infuriated look.
    She took another drink, this time from the flask itself, most likely to drown the words she really wanted to utter. Lady Anne was one of the most powerful women in Scotland, unused to having her will or methods questioned by anyone.
    ‘Jed, bring him down.’ She cleared her throat. ‘We have signed the documents; nobody needs to stay here any longer.’ She chuckled bitterly. ‘Not after that scandalous entrance of hers.’
    Jed went upstairs and fetched Lord Ardglass. The poor man was tightly wrapped in a woollen blanket and swayed almost as if he were drunk … or perhaps he’d been purposely intoxicated to keep him docile. Joel was a slender man, like his mother and daughter, and his long face was much like theirs, but tonight he lacked the firm gaze of the two women. Tonight he was a sad, broken figure. Clouston looked at his grey hair and his grimace; the most hopeless expression he’d seen in a long time.
    Caroline came behind them, holding a wadded handkerchief to her mouth to muffle her sobs.
    Joel tilted his head, and after mouthing the words he managed to speak in a dreamy voice. ‘My poor creature … you must love me so much.’
    He caressed Caroline’s face, and she pressed her father’s hand against her skin for an instant, before Jed dragged Lord Ardglass outside. Caroline tried to follow, but Lady Anne grabbed her by the arm.
    ‘He is in good hands now,’ Clouston whispered, but he knew that no words could console the girl at this time. He also knew she would not be allowed to visit her father; no girl of good society could ever be seen at a mental institution. All in the name of propriety.
    ‘I will pay you a visit soon,’ Clouston said as he and Tom walked out. He looked directly into Lady Anne’s eyes. ‘To make sure the girl is all right.’
    The only reply he received was a groan, but it was enough to tell him that Caroline would be left alone. Clouston had gained some power over the mighty Lady Anne – and he would wield it.
    Tom saw that Lord Ardglass was settled comfortably in the carriage and they were soon on their way back, the howling of the hounds fading slowly into the distance.
    The doctor finally relaxed.
    He thought he was through the worst, but he could have never imagined for how long this night would haunt him, how many lives would be wrecked or how many death sentences he had just signed.

1883
24 June
    Adolphus McGray felt the pain long before he noticed the soft rocking of the carriage, before he heard the sound of the horses’ hooves, before the morning light filtered through his eyelids.
    It was a stinging, burning pain in his right hand. Dr Clouston had said it would go away soon, but perhaps he had simply lied. Adolphus would not blame him: the doctor had tried to make things easier, but there were some blows no kind deeds could soften.
    When the carriage finally halted the doctor spoke gently. ‘Adolphus, we’ve