The Anatomist's Wife Read Online Free

Gage’s pale blue ones. Philip’s brogue had deepened, as I’d noticed it often did when
     he was tired. Like most aristocratic Scots, his accent had been educated out of him,
     until he sounded like any upper-class Englishman. But on nights like the one when
     Alana had nursed their son, Malcolm, through a dangerous fever while Philip and I
     sat up waiting for news, by morning his accent was as thick as any Highlander’s.
    I thought about arguing, but seeing my brother-in-law’s obvious fatigue and the warm
     regard with which he looked upon me, I decided to obey. Things could not be so bad
     if he still viewed me in such a manner. Philip might have a seat in the House of Lords,
     but he could never be duplicitous. Unlike Mr. Gage. From all I’d witnessed, deceit
     and charm seemed the hallmarks of his trade.
    “In any case, whether they like it or not, I’ve delivered my instructions.” Philip
     propped one leg up on the corner of his desk and scraped a hand down his face, bristling
     over the stubble beginning to show there. “Now let’s hope they can remain calm and
     keep their heads about them until the procurator fiscal from Inverness arrives.” He
     sounded doubtful that was possible.
    “Speaking of which, do you know where Lady Godwin’s family lives?” he asked his wife.
     “I dinna think I’ve ever heard the lady speak of her kin. I sent a letter to be posted
     to Lord Godwin with the servants riding for Inverness, but who knows how long it’ll
     take to reach him in India.”
    She tilted her head in thought. “She asked me to send a footman to meet the mail coach
     in Drumchork this morning with a letter for her sister.”
    I glanced at Alana in curious surprise. Lady Godwin must have been quite eager for
     that letter to reach her sister if she’d asked Alana to send a footman especially
     to meet the mail coach.
    “I believe the girl lives in . . . Shropshire?” She shook her head in frustration.
     “Perhaps the footman will remember the letter’s exact direction.”
    “’Tis no matter.” Philip shrugged. “I’m sure one of the other guests will know if
     the footman can’t recall. Mr. Gage can ask them about it.”
    “Ah, yes, I heard you say you’ve asked Mr. Gage to begin an inquiry of his own into
     the matter.” Alana examined the man before us with the same curiosity I felt. “Have
     you conducted many inquiries, Mr. Gage?” Her tone was laced with light curiosity,
     but I knew my sister nursed the same skepticism I did.
    I pressed my hands against my thighs, rumpling the fine Parisian-blue muslin between
     my fingers, grateful she had voiced the same question I had been struggling not to
     ask.
    Mr. Gage, meanwhile, appeared perfectly at ease in his dark evening clothes, leaning
     against the wall near the window, his arms crossed over his chest. “I have assisted
     my father many times.”
    Alana glanced at me. We both knew what that meant.
    Mr. Gage’s face twisted subtly in irritation before smoothing out. “I assure you,
     I am more than capable of handling this investigation. You ladies have nothing to
     worry about.”
    I was not fast enough to suppress my snort and was forced to raise my hand to my mouth
     and cough to try to cover it. Mr. Gage was not fooled, for his brow darkened.
    “Are you all right?” Philip asked, raising a single eyebrow in chastisement.
    “Of course,” I replied, glancing at Alana, who was studying the red and white floral
     pattern on her goldenrod skirts intensely. I suspected she was trying not to laugh.
    “Good. Because I have a favor to ask of you.”
    My eyes jumped back to my brother-in-law. My back stiffened when I saw his troubled
     frown. Whatever the favor was, Philip did not like asking it.
    I swallowed carefully before nodding for him to continue.
    “I’ve asked Mr. Gage to conduct the investigation, but I would like you to assist
     him.”
    My eyes widened.
    “What?” Mr. Gage exclaimed, straightening from his