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

constable, or to anyone else, at the moment. But neither did she want to re-enter Montmarch Hall. It seemed to want to suffocate her with its atmosphere of gloom and fear.
    Perhaps a short walk in the fresh air would do her good. She’d spied a copse of trees and brush just outside the formal gardens, well away from the stable. The constable’s back was turned to her as she walked, and, with enough good fortune, she would be well into the thicket before he turned around.
    The day had begun to warm already, in spite of the fact that it was not yet noon, so she slipped her shawl from her shoulders and loosened the top button of her frock. By the time she reached the stand of trees, she had begun to relax a little, and her head seemed to clear.
    As she drew closer and allowed herself to be swallowed by the thicket, she became entranced by the landscape. So much of the timber had been cut away from the English countryside that she had come not to expect much more than a smattering of trees. She had never been this deep into the grounds of Montmarsh, however, and had never realized the wooded area was there, redolent with the scent of moss, damp earth, and the scaly-fingered leaves of trees.
    She began to enjoy the novelty of it and to drink in the scent of the oak and beech and to listen to the pipits singing to each other as they flitted from tree to tree. The copse, however, did prove to be quite narrow after all, and in a short time she could see the edge of the thicket. Near the edge, but still hidden in the trees, were the ruins of a stone cottage. Dry branches lay across the top, a dead sacrifice to the long-gone thatched roof. A malignancy of lichen spread over the walls. Yet they still stood in a slowly dissolving rectangle. It had most likely been a workers cottage several hundred years ago, perhaps the lodging of Montmarsh ’s woodcutter or swineherd or some other laborer.
    While Alexandra watched, a dark form passed one of the open square slots that had once been a window. She was startled at first, because the form looked human. But she told herself she must have been mistaken. The light was not good because of the tree shadows, and it would be far more likely to be an animal of some sort that she had seen—a good-sized animal to be sure, perhaps a sheep or a calf, or even a deer.
    She walked closer to the building to have a look, and that’s when she saw the very human eyes staring back at her. The eyes were at once frightened and menacing, and the mouth gaped open with teeth bared as if emitting a silent scream.
    Alexandra wanted to flee back into the woods, or at the very least to turn her eyes away from the creature in the dirty, blood-soaked dress. She did neither. Instead, heart pounding, she took a cautious step forward and managed to speak in a quiet, but trembling voice.
    “Elsie…”
    “Go away . I warn ye, don’t come near.” The girl had found her voice at last, and she backed away as she spoke. Alexandra could see her dirt-streaked hands quivering like something dying.
    “I ’m not going to hurt you, Elsie. Please, let me help.” Alexandra tried to keep her voice low so as not to frighten the girl.
    “I don ’t need none of yer help, and I warned ye once…” Her voice trailed off, and she was shaking with sobs.
    Alexandra took another step forward, and Elsie backed away even more until she was in a cowering squat in a corner, still crying. Alexandra moved to what was left of the doorway. She had to duck her head to step inside onto the earthen floor, and she advanced toward Elsie slowly.
    “Elsie, I know you’re in trouble, but I want to help you. Do you remember me? I took you to your room that night at Montmarsh. I helped you then, and now I want to—”
    “Ye ’ll bring the others here. I know ye will. Them what wants to hang me.” She croaked the words amid sobs, and Alexandra bent down and reached out to touch her frail shoulder. To her surprise, the girl didn’t flinch.