Free Half a Mind TO Murder (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone Mysteries Book 3) by Paula Paul Page A

“But there should be,” she added in a voice so drained it was barely audible.
    Nancy leaned closer. “Should be, you say? Now why would you want to be taking on such a burden? Didn’t your father always warn you of trying to make yourself God because of your talents and training?” Her voice was scolding.
    “ If madness is a physical illness…” Alexandra spoke more to herself than Nancy, and her eyes were focused on something in another sphere.
    Nancy pulled back from her. “Now don’t be getting into that old argument with yourself,” she said. “’Tis nonsense.” She stood and busied herself with clearing the table. “All those doctors in London and America insisting that madness can be cured with the right medicine if only science could provide it. Why ’tis madness itself to think that way. Insanity is not like a carbuncle that can be cured with a poultice of poppy seeds. ’Tis in the mind where only God can go. Not in the brain, which man can manipulate with a bit of belladonna. Besides, we don’t even know who is committing all these murders, so how could you cure him even if such a thing were possible? Now you go on up to your room and sleep. You’ll forget such nonsense, you’ll see. You’ll be yourself again with a bit of rest.”
    “ Nancy, you don’t understand. I—”
    “ Now, now,” Nancy said, grasping her shoulders and helping her stand. “Not another word from you, Miss, until you’ve had your rest. You want to be in good form for your trip to London on Saturday, don’t you? Yes, of course you do. Now up the stairs and into bed you go. Zack, be a good dog and see that she stays there.”
    Alexandra couldn ’t summon the energy to protest against Nancy’s bossy manner. Neither could she manage to form the words to ask why she was going to London on Saturday, because Nancy kept up her patronizing chatter all the way up the stairs and all the while she was helping her change into her nightgown. By the time she’d left, Alexandra could do nothing except fall into bed and be grateful that she could no longer hear her impertinent assistant.
    She fell asleep quickly, but within four hours she was awake. It was her habit to allow herself only a few hours of sleep in the morning after she ’d been up all night with a patient, so she could more readily return to a normal sleep pattern. She was up in time for the light lunch Nancy prepared, and she ate hurriedly so she would be finished in time to open her surgery for regular hours. Nancy had been right—a bit of rest had done wonders for her. Her body had lost its weight of weariness, and her mind had cleared.
    “ You’re looking much better, Miss,” Nancy said when she saw Alexandra. “Ready for a good day’s work, are you?”
    “ Quite so, Nancy.”
    “ You know, Miss, I’ve been thinking,” Nancy said as she cleared the table. “It may be I was a bit peevish when I saw how efficient Polly is at everything.”
    Alexandra glanced at her with surprise. Nancy was not one to readily admit her shortcomings.
    “ I just can’t stop thinking of her working as a charwoman in the tavern,” Nancy said as if to explain her unusual behavior. “And anyway, truth is she could possibly be a great help to me while you’re in London. She can tend to the kitchen while I take care of patients. Perhaps we could look at that period of time you’re in London as an opportunity to determine whether a permanent part-time arrangement will be satisfactory for her as well as for me. For you, I mean,” Nancy continued with her kitchen work and spoke with her back to Alexandra.
    “ I hadn’t thought of it, but perhaps a probationary period would be in order,” Alexandra said, realizing how hard Nancy was working at being fair. “I’ve decided against going to London, but that doesn’t mean I can’t hire Polly for a trial period.” Alexandra had remembered she’d planned to attend a lecture on infection and the germ theory of disease, a