Free A Study in Death (Lady Darby Mystery, A Book 4) by Anna Lee Huber

another—work on the new reform bill several members of Parliament were currently drafting, a leak in the roof at the London town house, a new horse he wanted to take a look at for his stables. Chances were that he would be gone before I even came downstairs the next morning.
    “Good night,” he said with a tight smile before closing the door.
    I gazed at the hard wood a moment longer before turning toward Alana’s door a dozen feet away. The space between them suddenly seemed much farther, and it was growing wider every day.



CHAPTER 8
    I spent the next morning scouring the shelves of Philip’s study for information on poisons and any other medical knowledge that might be pertinent to Lady Drummond’s death. Unfortunately, Philip’s collection of books in his Edinburgh home was not as extensive as his vast library at Gairloch Castle. I suspected I would have to make a visit to Dr. Renshaw at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to uncover the information I sought. Dr. Renshaw had been my late husband’s apprentice during the early months of our marriage, and had assisted Gage and me during an inquiry we conducted late the previous year. I hoped he would be willing to help me again, or at least grant me access to the Royal College’s library so that I might find the answers I sought myself.
    I decided it would be best if I approached the Royal College with a letter of introduction from Philip, in case I had difficulty gaining admittance to speak with Dr. Renshaw. I’d learned to be wary of medical men’s reactions to me. Thanks to my famous and infamous late anatomist husband, most of them knew my name, and some, like Dr. Davis, did not respond kindly. Others, like Dr. Fenwick, bore me no grudge. I’d discovered there was no way of predicting how eachphysician or surgeon would react, but a letter of introduction from an earl always helped.
    If only Philip were here to provide one.
    As anticipated, he was absent this morning. I swallowed my worry and annoyance and jotted off a message to request the letter I needed, and left it on his desk for him to find when he returned.
    Alana was asleep, so I decided it would be a good time to call on Lady Rachel Radcliffe. I hoped she might have some useful information for me, but if nothing else, the lively widow was sure to distract me from my other concerns.
    And I needed distraction. Gage was out questioning chemists, while Bree, whom I’d ostensibly given the morning off, would be doing her best to arrange a chance encounter with Lady Drummond’s maid. Between my fear over my sister’s health, Philip’s distant demeanor, and my anxieties over the investigation, it was no surprise I felt tense. Add to that the fact that I’d promised to attend the Inverleith Ball with Gage that night, when I dreaded most society events, and it was a wonder I hadn’t retreated to my art studio and refused to come out.
    I realized I was calling at an hour that was earlier than etiquette allowed, but Lady Rachel graciously agreed to receive me anyway, having her majordomo lead me up to the intimate parlor attached to her bedchamber. The room was decorated in shades of emerald green, ivory, and gold, from the gilded mirror over the hearth to the chintz upholstery on the furniture. With its rich fabrics and plush pillows, it was the perfect balance of cozy and sumptuous.
    Lady Rachel rose from her fainting couch, still draped in a lavender blue dressing gown with a high collar and exquisite embroidery. Her hair was half-dressed, with dark ringlets pinned around her crown and falling down her back. I could appreciate the effort she was making to appear her normal elegant self, even though her eyes were puffy and rimmed in bright red and her skin was ashen and swollen from extensive crying.
    “Lady Darby! How good of you to call on me.” She took my hand, guiding me to sit beside her.
    “Thank you for seeing me at such an early hour.”
    “But, of course.” She turned to her