Free Whispers of Bedlam Asylum (Sigmund Shaw Book 2) by Mark C. King Page B

we here, Mr. Thursby?” he asked.
     
    “This woman has suffered a burn on her forearm.”
     
    Doctor Exton sighed and asked, “Mr. Pegg?”
     
    Mr. Thursby, nodded in answer.
     
    Could this not be discussed later? thought Charlotte, her arm starting to throb.
     
    Addressing Charlotte, Doctor Exton said, “Please have a seat, my dear. Let’s take a look at that arm.”
     
    He indicated a small bed for her and she sat on its thin cushion. The doctor carefully lifted her arm and examined it closely. She smelled peppermint on his breath as he said, “Please accept my apologies for this, my dear. We don’t all view our patients as Mr. Pegg does.” Without releasing her arm, he reached over to the counter and pulled a jar off of it. Inside the jar was some kind of ointment that smelled a bit like tea. He put some on his fingers and gently applied it to her wound. The touch hurt and she winced, but the ointment had a cooling affect.
     
    “This should help some.” Exton said. “Does that feel a little better?”
     
    Charlotte didn’t speak, just nodded. Her arm still hurt but the pain was much more tolerable.
     
    “Now, just wait a moment while I put a bandage on it. You are fortunate. It looks as if Mr. Pegg didn’t get much time with you.”
     
    This is fortunate? How far would he have gone?
     
    While the doctor was rummaging through his cabinets, Mr. Thursby, the orderly, knelt in front of Charlotte and asked, “Your name, miss?”
     
    Charlotte looked blankly over his shoulder and said nothing.
     
    He maneuvered his face so that he could make eye contact with her. His smile was kind and reassuring. The dark brown eyes that looked at her seemed small as his smile caused them to squint. His dress was similar to the other orderly, although much cleaner.
     
    He asked again, “Miss, I am very sorry for what happened. I will not let it happen again. I am Mr. Thursby. May I please have your name?”
     
    Charlotte looked back into his eyes, blinked a few times as if realizing for the first time that someone was in front of her, and said with a small voice, “Charlotte Caine, sir.”
     
    “Miss Caine, do you know where you are?”
     
    Not knowing how far she should carry her performance, she decided to keep it simple. “Home,” she replied.
     
    Mr. Thursby rested his chin on his hand. She was being examined once again. Was this the life of a patient, endless judgment? It made sense, but was not something she had anticipated. It would make for an interesting part of her article – not as interesting, however, as her arm being set on fire.
     
    Doctor Exton started to gently wrap her injury while Thursby kept considering her. After her arm was completely bandaged, Mr. Thursby said, “Well, you are a bit of a mystery to me, Miss Caine, but I think this is the home for you. We are going to visit Mrs. Rathbone. She will find you a place.”
     
    Another test passed , thought Charlotte.
     
    “Come with me, please.” Mr. Thursby stood up and held his hand out in an invitation to exit the room. “We will find Mrs. Rathbone and see about a bed. Thank you, Doctor Exton.”
     
    “Of course. It is why I’m here,” he sat back down and returned to reading his paper.
     
    Charlotte walked out the door and waited for Mr. Thursby to lead the way. She couldn’t help but stare at the patients once more before reluctantly turning and following the orderly as he exited the double doors and entered the lobby once again. He led her to the left stairway and said, “I think we will find her near our community area.”
     
    He walked up the stairs at a leisurely pace, not rushing Charlotte at all. “My apologies for the cold, Miss Caine,” Mr. Thursby commented. “This is a rather old building and does not heat very well.”
     
    Charlotte didn’t respond, just kept following him up the stairs and to the second level. Was it cold? She couldn’t feel anything beyond her arm. At the second floor landing, there