Free Medium Dead: An Alexandra Gladstone Mystery by Paula Paul Page A

Nicholas sounded indignant. “In fact, I’m quite sure you must be mistaken about seeing Lady Forsythe.”
    “I am not mistaken.” Snow’s voice was firm, his face perpetually unsmiling. “It was, without a doubt, Lady Forsythe whom I saw digging in the dirt at the top of the grave.”
    Nicholas almost rose from his chair. “Digging in the dirt? MaMa, digging in the dirt? I think not.” He chuckled uneasily. “You obviously are mistaken, and you certainly don’t know my mother. She is so fastidious she would never—”
    “I told you, I am not mistaken. I am quite certain,” Snow said, raising his voice slightly. Alexandra was familiar with his technique. He’d used it when either she or Nancy spoke out of turn when they were his students. It worked with Nicholas as well as it had worked with the two of them. Nicholas could only stare at the constable in disbelief and without speaking. “I am certain, and I am alarmed,” Snow continued. “The gravesite is a crime scene. It was cordoned off with ropes, and a sign was posted clearly stating that no one was to be allowed to go beyond the ropes and that anyone caught trespassing would be arrested. I was there at the particular hour that Lady Forsythe was there because it is my duty to patrol the area.”
    “Why didn’t you arrest her immediately?” Nicholas sounded angry.
    “I told you,” Snow said in his cold voice, “I am hired to keep the peace. It would not do for Her Ladyship to be arrested, as I’m sure you know. The repercussions in a small parish such as ours would be enormous. And, I might add, given Her Ladyship’s standing and position, the reaction in London would be equally alarming, as well as detrimental to her name.”
    Nicholas appeared temporarily nonplussed. “Quite so,” he said finally.
    “Therefore,” Snow continued, “in the interest of peace and decorum, it would serve all of us well if you will tell me why Her Ladyship was at the scene and disobeying the law.”
    “As I told you before, I have no answer,” Nicholas said.
    “And you, Dr. Gladstone?”
    “I don’t understand why you think I would be privy to Lady Forsythe’s motives regarding anything,” Alexandra said.
    “You were at her home earlier today.” Snow’s voice was one mark away from scolding.
    “Yes. To see to her medical needs,” Alexandra answered.
    “Perhaps she confided in you,” Snow said.
    “Only regarding the state of her health,” Alexandra said, matching Snow’s icy tone, “and as I’m sure you know, I am bound by the ethics of my profession not to divulge that to anyone.”
    “Very well,” Snow said as he rose to his feet. “I had hoped to avoid it, but I have no choice but to summon Lady Forsythe here for questioning.”
    Nicholas stood also. “My mother is not well. She cannot leave Montmarsh.”
    “She was well enough to leave Montmarsh and go to the graveyard.”
    “You have no proof that she—”
    “I saw her myself, my lord.” Snow’s voice still had a sharp tone, but his shoulders relaxed slightly, and he seemed to back away from Nicholas. “I share your concern, my lord. Regardless of her physical condition, it would do neither the village nor your family any good to have her ladyship brought in for questioning.”
    Nicholas also relaxed somewhat. “Of course not.”
    “Nevertheless, it’s my duty to question her,” Snow added. “Unfortunately, I was denied entry to Montmarsh, where the matter could have been handled discreetly, at least in the initial stage.”
    Nicholas was silent for a moment, but he didn’t move his gaze from Snow’s face. “I see,” he said. “So that is what this was about all along. It was a ploy to gain entrance to Montmarsh.”
    “Not at all.” Now that he had the advantage, Snow had relaxed considerably. “It was my hope that one or both of you could provide a reasonable explanation.”
    “All right,” Nicholas said after another brief silence. “I will see that you are