Free Medicine and Manners #2 by Paula Paul

can’t imagine why Deputy Poole hasn’t arrived,” Nicholas said.
    “Perhaps he’s not coming,” Judith said. “Perhaps this meeting was not meant to be.”
    “I’m afraid I don’t believe in predestination,” Nicholas said. “If he doesn’t show up this time, we’ll make it happen eventually.”
    Judith gave him a troubled look, but before she could respond, Stokes came in with an announcement.
    “Deputy Daniel Poole is here to see you, my lord.”
    “Of course,” Nicholas said. “Show him in.”
    Deputy Poole was a short, stocky man, the exact opposite of the tall, slender Constable Snow. He lacked Snow’s taciturn aloofness as well, and entered the room appearing awkward and uncomfortable. He seemed surprised, perhaps even alarmed, to see the two women in the room with Lord Dunsford.
    “Oh!” he said, twisting his cap in his hands.
    “Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, Miss Judith Payne, may I present Deputy Daniel Poole,” Nicholas said.
    “How do you do?” Alexandra said.
    Judith didn’t speak, and Deputy Poole seemed equally dumbstruck.
    “Please have a seat, Deputy Poole,” Nicholas said, pointing to a chair. “The ladies have something to discuss with you.”
    “I’m not up to this, my lord.” Poole looked even more uncomfortable than he had when he’d first arrived. “I’m just filling in till a constable gets here. I told you, I know nothing of the business of Parliament.”
    “Yes, you made that same confession to me earlier, and I apologize for insisting that you come anyway. You’ll be relieved to learn that the matter to be discussed has nothing to do with the business of Parliament after all,” Nicholas said.
    Deputy Poole’s discomfort was growing incrementally, and Alexandra noticed that Judith’s face had become alarmingly white. She managed only a slight flush when she realized everyone was looking at her.
    “Tell the deputy what you told us,” Nicholas prompted.
    Judith hesitated a little longer before she managed to speak. “I…I know who killed those men.”
    Deputy Poole’s eyes widened. “What men?”
    The deputy’s response had surprised and confused everyone, but none more than Judith. She glanced first at Alexandra and then at Nicholas before she answered in an uncertain tone, “The men of the brotherhood. The Freemasons.”
    “You’re speaking of Jeremy Fitzsimmons and Saul Mayhew?” Poole asked.
    Judith gave the other two in the room another uncertain glance and said, “Of course.”
    “What makes you think they were murdered?”
    Judith looked as if she might burst into tears. “Why, because…because everyone knows they were. The way they died, everyone says it must have been murder.”
    “It is simply not true that everyone knows the men were murdered,” Poole said, his face flushing to an unattractive hue. “I, for one, know no such thing. Since the investigation isn’t complete, no conclusions have been made on the part of law enforcement.”
    “But you should know! It was my father who killed them.” Judith had stood and all but shouted her words, growing more and more agitated by the second.
    “Your father?” Poole asked. “You have some reason to be so angry with your father that you would accuse him of murder?”
    “He…he…” Judith collapsed to the floor, and Alexandra rushed to her side.
    “My medical bag is with my cloak. Fetch it now!” Alexandra said, speaking to both Nicholas and the deputy. “I’ll need a basin of water and a cloth!”
    Nicholas produced the bag, and Stokes showed up in short order with a basin of water and a cloth. Alexandra pulled a vial of smelling salts from her bag to pass under Judith’s nose.
    “I say, why are you so reluctant to believe the young woman?” Nicholas asked with a sharp hint of anger in his voice. “I should think you’d be glad for any help you can get in this matter.”
    “I’m quite used to dealing with overwrought young women, my lord,” Poole said. “I have three