Gene of Isis

‘My dear woman—’

‘Whatever is in there, Lord Granville, I can assure you I have seen infinitely worse,’ the Dowager Countess said briskly. ‘I believe my line of work makes me more qualified to deal with the macabre than either of you two gentlemen.’

‘My aunt has a valid point,’ said Lord Cavandish, supporting his aunt’s plea, even as he looked over his shoulder at the dead man lying on the floor with all manner of surgical instruments extruding from his body. ‘Kings and dukes have consulted Aunt Charlotte on many delicate matters. It might be advisable to do the same in this instance.’

My father relented, opening the door only wide enough for the Dowager Countess to enter and then closed it behind them, leaving Nanny Beat to pace in the dim stairwell.

What has happened? I very much wanted to hug my poor Nanny and reassure her.

All is well, advised my celestial guardian. You’ll see.

I awoke to see many worried faces lighten in relief; even my father seemed pleased to see me. He asked me how I was feeling. Did I remember anything?

‘I remember being taken to Dr Rosen’s tower,’ I replied, rather more unshaken than everyone had expected. My father seemed broken by this news.

‘Can you tell us what happened after that, Miss Granville?’ A new face was looming over the top of those of my father, Nanny Beat and Lord Cavandish.

‘This is Constable Forester,’ my father explained. ‘He is here to investigate what took place in Dr Rosen’s surgery this afternoon.’

The constable’s presence was most comforting to me and to the troubled spirits still hovering close by, waiting for an end to their plight; here was someone willing and able to investigate this tragedy.

I related to the constable how I had been taken to the tower and strapped to a table—just as if I’d been conscious the entire time. ‘Dr Rosen had been threatening to give me a private consultation, ever since we met.’

‘And did he examine you?’ the constable asked.

‘No.’ My reply brought much joy to my gathered friends. ‘The news of his imminent death had Dr Rosen preoccupied. He was consumed with fear for his eternal soul.’ I did as I’d been taught was best—I lied. It was surprising how easily the fabrication fell out of my mouth, almost as if it had been scripted and rehearsed. ‘The doctor said that he had an unnatural obsession with children and that he had murdered any of his patients who resisted his advances.’

My audience gasped and their faces became pale and shocked again, but not the constable.

‘Do you have any proof to substantiate these grave allegations?’

‘Indeed.’ The ghostly children had left a psychic memory, an impression in my mind, to let me know where the evidence lay. ‘Dr Rosen left a map of the asylum graveyard.’

The young constable held up a piece of paper upon which there were drawn many squares, some crossed through and some not.

I nodded. ‘The Xs mark where Dr Rosen’s victims lie. You’ll find all of them have a broken neck. Check the medical records, for that was not their reported cause of death.’

‘What happened after the doctor confessed to you?’ The constable was having trouble digesting my explanation. How to avoid the evident conclusion that the doctor had butchered himself in a fit of madness?

‘Dr Rosen made me take some medication and I fell asleep,’ I concluded neatly.

The constable thought over my words.

‘Well, thank you for your assistance, Miss Granville.’ He scratched his cheek as he considered the nightmarish investigation he was facing and how it might best be avoided. ‘Lord Suffolk, if I could have a word with you outside.’ My father agreed and followed Forester into the corridor.

I had been placed in one of the asylum’s private rooms, which was much more presentable than the one I’d spent the past few days in.

‘I was so worried, Mistress.’ Nanny finally got to express her relief at my good health, and caressed my hand affectionately.

‘How did you get papa to come?’ As Nanny was the only one who cared if I lived or died, I assumed it must have been her prompting that brought my father to my rescue, though I couldn’t imagine how.

‘Not I.’ Nanny motioned to Lord Cavandish, who was standing close by.

I smiled as the Earl of Derby came forward and bowed graciously to me, then knelt at my bedside and took my hand in his.

‘My dear Miss Granville. I am completely in your debt for the lives of my family and the future of my peerage. After rescuing my family, I returned to Suffolk to thank you in person, only to discover that you had been punished for your actions on my behalf. Upon realising his error, your father agreed to accompany me at once to see to your release.’

My smile broadened as I noticed the heaviness had lifted from the earl’s heart. ‘You also have your brother to thank for your deliverance, my lord, for it was only his persistent desire to make amends that has removed the knife from your heart.’

‘It is true,’ he conceded. ‘However, my brother had a great deal of help from you. And I fully intend to reward you.’ The earl stood. ‘May I introduce my aunt, the Dowager Countess Cavandish.’

And so it was that I met the most important influence on my young life.

‘It is an honour…’ I attempted to raise myself, but could not.