From the Ashes

Chapter Thirty-three

"But I want to stay with you," Juliana pleaded.

"It is not safe for you here. Especially dressed as you are. I need to wrap things up here and then I promise we can all go home," Richard told her.

"We will exchange our carriage for one that can accommodate all of us, and meet you there," Cyril told him.

"I will keep them busy. I want you to move to one of the adjoining rooms. Once I have returned to Mother's room, get downstairs and out of here as quickly as you can," Richard said to Cyril.

"Lord Bentley?" she called again.

"Coming!" He shouted.

"I will be but moments behind you," he reassured Juliana, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, before leaving the room.

"It is for the best," Cyril added pulling Juliana into a different room.

"Thank you, Doctor, for coming so quickly but I fear the patient has expired. I would however like your opinion as to the cause of death."

"Hmmm, not for me to say really," the elderly gentleman said, "best to get a coroner here."

"She seemed to have been medicating herself. Could you at least take a look at the bottles and let me know if perhaps an overdose or tell me if a combination of the pills and Laudanum could be lethal?" Richard asked and the man took pity on him, he obviously was distressed, looking for answers.

"I will take a look."

Cyril kept his ear at the door. Once he heard them enter the room. He took Juliana's hand and led her out of the house and back into the street. They collected their carriage and headed for the nearest stable.

The doctor looked over the bottle of Laudanum. "When did she purchase this?"

Richard looked expectantly at the servant girl, "Uh, um y-yesterday I think?" the girl said nervously.

The doctor sighed, "Nearly a quarter gone already." It frustrated him more and more people were being killed by these so-called "remedies and tinctures" created in the marketplace more women than men developing an addiction to the opium, taking more than they need.

"Truth is Lord Bentley any and all of these drugs could have led to her demise." The doctor approached the bed and checked her for a pulse. Lord Bentley was right she was indeed lost to them. He shook his head, "I am seeing more and more of it, especially among women who are subject to fits and vapours, such a fit of nerves can be calmed with such medication but truthfully she ought to have been under a doctor's care."

"Thank you for your time, and input," Richard said, "Let my servant know what I owe you and I will be sure to settle up before we leave."

At this moment the young girl's head shot up. His servant? Leave? Leave where? She did not question but instead walked the Doctor down the stairs.

"Let Lord Bentley know I will have the coroner sent by," he said right before taking his leave.

She did not have to repeat his statement for when she shut the door, Richard was at the top of the stair, staring at her in such a way that gave her the shivers.

Slowly he approached her and she was too scared to move. "I want answers," Richard said ominously, "and I expect you to give them to me."

She just slowly nodded.

Richard saw how the girl shook and immediately reigned in his temper. "You are not in trouble, child. I just need to know what happened here. Any information you can give me, any at all, may help me resolve some very important issues. Please?"

He led her to the parlor and sat her down, taking a chair across from her.

"Where is the rest of the staff?" Richard began.

"Gone, sir. Let go, a few days ago," she said staring at her hands that were folded in her lap.

"By whose orders?"

"Lady Catherine's."

"Why did she leave you?" Richard asked.

"She did not trust anyone else. I am her chambermaid. I have been with Lady Catherine on many occasions when she visits Bath. She always requests me. Sir? May I speak openly?"

"I wish you would," Richard said.

"Three days ago I brought her a letter. I do not know what it contained but from that moment everything changed. She let go of most of the servants. She locked up the house, checking every door and every window to be certain she did not leave one open. Her behavior became erratic, almost paranoid that someone was coming, someone who wanted to harm her."

"I am so sorry, Sir," and the young woman began to cry.

"Why are you sorry?" Richard asked.

"I bought them for her. She would not leave the house and was getting increasingly more agitated, I did not know what else to do. I know several of the ladies I serve use them to calm their nerves. I only thought to help her. I did not know... had I known..." and she wept openly now.

Richard crossed the room and took her hands in his. "Hush, now. You could not have known. You are not a doctor and left her to administer to herself. It was not your fault she took more than she needed. Lady Catherine was not even aware, I do not believe she wished to die. What I know of my stepmother is that she is a fighter. Always looking out for herself. So, whatever was in that letter is the cause of her demise, not you."

The young woman looked at Richard, unshed tears still gleaming in her eyes. She was so grateful he did not hold her to blame. Then her eyes widened. "The letter!" she said suddenly jumping up from the chair.

"You know where it is?" Richard asked feeling a sudden rush of excitement. He may get answers yet.

"No," she said, "but your mother entrusted to me a letter. A letter she meant for you should anything happen to her."

The girl rushed from the room. Richard could hear her rummage through her belongings and then she raced back down the stairs again. Stopping at the bottom stair, handing the sealed envelope to him.

Richard took it from her. What could contain? What had his stepmother in such a state that she thought to write him while fearing for her life? Well, there was only one way to tell. He opened the letter.