Inspector Ravensgard, Constable McHenry, Jonathan, Mr. McAhmladhson, and Mr. McOwen were gathered in the distillery at the Gentle Sisters. Father Jacob, Mother Sarah, the abbess, and Sister Agatha, the apothecary, were there also.
“Laudanum,” Sister Agatha pronounced firmly. “A very fine grade, too. Many ladies use it for female troubles, headaches and the like. Pennyroyal is a better choice, as long as the woman is not trying to become with child. It is sometimes also used for general pain relief. It can quiet a racking cough or allay the symptoms of dysentery. This has been prepared by a knowledgeable hand, and the cork has kept it clean, even though the outside of the bottle is dirty. Where did you say you found it?”
“Buried in a mound of turf,” Jonathan replied. “Dr. Dermott, I am sure, would have some. Gran’ther Tim, my gardener, keeps some on hand for the days when his bones ache too badly. But if what you say is true, then there is a good chance that someone is smuggling it.”
Sister Agatha nodded. “I know about Gran’ther Tim, and I make the preparations for Dr. Dermott. Gran’ther Tim grows the poppies that we use, which means that we do not have to worry about the purity of the supply. I only make small amounts, since it is wise to restrict use of it.”
Jonathan considered the implications of the quantity he had found, but found his imagination less than equal to the task. “I cannot think why someone would bury it in an old sheep shed. Since both you and Dr. Dermott have it on hand, and Gran’ther Tim keeps it in the poison cabinet in the orangery, there is a sufficient supply for most common needs.”
“That is a very good question,” Father Jacob commented. “It would seem to me that having such a quantity would indicate a desire to do something illicit with the substance. If the shed was set up as a meeting place, it certainly does not bode well. What if this were emptied into the drinking water for the village or castle?”
Sister Agatha considered the possibilities, then she shook her head. “I really don’t think it would have much effect. Even though this is very good quality, if it were dumped into one of the wells it would rapidly disperse because the aquifers are deep and flow swiftly. If it were poured into a wine bottle or even a barrel of beer, then that might have serious consequences.”
The ten people gathered in the distillery all looked at the jar. “It seems we have a mystery,” said Father Jacob, “and not of the mystical sort. I think that it would be very practical to put new locks on any cabinet that contains opium or any other pain killers or poisons, and keep a close watch on them.
“I heartily concur.” Inspector Ravensgard endorsed the Father’s suggestion. “Can it be done, Your Grace?”
“Yes, of course. The trick will be getting it done without the process becoming the talk of the entire village. For it to be effective, changing the locks needs to be done quietly.
Mr. McAhmladhson tapped his lips with one forefinger. “I’ll speak to Mr. Cory, the elder. He would be the one to make the locks in all events. He might have something on hand that we can use. Mr. Cory the younger has been taking care of some legal questions for the Duke, and could plausibly bring the ones intended for the orangeries.”
“Those are good plans,” Jonathan said. “However, it should be remembered that the orangeries are made of glass. It makes securing them somewhat difficult. But I have another question for all of you, and for the Inspector in particular. Do you think that this substance has anything to do with the death of the maid, and the near-death of another?”
“Almost certainly. Sally Ann has had night sweats and anxiety attacks since she was here. Since she is with child, I have only given her willow tea or chamomile, because laudanum can have a deleterious effect on the unborn.”
“How do you know this?” inquired Inspector Ravensgard.
Sister Agatha gave him a level look. “I was a nurse in the London slums for a time. It was brutal work.”
The Inspector quirked an eyebrow at her. “It seems odd that you should be here, now.”
“Inspector, I had an unfortunate encounter with a footpad one night. When I was sufficiently recovered, my natural born sister invited me to stay with her. She and her husband have a cottage in the village. He works in the gardens.
“I was in a pitiable condition. I had several broken bones that had not healed well and I could not make it through a single night without a dose of laudanum. I was fortunate that Dr. Dermott and Gran’ther Tim recognized my problem for what it was and helped me wean myself off the stuff. Both Father Jacob and Parson Graves counseled with me, and prayed with me. But it was Mother Sarah who offered me a place to be at peace.”
“I knew of her case,” Jonathan added. “Her sister is cousin to my butler, Mr. Hammonds.”
The Inspector shook his head. “Country villages. Always so close knit, and so interconnected. But this all seems a bit different. I’m hard pressed to say how, but it doesn’t have the earmarks of your usual criminal event.”
“Indeed, no,” said Constable McHenry. “We don’t have a lot of crime, as such. Usually just a petty robbery or one of the lads losing his temper and letting fly with his fists too hard. But this has all been very strange, which is, of course, why we sent for you.”
“We hoped,” Jonathan added, “that an outsider might see something that we overlook just because it is familiar.”
“I am surprised at one thing,” the Inspector said. “Why isn’t Dr. Dermott here at this meeting?”
“Oh, dear, Inspector. Did you think that a village doctor would not be busy? One of the younger Cory brothers jumped out of the haymow and broke his leg. His father is exceedingly wroth with him because he was to start his apprenticeship in the smithy now that he is tall enough to work the bellows.”
The Inspector chuckled. “Well, well. I suppose some things never change. Haymows and boys seem to go together, and there is always one coming to grief.”
“True enough.” Jonathan decided to get the discussion back on track. “However, the fact remains that we still do not know who is doing this, or why. The more I hear, the more anxious I become about it. I think this person poses a considerable threat to my people.”
“I cannot dispute it, Your Grace. And I will do my best to help you. But you know that all human bests have limits.”
The Duke smiled ruefully. “I know that all too well.”
Chapter 38
The shadow lover hastened up the track toward the sheep shed. The Duke and his two henchmen had been up this way yesterday. With the Duchess settled, he needed to check on his supplies. It would not do to allow something to happen to them. In addition, he needed to check in with his accomplice and see what was going on, and make sure that the reason he was howling was merely that the coins were done.
