Frey & McGray: A Fever of the Blood - Part 4

IN our penultimate extract from Oscar De Muriel’s Victorian Edinburgh crime thriller A Fever of the Blood, Adolphus McGray arrives on the scene.

Frey and McGray fan art by Liliana H Verdugo, Mexico

‘YOU had to be here!’ Lady Anne mocked. ‘Whatever for?’

‘He is my father!’ It was then that a single tear rolled down Caroline’s cheek, but Lady Anne simply downed another sip of spirit.

Dr Clouston ignored the usual formalities and gently placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder. ‘Pray, calm down, Miss Ardglass. Have a seat.’

She took a step towards the remaining chair, but then shook her head.

‘No - no, I need to see him.’

She looked up at Clouston with imploring eyes. ‘Please, Doctor, where is he?’ Clouston looked at Lady Anne.

‘The second bedroom,’ she said, and Caroline immediately ran to the staircase.

Clouston heard her frantic steps above, and then a sudden burst of weeping. ‘What a brutal way to treat her at a time like this,’ he said, casting Lady Anne an infuriated look.

Jed went upstairs and fetched Lord Ardglass. The poor man was tightly wrapped in a woollen blanket and swayed almost as if he were drunk... or perhaps he’d been purposely intoxicated to keep him docile. Joel was a slender man, like his mother and daughter, and his long face was much like theirs, but tonight he lacked the firm gaze of the women. Tonight he was a sad, broken figure. Clouston looked at his grey hair and his grimace; the most hopeless expression he’d seen in a long time.

Caroline came behind them, holding a wadded handkerchief to her mouth to muffle her sobs.

‘He is in good hands now,’ Clouston whispered, but he knew that no words could console the girl at this time. He also knew she would not be allowed to visit her father; no girl of good society could ever be seen at a mental institution. All in the name of propriety.

‘I will pay you a visit soon,’ Clouston said as he and Tom walked out. He looked directly into Lady Anne’s eyes. ‘To make sure the girl is all right.’ The only reply he received was a groan, but it was enough to tell him that Caroline would be left alone. Clouston had gained some power over the mighty Lady Anne - and he would wield it.

Tom saw that Lord Ardglass was settled comfortably in the carriage and they were soon on their way back, the howling of the hounds fading slowly into the distance. The doctor finally relaxed. He thought he was through the worst, but he could have never imagined for how long this night would haunt him, how many lives would be wrecked or how many death sentences he had just signed.

Adolphus McGray felt the pain long before he noticed the soft rocking of the carriage, before he heard the sound of the horses’ hooves, before the morning light filtered through his eyelids. It was a stinging, burning pain in his right hand. Dr Clouston had said it would go away soon, but perhaps he had simply lied. Adolphus would not blame him: the doctor had tried to make things easier, but there were some blows no kind deeds could soften.

When the carriage finally halted the doctor spoke gently. ‘Adolphus, we’ve arrived. I’ve brought you home.’

Adolphus pretended not to hear. He did not want to wake up to that world. Not yet.

Dr Clouston sighed. ‘All right, I will help Amy first and then I’ll come back.’

Adolphus heard him descend. His little sister - nicknamed Pansy, as her wide, dark eyes and thick lashes resembled her mother’s favourite flower - had travelled in a second carriage, knocked out by Clouston’s most potent laudanum, her hands and feet tied up with bandages. Just thinking of that made Adolphus weep, and a nasty shudder ran through his body. He instinctively raised his right hand to wipe the tears, but then he saw the bulky bandaging and the blood stains. He still had that image imprinted in his memory. Not of his dead parents, or of his sister stabbing his hand, but of that - creature. It could not be real. None of it.

He thought he would wait, just for a moment, to calm down, and as soon as he pulled himself together he would step out and help Clouston carry Pansy into the house. It would take one minute. Unfortunately he did not get the chance. He heard a third carriage enter the square of Moray Place, its horses galloping and neighing wildly. Adolphus caught a glimpse through his carriage door, and saw that it was a large coach: an elegant landau, lustre black, with its bellows top folded back.

It was, despite his misfortunes, a fine summer morning. Immediately he heard yelling. George, the old butler, was cursing and even the refined Dr Clouston was shouting furiously. ‘How dare you?’ Adolphus heard him yell. ‘How dare you come right now?’

A female voice he knew well retorted, and Adolphus had to shake off his grief. As he jumped down Adolphus saw the tall figure of Lady Glass, still dressed in mourning. Her adult son had died some six months ago, and even though she conformed to the colour etiquette, she also sported the widest hat adorned with black plumes and stuffed birds.

Alistair Ardglass, her very chubby nephew, was helping her down from their carriage. The old lady seemed as anxious about exposing her ankles as she was about damaging the ostrich feathers of her flamboyant fan.

‘What d’youse want?’ Adolphus cried, even though he knew. He felt a surge of burning rage ascend from his stomach; they were already coming to scavenge his family estate.

The old woman’s eyes fixed on Adolphus’s hand. She fanned herself as if trying to cleanse the air before her nose.

‘Young man . . .’

‘Don’t give me that condescending shite. I’m 25 years old.’

Lady Anne smiled sardonically. ‘Very well, Mr Adolphus Mc... Oh, silly me! You are now the only Mr McGray.’

She basked in those words. ‘I come to regain possession of this residence...’

Tomorrow: Adolphus McGray versus Lady Ardglass

The Dance of the Serpents, the sequel to A Fever of the Blood, is now on sale in hardback, priced £18.99

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