"P. N. Elrod - Jonathan Barrett 02 - Death and the Maiden" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

Long Island, September 1776
"But this is miraculous," said Dr. Beldon, lifting my elbow closer to his lar
ge, somewhat bulging eyes. Next he ran his fingers over the point where the b
one break had been. "It's not possible. There's not a single sign that you we
re ever injured."
Which was of great relief to me. For a time I'd feared I would never recover
the full use of my right arm. Beldon had chanced to call on me this evening
just after I'd awakened and had been surprised to see that the sling I'd wo
rn for nearly a week was gone.
"And there is no more discomfort when you move it?"
"None," I said. Days earlier, Beldon had expressed to me the need to rebreak t
he bone so as to properly set it again, but I'd been putting it off. Now I was
very glad of that procrastination.
His fingers dug a bit more deeply into the muscle. "Make a fist," he order
ed. "Open. Close. Now stretch your arm straight. Twist your hand at the wr
ist." Eyes shut, he concentrated on the movement. "Amazing. Quite amazing,
" he muttered.
"Yes, well, God has been most generous to me of late," I said with true since
rity.
Eyes open, now his brows went up. "But, Mr. Barrett. . ."
"You said yourself that it was a miracle," I reminded him. Our eyes locked.
"But I don't think you need take any notice
of it. Should anyone be curious, you may certainly inform them that my arm
has healed as you expected."
He didn't even blink. "Yes. I shall certainly do that." The only clue that any
thing was amiss was his slight flatness of tone and a brief slackening of expr
ession.
"Nothing unusual about it at all," I emphasized.
"No . . . nothing un .. ."
I broke off my influence upon him and asked, "Are you finished, Doctor?"
Blink. "Yes, quite finished, Mr. Barrett, and may I express my delight that y
ou are feeling better?"
We exchanged further pleasantries, then Beldon finally took his leave. My
valet, Jericho, had silently watched everything from one corner of my room
, his dark face sober and aloof yet somehow still managing to convey mild
disapproval.
"It's only to spare us all unnecessary bother," I reminded him, shaking my s
hirtsleeve down.
"Of course, sir." He stepped forward to fasten the cuff.
"Very well, then. It's to spare me unnecessary bother."
"Is the truth so evil?" he asked, helping me put on my waistcoat.
"No, but it is unbelievable. And frightening. I've been frightened enough for
myself; I've no wish to inflict that fear upon others."
"Yet it still exists."
"But I'm not afraid anymore. Bewildered, perhaps, butтАФ"
"I was speaking of other members of the household."
"What other members? Who?"
He made a vague gesture rather akin to a shrug. "In the slave quarters. Ther
e are whisperings that a devil has jumped into you."
"Oh, really? For what purpose?"