Read An Improper Death (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone Mysteries Book 2) for Free Online Page A

I was not very good at it. Perhaps I let my husband and my children occupy too much of my time. You see, I…” She was nattering uncharacteristically, but she stopped, looked away, and seemed to lose track of what she’d been saying. She was obviously not herself.
    Alexandra watched her face, lined now with grief, but somehow, still beautiful. Her eyes stared unfocused. It was true, they had each meant to be friends. Alexandra had recognized in Jane an equal—another woman with whom she could converse on an intellectual level. She knew Jane had recognized the same in her. But their relationship had not gone beyond a handful of chance meetings. Each had been too busy with her own life—Jane with her husband and sons and Alexandra with her medical practice.
    “Jane,” Alexandra said, trying again. “There is something you should know about your husband’s death. Something unusual.”
    Jane’s eyes refocused on hers, and Alexandra saw something there. Was it fear? Or dread? Or perhaps something all together different? “Unusual?” she said.
    “Admiral Orkwright was…was not dressed in a traditional manner.”
    There was no response from Jane. Only the slightest rise of her eyebrows.
    “He was wearing women’s clothing. I’m afraid…” Alexandra felt as if her breath were trapped in her lungs, and her chest began to hurt. Jane’s quiet, patient wait seemed only to make it harder for her. “I’m afraid he was wearing nothing save a woman’s undergarment,” she blurted.
    There was another silence while Jane looked at her with the blank expression Alexandra had become used to. “I don’t understand,” she said finally.
    “Nor do I,” Alexandra said. “I hoped perhaps there was some explanation, some light you could shed on—”
    Jane shook her head. “I don’t understand why you’re telling me this. Isn’t it enough that he’s dead?” Her voice rose to a high, agitated timbre. She stood and walked to the window overlooking the sea. She spoke with her back to Alexandra. “Why is this important for me to know these details?” She seemed near tears, and she twisted the handkerchief she held until Alexandra heard a slight ripping sound.
    Alexandra felt suddenly dirty, as if she had dragged both of them into some filthy quagmire. “I’m sorry, Jane. I know this must upset you, but—”
    Jane whirled around suddenly, her face now livid with anger. “Upset me? You have no idea what you’ve…” Her lips quivered as she tried to go on, but she was unable to speak. She dropped her face into her hands and sobbed uncontrollably.
    Alexandra went to her and tried to put an arm around her shoulders, but Jane winced and pulled away. She remained with her back to Alexandra for a moment before she turned around. “Forgive me.” Her voice was steady, almost unnaturally so. “I know you’re trying to help me. I suppose the village is full of gossip.” She looked at Alexandra as if to find confirmation in her face, then she turned away again and sat on the edge of one of the sofas. “I appreciate your warning me.”
    “Jane, I—”
    “I don’t know why.” Jane’s voice was sharp and clipped as she interrupted. Her denial was too quick, Alexandra thought, as if she protested too much. As if she was lying. She had not meant to ask her why. She had meant only to apologize again, then to drop the subject. Yet, Jane persisted. “I shall do all I can to keep this from Will. You understand that, don’t you? You understand that I must protect him.”
    “Of course,” Alexandra said. She was silent for another long moment, still standing near the window and looking at Jane, sitting in her rigid posture at the edge of the sofa. Alexandra spoke to her again, apologetically. “I must know if you think your husband’s attire—the female undergarments—had anything to do with his death.”
    Jane glanced at her with a puzzled frown. “I don’t understand.”
    “Is it possible he had done this before?