The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber

eyes. Alana was absolutely
     furious.
    “If you want me to, I will send them away this very minute, regardless of Philip’s
     orders.” She nearly spat the word, clearly displeased with her husband’s command.
     “It is an insult to share a roof with them after the way they treated you. For you,
     I will get rid of them. If you want me to?” She pressed her lips together, likely
     to stop herself from saying more, and waited for me to reply.
    I was touched by my sister’s concern and, if truth be told, a little startled by her
     vehemence. I almost pitied the Westlocks, for Alana was certain to make the remainder
     of their stay quite uncomfortable. But they did deserve it, after all. Under any other
     circumstances, such behavior would have seen my brother-in-law flinging them from
     his home himself. Only the murder investigation saved them from his wrath.
    And that being the case, I couldn’t ask my sister to do such a thing for me, especially
     when it would get her in trouble with her husband. Philip possessed just as ferocious
     a temper as Alana when provoked, and disobeying a direct order would certainly provoke
     it. I had heard them argue enough times in the last sixteen months to know I did not
     want to be the cause of such a quarrel. Besides, Philip happened to be right. Lord
     and Lady Westlock could not leave the castle until after the procurator fiscal arrived
     to clear them of suspicion.
    I lifted my hand and touched my older sister’s arm. “It’s all right,” I assured her.
     “I know they have to stay.”
    Her shoulders sagged a bit, and I suspected that despite all her protestations to
     the contrary, she had not been looking forward to defying her husband in this. Her
     pride was bruised from being forced to provide accommodations to someone who had so
     blatantly harmed a member of her family, but I wondered if she was taking out some
     of her anger at the unnamed murderer on the Westlocks. It disturbed her, and rightfully
     so, that someone she had trusted enough to invite into her home would commit such
     a horrific act. It troubled me just to know I had dined with, and likely spoken to,
     such a person.
    The fierce light in her eyes remained even as my sister nodded in acceptance of my
     decision. “All right, Kiera. They can stay, for now. But should you change your mind . . .”
    I squeezed her arm. “I’ll let you know.”
    She studied my face before her gaze rose to my head and the unruly morning waves of
     my hair. “Are you sure you feel well enough to assist Philip and Mr. Gage?” she asked,
     as lines of concern wrinkled her brow.
    “Yes.” I reached for my dress. “Besides, I don’t think they know what to look for,”
     I replied vaguely, not comfortable sharing the discovery I’d made about the state
     of Lady Godwin’s health.
    Alana did not question my unclear statement, and I supposed it was because she did
     not want to know. As strong and courageous as my sister was, that strength and courage
     did not carry over to matters of the internal workings of the human body. She had
     once asked me about the things I had seen during the years I was forced to assist
     my husband, and later confessed she had nightmares for a week afterward just from
     imaging the few things I told her. Telling her to think of the body as a work of art
     did not seem to console her as it did me.
    She helped me guide the gray gown over my head, careful not to touch the sensitive
     spot on the back of my head. Styling my hair was going to be tricky.
    “To be honest, with as much trouble as he gave us yesterday over the matter, I’m surprised
     to hear Mr. Gage is allowing you to help him today,” Alana said as she fastened the
     buttons up the back of my dress.
    “So am I,” I admitted.
    “You must be pleased that he seems to be taking you seriously?”
    Lucy strolled through the door at that moment, brandishing my headache powder and
     cooing over my injury. I was relieved not to