The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber Page B

the outermost path. I normally found the covering
     serene and charming, as sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled the trail
     in front of me. But today the overhang of vegetation seemed more ominous, more menacing.
     I somehow doubted I would ever view the leafy bower in such a quaint and harmless
     manner ever again.
    I wrapped my shawl tighter around my shoulders as we made our way deeper into the
     maze. Most of the path was cast in shadows, as the sun had yet to reach its pinnacle,
     and the chill of morning still clung to the land. My heart pounded faster with each
     step we took closer to the alcove where Lady Godwin’s body had lain. So much so that
     by the time we approached the last turn, it was beating so hard I thought for certain
     Philip and Gage could hear it knocking inside my chest.
    Philip paused just before we could see into the alcove and looked down at me. I could
     see the battle raging behind his eyes. He clearly wanted to protect me from further
     distress, but he also knew I would never have accompanied them on this errand if I
     did not think it was important. His faith in my good sense won out. He sighed rather
     gustily, as if he was giving in against his own better judgment, but he did not try
     to send me back to the castle. I squeezed his arm in gentle scolding, as well as reassurance.
    Gage waited patiently behind us through this exchange. Only the shuffling of his feet
     told me how anxious he was to continue. Philip grimaced and stepped forward so that
     we could see into the niche.
    As far as I could tell, the scene before me had remained undisturbed since the men
     removed Lady Godwin’s body the night before. The pale cream stone bench was tacky
     with dried blood softened by the morning dew. The cool, damp air of night had blown
     away any lingering fumes of death, but I suspected I would still be able to smell
     the sharp stench of blood once I moved closer. Which, unfortunately, I needed to do
     to get on with this investigation, no matter how much I would rather keep my feet
     planted where they were.
    Taking a deep breath, I released my grip on Philip’s arm and followed Mr. Gage into
     the alcove. “Did you find anything last night when you moved the body?” I asked them,
     trying to go about this in as systematic a manner as possible.
    “Nothing,” Gage replied, kneeling next to the bench on the end where Lady Godwin’s
     head had lain. “Although, we did remove her jewelry before placing her in the chapel
     cellar. Lord Cromarty has the items locked in his safe.”
    “What pieces was she wearing?”
    Philip’s voice softened as if thinking back. “A few rings, one with a rather large
     diamond, a sapphire-and-diamond necklace, and sapphire earbobs.”
    My eyes widened. Clearly the motive for her attack had not been theft. “What about
     a reticule? Was she carrying anything?”
    “No. At least none that we found.” Gage pointed at the corner of the stone seat. “What
     do you make of that?”
    I knelt down next to him, careful not to touch the bench or the ground. Much of the
     blood that had covered the earth the night before had soaked into the dirt or been
     washed away by the dew, but I still felt squeamish about placing my skin against it.
     I suddenly wished I had worn gloves this morning instead of dismissing them so readily
     when Lucy offered them to me.
    The blood on this end of the stone had left a predictable pattern. Crimson streaked
     the limestone where Lady Godwin’s neck had lain, almost forming a complete stripe
     of color across the surface. A few droplets decorated the stone in irregular patterns
     from when she was moved. However, at the corner where Gage pointed there was a short
     strip of red, as well as a smudge of black. The leg of the bench below was sprayed
     with blood.
    Wrinkling my nose at the blood’s faint metallic scent, I leaned in closer to examine
     the inky black substance. “Have Beowulf and Grendel been kept away