Read Online Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Shakespeare by J.R. Rain, Chanel Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J.R. Rain, Chanel Smith
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countess’s health concerns. Listed prominently among them were dried berries of vitex agnus-castus, dioscorea villosa and viburnum prunifolium.”
I thought about what Holmes was telling me for a moment and as I slowly began to recognize the scientific names for vitex or chaste tree berry, wild yam root and black haw, my jaw dropped almost to the floor. They were all well-known medieval herbal remedies traditionally used by midwives and herbalist to prevent miscarriage, treat a condition callously referred to as ‘irritable uterus’ and believed to stop uterine spasm and contractions.
“Mrs. Moseley also informed me that Lady Edith made two trips to her familial home during that time and in both instances, she returned with a newborn baby. Both hiatuses were approximately forty-two weeks long and consistent with a departure in very early pregnancy, followed by a return home shortly after giving birth. The midwife told me that aside from having her feelings a little hurt, she found nothing out of the ordinary with the practice. A lot of the older aristocratic families still follow such patterns of childbirth; in particular, leaving home.
“However, Annabel did go on to tell me one other very interesting thing. It seems that on the first of these occasions, the Countess unnecessarily delayed examinations by the midwife, even though it was customary that frequent checks on both mother and child be made to record and monitor their progress. Annabel claims that she was not able to see Mary before at least six months had passed and, by then, she claims everything was back to normal with the countess and she seemed as if she had never gone through the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth. According to the midwife, that is not uncommon with the upper-class women, though, as they are usually well fed and exercised all their lives.”
“So the woman took fertility herbs and then she got pregnant. What has that got to do with anything, Sherlock?” I asked, only resorting to his first name out of complete exasperation.
“Once again, Watson, you fail in an attempt at backward reasoning. Furthermore, you haven’t heard me out!”
“You mean, there’s even more exciting news about the countess’s childbirth habits and practices?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“There is more, and the most important clue at that. And eye rolls are not becoming of a man of your stature, Watson. Leave it for the younger generation. Now, Edith’s return from the second pregnancy went a little differently. Mrs. Moseley was invited to attend the countess and her newborn child within a day of their arrival at Galham House. In her estimation, the observations she made were consistent with the normal condition of a postpartum woman and, therefore, reflective of a true and successful pregnancy and delivery.”
“In other words, she has proof of Reginald’s birth but not of Roger’s.”
“Exactly so.”
“How exactly does that help our case, Holmes?” I asked, veritably begging my infuriating friend.
“Backward reasoning, Watson. The crime at the epicenter of everything is the murder of the Galhams. What was the reason for the atrocity? Reasoning backwards would go something like this: Who would stand to gain from the family’s death? Was the will changed? If so, what would be the real purpose of that with the laws regarding inheritance being as defined as they are for aristocratic holdings? What content could have been in it that could change the way the pieces lay on the game board?”
“Reginald’s legitimacy!” I cried.
“See? You can reason backwards.”
I stood and paced. “In that case, the midwife confirming the countess’s condition wouldn’t be any proof against Reginald. If anything, I’d think that question would strengthen an argument for Reginald’s legitimacy.”
“Not by any means, Watson! It proves Reginald is his mother’s child perhaps, but Countess Edith Galham did not hold the title in her own right, her
I thought about what Holmes was telling me for a moment and as I slowly began to recognize the scientific names for vitex or chaste tree berry, wild yam root and black haw, my jaw dropped almost to the floor. They were all well-known medieval herbal remedies traditionally used by midwives and herbalist to prevent miscarriage, treat a condition callously referred to as ‘irritable uterus’ and believed to stop uterine spasm and contractions.
“Mrs. Moseley also informed me that Lady Edith made two trips to her familial home during that time and in both instances, she returned with a newborn baby. Both hiatuses were approximately forty-two weeks long and consistent with a departure in very early pregnancy, followed by a return home shortly after giving birth. The midwife told me that aside from having her feelings a little hurt, she found nothing out of the ordinary with the practice. A lot of the older aristocratic families still follow such patterns of childbirth; in particular, leaving home.
“However, Annabel did go on to tell me one other very interesting thing. It seems that on the first of these occasions, the Countess unnecessarily delayed examinations by the midwife, even though it was customary that frequent checks on both mother and child be made to record and monitor their progress. Annabel claims that she was not able to see Mary before at least six months had passed and, by then, she claims everything was back to normal with the countess and she seemed as if she had never gone through the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth. According to the midwife, that is not uncommon with the upper-class women, though, as they are usually well fed and exercised all their lives.”
“So the woman took fertility herbs and then she got pregnant. What has that got to do with anything, Sherlock?” I asked, only resorting to his first name out of complete exasperation.
“Once again, Watson, you fail in an attempt at backward reasoning. Furthermore, you haven’t heard me out!”
“You mean, there’s even more exciting news about the countess’s childbirth habits and practices?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“There is more, and the most important clue at that. And eye rolls are not becoming of a man of your stature, Watson. Leave it for the younger generation. Now, Edith’s return from the second pregnancy went a little differently. Mrs. Moseley was invited to attend the countess and her newborn child within a day of their arrival at Galham House. In her estimation, the observations she made were consistent with the normal condition of a postpartum woman and, therefore, reflective of a true and successful pregnancy and delivery.”
“In other words, she has proof of Reginald’s birth but not of Roger’s.”
“Exactly so.”
“How exactly does that help our case, Holmes?” I asked, veritably begging my infuriating friend.
“Backward reasoning, Watson. The crime at the epicenter of everything is the murder of the Galhams. What was the reason for the atrocity? Reasoning backwards would go something like this: Who would stand to gain from the family’s death? Was the will changed? If so, what would be the real purpose of that with the laws regarding inheritance being as defined as they are for aristocratic holdings? What content could have been in it that could change the way the pieces lay on the game board?”
“Reginald’s legitimacy!” I cried.
“See? You can reason backwards.”
I stood and paced. “In that case, the midwife confirming the countess’s condition wouldn’t be any proof against Reginald. If anything, I’d think that question would strengthen an argument for Reginald’s legitimacy.”
“Not by any means, Watson! It proves Reginald is his mother’s child perhaps, but Countess Edith Galham did not hold the title in her own right, her
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