man’s attention. He sprang to his feet. “Shelton. I see. I suppose the viscount recently passed?”
“In February,” the new viscount said. “I received your statement regarding payment for my cousin. We are here to collect her.”
The physician began shaking his head furiously. “No, no, no, that wouldn’t be a good idea at all, my lord. Not at all.”
“Why not?” Dez challenged.
Cheshire glanced from him and back to Shelton. “The patient is very ill. You would not be able to control her in a home environment.”
“Control her?” he spat out, drawing the doctor’s attention again.
“Yes, my lord. Control in a precise word. The patient—”
“She has a name,” he said. “Miss Browning. Use it. I insist.”
“Oh, dear,” the doctor said and sighed. “This is very unorthodox. Patients just don’t . . . leave Gollingham. They are mad, you see. They may seem to have moments of lucidity but they are quite insane. Their behavior can deceive you. One minute they are completely mild-mannered. The next they are wild. You cannot let them fool you.”
“We aren’t talking about all of your patients. Just Miss Browning,” he emphasized. “I know for a fact she is not mad and has never been. Her father placed her here because she defied him.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I understand. Defiance is definitely a part of madness, especially in women. We see it frequently here.”
“I don’t care what you think you see. We are here to claim Miss Browning and take her to her home.”
The doctor crossed his arms. “I am afraid that is impossible. She is feral. Savage in her behavior. She goes for long spells where she is docile and then she erupts in violence. She cannot be controlled, certainly not by those who are not professionals.”
“You are telling me that man who just left us is a professional?” Shelton asked. “He looks after patients?”
Cheshire shifted nervously from foot to foot. “He doesn’t have to know the purpose behind the treatments of my patients. Only that he follows my orders. Quite frankly, most of the attendants are a bit dull and slow. Otherwise, I am sure they would be negatively affected by being around the mad all day.”
“Enough talk,” Dez said. “Whether your agree or not—whether your professional opinion sways you one way or another—we are here for Miss Browning and won’t leave without her. I demand you take us to her now.”
“Very well. But I highly recommend that you hire professional help to watch over her. Frankly, I don’t know if you will make it half a league before she jumps from the carriage and dashes into the nearby forest. She is highly volatile. Full of rage.”
“There are two of us,” Shelton said. “And we both care for Miss Browning a great deal. We will be able to handle things.”
A knowing look came into the physician’s eyes as he looked upon Dez. “Ah. You are the man she tried to elope with.”
“You know of that?”
“Of course,” the doctor said. “It was the chief reason she was brought here. Defiance and rebelliousness are the main signs of insanity in females. A sane woman knows her place—and knows the men in her life know what is best for her. The very act of elopement goes against the obedience owed by a daughter to her father. Lord Shelton had every right to place his daughter under my care.”
“For over a decade?” he asked, his tone anguished. “What have you done in all of the years to cure her madness, Doctor? Her supposed madness. What?”
“We have our methods,” the man said. “The public wouldn’t begin to understand them.”
“Anna was a sweet, loving young woman. You tell me she is now violent and abusive. What have you done to her to turn her into someone such as that?”
“It was in her nature all along, Lord Torrington,” Cheshire insisted. “She is only showing her true nature.”
“I want her released. Now!”
“I second that,” the viscount said. “As the head of my family, Anna is my responsibility. I will not put another farthing in your pockets, Doctor. Take us to my cousin.”
“Very well,” Cheshire said. “But you won’t like what she’s become,” he said ominously. “My guess is you will leave her care to us once you see her.”
Chapter Nine
With trepidation, Dez followed Dr. Cheshire from the room. He glanced to Lord Shelton, who didn’t bother to hide his worry. They moved along a corridor and up a flight of stairs, the sounds of silence heavy.
They reached the first landing and he heard a keening,