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Chapters (90)
  1. PROLOGUE
  2. 1849
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. EDINBURGH
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. SIXTY-TWO
  66. SIXTY-THREE
  67. SIXTY-FOUR
  68. SIXTY-FIVE
  69. SIXTY-SIX
  70. SIXTY-SEVEN
  71. SIXTY-EIGHT
  72. SIXTY-NINE
  73. SEVENTY
  74. SEVENTY-ONE
  75. SEVENTY-TWO
  76. SEVENTY-THREE
  77. SEVENTY-FOUR
  78. SEVENTY-FIVE
  79. SEVENTY-SIX
  80. SEVENTY-SEVEN
  81. SEVENTY-EIGHT
  82. SEVENTY-NINE
  83. EIGHTY
  84. EIGHTY-ONE
  85. EPILOGUE
  86. HISTORICAL NOTE
  87. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  88. Extract from A Corruption of Blood
  89. 1850
  90. ONE

‘The symptoms she experienced were similar to a fatal case I was involved with recently. I think I might have mentioned it to you. It was perhaps the second such case within the same household. It is my theory that this might be a dangerous and perplexing new disease. I am on my way now to speak to the doctor who had treated both patients first. I thought him old-fashioned and outdated in his practice, though I might have judged him harshly, as Dr Simpson was also powerless to identify or intervene in what appears to be the same condition.’

‘Then I am glad that I have come with you,’ Sarah said. ‘Perhaps I can learn what it is about your manner that makes you welcome in the home of a gentleman while I am sent away with a flea in my ear.’

‘I think we both know which quality of mine makes the difference.’

‘Yes, and you flatter yourself if you think it is your being a doctor.’

THIRTY-SIX

logo missings they turned into Broughton Place, Sarah wondered if Raven was right. Had he discovered a new disease? He certainly seemed to have convinced himself, as he was unusually animated, describing the common symptoms the patients had experienced. He was still in full flow when they arrived outside Dr Fowler’s residence. It was a neat little dwelling in the middle of a terrace, similar in appearance to No. 52 but on a much smaller scale.

‘How will you explain my being here?’ she asked as they approached the door.

‘It hadn’t occurred to me that I would have to do so,’ Raven admitted, frowning slightly. ‘I’ll say that you are my assistant, a nurse who works with me.’ He seemed satisfied with that and knocked on the door. ‘It might be best if you refrained from speaking,’ he added as the door was opened.

They were shown into a small parlour by a young girl who bade them wait while she sought out her master. The space was rather spartan, in stark contrast to the overstuffed room Dr Johnstone had thrown her out of. The few bits of furniture had an air of neglect about them, stained and shabby. An unmarried man lived here, Sarah thought. Or a widower. She immediately felt sorry for him, perhaps because she too would soon be alone, left behind to fend for herself. Then she remembered that Archie was not going to leave her entirely.