Read Online Rueful Death by Susan Wittig Albert - Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Wittig Albert
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added. "The refectory and the kitchen are there, and Mother's office and the library and a couple of guest rooms."
"Sophia?" I asked, puzzled.
"You'll get used to it," Maggie said with a smile. "In most monasteries, everything has names-the buildings and the rooms, the paths, the gardens, even the trees. It's true here, too. That barn, for instance. It's called Jacob."
The picturesque red bam stood to the left of the ranch house. To the right was another long, low, stone-and-cedar building, with an addition built at right angles to it-Rebecca, according to Dominica, where the St. T sisters lived. She also pointed out Hannah, a dormlike brick residence
hall behind a clump of oaks, where the St, Agatha sisters lived.
"You're still living separately?" Maggie asked, surprised. "I thought you were all going to move into Hannah."
"Maybe that's part of the problem," Ruby said, following the long, curving drive around Sophia. ' 'If you and the St. Agatha sisters lived together, you might get along better."
"That's what Mother Hilaria said," Dominica said. "Just before she died, she reassigned us. But afterward, Olivia convinced Reverend Mother General that we ought to wait until her successor took over."
"That's unfortunate," Maggie said. "The longer the two groups are separated, the easier it is to stay that way, if only because there's less tension."
"Less tension?" Dominica shook her head. "Don't count on it. Even separated, we're at one another's throats. Figuratively speaking, of course. Although sometimes I wonder." Abruptly, she leaned forward and changed the subject. "Margaret Mary tells me you're an herbalist, China. What do you know about foxglove? I understand it's poisonous."
"You bet," I said emphatically. "It used to be called Dead Men's bells." The name was a reference to foxglove's bell-shaped blossom, as well as to the knell that was rung for the dearly departed. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I heard someplace that it can be confused with other plants. It affects the heart, doesn't it? Like digitalis?"
"It
is
digitalis," I said. Foxglove is a cardiac herb. It contains four glycosides, the most powerful of which is digitoxin, a stimulant that increases cardiac activity, causing the heart and arteries to contract and raising the blood pressure. Why was Dominica asking about it? "Foxglove is a lovely ornamental," I added, "but it shouldn't be used as a medicinal. There's too much danger of making a fatal mistake."
Ruby pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car. "We're here," she said, and opened the door.
I got out, intending to ask Dominica why she was so interested in foxglove. But I was distracted by two women who seemed to be having an argument a short distance away. One wore a navy coat with a gold cross in her lapel, a starched wimple, and a short veil. Her arms were full of file folders. The other wore jeans, a Cowboys sweatshirt, and knee-high rubber boots. She was pushing a wheelbarrow full of empty terra-cotta pots. Both had angry faces and set mouths. They were scowling at one another.
"Uh-oh," Dominica whispered as Ruby opened the trunk. "They're at one another again."
"Who are they?" I asked.
"That's Sister Gabriella with the wheelbarrow. The one with the file folders probably started it-she's Sister Olivia. Our next abbess, if Reverend Mother General has her way." Dominica sighed. "And she will, unless somebody does something to prevent it." She squeezed her eyes shut. "Please, God," she whispered urgently. "Do something!"
Given Dominica 's track record, I wouldn't have been surprised to see Olivia struck down by a bolt of lightning. Dominica opened her eyes. "Sometimes it takes a while," she said.
"My grandmother had an old saying," Ruby remarked sagely. "God helps those who help themselves."
Dominica considered this. "My grandmother had another. With the fox, play the fox." She narrowed her eyes. "There
must
be a way to get rid of her."
I get the jitters when people talk that
"Sophia?" I asked, puzzled.
"You'll get used to it," Maggie said with a smile. "In most monasteries, everything has names-the buildings and the rooms, the paths, the gardens, even the trees. It's true here, too. That barn, for instance. It's called Jacob."
The picturesque red bam stood to the left of the ranch house. To the right was another long, low, stone-and-cedar building, with an addition built at right angles to it-Rebecca, according to Dominica, where the St. T sisters lived. She also pointed out Hannah, a dormlike brick residence
hall behind a clump of oaks, where the St, Agatha sisters lived.
"You're still living separately?" Maggie asked, surprised. "I thought you were all going to move into Hannah."
"Maybe that's part of the problem," Ruby said, following the long, curving drive around Sophia. ' 'If you and the St. Agatha sisters lived together, you might get along better."
"That's what Mother Hilaria said," Dominica said. "Just before she died, she reassigned us. But afterward, Olivia convinced Reverend Mother General that we ought to wait until her successor took over."
"That's unfortunate," Maggie said. "The longer the two groups are separated, the easier it is to stay that way, if only because there's less tension."
"Less tension?" Dominica shook her head. "Don't count on it. Even separated, we're at one another's throats. Figuratively speaking, of course. Although sometimes I wonder." Abruptly, she leaned forward and changed the subject. "Margaret Mary tells me you're an herbalist, China. What do you know about foxglove? I understand it's poisonous."
"You bet," I said emphatically. "It used to be called Dead Men's bells." The name was a reference to foxglove's bell-shaped blossom, as well as to the knell that was rung for the dearly departed. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I heard someplace that it can be confused with other plants. It affects the heart, doesn't it? Like digitalis?"
"It
is
digitalis," I said. Foxglove is a cardiac herb. It contains four glycosides, the most powerful of which is digitoxin, a stimulant that increases cardiac activity, causing the heart and arteries to contract and raising the blood pressure. Why was Dominica asking about it? "Foxglove is a lovely ornamental," I added, "but it shouldn't be used as a medicinal. There's too much danger of making a fatal mistake."
Ruby pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car. "We're here," she said, and opened the door.
I got out, intending to ask Dominica why she was so interested in foxglove. But I was distracted by two women who seemed to be having an argument a short distance away. One wore a navy coat with a gold cross in her lapel, a starched wimple, and a short veil. Her arms were full of file folders. The other wore jeans, a Cowboys sweatshirt, and knee-high rubber boots. She was pushing a wheelbarrow full of empty terra-cotta pots. Both had angry faces and set mouths. They were scowling at one another.
"Uh-oh," Dominica whispered as Ruby opened the trunk. "They're at one another again."
"Who are they?" I asked.
"That's Sister Gabriella with the wheelbarrow. The one with the file folders probably started it-she's Sister Olivia. Our next abbess, if Reverend Mother General has her way." Dominica sighed. "And she will, unless somebody does something to prevent it." She squeezed her eyes shut. "Please, God," she whispered urgently. "Do something!"
Given Dominica 's track record, I wouldn't have been surprised to see Olivia struck down by a bolt of lightning. Dominica opened her eyes. "Sometimes it takes a while," she said.
"My grandmother had an old saying," Ruby remarked sagely. "God helps those who help themselves."
Dominica considered this. "My grandmother had another. With the fox, play the fox." She narrowed her eyes. "There
must
be a way to get rid of her."
I get the jitters when people talk that
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