His Wife Poisoned Him—A Servant's Daughter Saw Everything
CHAPTER 3 -- The Blind Man's Performance
Adrian allowed Dr. Mercer to examine him.
He missed every letter on the vision chart, reached past the doctor's hand and stumbled deliberately when told to cross the room.
Mercer appeared satisfied.
"Complete blindness," he announced. "Combined with your confusion, it may soon become necessary for Eleanor to manage your legal affairs."
"My confusion?"
"You signed a medical consent form yesterday and forgot."
Adrian had signed nothing.
From the hallway, he saw Eleanor watching.
For the first time, Adrian understood why she had insisted he remain behind dark glasses. She had never been protecting his damaged eyes.
She had been preventing anyone from noticing their recovery.
That afternoon, Adrian telephoned his family solicitor from the locked chapel. He requested a toxicology specialist, a forensic accountant and the detective who had investigated Margaret.
He gave them one instruction.
Enter through the old servants' passage after midnight.
Until then, he would continue being Eleanor's obedient invalid.
Lucy remained hidden in the gardener's cottage. Adrian brought her food himself and promised her that Margaret would be released if they could prove the necklace had been planted.
"I don't care about the necklace," Lucy said. "I just want my mother to come home."
Adrian knelt beside her.
"I should have listened to her."
"You couldn't see."
"I was blind before I lost my sight."
That evening, Eleanor invited a solicitor to dinner. Adrian pretended not to notice the papers placed beside his plate.
"It's merely an extension of my temporary authority," she explained.
Adrian touched the signature line.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then Dr. Mercer will certify that you are incapable of refusing."
A servant placed soup before him.
Adrian smelled something bitter.
Beneath the table, Lucy's handkerchief was folded inside his pocket.
He lifted the spoon but did not drink.
Eleanor watched him carefully.
"Is something wrong?"
"I'm wondering how long I have."
Her wineglass stopped halfway to her lips.
"How long until what?"
"Until you own everything."
Eleanor forced a smile.
"You're tired."
Adrian signed the document using a false variation of his name. Then he pretended to swallow the soup.
Minutes later, he collapsed across the table.
Eleanor did not call for help.
She leaned close to Dr. Mercer and whispered the words Adrian's hidden recorder captured clearly.
"Increase the dose tonight. By morning, he must be incapable of speaking."
