The Lost Apothecary

Caroline is taken to a dingy, windowless room on the third floor of St. Bartholomew’s hospital. There, she is questioned by two policemen about the contents of the notebook she used to take notes on the apothecary’s register. Caroline defends herself, saying that the notes are related to a “historical research project” (236), wary of revealing too much of the truth. One of the officers says James told them he and Caroline have been experiencing some difficulty in their marriage. Caroline briefly considers telling them about James’s infidelity but decides against it, fearing it may make her look more suspicious and “vengeful.” Instead, Caroline tells them about how she came to London to be alone and how James’s visit was unannounced. This does not help her, and the two officers say they are bringing her to the station for more questioning by their sergeant. One of the officers reaches for his handcuffs.

As Eliza helps Nella with her coat, the woman internally admits that she does not plan to leave the shop temporarily but to meet an unspecified death. She keeps this from Eliza, though she holds that “from the moment of her arrival, this child had unwittingly began to unravel me, to expose something inside of me” (239).