Ripping Time by Robert Asprin & Linda Evans

“The young lady was attacked by footpads on the street. I must get her to the surgery at once.”

“Of course, sir. Your scheduled patient has arrived a little early. Mr. Maybrick is waiting in the study.”

“Very good, Charles,” Lachley nodded, leaving the butler to close and lock the door. James Maybrick could jolly well wait a bit longer. He had to secure this girl, quickly. He carried her back through the house and set her gently onto the examining table, where he retrieved his stethoscope and sounded her heartbeat. Yes, shock, right enough. He found blankets, elevated her feet, covered her warmly, then managed to rouse the girl from her stupor by chafing her wrists and placing warm compresses along her neck. She stirred, moaned softly. Lachley smiled quietly, then poured out a draught of his potent aperitif. He was lifting the girl’s head, trying to bring her round sufficiently to swallow it, when Charles appeared at the door to the surgery.

“Dr. Lachley, I beg pardon, sir, but Mr. Maybrick is growing quite agitated. He insists on seeing you immediately, sir.”

Lachley tightened his hands around the vial of medicine and forcibly fought back an unreasoning wave of rage. Ill-timed bastard! I’ll bloody well shoot him through the balls when this night’s business is done! “Very well!” he snapped. “Tell him I’ll be there directly.”

The girl was only half conscious, but more than awake enough to swallow the drug. He forced it past her teeth, then held her mouth closed when she struggled, weak and trembling in his grasp. A faint sound of terror escaped from between ashen lips before she swallowed involuntarily. He got more of the drug down her throat, then gave curt instructions to the waiting manservant. “Watch her, Charles. She’s quite ill. The medicine should help her sleep.”