Wedgewick Woman

by Patricia Strefling

  The doctor agreed.

  Annabel’s sober face concerned the doctor. “Have you eaten?”

  “No she hasn’t and that is why I left her. She swooned dead away not long ago. I have brought food, Annabel…come.”

  “She swooned?” The doctor asked as though Annabel was not there.

  “That she did and food it is that she needs right now… and rest.” Phoebe ordered.

  “My thoughts exactly. Eat and then let me examine you.” Dr. Kane’s worried look escaped her.

  “I cannot eat. I will have tea.” Annabel’s voice, discouraged and weak, concerned the doctor.

  “See that she eats something, Miss Gervase. I must make my rounds and then I shall return.”

  “I am Phoebe, if you do not mind.” She stated. “I will see to it, doctor.”

  “Come, we will eat here on the bench.” Phoebe set up the cheese, bread and apples she had brought and Annabel sipped tea.

  “You heard Dr. Kane…you must eat.”

  Annabel stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth and quickly swallowed a large gulp of tea. Her stomach almost rejected it. She stood and paced, trying to keep her stomach from heaving.

  “Now, now, you must be calm, Annabel. Please do seat yourself, before you land in a heap upon the floor again.”

  “Phoebe, I cannot believe all this has happened. How did the Laird find out?”

  “Does it matter? It has happened and you must deal with what is placed before you. There is nothing else to do.” Her tender voice stopped Annabel’s pacing.

  “You are right. I know you are right. Please help me be strong.”

  “I will be with you. We shall work this out somehow.” She soothed.

  Dr. Kane returned from his rounds and asked, “Have you eaten?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let’s go in to see Eleanor again. Then I shall examine you.”

  “I am fine, now doctor.”

  “She should be more awake than before. I will take you in.” He offered his arm and felt the light shaky touch of her small hand at his elbow.

  “Phoebe, you must join us. For it will do Eleanor good to see the both of you.”

  “Thank you, Sir….I was hoping.” She admitted and fell in beside them.

  Knocking, he drew Annabel into the darkened room and felt her fingers tighten. For reassurance, he tightened his fingers over hers. The Laird stood next to the child gazing down into her face.

  When they entered, Annabel saw him shutter his tender emotions and turned to them a hard face. No words passed between them. When Eleanor’s eyes opened, she whimpered and tried to hold up her arms to Annabel.

  Annabel pulled her hand from Dr. Kane’s arm and flew to her child. “There now, shhh, Mummy’s here. You have been a brave girl haven’t you?” She looked down at her precious child knowing it could be the last she saw of her. Tears formed and Eleanor whispered, “Cry, Mummy?”

  “Yes, Mummy cries because she is so happy.” She tried to smile. “But you must go to sleep and rest. Be a good girl, now.”

  When Eleanor’s green eyes shut, Annabel slipped the tiny hand from hers and walked away on shaky legs. Phoebe took her hand and Dr. Kane led them out.

  “I must be strong for her.” She whispered.

  “There, that is the talk I want to hear.” Dr. Kane smiled. “Now if you promise me you will sleep, I shall not need to examine you.”

  Annabel and Phoebe slept on cots that Dr. Kane ordered for them. “I shall allow you to stay one night, then you will have to find accommodations and sleep through the night, else I shall have to keep Eleanor longer.” He warned. “For when she is home and you have to care for her, she will be awakened during the night with pain for several days. You will need your rest.”

  Annabel knew she would not be nursing Eleanor back to health, if the Laird had his say. She took to her cot and slept, knowing Laird Carmichael was in the room with Eleanor. Somehow she felt her child was safe.

  Several days passed and with the help of Dr. Kane’s generosity, she and Phoebe had been put up at the hotel, with the promise that Annabel would work off the loan, as it were. The day came when Eleanor was to go home.

  “Miss Wedgewick, I will see to it that you and your housekeeper have transportation to your home.” Was all that Laird Carmichael offered in the way of letting her know she was not invited to come with him.

  She nodded and left to stand alone in the corridor, came to the point. Eleanor was lost to her. She must face it or die. Eleanor was not dead, she told herself, she was alive. And like Dr. Kane said, the operation was successful. Perhaps God had called her to do this deed and no other. But how could He ask her to give up her child?

  Fresh tears fell from her face but did not last. Somehow she was cried out. Tired and lonely, lost and emotionally drained, she had no fight left in her body. Annabel waited quietly for Phoebe to return to her and they would be on their way. Home would not be the same without Eleanor.

  Dr. Kane walked straight to her and said, “I trust that you will be staying at your mother’s townhouse here in London.”

  Annabel looked at him strangely. “How did you know my mother’s home was here?”

  “I have spoken to Miss Gervase for the last hour.” He stated.

  “I see.”

  “It would be best, you know, not to return to the cottage for a few days. You must pull yourself together…and I will be requiring your assistance in the office. Since the success of this operation, I find I have others in town wishing to see me about their child’s deformity.”

  Annabel looked up. “Is that true?”

  “Yes, it is true…and I shall not be able to handle the appointments nor the invoicing, nor the correspondence. Therefore I expect you to report to me a week from today…Monday…yes, eight o’clock sharp if you please.”

  She nodded, unable to think of a thing to say. She did not want to see anyone, not now…but if other children needed Dr. Kane’s attention, how could she refuse?

  Phoebe smiled. “There you see. You have a job to do…now let’s get ourselves to your mother’s home and be about a warm bath and a clean bed. My, but this has been a long week.”

  Annabel followed Phoebe to the carriage, stepped up and noticed she felt lighter. She had become thin as a branch. Admitting her weakness, she sat back in the carriage and closed her eyes. They had forgotten to refuse Laird Carmichael’s offer of a transport and said so to Phoebe.

  “Think not another thought about it. When he finds you gone, he’ll know you’ve left.” She said stoutly.

  “Where is Miss Wedgewick?” Dr. Hey’s voice could be heard above all the others.

  “She has gone home.” Dr. Kane supplied.

  “Home? Without her child?” He looked dumbfounded.

  “The child will reside and be cared for by me.” Laird Carmichael said equally loudly.

  “Oh, and when she cries for Mummy in the night you will answer to that, too?”

  The Laird stared.

  “Well, young man? You might be the Laird of your kingdom there in Scotland, but you are none the wiser for all your power, man.”

  When he did not respond, the good doctor proceeded.

  “What say you? What will you do?”

  “I have an excellent staff and…” he raised his voice…”she is my daughter.”

  “Your daughter. You did not know this child until one week ago. I daresay Eleanor does not know she’s your daughter, nor at this point in her life, does she care, I’m afraid.” The doctor said shrewdly.

  The Laird’s face reddened, but he said nothing.

  “I absolve myself from this case.” Dr. Hey waved his arm. “This child, if kept from her mother, will not…I repeat…will not become well. You will find yourself in the position of having to bring the lass back to this very hospital in fits of crying which will only disturb the good that we have accomplished thus far.”

  “We shall see.”

  “No, sir. We will not see. I am ord
ering you to bring the child’s mother to your castle and let her care for the child. If you must take a child from it’s mother, have a care and do it slowly.” The disgust was plain in his face.

  “Now see here.” Laird Carmichael was used to giving the orders, not receiving them.

  “Puff and stuff. You are a mere boy. It is fortunate you have found your child, but I daresay you are an inexperienced pup and know nothing of what it will take to bring up a female child without a mother. You are a fool, son. That is the truth of it.”

  Now Ross stepped forward.

  Laird Carmichael placed an arm in front of his guard. “We will do as the doctor wishes.” He said through clenched teeth. “But only so long as it takes, and then I shall be in charge.”

  The doctor nodded. “It is to your benefit, not mine.” He shrugged. “Do not think I favor you.”

  To that the Laird was silent.

  Chapter 24

  Within hours of her return to her mother’s home in downtown London, Annabel had bathed in rose scented water and washed her hair. Stepping from the tub into the towel Phoebe held for her, she dried her tired body.

  “There now dearie, just what you needed.” Phoebe picked up her white linen day gown with the wide pale pink ribbon; Annabel’s favorite, and slipped it over her shoulders, smoothing the skirts. “See you’ll feel much better, now.”

  “Oh Phoebe, I do not feel like wearing this dress. It is much too gay and I shall not be seen out of doors as it is.”

  “You’ll not be wanting to be about a walk this sunny afternoon? You know you love to walk when you’re feeling downhearted. Besides it’ll be raining tomorrow, if I ‘ave my guess.” She complained.

  “No. I do not wish to walk. Not today. I wish only to take some tea, perhaps a biscuit.” She sighed.

  “Now, ‘ere you haven’t eaten for near two days, now. You need sustenance and I shall see to it. Now come belowstairs.” Phoebe left.

  Annabel obeyed, knowing that if she didn’t she’d not hear the end of the tale for days. Descending the winding carpeted steps, she gazed at the rooms where she was raised as a child. She much preferred the tiny cottage, except…it would remind her of Eleanor.” At those thoughts, she quickened her steps.

  The butler pulled out her chair and she sat dutifully. “Thank you McAllister.”

  “Now Ivy has fixed you up your favorite meal. Leek and potato soup and biscuits. A bit of soup is just the thing.” Phoebe stepped away toward the kitchen.

  “Oh Phoebe, sit. Do not leave me. I am accustomed to our sharing the table. Please.”

  Phoebe drew herself back into the room. “If you please.” She felt silly, dressed in her apron sitting at a fine dining table such as this one. Removing her apron, she rolled it and handed it off to McAllister who had already put out his hand.

  “I shall not be happy here in this big drafty house.” Annabel said quietly, picking up her spoon. “Nor can I return to the cottage…” she left the rest unsaid.

  “There now. We will work this out. If it would please you I will go to the Laird myself and speak with him.” She said bravely.

  “Oh Phoebe…how could you think of such a thing. He will not change his mind. Eleanor is his, by law and by birth. I have no right…” she could not finish.

  Phoebe watched as Annabel tried to eat her soup and tried herself, but to no avail.

  “I’m afraid I’m not quite hungry. Thank you all the same.” Annabel fled up the stairs.

  “That’s right, dearie, go have yourself a good cry.” Phoebe sighed aloud, then stood and went directly to her cot so she could do the same.

  McAllister and Ivy shrugged, cleaned up the dishes and set the two servants to work with the dusting and sweeping.

  In the privacy of her room, Annabel pulled off her stockings and boots and tossed them aside. Then came her dress over her head which she tossed over a chair. She sobbed herself to sleep lying alone in her big bed. Eleanor was gone.

  Some time later male voices below stairs wakened Annabel who by now was cried out. Lifting herself to her feet, she poured a dash of water into the bowl and washed her face then looked into the tiny looking glass. Her hair was in disarray and her face looked blotchy and red.

  She finished smoothing and repinning the wayward strands and heard Phoebe’s familiar knock.

  “Enter.” She said quietly.

  “We have a visitor.” Phoebe’s eyes were huge. “Tis him.” She whispered.

  “Who?” Annabel’s face turned.

  “Laird Carmichael.” She whispered.

  The two stared at each other for a long moment.

  “What is he doing here?”

  “Here put on a bit of powder under your eyes and a smidgeon of rose hue on your cheeks. You must not look put out.” Phoebe was already smoothing powder over her face. “Now a fresh dress…this one won’t do.” She tossed the other over the rail and fumbled through the wardrobe. “Put this on but don’t muss your hair…good…now let me finish your face. Sit down.” She ordered “Your cheeks are pale.

  “What does it matter?” Annabel heard herself say, but she sat. Her heart was fluttering wildly.

  Then a thought snagged her brain. “You don’t think…it’s Eleanor…” she stood so quickly that Phoebe dropped the rose hue and it rolled across the floor. Annabel was already heading for the door. Phoebe followed.

  Stopping for a moment at the top of the stairs, she straightened her back and forced her feet to take one step at a time…not to run like a school girl.

  Her hand followed the banister down easily enough, but twice she nearly tripped realizing she had not taken time to put on her stockings and slippers. Thank goodness her dress was long enough to cover her error she thought wildly for it was too late to turn back.

  McAllister was calmly explaining to the Laird, “Miss Wedgewick is napping, sir.”

  Annabel reached the floor and took a few steps, cleared her throat then spoke, “McAllister, it is all right.” He bowed slightly and she was left with the Laird, Ross standing guard at the still open door. She felt Phoebe bump into her and heard her gasp at her error.

  “Miss Wedgewick, Miss Gervase.” He greeted them formally.

  “Is it Eleanor?” Annabel wanted to scream. “Is she all right?” A moment of anguish passed over her face which was not missed by the Laird.

  “She is all right.” He pulled off his hat then took two steps toward her. She noted his fine tan riding breeches and navy waist coat over a pristine white shirt…and his tallness.

  “I’ll get to the point. I’ve orders from Doctor Hey that I am to see that you nurse Eleanor back to health. Otherwise, the child will not fare as well.”

  “What?”

  He repeated the statement, only slower.

  “I see. Do you mean…now?”

  “I mean now. The carriage it waiting and Eleanor has only enough laudanum to make the trip with ease.”

  “Will you come?” His voice was flat and Annabel noticed no emotion in his face. “Only until Eleanor is well.” He added.

  “Yes…of course.” She turned, lifted her dress to flee back up the stairs, and saw her mistake instantly, for his gaze fell to her bare feet. She dropped her dress immediately and made for the stairs.

  He called after her. “We have room for one small trunk and one valise. And bring your maid.” He ordered.

  The Laird watched with narrowed eyes as the two small women hurried one after the other up the stairs. “Ross, move one of the trunks to the top of the carriage. We shall need more room.”

  McAllister reappeared to find their guest standing in the entry pacing. “Would you care for some wine, perhaps, sir?”

  “No.” came the curt reply.

  “As you wish.” He bowed and offered the man a seat to which he received the same curt reply.

  Within the half hour, quicker than any woman he’d ever waited for, she and Phoebe were in their traveling clothes each carrying a small valise.

  Annabel t
ried to keep from smiling overmuch as she located her butler. “McAllister, Phoebe and I are going to Scotland…to Laird Carmichael’s. Here is the key. We will not be back for…for sometime. I shall write mother and inform her of my location.” she handed the skeleton key to McAllister. “Oh and please locate Dr. Kane…” she scribbled a note, “and let him know I shall not be working for him. I have gone to Scotland. Please send this to his office at 27 Staffordshire today McAllister…and thank you.”

  “The trunk is at the top of the stairs, Laird Carmichael.” She said quickly.

  “Aye. Ross get the driver and see to the trunk.” He ordered and turned, waited for the women to precede him and stepped to the waiting coach. “Miss Wedgewick you and the women will ride with Eleanor. Ross and I will follow in the second coach.” He opened the door and held out his hand.

  “Mrs. Donaldson is Eleanor’s nurse.” He made by way of introductions. “Miss Donaldson, Miss Wedgewick and Miss Gervase.”

  Annabel nodded politely and lay her small hand in the large gloved one he offered to her and felt the sting of knowing he could not abide her. She seated herself and shifted her worried gaze to Eleanor’s face. Instantly the door slammed shut and the carriage jerked. They were on their way.

  “Stop. Stop the carriage.” Annabel called out.

  It jerked to a stop and she nearly fell trying to get out the door, not waiting for the driver to come round.

  The Laird appeared. “What is it?” he growled.

  “I must run back. I have forgotten something.” she called and without waiting, picked up her skirts and ran back up the block and tapped loudly on the door.

  “Oh McAllister, I cannot leave without Dolly.” She held her hand over her beating heart. Eleanor must have her Dolly.”

  “Of course.” He bowed and stood aside.

  Annabel made the stairs two at a time, grabbed Dolly, then stopped. Quickly, she opened a small box, took out a gold band and tied it to her underthings.

  * * *

  “Does she seem all right, Mrs. Donaldson?” Annabel asked quietly when they were on the way once again.