by Sammy King
Gwendoline shook her head and pointed at Laura while she continued to catch her breath. The nurse narrowed her eyes and stood taking Gwendoline by the elbow and leading her to a hard backed chair in front of the fire.
“Sit here and warm yourself, you should have sent Laura in by herself, she’s a grown woman now” the nurse spoke sternly. “You shouldn’t be out in the cold like this, it won’t do”
The nurse shook her head again and pointed to the door behind the table.
“You go in there and wait for me while I see to your mother” she said to Laura.
Laura followed the nurse’s direction and pushed through the heavy wooden door. The room held a bench like bed in the middle of the room, it was just as dim as the front room, but there were pictures of hand painted body parts. On one shelf that spread across the far wall held jars of all sorts of oddities and instruments. Laura was looking closely at the various jars when she heard the door open behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see the heavy set nurse step in. She had a scowl on her face as she saw Laura and stepped behind a screen.
“Come here please Laura” she snapped dryly.
Laura went behind the screen and saw that the nurse held a linen night gown towards her.
“Take your clothes off and put this gown on then go and lie on the bed, Doctor James will be in to see you soon” she snapped again.
Laura waited for the nurse to leave behind the screen and then looked around, she saw that there were hooks hanging along the wall obviously to hold the dress that she was about to take off, but nothing else. Laura quickly stripped off her dress and under garments, sliding the heavy linen gown down over her head that stopped just below her knee. Laura tugged on it wanting to pull the gown down further.
“Come out now Laura and lay on the bed please” the nurse barked from behind the screen.
Laura timidly stepped out from behind the screen and inched her way to the bed.
“Hurry along child, the doctor will have other patients he needs to see” the nurse snapped again.
Laura flinched at the nurse’s tone and stepped hurriedly towards the bed, sliding up into a sitting position.
“Lie down” the nurse ordered.
Laura lay down flat, looking up at the white ceiling when she heard the heavy door open and close. When she looked towards the door she saw an elderly man step towards her in a white coat and rounded glasses pushed up on his nose and recognised him as Doctor James, the only doctor in the village.
“Laura, bend your knees and look towards Nurse Stewart please” his voice gave no room for argument.
Laura swallowed her embarrassment at letting another man see her private parts. She didn’t have time to think about it when suddenly she felt the doctor intrude her with his fingers. Laura squealed and tried to slam her thighs shut. The nurse was too fast and pushed her legs apart again with a growl that terrified Laura more than what the Doctor was doing to her. Just as suddenly as he intruded, he removed his fingers.
“Go and put your clothes back on” he said bluntly as he turned to the nurse. “Send her mother in”
The nurse nodded as Laura slid off the bed and headed back to the screen. She could hear the nurse call out for her mother from the door. When she heard the shuffle of her mother’s feet come into the room, she heard the doctor offer her mother to sit in front of the desk that was on one side of the room.
Laura came out from behind the screen fully dressed, the Doctor pointed to the other hard backed wooden chair next to her mother. Laura looked from her mother to the Doctor, her mother looked weary and ill, the Doctor looked angry and Laura wondered what she had done wrong.
“She is with child” the Doctor stated bluntly as Laura sat.
Gwendoline physically slumped in her chair and lowered her head into her hands.
“Who is the father?” Doctor James asked.
Gwendoline shook her head and Laura could hear a sob escape her mother’s lips. Laura looked from her mother to the Doctor, panic began to rise in her stomach as the realisation began to set in that it was Laura he was talking about, Laura was with child, it was her child and who was the father? She could never say.
“I, I , I can’t say” she stammered.
The Doctors face began to shade red and she could see the angry look in his eye.
“Well you will have to go to the unwed mother’s home if you are going to have a child without a father present” the nurse snapped behind them.
Gwendoline’s head snapped up and she spun in her chair, her eyes bloodshot and sheer hatred on her face.
“I will never allow that” she said through clenched teeth.
Suddenly Gwendoline stood, grasping Laura’s wrist and pulling her out of her seat. Gwendoline marched towards the door and heaved it open.
“Please, Gwendoline, you won’t live to see the child arrive” the nurse pleaded.
Laura spun around, pulling her arm out of her mother’s hand.
“What do you mean? What is wrong with my mother?” she asked, desperation oozing from her mouth.
“Nurse Stewart, it is not your place” Doctor James spat.
Laura watched as the nurse dropped her head and suddenly looked sheepish like she had made a mistake. Laura turned to the Doctor and went to the desk that he was still seated at; she placed her hands on the cool surface.
“What does she mean that my mother won’t live? What is wrong with her” Laura practically screamed.
The Doctor broke eye contact with Laura and sat back in his chair as he tried to compose himself.
“You mother is dying, this is true” he said “She is very ill, Laura, I wish you would say who the father is, make him accountable, allow him to care for you and the child, so that your mother can die in peace”
Laura felt the tears dripping down onto her hands before she realised that she was crying. Her mother’s hacking cough was what pulled Laura from her silence. She looked over at Gwendoline who held onto the door frame, her head leaning on her hand.
“Oh mother, why didn’t you tell me?” Laura wailed as she moved swiftly to her mother’s side and pulled her into an embrace.
“How do you tell a child that?” her mother asked between heaving breaths “A child who lost a father, a child who has nothing already? How did you suppose I was to tell you Laura?”
Laura shook her head and held her mother tight, feeling her own trembling mix with that of her mothers. She heard the doctor tell the nurse that he would take them home in his carriage. When they were home in front of the fire, Laura set about to make sure that Gwendoline was warm and settled. She sat on the edge of the bed and held her mother’s hand.
“Please, go and find Porter, tell him you are carrying his child” her mother pleaded.
Laura shook her head.
“I can’t mother, he left this morning to go to the seminary, I saw him leave” Laura said quietly.
Laura laid down on the small bed beside her mother. She felt Gwendoline’s arm snake its way around her waist and pull her in tight. Before long darkness surrounded her and Laura fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Nine
When Laura woke, her mother was still asleep, her breathing was heavy, but the morning light poked its head through the small windows of their cottage. Laura turned quietly on the bed and watched her mother’s face, her long eye lashes rested on her cheek, her hair was tucked up on the pillow behind her, her face pale and skin soft. Laura felt her heart breaking with the thought of losing her mother. Gwendoline was Laura’s rock after her father had been sent to gaol. She had given Laura enough love for both a mother and father.
Laura quietly rose from the bed and shuffled out of the front door, closing it silently behind her to be sure not to wake her mother. As she made her way through the woods, she saw movement from corner of her eye. Laura stopped and watched as a fox stepped in front of her path. His brown eyes, stared into hers, Laura edged closer, curious by this normally skittish creature that was so bold.<
br />
“He has a message for you” a voice called, causing the fox to flee into the dense forest.
Laura spun on her heel to see her Aunt, her mother’s sister walking towards her.
“Aunt” Laura cried and ran towards her as her Aunt wrapped her arms around Laura.
“Your mother sent a letter to me that she is ill” her Aunt said, her face full of concern.
Laura nodded her head, sniffing back tears of relief that someone would be there to help.
“The Doctor says that she will die” Laura sniffed.
Aunt lifted Laura’s face in her hands and looked deep in to her eyes.
“Aunt I am with child” Laura said quietly.
Aunt nodded her head; her Aunt had been able to tell that this wasn’t a moment of joy, but that Laura was in trouble.
“Who is the father child?” Aunt asked.
“A boy named Porter Slater” she said.
Aunt hissed at the name and Laura’s eyes widened, unable to read the look on her face.
“Oh child” Aunt said pulling Laura closer to her. “Does he know?”
Laura shook her head and explained that she had seen him leave for seminary. Aunt simply held Laura close, smoothing her hair.
“I must go and see your mother, you need to tread lightly with the Slater family, they are not a family that will take kindly to such news” Aunt said, concern written on her face. “And not all of what they say is the whole truth”
Laura nodded and watched as Aunt walked towards the cottage she and her mother shared. She felt confusion, she didn’t know what the Slater’s would have any reason to lie to her.
“Aunt?” Laura called
Aunt turned and put her hands on her hips.
“You said the fox had a message for me, what was it?” Laura asked.
Aunt shook her head and smiled.
“What fox would that be?” Aunt replied.
Laura scratched her head in confusion and watched as Aunt wound her way along the path towards the cottage. Laura turned and continued into the town. As she found her way to the long driveway of the Slater’s homestead her heart was beating faster. Her legs felt heavy and her head was spinning with thought’s, causing a headache. She could feel her hands beginning to tremble and her mouth was suddenly drier than a desert. The big stone house appeared in view, a house of opulence and wealth; she felt so out of place. The stairs that led to the front door were laid in marble; the big heavy white wooden door was embraced by long windows with velvet curtains on either side.
Laura was about to knock on the door when it swung open. A woman no older than twenty, her long black dress and white apron crisply clean, her hair tucked under a white cap stood. She stared at Laura, impatiently tapping her foot on the step, her hands on her hips.
“Why are you here?” she asked with irritation in her voice.
“I uh, I need to speak with Mr Slater” Laura stammered quietly.
The woman exhaled a loud sigh and moved away from the door.
“Come and stand here” she said pointing to a spot just inside the front door.
Laura looked around as the woman left towards the grand stairs in the centre of the room. The stairs were wooden with a red carpet that snaked its way towards a second floor. The floor on which she stood was the same marble of the front steps and above her head was the largest steel chandelier she had ever seen, with crisp white candles around the brim. The room in which she stood was sparsely furnished with a table next to the door, on top of it was a large urn filled with beautiful delphiniums, jonquils and peonies. The walls were adorned with paintings of men, who she instantly recognised as Slater’s, the family resemblance was uncanny. One particular picture took her interest, a large man, with a huge beard falling from his cheeks and chin. His eyes were dark and so familiar, more than just the fact that he was obviously a Slater. Laura squinted her eyes as she tried to place the face but it wouldn’t materialise further.
“Rachael said you needed to see me” a voice boomed from the top of the stairs.
Laura startled and looked up to see the biggest man that she had ever seen. His girth was almost as wide as the stairs on which he was descending, his large beard brushed his chest and his grey hair was parted and oiled down flat onto his head. The man wore a suit that looked more expensive than her whole cottage. She felt ashamed to just look at this man that came towards her.
“Well child, don’t waste my time, what do you want? A job? Food? Money? What is it?” he barked.
Laura looked timidly up at the man, fighting the tears that were threatening to overflow. He looked irritated with her, but his cold stare made Laura shake like a leaf.
“I am with child” she quietly spoke.
The man narrowed his eyes and moved closer to her. He grasped Laura’s arm and dragged her into a big sitting room with a fire roaring. She had to run to keep up with him. Once the door was slammed, he spun Laura around in front of him. His fingers digging into the sensitive skin under her arm, the man leaned forward until she could feel his breath on her face.
“What do you mean you are with child? Are you trying to accuse me of fucking you?” he whispered, his spit hitting her face.
Laura shut her eyes tight and shook her head. She heard the man sigh and felt him let go of her arm. She resisted the urge to rub where he had pinched hold of her. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw him still staring down at her, his arms were crossed over his wide belly, he stood at least a foot and half higher than her and she felt like a small child in his presence.
“Why are you telling me you are with child? Did you think I would give you charity?” he asked with a sneer on his face.
“I don’t want your charity sir” Laura said. “My child belongs to Porter” she almost whispered.
The man’s mouth dropped open and Laura watched as the redness ebbed its way from his neck to his hairline. The pulse on his temple beat with his heart and his eyes narrowed to a squint. He stepped closer to Laura and she flinched back, afraid of what he was about to do. Once again the man grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her to the seat that was next to the fire, shoving her back until she flopped down onto the chair.
Mr Slater stood over her, his fat finger in her face, his other hand on his hip. His shadow by the fire, seemed to take over the whole room and Laura wanted to slide down into the chair and hide away.
“I know who you are, your mother was a whore and now here you sit a whore, telling me, my son, who has gone to become a man of God fucked you” he spat.
Laura felt her anger rise; she hated that people called her mother a whore. No one in the town knew the real story, but that gave them no right to make assumptions of her mother. Laura stood, demanding the little space that was between the chair and Mr Slater.
“My mother is not a whore, my father is in gaol, in gaol for protecting me, for killing the man who tried to take me, he was a good man and my mother is a broken woman” she shouted her voice cracking.
Mr Slater stepped back and the look of shock was all over his face, before it quickly turned to anger. He grabbed her arm again and shook her violently. Laura fought back the tears that threatened to flow down her cheeks; she didn’t want him to see that she was as frightened as she was.
“Don’t you ever speak to me like that, in my home” he bellowed. His voice echoed throughout the room and probably throughout the mansion.
Laura looked towards the door, hoping that someone would come in to save her. But the door remained firmly shut. Mr Slater wiped his hand down over his face and smoothed his beard. When he removed his hand he looked calm.
“Sit down please child” he said more softly pointing towards the chair.
Laura sat down gingerly watching his face as he eased himself into the big leather chair in front of her.
“What do you need? Do you want money is that it?” he asked.
Laura shook her head.
“I don’t want your money sir. I would like you to tell Porter, so t
hat he can be in the child’s life, my mother is poorly and going to die, I will be all alone once she is gone.” Laura said.
Mr Slater snapped his head towards her, she couldn’t read his face, but soon he burst into a loud belly laugh that shook his whole body.
“Child you expect me to call my son home from the seminary so he can look after a sluts child?” he spoke, his voice thick with poison.
Laura felt the tears she had been fighting finally burst through their banks and start to weave a tapestry down her cheeks through the dirt. Mr Slater continued to watch her as she dabbed at her eyes with the back of her sleeve. He ran his hand over his face again and leaned forward, touching her knee tenderly.
“Child, don’t cry. How do you know this child your carrying belongs to my son?” he asked softly.
Laura sniffed and raised her eyes to look him in the face.
“He is the only man I’ve ever been with” she said as Mr Slater groaned and muttered something under his breath that she couldn’t quite make out.
Suddenly he stood, causing Laura to flinch; he pointed a fat hand towards her. She looked down at his hand before gently taking it in hers and stood slowly.
“If it’s not money you are after, but you want my son to know, I will send notice to him. I’m sure he will come back for you, now go, your mother is poorly so you need to look after her. Don’t worry about Porter. I will deal with him” he said as he led her to the large door of the sitting room.
When they entered into the cold foyer, she saw two men standing the doorway and recognised them instantly as Porter’s brothers Cole and Simon.
“Please organise a ham and some bread for Laura and then escort her back to her cottage” Mr Slater spoke to the boys, before turning and returning back to the sitting room, shutting the door with a heavy thud.
Laura stood in the cold foyer and watched as Simon headed down the long passageway to what Laura assumed was the kitchen. She looked back towards Cole, who stood staring at her, his eyes narrowed, his arms crossed across his broad chest. They didn’t say anything to each other and when Simon returned with a large ham and two loaves of bread in a basket, Cole took them from him and brushed past Laura.
