The Scarlet Ribbon

by Derry O'Dowd

  ‘Mrs Slaney, I am here to help bring your child into your arms. But to do that, and I need you to have no fear, I must touch you.’

  The woman’s eyes widened, but she nodded, and could not help stiffening as James Quinn gently inserted his fore-finger into her vagina, having first greased it well with fresh butter. He hid his worry; he had not been able to feel as high up as he would have liked as she was so swollen.

  ‘Well done,’ he said. ‘I need you to sleep for a little while now.’

  He held her head as he gave her a mixture of Aqua Fontana spring water and syrup of meconium juice of the opium poppy, sweetened with sugar, and soon her eyes closed and the crease between her brows relaxed.

  He applied a large poultice of loaf-bread and milk with hog’s lard to her privities in an attempt to bring down the swelling.

  Once Mrs Slaney woke, he removed the poultice and washed her. He breathed out in relief; the area had calmed down considerably.

  ‘Midwife O’Hara, Midwife Kelly, please help me to lay Mrs Slaney on her back but with her legs over the edge of the bed. More pillows for her head,’ he saw the woman settled, ‘and now support a leg each.’ He nodded his thanks once everything was to his satisfaction.

  James Quinn inserted his finger once more, and this time was able to feel the hairy scalp of the infant low down in Mrs Slaney’s pelvis. To his great relief he realised that the baby was alive as no fetid cadaverous fluid escaped past its head to run down his fingers.

  Taking great care, James Quinn took the delivery forceps that William Smyley had given him and wrapped the instrument in linen so as not to panic the poor woman with the clanking sound of metal blade against metal. Keeping the blades low down and hidden, he felt again for the position of the baby’s head and knew that its ears were to the sides of the mother’s pelvis.

  Gently dilating Mrs Slaney, he introduced the right forceps blade between his hand and the child’s head, and the woman let out a piercing, pained shriek.

  The midwives watched intently as they had never seen forceps before but held their silence; their trust in James bolstered by the recommendation from Surgeon Stone.

  With his left hand he inserted the second long blade on the opposite side of the vagina and then tied both blades firmly together with a garter to stop them from slipping.

  ‘Mrs Slaney,’ he spoke softly to the woman on the bed, her face distressed, eyes glittering with tears, ‘we are now going to try to deliver you of your child. I will need all of your help.’

  The midwives held her legs and muttered calming words. James began.

  ‘Now push,’ he said.

  On every push, he pulled on the forceps, their precious load held within the blades. Pulling by intervals, the child’s head gradually appeared into the world, then James removed the forceps and delivered the rest of the tiny body.

  The infant girl’s mother let out a scream, for her child’s head was squeezed into a lengthened form akin to a sugar loaf because of the over-long time spent in the birth canal. James reassured her and turned his attention to the baby once more. She was not breathing.

  He took the tiny body into his hands and shook her gently. Still no breath. He rubbed spirits and an onion on her rosebud mouth and under her nose. When this failed, he opened her mouth and breathed in to her. Her indignant squalling caused both midwives to smile broadly and the new mother to cry in delight as her daughter was finally laid into her arms.

  18

  To get a shine on your furniture

  Pare a candle of beeswax into small bits. Put these into a pot and add a cup of water. Place on the fire to boil, stirring until the mixture is thick, and take it off. Add in just a drop or two of oil of pressed lavender and stir. Put the mixture into a jar with a lid to keep it soft. Rub it onto your furniture with a fine cloth, then take another cloth and buff until it shines.

  Quinn Household Recipes and Remedies Book

  * * *

  ‘We have much to do, girls, before Catherine Cavendish arrives here. What a fine name; how it rolls off the tongue. Well, by all accounts, from what James has told me, she is quite the lady, and the darling of the glittering London scene,’ said Peg.

  Aileen and Carissa sighed at the story she was bringing to life for them with her words and gestures, of lords and ladies, actors and actresses, poets and writers, singers and musicians.

  ‘Will she stay here, Peg?’ asked Aileen.

  ‘No, my dear, no. She is to stay either in Meath with her father’s cousins who own a sprawling estate there, or in Clontarf Castle with her father’s friends John and Dorothy Vernon.’

  ‘It sounds like a tale you would tell Daniel at bedtime, so grand!’

  Peg smiled at Aileen, ‘It is no tale. And she will be here in the flesh, wearing her beautiful gowns and jewels next month.’ She paused, looking at Carissa’s stricken face. ‘Why Carissa, what is the matter?’

  ‘It is just that he still seems so in love with Marguerite, that’s all.’

  Peg reached across the table and took her hand. ‘Well, he is. He always will be, after all, she is Daniel’s mother. But Carissa, you cannot expect a young, vibrant man like him to shut himself off from the world forever. He cannot hold a memory at night!’

  Carissa sat back, quietly, unhappy.

  ‘They may well marry,’ continued Peg, ‘and wouldn’t it be marvellous for Daniel to have a proper mother after all this time?’

  ‘But Peg! What about you and me?’ asked Carissa urgently. ‘Will she take him away from us?’

  ‘Carissa O’Flaherty! How can you say such a thing, of course not. Daniel will still need you to care for him and I will continue to run the house.’

  Aileen looked at Carissa and knew then, for certain, that it had not been Daniel she was talking about. She felt heartsore for her sister.

  ‘But enough chattering, girls. We will need to make a list of the things that must be done before her arrival. We need to prepare the house and clean from top to bottom and make sure to put an extra shine on all the furniture. And what kind of entertainment can we put on here in our home for someone who is used to living in London?’ Peg put the heel of her hand to her forehead and rubbed it vigorously. ‘Oh my, I feel a headache coming on, I swear I do. So much to do in so little time. And as for the food, what to feed her? I declare I am worn out already!’

  ‘Peg, we will help you, won’t we Carissa. Carissa?’ Aileen nudged her sister, who sat gloomily, vacantly in the chair beside her.

  ‘Of course,’ she answered, and, catching Peg’s disapproving look, sat up straight and arranged her unwilling mouth into her best approximation of a smile.

  ‘Good then, that’s settled, let’s make a start,’ and she smiled at the girls.

  They rose to leave the room.

  ‘And girls,’ called Peg, ‘we will all have to speak English while she is here. Daniel too.’

  They groaned and left the room, while Peg sat happily among her plans.

  Well then, that was that. Carissa looked at the beautiful woman standing there and she knew that all was lost. She could never compete. Never. Not if she lived to be one hundred years old.

  She felt jealousy, dislike, fear, loss and envy scratch their claws across her body, one after the other, and wanted to sink to the floor and weep as they left their cruel imprints behind on her tender flesh. And then Catherine was standing before her, extending her hand, smiling, and Carissa had to shake her head to hear properly and send the feelings away.

  ‘It is so lovely to meet you, Carissa, in person. I have heard much of you from James, but he never told me how pretty you are.’

  And Carissa thought herself a fool as she blushed at the woman’s kind words.

  ‘And how good you are with Daniel and how he loves you. What a lucky man to have his son so well cared for!’ She smiled at Carissa and Carissa melted as if a spell had been placed on her. She liked this Catherine. She didn’t want to like her but she could see now why James loved her, and tear
s threatened, so she turned away and busied herself with something inconsequential as she heard the rest of the introductions being made, James proudly introducing his new heart’s desire to Aileen and Peg, and their warm replies. Catherine had won them all over. All was lost.

  ‘Carissa, dear, meet my cousin Edward and his companion Charles,’ Catherine said, and Carissa turned back, smile firmly in place.

  Edward inclined his head as he said his hello, but Charles was more forthcoming and grabbed her hand and kissed it saying, ‘Enchanted, I’m sure,’ looking deep into her eyes.

  ‘Catherine, come now and meet the special boy in my life,’ James said to her and he took her hand and led her out of the room.

  ‘I must go, I have a shoot to attend in Clontarf,’ said Edward and bowed stiffly to the rest of the group. Peg showed him out and went on into the kitchen to prepare a meal, humming a jaunty tune under her breath.

  Aileen followed her, looking back to see Charles in conversation with Carissa, hanging on to her every word as if the sentences she spoke dripped with honey. She smiled.

  ‘This is my best cat,’ Daniel said to Catherine as she sat on his small bed. ‘My daddy brung it from London,’ and he held the wooden toy out for her closer inspection. ‘I did want to sleep with it. But Carissa said no, it is too hard Daniel.’ He relayed his tale seriously and pushed the toy even nearer to Catherine.

  ‘My, what a marvellous cat! And what a clever daddy to choose you something you would love so much,’ Catherine smothered her giggles at the child’s devotion to his new belonging, for she had been with James as he made an anguished decision about what to take home to his small son.

  ‘We chose well then, James,’ she smiled at him and they sat companionably on Daniel’s bed and watched him play. ‘What a gorgeous boy, just like his daddy. His mother must have been divine, he will break hearts, you mark my words,’ and they hugged, James delighted by Catherine’s reaction to his son.

  Later, as they sat in James’s study, going through the plans for Catherine’s visit, she turned to him and said, ‘You must be so happy, on your return, to find Daniel so loved and minded. Peg is an angel here on earth, and Aileen seems a fine girl. As for Carissa, her lovely name suits her lovely face.’

  ‘Her mother had a very hard pregnancy with Carissa, Catherine. She was terribly ill throughout, and then her pains came early. She and her husband, Liam, who is now deceased, prayed to the Heart of Jesus for her survival.’

  Catherine raised her shoulders in query and gestured for him to continue.

  ‘Irish people believe in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, surrounded with its thorns and burning flames of love, and have a special devotion to the image. Anyway, the baby girl survived and indeed thrived. And so, in thanks, they called her Croí Íosa, Heart of Jesus, and in time that became Carissa.’

  They all sat around the table, eating, drinking, and laughing at Daniel’s conversation. Even Edward, who had returned from his afternoon’s sport, smiled at the boy.

  ‘And wait until you see Galway, Catherine, it is wonderful,’ James was saying. ‘Carissa, say a few words in Irish for our visitors. Please?’

  Carissa hated being pushed forward under the gaze of all assembled there, but did as she was asked.

  ‘Oh my dear, what a pretty language,’ Catherine smiled at her.

  ‘It is that,’ replied James, ‘but I would like Carissa to learn more English, and it would help Daniel in turn, I think.’

  ‘Well then, I have a simple solution. The Bible!’ said Catherine, looking triumphantly around the table at the guests.

  ‘The Bible?’ he replied, perplexed.

  ‘Yes James, you do have one?’

  ‘Well, no,’ he said shamefacedly, shuffling in his seat.

  Catherine laughed at him and took his hand, ‘Well you must purchase one, I can recommend the King James version, which is written beautifully. Carissa can read aloud from it and you can supervise her lessons. Perfect!’ She paused, ‘Oh my dear Carissa, I didn’t mean to offend you by not asking your opinion. I just thought it would be a good way to start to improve your English.’

  Carissa took a deep breath, then blew out the feelings of annoyance that not being included in the discussion brought her. ‘Thank you, Catherine. I think it is perfect,’ she smiled.

  On leaving that evening, as the shadows had deepened into night’s gathering gloom, Charles leaned down from his horse to speak to Carissa. ‘You will join us, I trust, at the picnic?’

  She looked to James, he noted her flushed cheeks, and nodded yes.

  ‘Well, then, that is settled, we will meet again in two days.’ He gave her a dazzling grin before urging his horse onwards.

  ‘Catherine, my love, I will see you then,’ said James through the open window of the carriage, where she sat with Edward, who was delighted to have her all to himself.

  He smiled at his beautiful cousin as the carriage took off, and started to speak as James Quinn was left behind to wave them goodbye.

  They stood by the cascading water, holding hands as Daniel jumped up and down excitedly, pointing at the waterfall, small toy boat in his hands. His words were drowned out by the roar, but it was clear that he wanted to sail it.

  James smiled at Catherine and pulled her gently away from the noise and splashing water which had wet the bottom of her gown. Rainbows formed as the spume hit the pool and wet mist rose.

  ‘James, how magnificent! My heart is racing,’ Catherine told him once they were a few paces away and could hear themselves again.

  He squeezed her hand. ‘It would seem that Daniel is very keen to sail his boat. Do you mind, dear?’

  ‘Of course not! I shall act as sailor to his captain and we will have a grand time,’ and she took the boy’s hand and led him to where a grassy bank seemed dry under their hands and knees and the river rippled only slightly.

  ‘Now Daniel,’ she said, ‘you tell me what to do, because I fear I am not very good at sailing fine vessels such as this.’

  ‘It’s a boat, silly lady,’ and he fell about laughing at her foolishness.

  Catherine looked back a while later to see that a blanket had been laid on the grass, and Peg and Carissa had laid out a picnic for them all to share.

  ‘Daniel, let us go and have something to eat. It will give us energy for more sailing later,’ she said to the boy and he took the boat out of the water and shook it dry, droplets glinting silver in the sun.

  ‘Here are our brave mariners, returned from their adventures at sea,’ said James, as he looked up and saw them approaching. ‘Well Daniel, were there any giant fish in the water?’

  The child’s eyes grew round as he recounted Catherine’s tales of a great scaly fish living at the bottom of the river who loved picnics, so they must be wary and guard their food closely.

  ‘Even here in Wicklow there are such fish?’ James asked his son, and the little boy nodded fervently. ‘You are very brave then, but should eat up so that it doesn’t get your food!’

  ‘My, it is hot for September,’ said Catherine, raising her parasol above her head.

  Daniel looked at her. ‘Is there rain, Catherine?’ he asked, confused as the sky above was bright blue and the sun shone, a fiery orb.

  She smiled at him, ‘No Daniel, dear heart, bless you, but ladies like me do not like to get too brown or freckly.’

  ‘Enough questions for now, Daniel,’ said Carissa. ‘Let us go and have a wander around and see if there are any birds making their nests in the trees today.’

  ‘I will clear up and shake out the blanket,’ Peg said, and Catherine took James’s arm as they headed off for a stroll among the lush greenery and ivy-wrapped trees.

  ‘My father sends his best,’ she said to him.

  ‘He is well?’

  ‘Yes, on a hunting trip in Wales,’ she replied, and they fell into easy conversation about her life in London and people he had met while at her Cavendish home.

  ‘Have you been to see Father’s
tailor yet?’

  He plucked at his clothes and sniffed, ‘Doesn’t look like it, does it?’

  She laughed at him and pushed him playfully.

  ‘Daniel is very taken with you, Catherine,’ James said, and stopped walking, turning to face her.

  ‘And I am taken too, James. He is pure, beautiful, warm sunshine,’ she smiled up at him and he gathered her in his arms and bent his head to kiss her.

  Carissa glanced at the waterfall, and, a little to the left, saw them kiss. She smiled. She looked at the waterfall again, and a little to the right, hidden to view unless you looked very closely, she saw Charles and Edward clasping hands in a way that she had never seen men do before. Daniel tugged at her skirts and she looked down at her small charge, flustered.

  James sat on Daniel’s bed, the candlelight glimmering around the room, making the shadows of the nursery furniture and toys flicker and dance, large on the walls. He tucked his son in and told him of his visit to Dublin Castle with Catherine.

  He had gone no more than a few sentences into his tale when he turned to his son. ‘Honestly, Daniel, if you keep on asking me “why”, it will be tomorrow morning by the time we are finished!’ and he tickled the boy, who promised to be quiet for the rest of the story, thumb in his mouth, blanket in his hand as he looked up at his daddy, tracing the shadows on the wall with his other hand.

  ‘So, then, Catherine sat on the throne like a queen. A throne is like a special seat, Daniel, for very important people, and this one was a gift to William III when he conquered King James at the battle of the River Boyne in 1690. A different James, Daniel. Not me, sadly, I am no king,’ he smiled down at his son.

  ‘Anyway, she looked like a beautiful queen and she was happy. And then we had a tour of the castle and you would have loved it, Daniel. I shall bring you one day.

  ‘The guide, Sean, told us of the Viking invaders when Dublin was called Dyflinn after a black pool that they built their fortress around.’ James paused and saw that the child was beginning to get sleepy.