Miss Shaw and the Doctor

by Fenella J Miller

  Several heads turned as they passed. The carriage was obviously well known to the inhabitants. She saw many substantial dwellings, a row of freshly whitewashed cottages, and then the carriage slowed as it headed towards the far side of town, where a large green was situated.

  Even Isobel chattered unreservedly about the treats to come. One thing they all wished to see was the Punch and Judy show, so this was where they would head as soon as they arrived.

  Nancy spoke up at once. “Miss Shaw, shall we go and see any of the races? It’s ever such good fun—they have an enclosure specially for the smart folk. It’ll be safe enough in there.”

  Sarah wasn’t sure about horse and pony races. Her papa had been most outspoken about the evils of gambling and drink. She rather feared that both would be involved in such a pursuit. “I do not like equines of any sort, so we will not watch those today. I am looking forward to seeing fire-eaters. Do you think there will be any such people?”

  The girls were bubbling over with excitement when the barouche joined a long queue of like-minded vehicles heading for the entertainment. Several carriages had children in them. Some waved and called out, and Isobel and Lorna waved back. Seeing so many other families on their way to the fair removed the last of Sarah’s fears. She relaxed and began to enjoy herself.

  Eventually Bill found a suitable space to allow them to alight. Tommy jumped down from the box and came round to let down the steps. No sooner had they descended than Lorna grabbed her hand. “Look, Miss Shaw, see who it is coming to speak to us.”

  Sarah couldn’t help smiling. “Good afternoon, Dr. Moorcroft, I did not expect to see you here today.”

  “Did you not? I have come to watch the races. No doubt you and the children will wish to do so. Allow me to escort you to the enclosure.”

  Without a by-your-leave, he slid her arm through his, grinning down at the four girls as he did so. “Come along, young ladies. The first pony race is about to begin. I’m sure we can pick a winner between us.”

  The two nursemaids positively bristled with excitement. The four girls bounced up and down, as eager for the treat as the rest of them. Sarah did not have the heart to disappoint, so she nodded to her unwanted escort. “I do not wish to get too close.”

  “You will be perfectly safe with me, Miss Shaw. There is a rope to keep spectators separated from the horses and ponies.” He led her across the field and into the enclosure. By this time Bill and Tommy had joined them, having left the carriage and horses in the charge of a willing village urchin.

  The spectacle of grown men galloping around the enormous green was far more engrossing than she had expected. By the second race, she was jumping up and down and calling for her favourite as loudly as everyone else. Two riders came to grief, but they scrambled to their feet none the worse for their tumble.

  “Lorna, Isobel, which of the riders do you think will win this time?” On receiving no response she looked down. Neither Lorna nor Isobel were at her side. She spun and stared around the crowd, but they were nowhere in sight. Carefully scanning the people gathered within the enclosure, she immediately ascertained that the girls were not there. Her heart sunk and her stomach turned over. With what she hoped was a relaxed expression, she turned to the two youngest who were being held up on the shoulders of the grooms.

  “Lottie, Beth, I think the Punch and Judy show is about to begin. Why don’t you go along with Nancy and Jo and find us a good place to stand. I shall join you with your sisters directly.”

  “Off you go, little ones. Miss Shaw and I will follow in a moment. Tommy and Bill remain behind, if you please.”

  Chapter Four

  “Dr. Moorcroft, Isobel and Lorna have wandered off. I cannot see them anywhere. I am so…”

  “Please don’t distress yourself, my dear. Between us we will soon find them.”

  Sarah barely restrained herself from wringing her hands. As soon as the girls had gone, she turned to the doctor. “I know where they will have gone. Isobel mentioned yesterday that she wanted to see the caravans. I fear she has taken Lorna to the Romany camp. I believe they are encamped in the woodland behind this green.”

  He nodded. “Then it’s fortunate we have these men to accompany us. In my experience, strangers are not welcome.” Taking her shaking hand, he pushed it protectively through his arm and squeezed it gently. “They will come to no harm, Miss Shaw. The gypsies might have a bad name, but I have found them respectable people. It’s their mode of living that alarms.”

  Attempting to look as if she was strolling nonchalantly through the throng, Sarah constantly looked from side to side, hoping to spot the missing children. Suddenly she stopped. She was almost sure she saw one of them behind the fortune teller’s tent.

  “Over there. I’m sure that was one of the girls. Isobel has a green ribbon around her bonnet. Lorna has pink. Otherwise, it’s impossible to tell them apart.”

  She removed her hand from the doctor’s arm and walked briskly towards the booth. Behind it, sobbing quietly, was Lorna. The child threw herself into Sarah’s arms, mumbling incoherently.

  “My love, you are safe now. Here, let me wipe your eyes then you can tell me where Isobel is hiding,” Sarah said.

  Through whimpers and gulps, the girl was able to explain that her sister had led her into the middle of the fair and then abandoned her. “I begged her not to leave me, Miss Shaw, but she laughed and said I was a baby, and she would go on an adventure on her own.”

  Dr. Moorcroft knelt down to speak to Lorna. “Tell me, sweetheart, where has Isobel gone? Miss Shaw will take you to watch the Punch and Judy, and I shall go and find your naughty sister.”

  Lorna pointed in the direction of the woods. Sarah’s heart thumped painfully. As she feared, the child had gone to see the gypsies. She prayed Dr. Moorcroft was not mistaken about the travelling folk. Papa had once told her village children sometimes disappeared forever when the gypsies were nearby.

  He ruffled the child’s hair and straightened. “Don’t look so stricken, Miss Shaw. I shall recover your lost sheep and return her to you safe and sound very shortly. Do I have your permission to scold her for her disobedience?”

  Sarah nodded. It would do the child no harm to be reprimanded by such a formidable character. Perhaps she would think twice about misbehaving if Dr. Moorcroft gave her a stern talking to.

  “Please, sir, do hurry. I shall never forgive myself if anything has harmed Isobel. I should not have taken my eyes from them. I was too involved in the races.”

  “You have nothing with which to blame yourself, my dear. It took only moments for the girls to slip away, however vigilant you were. If Isobel was determined to sneak off, she would have done so anyway.”

  He smiled, and something most peculiar happened. Her toes curled up in her walking boots. “Come along, Lorna. We must join the others. Shall we buy everyone a barley twist to suck whilst we watch the entertainment? I’m sure Dr. Moorcroft will return with Isobel very soon.”

  The purchase of confectionery had been all that was needed to take Lorna’s mind off her sister’s disappearance. When they reached the crowd of children sitting on the grass in front of the Punch and Judy stall she was laughing and chattering as if she had no care in the world. Nancy raised her eyebrows, and Sarah shook her head quickly. No more was necessary.

  “See what Miss Shaw has brought us, Lottie, Beth. Here’s a barley sugar for each of you. Has it started yet?” Lorna ran forward and joined her younger sisters on the grass.

  All three girls found themselves a place in front of the booth, leaving Sarah to speak to the two anxious maids. “Miss Isobel went to the gypsy camp. Dr. Moorcroft has gone to find her. We are to wait here until he returns.”

  A gasp of anticipation rippled through the audience as the tiny striped curtains slowly parted, heralding the start of the much awaited show. Nancy and Jo went to sit with the girls, leaving Sarah to wander disconsolately around the fringes of the crowd. Dr. Moorcroft was head and shoulders ta
ller than most men there. She would be able to see him from some distance away.

  After the final cheer died away, she spotted him moving rapidly in her direction. He was holding Isobel in his arms; neither looked happy about this state of affairs.

  “Girls, your sister is about to rejoin us. I intend to send her home with Nancy. She does not deserve to stay for the festivities.” She nodded to the nursery maid. “Miss Isobel is to go to her room. She is to have no supper and is not to leave her chamber until tomorrow morning.”

  “I understand, Miss Shaw. I shall move Miss Lorna’s night things in with Miss Charlotte and Miss Elizabeth. It will do Miss Isobel no harm at all to spend the night alone.”

  Sarah was impressed by the girl’s sensible suggestion. “Excellent. Tom must drive you back and then return for us. I’m sure Dr. Moorcroft will stay until we depart.”

  Isobel was rigid with embarrassment at having been carried like a baby in leading strings across the grass. Dr. Moorcroft dumped her unceremoniously. “She was where we suspected. I have told her how displeased you are, and that it would serve her right if you informed her parents.”

  “Isobel, I am disappointed in you. You gave me your word that you would stay at my side and you deliberately broke your promise. You are returning at once with Nancy. We shall be remaining here to enjoy ourselves.” Sarah turned her back and smiled happily at the other three children. “Shall we go and see the fire-eaters or would you prefer to look at the stalls and spend some of the money your mama gave me?”

  With Nancy holding one elbow and Tommy the other, the miscreant was escorted away. Sarah would try not to worry about the morrow. Today she would concentrate on making sure the others enjoyed themselves.

  “Miss Shaw, I suspect you will have trouble from that one. She is not used to being gainsaid, but I believe in time you might win her round. A week or two away from her mother’s overindulgence will be a good start in Isobel’s rehabilitation,” Dr. Moorcroft said.

  “Where was she? Did she have time to reach the camp?”

  “Unfortunately she did. She was surrounded by a group of grubby urchins when we arrived. I believe her interest in these people is at an end.” He scooped up Beth and swung her on to his shoulders. “Right, let us away to see the fire-eaters and stilt walkers. I believe they are on the other side of the green.”

  By the time they returned to Bentley Manor, all three of the children were drooping with fatigue. Sarah offered to assist Jo with their bedtime routines.

  “Don’t you worry, miss. Nancy will have put Miss Isobel to bed long ago, so she’ll be free to do her chores as usual. It’s a real worry. Miss Isobel is becoming wilder as time passes. I fear she may do herself a mischief one of these days,” Jo said cheerily.

  Sarah smiled and shook her head sadly. “I believe it is going to take me longer than I thought to persuade Miss Isobel to conform. I pray she will listen to me before Sir John decides to send her away to school. That will break Lady Fenwick’s heart for sure.”

  Nancy had told Sarah Isobel had never spent a night alone in her entire life, so this was a harsh punishment. A stand had to be made if things were to run smoothly in the schoolroom.

  Isobel seemed suitably penitent the next day and apologised handsomely for misbehaving. Sarah set her two pages of handwriting as a punishment, which was to be done whilst the rest of them were outside enjoying the summer sunshine. Perhaps the child had learnt her lesson.

  On her return to the schoolroom, she discovered Isobel collapsed over her desk sobbing. “My dear, whatever is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

  The girl was too distressed to answer. She continued to weep piteously.

  Nancy drew Sarah to one side. “Sir John came in. Word had got to him about Miss Isobel’s running off yesterday. He told her she was to be sent away to school in September. I’ve never seen him so vexed. It will be the end of her, Miss Shaw, and her poor mama.”

  “I shall go down and speak to him directly, ask if he will give her one more chance to show she can change her behaviour.”

  The crying girl pushed herself upright. Her face was blotched with tears, and her nose ran. This pathetic sight would ring the heartstrings of even the most hard-hearted of people. “Please, Miss Shaw, I promise I shall never be naughty again. I cannot be sent away. I could not bear it. I should die.”

  Sarah gave Isobel her handkerchief and hugged her briefly, relieved the other girls were in the nursery and had not heard this melodramatic statement. “I shall do my best. Now, go and wash your face and join your sisters for lemonade and biscuits.”

  Although Sarah searched the downstairs rooms, she could find no sign of Sir John. She was reluctant to speak to the staff, but eventually one of the footmen told her he was out and about on estate business. Dr. Moorcroft stepped out of Lady Fenwick’s apartment as she reached that part of the house.

  “I am so glad to see you. Isobel is beside herself because Sir John is sending her away to boarding school. Is Lady Fenwick well enough for me to go in and speak to her?”

  “Yes, she is desperate for company.” He grinned and held the door wide open. “I believe you will find this a storm in a tea cup, Miss Shaw.” Then his expression sobered and he drew her to one side. “All the children are well, I trust?”

  “Perfectly, why do you ask?”

  “Professional curiosity, think nothing of it. Perhaps when I come another time I could join you and the girls on the promenade around the gardens? I was watching from the window, and Lady Fenwick suggested it herself.”

  Sarah’s heart skipped a beat of the thought of spending time with the handsome gentleman, and with the approval of her employer as well. “I shall look forward to it, sir.” She smiled and slipped past him.

  Lady Fenwick was resting on a day bed and greeted her warmly. “I thought I heard your voice, Miss Shaw. I was expecting you to come down. Is Isobel very distressed?”

  “You know Sir John is sending her away?”

  “Sit down, my dear, and I shall explain it all to you. Sir John did indeed intend to send my darling child away, but I persuaded him to give her another chance.”

  “I’m so glad you did, my lady. I shall do my best to keep Isobel out of mischief in future.”

  “You must do so, my dear, for if Isobel transgresses again, there will be no reprieve. This is her very last chance.”

  “I shall make it abundantly clear to her, my lady. I believe she has finally learnt her lesson.”

  Isobel took her final warning to heart. As each day passed, her expression became less pinched, her eyes less wary. By Wednesday she was unrecognizable as the unpleasant little girl Sarah had met the previous week.

  Unfortunately, Dr. Moorcroft had not yet joined them in the garden. Betty told her he was no longer making daily visits, as Lady Fenwick was so much better.

  Almost ten days after their visit to the fair, Sarah took the children out to play cricket accompanied by Nancy. She had taken to visiting Lady Fenwick whilst the children had their mid-morning snack to update her ladyship with the girls’ progress. What a pleasure to be able to tell her employer all the girls were doing well. It had been agreed that the girls were finally to meet their new brother, and see their mama, the following day.

  When Sarah told them, they were overjoyed. She was surprised Isobel did not make more of the news. The girl was particularly subdued that afternoon, preferring to lounge in the shade of the large oak tree and not join in the riotous game of cricket. This was most unlike her, as she was by far the best at striking the ball.

  “Nancy, I think Miss Isobel is feeling poorly. Would you take her in? I think she would be better resting on her bed in the cool, rather them out here in the hot sunshine.”

  When she retired that night she checked on Isobel, who was sleeping soundly. However, something disturbed Sarah in the small hours; she was never able to say what, but she found herself wide awake. She had been dreaming about Isobel; she would go and check the girl was no worse. />
  On entering the bedchamber, she could see two small shapes under the covers. One was curled up sleeping peacefully, but the other tossed from side to side as though wrapped in a nightmare. Quickly walking across to offer comfort, Sarah held up her candlestick. Isobel was not having a nightmare; she was delirious.

  She touched the child’s cheek, and her skin burnt beneath her fingers. Whatever the little girl had contracted, this not a summer cold but something far more serious. Hurrying round to the side of the bed, she flipped back the covers and lifted the sleeping Lorna out.

  Fortunately the little bed that had been made up for Lorna the night of Isobel’s disgrace was still in the other bedchamber. Without waking the child, Sarah placed her between the sheets and then crept out. She must wake Nancy and Jo. One could begin to sponge Isobel with cool water to try and reduce the fever. She would write a note to Dr. Moorcroft and the other nursemaid must run downstairs and rouse the housekeeper. This august lady would arrange to send the letter.

  Forty-five minutes dragged by before she heard the firm footsteps of the doctor approaching. “Dr. Moorcroft, I am so pleased to see you. Thank you for coming out in the middle of the night.”

  “It is my duty, Miss Shaw. I will always come when asked.”

  Sarah stood aside to let him examine his patient. She waited, her hands clenched, praying it would not be the news she feared.

  He stepped back and turned to face her. “I’m afraid it is serious, Miss Shaw. I’m certain the child has measles. Her three sisters will be infected too. We cannot risk the illness reaching the new arrival. You must be quarantined away from here.” He carefully washed his hands and dried them. “I feared as much when I received your note. There have been several cases already in the village. It would seem children in the Romany encampment were the carriers. This is where Isobel must have contracted it.”

  “But where can we go? Is there anywhere suitable on the estate? Isobel is too sick to take far.”