Love and Music Will Endure by Liz Macrae Shaw

Author:Liz Macrae Shaw [Liz MacRae Shaw]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781907443596
Publisher: The Islands Book Trust
Published: 2014-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

Greenock, 1876

‘Well Madam, it’s been a pleasure to speak with you. May I assist you onto the platform?’

The doctor swung the door open and stepped down, offering his arm to Màiri as she heaved herself onto the platform, still wondering how she could keep him talking. Neither of them noticed the stationmaster running up behind them, his round face crumpled into a frown and his watch chain beating against the mound of his waistcoated belly.

‘Do forgive my intrusion, Sir, but another passenger has told me that you’re a doctor and I’m in dire need of your services.’ He edged closer and whispered, ‘We have a young woman in the Ladies’ waiting room. She collapsed at the station entrance. Well, she’s not a lady as such but she appears to be in a delicate condition. I’ve closed the room to everyone else for the time being.’

The doctor looked bemused.

‘An urgent, delicate condition, if you follow me.’

‘Do say clearly what you mean, my good fellow,’ Dr MacLaren snapped.

As the station master floundered Màiri stepped in, ‘Do you mean that she’s in labour?’

His shoulders slumped in relief as he nodded, ‘Could you come and assist her, Sir?’

A shadow scudded across the doctor’s face before disappearing behind his professional smile, ‘Well, she is indeed fortunate. She has the skills of two people at her disposal. This lady here is a midwife, trained at the Royal. However, there is a minor difficulty. I’m returning from a social function so I don’t have my medical bag with me. I shall go to collect it while the midwife examines the patient. In all likelihood she won’t give birth within the next few moments.’

He strode off before the other two could reply. The stationmaster smiled and started chatting to Màiri as he showed her the way. He was relieved to be dealing with someone of his own class rather than the condescending doctor. As she puffed along beside him Màiri thought how Dr MacLaren was a typical medical man, issuing orders and leaving her to do the hard work. She would ruin her good clothes in the process, too. Then no doubt he would saunter in later to claim all the credit.

She sent the anxious stationmaster off to organise clean cloths and hot water before opening the door to the waiting room. She could hear stifled groans coming from what looked like a pile of discarded old clothes, strewn across two chairs, pushed together in a corner. As she moved closer she saw a pair of protruding feet, grubby toes clenched tightly, battered boots lying abandoned in the corner. Their laces had long gone and the escaped tongues lolled over. One sole was parted from the upper; it gaped open in a silent scream.

Màiri winced at her creaking knees as she knelt down. She reached out to ease back the matted shawl that the young woman was gnawing.

‘I’m Màiri MacPherson, isean, a midwife. What are you called?

The pale young woman opened greenish eyes clouded with pain. She let go of the blood flecked cloth.

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