Murder of Innocents: A Redmond and Haze Mystery Book 14 (Redmond and Haze Mysteries) by Irina Shapiro

Author:Irina Shapiro [Shapiro, Irina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Merlin Press LLC
Published: 2024-09-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Jason was relieved when Mrs. Grimsby finally arrived. She was a stern-looking woman of late middle years and was about as comforting as an avenging angel. She glared at Lucinda as if the young woman had somehow let her down, and then turned to Jason, rearranging her face into an expression of bland subservience.

“Thank you for coming, Mrs. Grimsby,” Jason said. “I will be glad of your assistance.”

“What will you have me do, Doctor?” Mrs. Grimsby asked. “Her ladyship doesn’t appear to be in labor.”

“She’s not,” Jason replied.

He outlined what he intended to do and watched Mrs. Grimsby’s eyes widen in shock. She had most likely never witnessed a cesarean section and had no idea what to expect, but she could hardly refuse to help since word would quickly spread that she wasn’t as capable and experienced as she would like her patients to believe. The look of uncertainty was quickly replaced by one of speculation. Jason would bet his hat that if the babies lived, Mrs. Grimsby would take the credit and say that it was her expertise that had saved the day, and if they died or if Lucinda did not survive the birth, she would blame it on the jumped-up American doctor who had forced the tragic outcome and clearly wasn’t worth his fee.

“Mrs. Grimsby, if you’ll wash your hands,” Jason said as he unclasped his medical bag.

“What?” the midwife demanded.

“Kindly wash your hands,” Jason repeated.

“What on earth for?”

“To reduce the chance of infection.”

“Is that some newfangled foreign notion?” Mrs. Grimsby asked as she reluctantly pushed up the cuffs of her gown and reached for the soap on the washstand.

“It is,” Jason replied. “And I would ask you not to question my orders during the operation, even if you don’t agree with them. Time is of the essence, and we must work in tandem.”

“Whatever you say, Doctor,” Mrs. Grimsby replied, and dried her hands on the towel.

The midwife and Lucinda both watched in horror as Jason laid out his instruments and prepared the ether mask. Lucinda’s skin was flushed and her forehead clammy to the touch. Her hands were shaking, and her breathing was rapid. Jason was sure her blood pressure was dangerously high and offered up a silent prayer that he would save all three Foxleys. Mrs. Grimsby positioned herself next to the bed in readiness, cotton cloths for swabbing and towels at the ready.

“I want my husband,” Lucinda cried desperately. She turned toward the door as if expecting Sir Lawrence to walk in.

“You’ll see him after it’s all over, my lady,” Mrs. Grimsby promised.

“No, I need to see him now. There are things I need to say to him. In case I die,” she added bravely.

“Lucinda—” Jason began.

“I know what you’re going to say, Dr. Redmond, but you cannot guarantee a successful outcome. I need to put my affairs in order.”

“What affairs can be so important just now?” Mrs. Grimsby asked. Her annoyance was obvious, and Jason thought she wanted to get the operation over with as much as Lucinda.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.