The Explorers (The Australians Book 7) by Vivian Stuart

Author:Vivian Stuart [Stuart, Vivian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skinnbok
Published: 2022-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Within a few days of taking up residence in Sydney’s Government House, Mrs. Macquarie suffered a miscarriage.

They had been hectic days for the new Governor and his wife, marked by scenes of wild rejoicing throughout the town. There were speeches, signed addresses of welcome, bonfires, a fireworks display, and on the part of the self-styled respectable inhabitants, a succession of receptions and dinner parties, the most lavish being hosted by officers of the 102nd Regiment.

Elizabeth Macquarie, seemingly indefatigable, had taken part in all of these, but now, Jessica thought sadly as she carried a laden tray to her mistress’s bedroom, the poor, sweet soul was paying the penalty ... she had lost the child she wanted so much.

Dr. William Redfern had attended her, and he had done all that medical skill and compassion could do, but it had not been enough. He had prescribed bed rest, purging, and an end to all social activities for at least the next ten days, and he had impressed on Jessica that she must do all in her power to ensure that the patient adhered strictly to his instructions.

But this was easier said than done, the girl reflected. She set down her tray on the bedside table, but her attempt to pour tea was forestalled by the invalid herself, who sat up and firmly took the teapot from her.

“I am not ill, Jessica ... I am a perfectly strong, fit woman. A woman with obligations and duties to perform, in her husband’s support! For mercy’s sake, child, do not coddle me!”

“No, ma’am,” Jessica responded submissively. “But Dr. Redfern did say that you—”

Her mistress impatiently cut her short. “I know what Dr. Redfern said. But I have been here for a week, scarcely stirring hand or foot, eating the slops you bring me and swallowing a succession of the most nauseating potions ... and that is long enough!”

“They will restore your strength, ma’am. They—” “Fiddlesticks!” Elizabeth Macquarie exclaimed. “The good young doctor admits himself that I am as strong as any woman my age—stronger than most, in fact—and that there is no reason of which he is aware that precludes me from bearing a child to its full term. With certain precautions, of course, including bed rest ... and those I shall take more than gladly, should I become pregnant again. God grant I may! But in the meantime ... Ah, child, I am speaking above your head, am I not? And of matters you cannot be expected to comprehend. I forget sometimes how young you are and let my tongue run away with me.” Jessica flushed. “I have some experience of such matters,” she asserted, thinking of her mother’s friend, Morag Macrae, who had openly bewailed the succession of miscarriages and stillbirths that she, poor woman, had also been fated to endure. And besides, had not her mother given birth to wee Flora prematurely and required her assistance, prior to the arrival of the midwife? She added, with conscious pride, “I am a woman grown now, Mrs.

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.