Woman on Ward 13 by Delphine Woods

Author:Delphine Woods [Woods, Delphine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pepper Pot Publishing
Published: 2020-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

16

1900

Sunday, 23rd December

Nobody wanted to get up this morning. I even had to wake Marion and prod her out of bed. The patients were just as reluctant, but we rounded them up for their baths and made them eat whatever breakfast they could stomach.

I wasn’t sure the change in routine suited all the patients. Mrs Huxley was on edge once again, and Alice was rather lively, charging about the day room, coming close to knocking the vases off the tables. But it is Christmas, so allowances can be made.

I asked Mrs Leverton if she will be having any visitors. I had expected some to come before now, what with them having to travel from Wales, but Mrs Leverton told me she doesn’t have any visitors at all.

‘The last time I saw Henry was from the carriage window when they took me away,’ she said as we stood on the mound in the grounds.

‘He has never been to see you?’

She shook her head.

‘Why?’

‘Because of what I did.’

‘You told me you had a sister, though?’

‘Alexandra.’

‘Surely she visits from time to time?’

‘She sent me a letter almost a year into my time here. In it, she said she’d had a baby and must put her son before her own feelings. She said she would not be as selfish as our mother, or me.’

Perhaps the letter had some effect when it was first received, but now Mrs Leverton looked nothing but bored as she informed me of her abandonment.

‘What about James or Patience? Do you think they might agree to it now? They are adults, after all. They might like to get to know their mother, and what better time to make amends than at Christmas?’

At last, a change came upon her face. Was she daring to imagine it?

‘I do not believe they would wish to see me.’

‘You don’t know that. When did you say James visited you that time?’

‘1883. He had just turned eighteen.’

‘There you are, then. He is a man now; he might be more reasonable.’

She nodded a little, regarding the silver landscape that stretched out beyond our feet.

‘Why don’t you write to them?’ She was forever writing letters; they were just always to the wrong person. ‘Tell them how sorry you are, how much you would love to see them, convince them you are…’

‘Sane?’

‘Yes, to put it bluntly.’

She laughed at me and cupped her hand against my cheek. ‘Forever hopeful. But where would I send the letters? I have no idea if Argoed is still standing, let alone if James still lives there. And if James is there, where is Patience? She will be married now, she will likely have children of her own.’ She was quiet for a moment, her face scrunching in the low sunlight. ‘I could be a grandmother, Katy. I have never thought of it before now.’

I could see her sinking. I took her hand. ‘Come on, let’s go and write those letters.’

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