A Sudden, Fearful Death

"Because they don't know any differently, of course!" Sir Herbert snapped at him. "Half of them have no idea how conception takes place, or why, let alone how to prevent it." He reached for a cloth and wiped his hands. "Most women come to marriage without the faintest idea what it will involve, and a good many never learn the connection between conjugal relations and innumerable pregnancies." He held out the soiled cloth. Hester took it and replaced it with a clean one. "They are taught it is their duty, and the will of God," he continued. "They believe in a God who has neither mercy nor common sense." His face was growing darker as he spoke and his narrow eyes were hard with anger.

"Do you tell them?" the young doctor asked.

'Tell them what?" he said between his teeth. 'Tell them to deny their husbands one of the few pleasures the poor devils have? And then what? Watch them leave and take someone else?"

"No of course not," the young man said irritably. "Tell them some way of…" He stopped, realizing the futility of what he said. He was speaking about women of whom the great majority could neither read nor count. The church sanctioned no means of birth control whatever. It was God's will that all women should bear as many children as nature would permit, and the pain, fear, and loss of life were all part of Eve's punishment, and should be borne with fortitude, and in silence.

"Don't stand there, woman!" Sir Herbert said, turning on Hester sharply. "Have the poor creature's remains taken to the mortuary."

* * * * *

Two days later, Hester was in Sir Herbert's office, having brought some papers for him from Mrs. Flaherty.

There was a knock at the door, and Sir Herbert gave permission for the person to enter. Hester was at the back of the room in a small alcove, and her first thought was that he had forgotten she was still present. Then as the two young women came in, she realized that perhaps he wished her to remain.

The first was approximately thirty, fair-haired, her face very pale, with high cheekbones and curiously narrow and very beautiful hazel eyes. The second was much younger, perhaps no more than eighteen. Although there was a slight resemblance of feature, her coloring was dark, her eyebrows very clearly marked over deep blue eyes, and her hair grew from her brow in a perfect widow's peak. She also had a beauty spot high on her cheekbone. It was most attractive. However now she looked tired and very pale.

"Good afternoon, Sir Herbert." The elder spoke with a catch of nervousness in her voice, but with her chin high and her eyes direct.

He rose very slightly from his seat, only a gesture. "Good afternoon, ma'am."

"Mrs. Penrose," she said in answer to the unspoken question. "Julia Penrose. This is my sister, Miss Marianne Gillespie." She indicated the younger woman a little behind her.

"Miss Gillespie." Sir Herbert acknowledged her with a nod of his head. "How can I help you, Mrs. Penrose? Or is your sister the patient?"

She looked a little startled, as if she had not expected him to be so perceptive. Neither of them could see Hester in the alcove, motionless, her hand in the air half raised to put a book away, peering through the space where it should have sat on the shelf. The names ran like an electric charge in her mind.

Julia was talking, answering Sir Herbert.

"Yes. Yes, it is my sister who requires your help."

Sir Herbert looked at Marianne inquiringly, but also with an appraising eye, regarding her color, her build, the anxiety with which she wound her fingers together in front of her, the bright frightened look in her eyes.

"Please sit down, ladies," he invited, indicating the chairs on (he other side of the desk. "I assume you wish to remain during the consultation, Mrs. Penrose?"

Julia lifted her chin a little in anticipation of an attempt to dismiss her. "I do. I can verify everything my sister says."

Sir Herbert's eyebrows rose. "Am I likely to doubt her, ma'am?"

Julia bit her lip. "I do not know, but it is an eventuality I wish to guard against. The situation is distressing enough as it is. I refuse to have any more anguish added to it." She shifted in her seat as if to rearrange her skirts. There was nothing comfortable in her bearing. Then suddenly she plunged on. "My sister is with child…"

Sir Herbert's face tightened. Apparently he had noted that she had been introduced as an unmarried woman.

"I am sorry," he said briefly, his disapproval unmistakable.

Marianne flushed hotly and Julia's eyes glittered with fury.

"She was raped." She used the word deliberately, with all its violence and crudeness, refusing any euphemism. "She is with child as a result of it." She stopped, her breath choking in her throat.

"Indeed," Sir Herbert said with neither skepticism nor pity in his face. He gave no indication whether he believed her or not.

Julia took his lack of horror or sympathy as disbelief.