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Post by Sorcha on Feb 17, 2008 3:35:39 GMT -5
*Although Kathy ached to have her daughter at home with her, she agreed that it would be best to place Sorcha under the doctor's care in the less crowded conditions of the big house at Manderley.*
Her Da couldn't bear seeing her like this...
*Sorcha herself lay pale and unconscious in her small bed, her bright hair darkened and damp with sweat as she'd been delivered of a dead baby--a girl. The doctor could do nothing more for them once Sorcha was resting as comfortably as could be expected, and once the room was set to rights, the other servants left them.
A priest gave both mother and child Last Rites before departing, leaving Kathy alone with the sleeping Sorcha and the wee nameless girl.*
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Post by Micaela on Feb 17, 2008 12:10:17 GMT -5
*Micaela poked her head in. She'd been worried to the point of illness ever since she'd heard about Tommy's death. She'd been the one who'd called Dr. Wallace up in Edgecoombe, who she trusted far more than Dr. Laughlin in Kerrith. She'd had to convince him to come on his off day, and had been required to encourage him with a fair bit of bait. She'd made sure the MacNamaras would never know about that.*
"Is she doing better?" *She asked softly. She couldn't imagine how she'd react if anything happened to Liam or Ellie... she'd been ridiculously fortunate in never suffering a miscarriage even at the earlier stages of pregnancy. Her two pregnancies had both ended in happy, healthy babies.*
*She'd brought some hot broth, but she couldn't tell who would need it more. Kathy looked almost as bad as her daughter with worry.*
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Post by Sorcha on Feb 17, 2008 12:14:58 GMT -5
*Kathy had been biting her nails but stood up when Missus de Winter entered the room.*
"She's restin'...the doctor's been a number of times, but...only time will tell if she'll--" *her voice broke and she turned away to hide her tears. She'd lost two children before, but when they were young, much younger--little Jenny to diptheria before she could walk a few steps, and wee Connor had fallen into the river running down to the sea and drowned when he was four. Still--it didn't get any easier.*
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Post by Micaela on Feb 17, 2008 12:17:08 GMT -5
*Micaela set the broth down on a nearby table (she'd send Ellie to go make tea) and went to take Kathy's hand comfortingly.*
"I have a feeling she'll pull through... she's a strong girl."
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Post by Sorcha on Feb 17, 2008 12:23:08 GMT -5
"Aye...that she is," *murmured Kathy.* "An' a good girl, too, God love her...I should have no fears for her soul if--"
*She bit her lip and fell silent.*
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Post by Micaela on Feb 17, 2008 12:27:59 GMT -5
"There's something about the first child, isn't there? They teach you to be a parent, and though it's not favoritism, there's a special sort of bond."
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Post by Sorcha on Feb 17, 2008 12:35:18 GMT -5
*Kathy nodded silently, tears in her eyes.*
"I don't know that I could let her go gently...I'd defy God's will if it meant keepin' her safe wi' me."
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Post by Micaela on Feb 17, 2008 13:17:54 GMT -5
*She hugged Kathy. No, she wasn't a normal employer. She wasn't really a normal anything as far as Manderley went.* "She'll be safe. I don't claim to know God's will, but I can't see Him wanting her back just yet, not at this point in her life."
*Ellie popped in just then. At fourteen, she was still scrawny and bookish-looking, especially in a nightgown that was too long.* "Did you bring the tea?" *Micaela asked. Ellie nodded.* "Good girl. Set it on the table and get to bed; you've got lessons tomorrow." *Ellie did so, giving Kathy a little smile. She liked Sorcha. She'd seen the way her brother looked at Sorcha, too... and had decided she far preferred her to Marianne, who was constantly referring to her as 'squirt' and telling her to fetch things. She didn't want anything to happen to her.* "I hope she gets better, Mrs. MacNamara." *She said softly, before disappearing.*
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Post by Sorcha on Feb 17, 2008 17:48:51 GMT -5
*Kathy smiled weakly at Ellie before the girl left.
A long while later, Sorcha's eyelids flickered.*
"T--Tommy..." *she whimpered.*
"...he...he's gone, love," *whispered Kathy.*
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Post by Micaela on Feb 18, 2008 8:27:20 GMT -5
*Micaela stood.*
"I'll leave you, Kathy. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call on the house phone. I'll be in the library."
*She turned to go.*
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Post by Sorcha on Feb 18, 2008 8:46:27 GMT -5
"What the hell is a phone? We're still in the 19th century over at the MacNamara place!"
*Kathy nodded to Micaela and bent over her daughter as Sorcha became more lucid, steeling herself to tell her daughter the news that may well be the final straw on her daughter's broken heart.*
"...the babe...Sorcha..."
*A long moment later following a hushed murmur, Sorcha let out a piteous moan and broke down into tears.*
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