The Winter Orphan

Neither of them heard the knock at the door or the voice that called out, nor did they hear the footsteps on the stairs as Annie screamed and screamed. She was panting wildly, her eyes fearful as the pain ripped at her.

‘Where is the midwife?’ a man’s voice asked suddenly and Bella whirled to see a man in clothes that fitted him like a second skin. She had never seen one in her life but she thought he must be a gentleman.

‘She is away helping a farmer’s wife and no one else would come,’ Bella said, a sob in her voice. ‘I think Annie will die.’

‘We cannot have that,’ the man said and smiled at her. ‘Are you Bella?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then take care of your mistress while I fetch the doctor. I shall be as quick as I can …’

Bella wanted to beg him to stay but he was out of the door and mounting his horse. She watched Annie writhing in pain, terrified that the gentleman would not return in time and her mistress would die. Going nervously towards the bed, she stroked Annie’s sweat-stained brow.

‘The gentleman has gone for the doctor, Mistress. He won’t be long … he promised he would be back soon.’

Annie stared at her wildly, her body tossing as she arched with pain. Unable to do more than comfort her with words, Bella stayed by her side, reassuring her as best she could, until after what seemed ages, she heard the sound of voices downstairs and then the gentleman brought the doctor into the room.

‘Fetch up the boiling water, girl,’ the doctor said, ‘and then you can help me. Now I shall examine you, young lady and we shall see if this child is willing to be born …’ he said, bending over Annie.

Annie looked at him with frightened eyes as he felt her stomach and then nodded. But for all his brusqueness the doctor’s touch was gentle and reassuring. She was panting again. He told her to count and to breathe steadily, and then he reached towards her dilated opening. ‘I will try to be gentle …’

For answer, Annie screamed as the doctor turned the child. He was working for some moments and she screamed several times, tossing her head wildly in her agony.

‘I am so sorry but … ah yes, now baby is facing the right way. I think we shall do much better now, Annie …’

Annie screamed and began to writhe and push as she felt movement inside her. Her child was suddenly in a hurry to be born; pain caught her, making her pant and push, and then the child’s head emerged and with a whoosh and a rush of blood and slime, the large body of a male child came slithering into the world. The doctor tied the birth cord securely and then cut it with the silver penknife he’d earlier taken from his pocket. He picked up the babe and showed him to his mother and then gave him to Bella. After washing his hands and pocketing his knife, he looked at Bella, motioning for her to change the water in the bowl.

‘Wash him, child, and then give him to his mother. In a moment you can do what is necessary to make her comfortable but just now she needs to rest and enjoy the babe.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Bella jumped to obey. She was stunned by what she had seen and watched as the doctor cleared away all the bloody towels and wiped some of the worst from the mother before covering her. She poured fresh warm water into the empty bowl and gently cleansed the babe of mucus and blood, wrapped him in a large clean white towel and took him to his mother. Annie lay still, just looking up at the doctor, clearly shocked and exhausted by the birth. Then, as he was about to turn away, she caught his arm.

‘Thank you, sir. My husband will pay you.’

‘Mr Stoneham has already paid me; had it not been for him I confess I should have been loath to set foot in this house again.’

Annie looked away in shame, for she knew her husband’s reputation. ‘See the doctor out, Bella – and ask the gentleman to step up here please. I wish to thank him.’

Bella did as she was told. In the kitchen the stranger asked the doctor if all was well and they spoke together in hushed voices for a moment. After the doctor had left, the gentleman turned to Bella.

‘Is your mistress comfortable? Has she all she needs?’

‘She asked that you would step up to her room so that she might thank you, sir.’

‘Very well …’ He followed her back to the room above, where Annie was looking down at the child that had caused her so much agony.

‘I am glad to see you safely through your ordeal, ma’am.’

‘Thanks to you, sir,’ Annie said looking up at him in wonder. ‘It was good of you to fetch the doctor for I know well he did not wish to come. May I know your name, sir?’

He smiled at her as she kissed her child and nursed it to her breast. ‘I am Arthur Stoneham and I came here to see how Bella was faring …’ He glanced at the girl. ‘Does your master treat you well, child?’

‘He gave me to Annie – and I like helping her. It’s better than the workhouse,’ Bella said truthfully.

Arthur nodded, watching the mother and child for a few moments as they settled and got to know one another, the child snuffling as it latched on to its mother and nuzzled her, seeking warmth and the sustenance instinct told it was to be found here.

‘Leave them together for a while and follow me downstairs, child. I would speak with you, Bella – and you should make a cup of something hot for your mistress.’

Annie was looking at her son with tears on her cheeks. She had suffered but now she had the son that Karl had longed for. ‘Thank you, Mr Stoneham – I believe you saved both me and my baby for if you had not fetched the doctor we might both have died.’

‘I did what I was able, ma’am,’ Arthur said.

Bella followed Arthur downstairs. When they reached the kitchen she filled the kettle once more. The gentleman was looking about him.

‘Where do you sleep, Bella?’

‘In the attic, sir. It is warm and I have a bed.’

‘And are you fed adequately?’

‘Annie makes the best pies and cakes I’ve ever tasted, sir.’

‘Then you are content to stay here?’

Bella hesitated. She did not dislike the work she did and her mistress was kind enough despite the occasional sharpness of her tongue and a small slap if she was tired and angry.

‘It’s all right, sir.’ Bella did not know what else to say. ‘It’s better than the workhouse. I hated it there and the food is much better here.’

Mr Stoneham hesitated, and then he nodded. ‘Very well, I shall not try to buy your bond if you are content here. Now, please tell me what you know of the babe that was sold at the workhouse.’

‘I saw the babe born, sir – and they thought the woman they called Jane would die, but the babe was healthy and then Jane recovered and asked about her child. They told her she was dead, but I’d seen the mistress take her away and the child was crying loudly. Later, I saw the mistress give the babe to someone in a carriage but I saw not who it was.’

‘And you were certain it was Jane’s babe she gave?’

‘Yes, sir. I know it was Jane’s child for there were no others in the house that night nor for some weeks after.’

‘Good – then I may ask you to sign your name to a paper for me another day. Will you do that?’

‘Yes, sir – though I can write no more than my name.’

‘That will be fine, Bella.’ He put his hand in his pocket and brought out a florin. ‘This is for you – I would give you more but you might be accused of stealing it.’

‘I’ve never had a coin before but I’ve seen one of these – Florrie had one from the lady she works for and she bought some plums for us all and shared them.’

Arthur nodded. ‘Is there anything more you can tell me, child?’

‘I’m not sure, sir.’ Bella looked puzzled. ‘Well, there was the boy that disappeared …’

Arthur’s brow furrowed. ‘A boy disappeared?’