OK here, it is guys, the next instalment of my series. When we left off the last story, Ella had just woken to stomach cramps and bleeding, so is she about to miscarry and lose her baby? Well, there's only one way to find out. Please leave me a review to let me know what you think and a huge thanks to all my usual lovely followers, you are so wonderful to stick by me =)
'Henry, I'm bleeding!' Ella had said to her husband, who had still been half-asleep, but as soon as she had spoken he had leapt out of bed and to her aid.
She was very grateful to have a doctor on hand to take good care of her in her hour of need, as he had gently pulled back the bed clothes to examine her, only to discover a large pool of blood and her white nightdress and bed sheets ruined with deep crimson. From the extent of her bleeding it was very clear what was happening and unfortunately for them both, Henry didn't have his bag at the house.
'I'm going to wake Sybil to come and sit with you and then I'm going to call for Doctor Clarkson; alright my love? But everything is going to be alright, I promise you, you're going to be just fine.' He said as he soothingly brushed her hair back from her face, but the tone of his voice said everything that Ella needed to know; she was miscarrying and there was nothing that could be done.
As he disappeared out into the corridor Ella heard the gentle knock on Sybil's door and she began to cry as she felt another wave of pain and her body began to shake with shock. She was greatful that Sybil didn't take long to come to her aid and she held her twin tightly without saying anything to her.
'Perhaps we should get you out of these clothes, make you a little more comfortable.' She whispered as she still clung on to Ella tightly.
'I want Mama and Mam; I want them to be with me.' Ella sobbed and then she heard Tom's voice from the corridor.
'I'll get them,' he said as he then disappeared.
Minutes ticked by, with Ella writhing in pain as the contraction worsened and then subsided again, before Elsie was the first to rush to her daughter's aid. She had obviously been in a very deep sleep when Tom had woken her, but as soon as he had said that Ella needed help, she had thrown on her dressing gown and rushed to Ella's side, but was shocked by what she saw.
Ella was deathly white and her thighs looked to be shaking madly with shock, as more blood trickled down them and her tears streamed down her face.
'Mam!' She sobbed as Sybil then stepped aside to let Elsie into her daughter and she immediately embraced her, desperate to comfort her and hold her own tears back.
'What's happened?' Cora asked as she then entered the room, still tying her dressing gown in her haste to get to her daughter as she rushed to Ella's other side, just as Henry returned.
'Doctor Clarkson is on his way now Ella, he won't be too much longer.' Henry explained, slightly out of breath having rushed from downstairs.
'Doctor Clarkson? But is there nothing that you can do for her Henry?' Cora asked as she tightly gripped her daughter's hand.
'Unfortunately not; I haven't got my bag here, it's at the hospital, so I have nothing I can give her.' He explained with guilt and regret.
'Might we clean and change her before Doctor Clarkson arrives?' Elsie asked as she turned to look at Henry.
'If she feels up to moving and it doesn't cause her any more pain, then yes, you may clean her.' Henry said with his authoritive doctor's tone, but there was also a great hint of upset in his voice, which he was trying to hide from his wife. 'I'll give you some privacy.' He said as he then exited into the corridor, where he was met by an extremely worried Charlie, Robert and Tom. He explained to them what was going on and the fact that Ella was miscarrying, words that really hurt him as he said them.
'Perhaps we should wait downstairs for Doctor Clarkson to arrive, Carson can open the door for him and show him up.' Robert said as he led Henry towards the staircase.
'Certainly, Milord.' Charlie said with an informal tone, his own grief at Henry's words showing.
'Just before we go down, I'd like to inform my own parents. I will see you downstairs in a few moments.' Henry said as he then disappeared further down the corridor to Mable and Arthur's room.
In Ella's bedroom Cora and Sybil helped her to stand up, but her legs felt very weak beneath her and they had to guide her towards a chair, whilst Elsie pulled the sheets from Ella's bed. Everything was done quickly and skilfully, with no sounds from anyone. Sybil then got some fresh, warm water into the bowl, whilst Cora helped to take off Ella's sodden nightdress, which was tossed into the pile of dirty bed linen. Sybil then washed Ella, who felt completely numb to the actions of her family, as if she was in a world of her own, oblivious to those around her.
Once she was cleaned Cora and Sybil then helped her into some clean clothing, but she was still in a lot of pain and every movement she made took a lot of effort. Ella didn't even notice Elsie disappear and then reappear minutes later with clean bedding, until they all helped her back into the bed.
Downstairs, Henry sat with Robert, his parents, Tom and Charlie. Robert had poured them all, including Charlie, a large glass of whisky as they waited for Doctor Clarkson's arrival and they all sat in silence as they sipped. Mable sat next to her son and lovingly held his hand as he began to let the night's events sink in. He still couldn't quite believe, that only two days ago Ella had given him the joyous news and that now they would both be grieving their loss. How had everything changed so quickly?
Eventually there was the loud bang on the door, which Charlie went to open and led Doctor Clarkson into the library where everyone else was waiting with Henry.
'I'm sorry to drag you out so late Doctor Clarkson.' Henry said rather feebly as his way of greeting his colleague and Doctor Clarkson's heart did go out to the younger man.
'That's quite alright Doctor Forbes; shall we go up to her?' Doctor Clarkson replied, bringing Henry round from his daze as they both walked out of library together.
On seeing Doctor Clarkson, Elsie, Cora and Sybil all vacated the room to allow Ella some privacy whilst he examined her and they all took the opportunity to comfort each other.
'I can't believe how quickly it all happened; we were only together a couple of hours ago and she seemed fine then.' Sybil said tearfully.
'Well there's not very much we can do for her now except be here for her when she needs us; both she and Henry will need our love and support and that's all we can really give.' Elsie said as she placed a hand on Sybil's arm, but she had tears in her own eyes and she was struggling to keep her composure, as was Cora.
'This must bring back some terrible memories for you Mama.' Sybil said compassionately as she went to hug her mother, seeking her comfort as well as offering it, as she recalled the miscarriage Cora had had just before the war and Sybil remembered how destroyed Cora had been for months after it had happened.
'Well I can't focus on me right now; I need to concentrate on my baby and on offering her what love and support I can.' Cora replied bravely, as she fought hard against her own tears, as Doctor Clarkson came out at last, closely followed by Henry, who looked grave and exhausted.
'How is she Doctor?' Sybil asked quickly.
'Well it is as we feared I'm afraid, she has indeed miscarried; I am so very sorry. I've left some pain relief with Doctor Forbes, who will be able to administer it, but the main thing is that she gets some rest over the next few days and that you make sure she eats and drinks properly. She probably won't feel up to it, but she must keep her strength up to aid her recovery.' Doctor Clarkson explained with a saddened expression.
'Thank you Doctor Clarkson.' Cora replied. 'Might we see her now?'
'I've given her a sedative and some pain relief, so she may be very drowsy, but yes, you may see her. Not too long though, she needs to get her rest.'
'Of course Doctor; thank you once again. Mrs Carson, might you be so kind as to show Doctor Clarkson out?' Cora asked and watched as Doctor Clarkson's brow creased, of course, he wouldn't have known about Mr Carson's and Mrs Hughes's wedding, she thought.
'Certainly Milady,' Elsie replied, a little reluctantly as she walked away from her daughter with the doctor.
'So it's Mrs Carson now, is it?' The doctor asked as they walked down the stairs together and was pleased to see the housekeeper give him a small smile.
'Yes it is; Mr Carson and myself were married on Christmas Eve and then Ladies Aurelia and Sybil gave us the news of their pregnancies; it seemed like we all had a lot to celebrate, but now all this…' She said as she then broke off with sadness as she thought about her daughter's happiness had been shattered.
'It is an awful thing that has happened to them and it is usually the case that there's known cause for it to have happened. Doctor Clarkson replied as he doffed his hat at Elsie. 'Goodnight Mrs Carson.' He added as he then walked through the door, which was then closed and locked again by Elsie. When she turned round she saw her husband waiting for her, looking saddened and grave, but ready to offer any comfort to his wife that she might need.
'She's lost the baby.' She said to him quietly as he went to her and enveloped her in his hold. 'Doctor Clarkson doesn't know why, he just said that it's one of those things, but she'll still blame herself, I know she will.' She sobbed and she felt comforted by the fact that Charlie was holding her and rubbing little circles into her back.
'All we can do now is pray for her; pray that she has the strength to get through this and then we have to find a way to help her deal with it.' He whispered as he closed eyes against his own grief, the images of him playing with his future grandchild in the back garden of their cottage, fading into the night.
'I'm going to go back up to her just now, see if there's anything else that I can do for her, but I doubt that there is. Henry is with her and he'll know what to do, so I think the best thing we can do is return to our beds and brace ourselves for the morning. We of course will need to tell the staff, I don't want any noise on that corridor for the next few days and I certainly don't want her to be disturbed.' Elsie replied with a maternal tone, but with the authority of the housekeeper.
One by one everyone returned to their beds and the sky outside began to fade from dark to light. Henry was the only one who didn't sleep though, as he sat over his wife and watched her sleep once the sedative had finally taken affect. He couldn't believe that any of this had happened to them, just when things were beginning to look up for them, they were now facing the grief and torment of the loss of their unborn child.