The footman stands stiffly in the corner as Mary and Lord Gratham sit around the table, faces solemn.
Lord Gratham is reading the Harrogate Advertiser while he takes small sips of his tea.
Mary sets her cup gently on the table. "I'm going to visit Dr. Clarkson late this afternoon." As the words leave her lips she feels the uncomfortable silence dissipate.
Gratham raises his eyebrow and averts his eyes away from the paper. "Should I be worried?"
"No don't be."
Her father watches as she slowly runs her long elegant fingers down her face. "May I know what it's about?"
She lets out a huge sigh."It's rather hard to explain but I'm sure nothing is wrong."
"Have you told Matthew?"
Mary looks down at her lap, presses her lips into a thin line. "No, I don't want to worry him. He's been so anxious lately now that the baby's coming."
"I understand." Her father nods his head in agreement and goes back to reading his paper.
Dr. Clarkson has been at his desk only a minute when someone knocks softly at his door.
He strides up to the door, opens it, and his eyebrows knit together in confusion.
"Lady Mary."
"Good morning Dr. Clarkson." She drags her feet as she walks into the room. He follows right behind her. "You seem a bit surprised."
He plops himself down in the chair and folds his arms across his chest. She makes an annoyed sigh and plops down in the chair across from him. "I'd admit I wasn't expecting your presence until four weeks from now." Taking a steadying breath he raises an eyebrow, noting the pale complexion. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, the baby seems perfectly healthy but recently I've been having this dream…about the baby." She places her hands over her enormous belly, closing her eyes. "For some reason I feel I should tell you."
She begins speaking softy. He gets up and paces around the room.
"…..and the last thing I see is the baby lying in a puddle of blood."
He stops pacing and sits back down on the edge of the chair. "It's nothing you should fret about. It's common that you would dream about the baby. Usually dreams are based on what's been on our minds and with the upcoming birth I would find it more unlikely if you didn't have a dream like this one. And after everything with Lady Sybil…forgive me I didn't mean to…"
"It's quite alright." She gives him a nervous smile. "I should be going now." Dr. Clarkson grabs her arm to assist her in getting out of the chair. As she's walking out of his office she turns around and says, "Thank you Dr. Clarkson."
He nods his head. "Take care."
Her head pounded and it felt as if there was a heavy fog in her head. Slowly she made her way down, with each step pain vibrated through her body.
Black spots blurred her vision, causing her to panic. Losing her grip on the rail, she slipped and fell down several stairs. She had landed on her stomach and was experiencing extremely severe, sharp, stabbing abdominal pains.
Mary let out a piercing scream that could be heard for a long distance. Cora hearing the scream, rushed into the room. Everyone else ran in a few seconds later. Mary lay motionless at the bottom of the stairs, her body crumpled and unconscious.
Lord Gratham fell to his knees beside Mary and clasped his daughter to his chest. "Dear God."
Cora turns toward her daughter. "Edith. Go ring Dr. Clarkson, quickly."