Innocence
William was awake that night as he had been for several nights in a row. His beloved mother's death had taken a toll on his mind and body. He lie in bed staring up at the ceiling. He sighed. He got out of bed and stole down the hall.
His sister and nurse were asleep in the nursery. Mairéad slept soundly in the bed near the cradle. William walked softly to the bassinet and looked through the gossamer cloth at the sleeping infant within. He used his hand and parted the cloth and looked down.
His only days old sister slept peacefully. She was on her back. Her tiny arms were raised up beside her head, her tiny hands curled. Her head was to the side. He heard her breathing. She was so beautiful and innocent.
He reached a hand down and touched the one of the tiny hands. He touched the palm. As if by instinct the hand opened and then closed tightly over his finger. He looked at the hand. It was already long boned and slender, but yet was incredibly in miniature. She all the same joins he had and a tiny nail. The tiny being was amazing.
He reached in and touched her face with his other hand. She flinched, but did not wake. He caressed her and watched her sleep for a time.
After a time he went back to his room. He laid down on his bed. She was the most innocent person there who was so suffer the most. She had no mother. He father had gone off into town and had not returned for nearly two days. She had only Mairéad and himself to help and guide her.
He settled into sleep and dreamed of his mother. He dreamed of her at a picnic when he had been younger. She had danced about in the grass under the bright sunlight. She had called to him. He had chased her about playfully until she stopped running and turned. He hugged her waist happily. "I love you Mummy."
"And I you…always." She said. Her voice was strangely distant.
"Mummy…" he whispered. He awoke. He whimpered and wept into his pillows.
George Tavington arrived two days later. He wished to be alone. His head ached from drinking from his cups. He was in a foul mood.
He stumbled to his study his clothes in disarray. He grabbed a decanter of brandy and poured himself a drink.
William looked through the cracked door at him. Something was terribly wrong with him. William watched as he threw books about in his rage and finally collapsed weeping into a chair.
William moved back to his room. Mairéad was holding Amanda. Another woman was there. William is behind the crack in the door. The nurse gave the woman the infant and unlaced her bodice. Just before her bosom fell she cover self with a blanket. Baby Amanda went under the blanket.
William arched an eyebrow. He walked in wondering what they were doing. His nurse smiled. "Hello William." She said.
The woman was very shy who held Amanda. She refused to look up at him. He recognized her as one of the laundry maids. She was very young and pretty. He remembered her belly had been swollen like his mother's had been.
She smiled at the boy as she lifted her eyes. "So you are William."
"Yes." He said.
He heard sounds coming from under the blanket. He cocked his head to the side.
"Your sister is a hungry lass." The woman said. She said looking down at where Amanda's feet stuck out and moved every once in a while. She looked back up at her brother. "My name is Charity." She said.
"I've seen you here." William asked. "Where is your baby?" He looked at her. "You had a baby in you didn't you?"
She nodded. "Yes." She looked away. "He was weak and died just after I bore him." She said softly.
"But she had plenty of good milk to spare so she is Amanda's wet nurse." Mairéad said.
"Wet nurse?" William asked.
Charity lifted the infant from under the blanket carefully. She brought the baby to her shoulder and patted her back gently. Amanda lifted her head and made a soft noise as she settled back against the shoulder. The older nurse took her and held her gently.
Charity rose and began to button her bodice. She noticed William watching.
"You know you look like your father. Those eyes…" She began and stopped.
She looked away. She excused herself and left the room.
"Mairi what was she doing with Amanda?"
"Feeding her, bless her heart. If she did not your sister would die William."
William came over and looked into the folds. Amanda's bold eyes gazed at him. He put his finger in the folds and caressed her cheek. She smiled and giggled. A white substance came up in her mouth. Mairéad wiped it away with the cloth.
"Do you wish to hold her?" She asked.
William nodded and held out his arms. The nurse put the tiny girl in his arms. William walked to the window and looked out as he held her close. "Too bad you are to small and can't go out there and play with me."
The nurse watched them. William was the best big brother the girl could have. He had bonded with her. The nurse saw the baby yawn and stretch her tiny body and settle into her brother's embrace.
The nurse sighed. William was doing remarkably well on the outside having just lost his beloved mother. The baby was none the wiser. The poor dears.