Contains a sad fragile theme, it was quite common in the 1600s.

Chapter Three

A couple of hours later, in the chamber of Sinead and Seamus. Sinead was actually dressing two maidens though since she was the current mistress of the estate it was her chore to make sure they all look immaculate for the ball later. Cheryl and Theresa Brady were both sitting on a chair facing the mirror. With Sinead taking out a pair of iron scissors, Theresa was confused.

"It's okay,child" Sinead spoke, as she touched the natural blonde hair. Theresa found herself shivering all of a sudden.

"What is thee going to proceed?" Theresa asked her.

Sinead ignored her, as she placed the scissors against her hair.

"It's okay, cousin" Cheryl told Theresa. Her eyes widened. She will have to trust Sinead, it was her mother-in-law after all. Sinead earned her trust quite frankly.

"Calm thy blood child" Sinead started chopping, with Theresa shaking still. It was her hair after all and Sinead hasn't mentioned how much she is going to cut of. She can do this without her consent as well.

Theresa was gripping onto her own hand tightly. Cheryl looked between her and Sinead. With Theresa looking gormlessly into the mirror. Sinead had a serious face on, as she done it with a lot of concentration. Theresa's blonde hair falling on the floor below her.

"The peasant servant will clean it up later" Sinead commented,before going quite again.

"Of cause mistress" Cheryl spoke, Sinead just nodded as she carried on chopping and chopping. Cheryl's eye widened as she carried on chopping. Theresa scoffed quietly as she could feel all her beautiful hair going on her neck. When will Sinead stop this?

Her hair was now up to her shoulders, yet Sinead carried on with the same serious face. Theresa moved her head slightly, though felt Sinead cup it with her hands and moved it back to the middle and proceeded in what seemed like never-ending chopping. Cheryl was watching, she looked as scared as Theresa. What on Earth is Sinead doing? Will she do it to her next?

"That is thy punishment" Sinead commented,stepping back. Theresa's hair was now a crop. Something which was not allowed in this day and age.

"Punishment for what?" Theresa asked, as she let tears fall down. Cheryl was shocked, as she looked behind at Sinead.

"If thee hath to ask, than thee hath not learned thou's lesson" Sinead replied, Theresa found herself in floods of tears as she felt the remains of her hair.

"Calm thy self child; dost thee always act so childish?" Sinead asked, looking at the crying girl.

"I dost not know what I didst to deserve this" Theresa cried.

"Thee will know in time; now stop acting like a child and let me proceed" Sinead went behind her again.

"I must look more handsome than thou" Sinead added.

"Mistress, thee always looks handsome" Cheryl piped up, that is when Cheryl knew why Sinead done what she done. Of cause she feels threatened by this younger beautiful blonde girl.

Sinead felt sharp pains in her sides, she held onto the side of the chair. She fell to the floor.

"Mistress, mistress" Cheryl quoted with panic in her voice, her cheerful tone was vanishing almost.

"Get peasant" Seamus groaned weakly.

Theresa stopped her crying and kneeled on the floor besides Sinead. Cheryl rushed to her feet,opening the door wide. Sienna Blake was outside cleaning the floor.

"Peasant, quickly we need thy assistance" Cheryl called,Sienna leaped to her feet instantly and rushed into the chamber with Sinead holding onto her stomach. The child was on its way.

"O, peasant collect a peasant who hast given birth before,please" Sinead groaned.

"Thy child is coming?" Theresa asked.

"Aye" Sinead weakly mumbled.

Sienna rushed outside, her footsteps banging loudly on the floor. As she held onto her poorly made dress, holding it up as she ran and looked down every hall and into every room. Her hair came out from her bonnet,her bonnet fell on the floor though she had to carry on as her hair touched her neck as she ran.

"O,come quickly! Heed! Heed!" Sienna called when her eyes laid upon the servant Nancy Osborne who has given birth to one son before now. Nancy was also a friend of her's.

"What are thee shouting about?" Nancy asked, she hast not moved in the slightest as she carried on cleaning the floor.

"Mrs Sinead Brady is having her child! Come quickly!" Sienna shouted, as soon as she spoke Nancy dropped the tissue and rushed to her feet. She ran behind Sienna,following her down the halls. Holding onto her loose bonnet. Sienna rushed into the chamber,followed by Nancy.

Sinead was groaning loudly, with blood dripping from her leg along with her waters. Nancy leaped down,this was the only time Nancy could tell the wealthier women what to do.

"Theresa,pass me a blanket please;thank thee madam" Nancy ordered with Theresa rushing over to the bed and passing her the pillow case.

"This will do" Nancy said, as she placed it on the floor. Cheryl was in panic, she hast no ideal what to do here. She was childless and never witnessed a birth and Theresa was childless and she has witnessed a birth but that was not going to be enough. Nancy on the other hand has given birth and has witnessed many births.

"Sienna,other side" Nancy said, Cheryl moving back letting Sienna go in her were the two maids after all.

"Hold her up Sienna; Theresa hold her hand; thy her friend are thee not?" Nancy asked, as Sienna went behind her and held her head underneath her upper part of her chest. Theresa just held onto her hand,no question needs to be asked.

"Cheryl guard the door make sure no gentlemen enter madam please thank thee" Nancy ordered, Cheryl stood up and did just that.

Sinead was groaning loudly as this point,Sinead gripped onto Theresa's hand tighter. Nancy held her dress up.

"Push Mrs Sinead Brady; it won't arrive otherwise" Nancy told her, Sinead did as she was told for once as she pushed, she was screaming with Theresa hating the sound. Another reason why she never wants a child of her own.

"Am I dying?" Sinead asked, while crying.

"No, thy giving birth only" Nancy replied.

Nancy kept instructing her, until a sound of a small child crying was heard. Sinead was still dripping with blood on her leg. Sienna wrapped the small infant in the pillow case. They were not sure of the gender of the child yet.

"Sinead; we will take thy child into the nursery" Nancy told her,Sinead just nodded. Not even looking at her own child. Sienna stood up. The child must think Sienna is it's mother as it looked up at her.

Nancy watched Sienna walking out with the room and across to the nursery room,the child was still crying softly though Sienna calmed the child by rocking it slowly in her arms. Nancy placed a white flannel which she received from her pocket and placed it against Sinead's forehead which was filled with sweat.

"Mistress, Sinead;can thee stand?" Nancy asked her.

"No" Sinead weakly replied, she felt Theresa letting go of her hand. Sinead was still bleeding, and it wouldn't stop. Cheryl was now back where she was previously. Kneeling down.

"Shall I alert my father?" Cheryl asked, it was her father's child too.

"If thee would's" Nancy replied. Cheryl nodded and walked out of the chamber and down the stairs.

Theresa looked back in the mirror, at her crop style hairstyle,before placing on one of the wigs. She heard Sinead mumbling. The wig was quite large on top of her head, she was scared. People would know it's a wig,women aren't allowed the same hairstyle as a man. She will never forgive Sinead for this, or so she thinks.

"Madam Theresa;mistress Sinead woulds to speak to thee" Nancy started.

Theresa knelt down. To see Sinead looking very numb, as she mumbles.

"Sorry" Sinead weakly mumbled, with Theresa looking down at her. Sinead was unknowingly bleeding to death,having her child was too much for her. Nancy stood up and rushed over to the bed to collect the blanket she placed it around Sinead.

She heard Cheryl and Seamus talking outside the chamber.

"My child is born?" Seamus asked.

"Aye father, were not sure whether it's a boy or a girl yet" Cheryl replied.

"O, well we must find out soon" Seamus insisted.

"Would thee like to see it?" Cheryl asked him.

"Aye, I would have to tell Brendan when he comes back" Seamus replied.

"O, aye; I'm sure he will be delighted" Cheryl thought.

"How is my wife?" Seamus than asked.

"O father, I'm not sure" Cheryl honestly replied,looking into the chamber.

"Canst I see my wife?" Seamus asked, again not going to his child first. Though Sinead had an excuse.

"I go and ask father" Cheryl replied,before turning around and walking into the chamber again.

"May my father see his wife?" Cheryl asked.

Nancy looked down at Sinead,waiting for her reply.

"Aye" Sinead spoke gently. Theresa was now shaking, as she stepped back and sat on the bed.

With Seamus walking in, Nancy stood up and bowed for him.

"Go back to work peasant" Seamus hissed, Nancy nodded before rushed out of the chamber and down the hall. She picked up Sienna's bonnet on her way and placed it in her pocket.

Seamus looked back to Sinead, before sitting on the chair and looking down upon her. He looked towards Theresa who was shaking.

"Why thee shaking?" Seamus asked her.

"Sir Seamus Brady; I'm sorry I didst not know I was doing it" Theresa lied, as she stopped the shaking. Seamus nodded,looking back down at Sinead.

"Thee look weak;stand up and rest thy head" Seamus commanded her.

Sinead tried to move though her whole body was almost pinned to the ground.

"Thee needs to carry on dressing Cheryl and Theresa" Seamus added,showing no compassion.

"O father,I think she needs to rest" Cheryl suggested.

"She hast had her child now; she can proceed in what she was doing before" Seamus replied.

Sinead stopped moving all together, as all the bleeding stopped. Her eyes closed moments later.

"Sinead" Seamus rocked her slightly.

"Sinead" Seamus repeated, Cheryl looked over. Her heart was beating rapidly again, her smile turned to a frown. Theresa looked over again, to see Sinead just laying motionless.

Seamus looked down to see her chest was not moving up and down. He breathed before saying.

"She is no longer in the land of the living; she is asleep for aeon, we shall insist on the peasants taking her body downstairs and then bury her" Seamus spoke gently, Theresa let tears fall down, how can Seamus be so calm?

"O father" Cheryl cried, as she stood in the door way.

Seamus lifted her up from the floor and held her in his arms. Sinead sadly died through childbirth, she bled to death, with no real birth control. Though her child was alive and well.