CHAPTER 2

Dr. Williams was on his way to the house for a normal check up. When he arrived, Robert, the gardener came out from the house and told him that Mrs. Clifford was having some sort of a fit and that Mary the housekeeper had just insisted that he go and fetch the doctor. Dr. Williams darted into the house and called out to Mary. She hollered that she and Mrs. Clifford were upstairs and bade him come as quick as he could. Dr. Williams sprinted up the stairs and found the two women huddled together.

Mrs. Clifford was crouched up on the bed moaning and panting heavily, Mary sat next to her holding a glass bowl half full with a thin green liquid, vomit no doubt. Mrs. Clifford told him between breaths that her contractions had started late last night and she thought she would be alright for the morning. She knew he was coming in the afternoon and thought she would be fine until then, but then the vomiting started and then the pain in her side got exceedingly worse. Mary insisted on sending Robert for the doctor. Mary also sent the staff to collect various items and to prepare things for the baby's early arrival.

Her labor progressed over the next few hours and as she began to feel the urge to push. Things got worse, her body was scalding to the touch and the sweat was leaking out of her pores. She began to pass out between contractions and she would wake up wildly as the pain reached its highest point. When this happened he would tell her to push to get the baby out and she would. She pushed as hard as she could for the few seconds she was awake before she passed out again. After about two and a half hours of this she woke up enough and was able to push effectively.

As she pushed the head out, her broken rib snapped and burst through her skin. He was able to pull the baby out as she screamed in agony. Mary dropped the glass bowl that held the vomit and grabbed a blanket. He cut the cord and handed the babe to Mary, who bundled up the thriving infant. He delivered the placenta and it dropped to the floor as he saw another head coming down the birth canal. Mary shouted for Robert to bring a basin of hot water.

Mrs. Clifford wasn't moving and he knew the baby would die if he didn't get it out soon. He instantaneously began pushing on her belly to get the baby out. This woke her up and she arched back under his pressure and let out another tortured scream as more of her ribs broke. He continued to push. Mary came to help him hold her down. Then Mrs. Clifford abruptly sat up and this applied just enough pressure to get the next baby's head and shoulders out.

Dr. Williams heard the gurgling sound erupt from her open mouth and knew he was going too be late. She was drowning in her own blood and vomit. He could hear a sick hissing sound as the air from her lungs escaped around the rib that had pierced her skin. Her body went limp and he heard the baby cry. He reached between her legs, splayed unnaturally beneath her, and delivered the second baby. He wrapped the baby in a blanket, handed it to Mary and began trying to resuscitate Mrs. Clifford. He pumped his hands as quick as a heartbeat to no avail. She would never hold her twins.
One boy, one girl. Two souls bound together by the tragic death of their mother. Two souls bound together for eternity.

James began to weep over his wife's body, his shoulders heaving with the weight he now felt. He took a cloth lying near him and soaked it in the warm water from the basin. He gently wiped away the blood splatters around her eyes and cleaned the drying vomit from her cheeks and around her open mouth. He pressed her lips together and kissed her softly. Then he picked her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest and started to rise. Dr. Williams put a hand on his shoulder and apologized. James shrugged away from him and stood up heading for the door.

Mary, who had been attending to the babies, inquired after him if she could call Robert up to help him. James would not respond. He headed down the hall and made for the stairs. The staff, standing motionless in the foyer below, bowed their heads as he trudged past them. He couldn't see any of their faces, as his eyes were filled with tears.

He placed Marion's body in the chaise by the fire, near the window overlooking the gardens. This was her favorite spot to be. She had told him once she preferred this spot to any other in the house. She could often be found sitting here reading or looking out at the gardens, thinking and humming to herself. He put her hands together and placed them on her stomach. Then her fell to his knees at her side and slid to the floor, burying his face in her side. He stayed like that all night, weeping and moaning softly to himself. No one bothered him.

Mary looked in on James several times throughout the night. She would peek in to the room; see if there were any changes and retreat before she was noticed. Before she retired to her chambers, she covered James' shivering body with a quilt and put out a pot of tea and some biscuits that were meant for dinner. She wasn't sure if he would ever recover from the loss if his wife. She knew, everyone who knew him knew, he loved that woman dearly. He loved her with a passion and an enthusiasm which most people had never seen a man bestow upon another human being, let alone a woman.

Mary had seen that same dedication in Marion as well. The happy couple lived in their own world of romance and devotion towards the other and everyone in their presence knew it. They knew and reveled in it. Many of the staff that had come and gone over the years had told Mary she was very lucky to be able to stay and live with the Clifford family. The household was run smoothly and always full of affection and compliments.

Mary had spent a good number of hours alone with Marion when James was away. Marion would invite Mary to sit with her and they would talk for hours. Marion would often request that Mary would accompany her on her outings to the nearby town. When Mary wasn't able to go with her, Marion would purchase little trinkets and small glass figurines and wrap them in fancy paper with pretty bows. She would tell Mary that she had missed a wonderful afternoon and would hold the small package in her hand for Mary to take. Marion would clasp her hands together and watch as Mary opened the gift and as Mary's eyes would widen with surprise, Marion would squeal with delight and tell her that she was obliged to go along with her next time. Mary would curtsy and promise she would do her best to try and come.

In one of their talks, Marion had confided in Mary the things that she would need once she had delivered the baby. Marion had requested a wet nurse to be brought on to help with the baby and to be the child's nanny. Mary had watched Marion interview a few of the local women. Afterwards she had told Mary she wanted someone with a more whimsical background, one who would tell her child stories and strengthen her child's imagination. She had heard talk at the local market just the other day of a boat arriving from Ireland bringing many men, women and children. No doubt there would be many people looking for jobs among them. She had sent one of the staff to inquire after an Irish wet nurse. The next morning Siobhan arrived.