The following is based on the 2007 BBC miniseries Cranford, in which Heidi Thomas adapted Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford, Mr. Harrison's Confessions, and My Lady Ludlow for the small screen. I have invented a few characters of my own and departed from the canon in other respects.

Chapter 5: Not Made of Stone

"Miss, I have news concerning Mr. Carter." Miss Galindo's heart had nearly stopped at those words, delivered when Anthony Beckett had intercepted her as she set off towards home one evening. She had been distracted and anxious to begin with, her mind consumed with the state of Lady Ludlow's fortunes, and she had hardly expected this young man to emerge out of a doorway and address her.

"I beg your pardon, Miss, but I didn't know where else to turn," Anthony began. Now that was a minor lie; he had already resolved to speak with Mr. Carter's physicians as well. But still he knew he had to seek out this lady with the sad eyes, whose frequent visits to Mr. Carter had so piqued his interest.

Indeed, he had been watching her for some time, and understood she was no mere clerk. He had in fact seen her in the company of Lady Ludlow, who addressed her by her Christian name, and in a gentler tone than Anthony had ever heard her ladyship use. Miss Galindo, whoever she was, might well prove the means to getting around Lady Ludlow's wrong-headed approach to Mr. Carter's treatment.

Of Miss Galindo Mr. Carter had not spoken a word to him, though she came regularly to see them both and make her reports. Each meeting, though, was fraught with tension, and that too had excited Anthony's curiosity. Well, Mr. Carter's accident had surely upset the workings of the estate, but evidently the damage had gone well beyond that.

Now she was standing before him, and it was the first time he had ever seen her alone. He thought he detected a touch of fear in her eyes, for all that her gaze was direct. And he had excited her curiosity with his words; he could see that.

She was looking at him now, with those fine brown eyes, and had composed herself again.

"Is there some trouble?"

Such a musical voice she had, so soft, fine, and low. He swallowed, steadied himself, and said, "There's something I must tell you about Mr. Carter, and before I do, I must say he hasn't given leave for me to speak – to you or to anyone. In fact he doesn't know I'm here."

Now she was curious; he could see it. "What is it, Anthony?"

"Well, Miss, you know well what a fine recovery Mr. Carter has made, how much stronger he is now –"

"Yes, Anthony, and that's no doubt owing to the care he has received." She gave a soft smile. "Lady Ludlow has been most generous, and of course you have given extraordinary service to Mr. Carter."

She had given him he opening he needed. "Thank you, Miss, but there's one service I haven't been able to perform for Mr. Carter. Lady Ludlow won't grant him visitors, aside from the doctors, without her leave, and I worry about his spirits."

"Indeed." She had taken offense at that; he could see it. He had presumed to question Lady Ludlow's judgment, and to Miss Galindo, who was clearly something to her ladyship.

"Indeed, Anthony, you need not trouble yourself that there is a dearth of people worrying about your Mr. Carter. We have all spent ourselves watching and praying for his full recovery."

"Please, Miss, I meant no offense. Only believe me when I say the man is in despair – and I've seen many like him, Miss, and it troubles me."

"And what do you think I have in my power to do about it?"

"Well, Miss, the doctors might listen to you, and perhaps even her ladyship would –"

"That is enough, Anthony. I can scarcely imagine Lady Ludlow, or for that matter Dr. Harrison, would need my counsel in this matter."

"But she might listen, Miss, and for the sake of her steward's life. I mean –"

"'Her steward's life'?" Now she was angry. "What do you mean to say to me? That Mr. Carter will do himself an injury without my direct intervention?"

Anthony hesitated. He had always been cautious about leaving Mr. Carter on his own, given his state of mind, but he couldn't quite judge the full extent of the man's despair, nor did he care to test it…

He took a deep breath. "As I said, Miss, I've seen many like him, and he ought not to be kept locked away, like he was – "

"That is enough. That is enough." She was thoroughly rattled. For a moment she seemed unable to think of anything to say to him. Then she recovered and added, "Thank you for revealing what you have observed, but I am certain we can rely upon Mr. Carter's physicians to judge the best course of treatment for him."

"I beg your pardon, Miss, but please –"

"Yes. I understand you speak out of concern. I will remember that. Good night, Anthony."

"Good night, Miss."

That Beckett fellow certainly had ideas above his station, thought Dr. Morgan. Imagine, confronting himself and Dr. Harrison about the care of one of their patients! But Frank had taken the man's impertinence in stride, thanked him for his concern, and agreed that the time had come to advance to the next step in treatment. And Jack Marshland had more than concurred, said it was high time they bullied Carter out of that modified bath chair Lady Ludlow had placed him in, and got him out and about. After that Frank and Jack had gotten into a lengthy discussion about the merits of sending poor Carter clear to London to get fitted for a new limb and how soon that might be attempted. There was no stopping these lads, thought Morgan, once they'd become infatuated with a new plan.

Speaking to Lady Ludlow about the matter had proved easier than any of them had expected. Dr. Morgan prepared the ground, as it were, by complimenting her ladyship's dedication to her steward. No son could have been cared for as devotedly as had Mr. Carter, said Dr. Morgan, and surely his recovery must owe to a great deal to Lady Ludlow's efforts.

Then Dr. Harrison announced that it was customary, following the first phase of recuperation, to introduce more normal activities to the patient, to encourage him to get about on his own, including by the use of crutches. The object, explained Dr. Harrison, was to allow Mr. Carter to resume walking, once he had been fitted with a suitable device. Surely it would please her ladyship to see Mr. Carter more his old self, and able to resume his normal duties.

What none of them knew, of course, was that Lady Ludlow had been contemplating her next steps for some time. Anthony Beckett, for all that she'd openly dismissed his claims, had unsettled her with his revelations about Mr. Carter's state of mind. And then Laurentia Galindo, whose judgment she had no reason to question, had confided her own fears.

No, she was willing, indeed eager, to entrust Mr. Carter into their care.

"My lady, I can assure you there have been many advances in recent years, and you need not worry that Mr. Carter will be unable to resume his normal duties, " Dr. Harrison had assured her. "Why, you will be amazed at the possibilities –"

"Yes, Dr. Harrison, I am certain I shall be, but perhaps you had best share this with your patient."

Dr. Harrison grinned. "I apologize, my lady. Of course you are right."

To be continued...