Thank you so much for your patience! It's been a busy week, but I am back. I hope you like chapter 4 just as much as chapter 3 :)
Final Stretch
Many pairs of frazzled and frightened eyes honed in on the woman. Sybil rose from her place and looking steadily to Isobel she calmly asked:
"What do I need to do?".
Isobel also stood up and, looking down at her hands, gave a defeated sigh before wiping them on her already ruined dress.
"Right," she said, looking up again.
"I want you to remove and empty one of the writing desk drawers"
Confused but trusting her cousin completely Sybil nodded and walked quickly passed her, sliding the top drawer out of the writing desk and beginning to empty it. Isobel turned to Mary who was once again staring helplessly at her Mother.
"Mary," she said eliciting a jump from the young woman.
"Would you take your mother's hair down?"
Mary came back to her senses quickly and shook her head in compliance, coming around to the other side of the settee to do as she was asked. She then turned to Edith who was now anticipating instruction.
"Edith, once your sister is finished with it I want you to take the drawer, pour some water into it, and then hold it up"
Edith shot her a questioning look but made her way to Sybil's side without a word. Sybil took the last few papers from the drawer, placed them neatly on the desk and handed it to her sister. Edith did as she was told and then stood there rather awkwardly with the drawer in her hands. Violet, who had been watching all of this unfold, looked at her granddaughter with a look not often present on her face. One of complete and utter confusion. She turned her head to look at Isobel who was watching the drawer intently as if waiting for it to do something. Violet opened her mouth to speak but before she could say anything Isobel had begun to move again. Now, taking one of her gloves, which she had deposited on a chair by the window upon entering the Library, she gave it to Edith and instructed her to wipe out the drawer and ensure it was clean. Edith took the glove but couldn't bear to sit silently in her confusion any longer.
"B-but what on Earth for?"
Isobel answered, "After the baby is born we will need to clean it. But we are without a basin and it seems the drawer can hold water so we'll have to make do with what we've got. The water will not be warm which is also not ideal, but Sybil if you sit with it in your lap between your knees it might help. Now Edith, empty it into the fireplace and take some of the whiskey to wipe it down."
A look of complete admiration spread across Edith's face. As she began to clean the drawer she took a moment to silently acknowledged the sheer brilliance of her cousin's mind, the connections it had made under such pressure and her incredible ability to adapt to and calmly deal with the situation before her. There was now a second thing that was sure to come out of tonight. The new respect for her cousin she would leave this room with.
Another hour came and went as the family waited anxiously. The cold had crept its way into the library and all but poor Cora were beginning to feel it. Robert, who had gotten up as Cora went to walk around the room again had undone his tie and it lay strewn on the floor. His usually well-kept hair was a mess after running his hands subconsciously through it several times in nervousness. Matthew sat across from him hunched over and fiddling with his hands while staring at the floor. Both of their heads shot up as they heard another pain-filled groan come from the opposite end of the room. Robert rushed over and Matthew looked on with growing anxiety. Isobel was also quickly at the woman's side.
"Cora darling, I think it's time I see how things are again."
Cora nodded through the pain and once it subsided grabbed Robert's hand and he led her back to the makeshift bed. They resumed their previous arrangement and Isobel did her check. Standing up with slightly wide eyes and taking a deep, steadying breath Isobel said:
"Well then Cora, Robert. Are you ready to meet your baby?"
Thank you all so much for reading! Shoutout to the people who have already taken the time to review this work, it means the absolute world to me! Any more comments and feedback would mean just as much. See you soon!
