William moved his right hand to his jaw and cupped it just in front of his mouth, as he waited for a reply.
"Michaela, you need to tell me the truth." He saw her chin quiver at the familial use of her Christian name once again. "Were you hurt?" The words left his mouth easier the second time.
She dropped her eyelids closed, and brought her head downwards, unable to withstand his reserved look of pity.
William allowed his final question to linger in the empty silence between them, as he had received the answer he feared through her severed eye contact alone. He considered that Michaela might be about to verbally confirm his suspicions, as he noticed the corners of her mouth twitch almost imperceptibly.
She felt his gaze on her through the darkness of her closed eyes.
She loathed it.
The tingling sensation returned to her cheeks, as she felt her chin tremble involuntarily once again. Stop it. He just feels sorry for you.
Michaela kept her gaze on the pale blue quilt below her, as she tentatively fluttered her eyes open, and indicated her response with a weak nod.
Now he knows. Now they will all know. You have shamed yourself, Michaela. You've brought this dishonor all the way home with you. You never should have come here. Nothing can ever be the same now.
William saw the small gesture of affirmation, and felt his left hand grow clammy against his knee. "Thank-you," he phrased the words strangely, not knowing where they had come from. "I don't know what help I can be, Michaela. I can do my best to see that you're released from here. I can make some enquires, see if there's not somewhere." He turned his head, momentarily distracted by a commotion from the corridor.
"I'm sorry. Michaela, I need to know. Did you come here to try and end this pregnancy?" William received an affirmative nod far quicker this time and decided to continue with his reluctant personal line of questioning. "Who did this to you?" William's voice was defensive and empty. He dropped his right hand from his face and leaned ever-so-slightly closer to the side of the bed, hopeful of a verbal response.
Michaela heard the tenderness in his voice, as she struggled with the voices within her head, which pleaded with her to speak. Her eyes darted nervously from his face, as she battled against the argument being fought out within her mind.
Be quiet. Don't you dare say one word, Michaela. Every choice you've made has ended in disaster. Stop now, before you just make matters even worse for yourself.
She lowered her head further and frowned as she tried to rationalize with the voices in her head.
But he said he would help me. I'm tired of deceiving people. I'm tired of being strong. Still the banter continued; Telling anyone of this scandal will not improve anything, Michaela. It will only disgrace you further. And now that you are here, it will only ruin your father's name and reputation. There is nothing anyone will do for you now. You must face it, Michaela; you will be having this child.
She was pulled from her troubled thoughts by the feeling of a hand on her shoulder. Without choosing so, Michaela recoiled sharply from the physical contact and rolled onto her right side. Along with the defensive gasp which leapt from her throat, Michaela felt the trapped tears spill from her eyes, and drew her clasped hands tighter against her upper body.
"Forgive me, I," William sighed, with indescribable regret, however neither person had time to linger on his foolish gesture, as the door across the room flew open, and raised voices of protest were heard from the corridor.
"Mother, no!" Rebecca arrived in the partially opened doorway to pull back forcefully on her mother's left arm. Brian had managed to squeeze into the gap between them, still overly excited by his Grandmother's unexpected arrival minutes earlier.
"Mrs. Quinn!" William spluttered, as he rose immediately to his feet and crossed the room.
"What on earth is going on in here? Michaela?" Elizabeth gripped the edges of her large, layered skirt, still somewhat out of breath from her hasty entrance.
Michaela felt the blood-chilling fear hit her chest in a heartbeat, the older woman's impossibly curt and crisp words confirming her identity, without Michaela having to open her eyes. Still turned on her right side, Michaela was able to keep her eyes firmly shut, and could only beg with every muscle of her being that her mother would fall for her pretense.
No. Please God, no. Please, please make her leave. Please don't let her find out. Please.
She felt the silent prayer willed from her heart; able to picture her mother's astounded expression from the tone of her voice alone. I swear, I'll do anything, just please don't let Mother find out.
Michaela focused her efforts on regulating her breathing, feeling the air being pushed in and out of her lungs as she continued to feign sleep.
"Michaela?" Elizabeth approached the bed, one eyebrow raised suspiciously. The telegram she had received earlier that evening had been succinct, and it wasn't until the elderly woman saw her youngest daughter before her, that she truly believed the contents of the message.
"Ah, Mrs. Quinn. Michaela needs to rest. Perhaps we might all wait outside," William attempted to usher the feisty woman towards the door, both Rebecca and Brian peering into the room with mixed expressions of alarm and excitement respectively.
"I don't understand. What is she doing here? What's wrong with her?" Elizabeth turned back to meet her youngest grandson's eyes. The small boy's face animated eagerly as he blurted out the first explanation that came to mind.
"Ma's havin' a ba," The child felt his aunt's right hand secure fiercely around his mouth, as she interjected with a high-pitched voice.
"A, a bad fall, Mother. Michaela, ah," Rebecca cleared her throat and continued, "she is here, ah, for a," the oldest Quinn daughter glared up at the physician for assistance.
"A medical conference and," William too was lost for words, however Rebecca had by that stage recovered from her panic.
"and she fell, at the hotel. She was unconscious, and so she was brought here. I promise you, Mother, I had no idea she was here either," Rebecca hesitantly let her hand drop from Brian's mouth, the young child glaring up at her in worried confusion.
"I see," Elizabeth replied slowly, as she turned back to look her daughter up and down once more.
"That is correct, yes, however, there's no damage done. She'll be fit to be released tomorrow," William frowned, noticing Michaela's left hand move ever-so-slightly.
"Oh, well then they can stay with me, that will be perfect. I've organized a supper tomorrow evening, and," Elizabeth enthusiastically began making plans, not expecting her oldest daughter to oppose her quite so forcefully.
"No, I'm sorry, Mother. Michaela and Brian will be staying with us. It has been arranged," Rebecca wrung her hands out as she anticipated her mother's objection.
"Don't be ridiculous. My house is far larger than yours and with Edmund and the children, you've not the room," Elizabeth dismissed with a disregarding sigh of contempt.
Rebecca drew a determined breath, "I said they will be staying with me, Mother. There shall be no discussion." Rebecca felt her voice waver, aware that never in her life had she been so direct, however knew the alternative was catastrophic.
William felt his jaw tighten as he watched the unmitigated glare of disbelief sweep across Elizabeth's face.
"Well. I certainly know where I stand," she defended, her nasty tone being utilized solely to shield the hurt she felt at such rejection. "I trust I shall at least be seeing you tomorrow evening, for supper as arranged?" Elizabeth queried hastily, the humiliation of having her hospitality so rudely turned down melted away any genuine joy she might have otherwise felt regarding her youngest daughter's unexpected presence.
"I, of course, Mother," Rebecca finished succinctly, everyone in the room remaining quiet whilst the elderly woman slipped back through the doorway and disappeared without a single word of farewell.
Brian was the first to break the silence, "Aunt Rebecca, is Grandma mad?" He turned back to stare up at his aunt, after having watched Elizabeth hurry away down the corridor.
"No, sweetheart. She just wasn't expecting to see you, that's all." Rebecca rubbed the child's back soothingly.
Michaela tentatively opened her eyes, and turned her head to her left, scanning the room without a sound.
"It's all right. She's gone, Michaela," William reassured, however was still preoccupied by Michaela's troubling disclosure.
"Ma!" Brian pulled away quickly from Rebecca's side and bounded across the room.
"Brian," Rebecca disciplined automatically, as William raised his left hand to interrupt her.
"Perhaps we might talk outside briefly, Mrs. Dickinson?" He watched the small boy perch by his mother's side on the edge of the bed. Michaela did not seem bothered by the child's presence, and posed no resistance when he gripped her left hand securely.
"Of course." Rebecca noticed the redness of her sister's face, along with her dried tears, as she stepped back out into the corridor with the physician.
William closed the door gently behind them, Rebecca immediately muttered an apology. "I truly am sorry about Mother. I had no idea she even knew Michaela was here. Apparently, she received a telegram that Michaela had taken ill," Rebecca explained hastily.
"That's quite all right, no harm has been done." He cleared his throat and searched for the most appropriate words. "I was able to speak with your sister, somewhat and, I'm afraid your suspicions were confirmed," William saw Rebecca's face shatter with the confirmation.
"Somebody hurt her? I, I don't understand; why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she come home sooner? I could have, I would have done anything for her," her voice was strained and emotional.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Dickinson. I wish there was something I could do," William became momentarily lost in his thoughts, however quickly continued updating her. "Michaela confirmed her pregnancy, however and I must stress that we keep this to ourselves, she also informed me that this overdose was in an attempt to end the pregnancy prematurely. Now, this needs to be kept in the strictest confidence, as you are aware of the laws which forbid such actions. I will need to be selective in my explanation to the other doctors, if we've a chance of getting her released. I will be informing them, that, as a physician, she administered the Laudanum in an attempt to prevent premature labor, and that she simply, in understandable panic, administered a dose larger than was suitable, given her size. I think it wise Michaela stay in tonight for further observation, however, if you're willing, you may take her home 'll need to keep a close eye on her, however, she's still very upset," William concluded, and clasped his hands in front of him as Rebecca took in the information.
"I will, Dr Burke, thank-you. I don't know what we would have done without you. I don't think I know what to say to her, is there anything I should do, I mean," Rebecca drew several breaths in an attempt to calm herself.
"Don't you worry. I'll drop by tomorrow evening to check on her. Michaela still isn't talking and I wouldn't force her to just yet. We still don't know what she's been through. It's best to wait. Give her time to calm down, to realize she's safe." He soothed, as he rested his right hand softly on her shoulder.
"Yes, you're right, Doctor, I still can't believe this. Did she say how? Did she say who did this to her?" Rebecca felt her mouth dry at the very comprehension.
"No. She wouldn't tell me. It might take awhile, Mrs. Dickinson. You just need to get her home, get her settled. Once she feels secure, that she is among family, I'm sure she will talk to you," William reassured, and turned back to open the door. A smile came to both the adults' faces when they saw Brian nestled against Michaela's left side, his fingers intertwined with hers.
"And then Barney got the doctor and he said we had to take you to the hospital," Brian looked up as the door opened, his mood much more elevated since he'd been able to see his mother.
"Come along, sweetheart." Rebecca extended her right hand, as Brian slipped off the bed and looked back towards his mother.
"But, I, where am I going?" He frowned, his eyes darting between his mother and aunt for several moments.
"You're going to spend the night with us, sweetheart. Your mother will be coming home tomorrow, all right?" Rebecca watched the discomfort play across the child's face.
"Can't I stay here?" He gestured back to his mother, his voice slightly elevated.
"No, Brian. Come along. Penelope's waiting at home. You remember her, don't you? Rebecca smiled softly as the small boy lent back across the bed to embrace his mother.
"Night Ma." He chewed on his lower lip for several moments, hopeful of a verbal reply. When none came, Brian dropped his head, and turned back towards his aunt and William.
"You'll see her tomorrow, son," William reassured, as the boy paced back slowly to the doorway. Rebecca took his hand and met eyes with William.
"Thank-you once again, Dr Burke. See you tomorrow." Her eyes drifted back to her younger sister. She barely recognized her through the blankness in her expression and the emptiness in her eyes. "Sleep well, Michaela. We'll take you home tomorrow," Rebecca blinked several times, still hopeful of a response. When none came, she patted Brian warmly on the shoulders, and directed him out into the corridor. The pair left without another word.
William waited until their footsteps were heard in the long corridor, before he crossed the room, and gingerly reached for Michaela's wrist to check her pulse.
"I'll sort everything out with Dr Hodge, but Michaela you need to promise me that nothing like this will happen again. Or there won't be anything I can do to help you." He gently placed her wrist back down on the bed and moved to update her chart.
"Will you give me some indication, Michaela?" He looked up to see her nod weakly.
"Very well. Now, I'll be informing Dr Hodge that you believed yourself to be in premature labor, and subsequently took the Laudanum, to prevent further contractions. He'll believe that it could have been a foolish, albeit, honest mistake, and you'll be discharged tomorrow. I'll stop by and check on you tomorrow evening." He scribbled some notes on the dull, off-white paper. As he closed the brown chart, his expression of bewilderment mixed with shock lingered. "Try and rest, Michaela." He shook his head several times worriedly and quietly left the room.~.~
X.O.X
~.~
Brian rolled over onto his back, and looked up at the ceiling of the large, elegantly furnished room. He couldn't sleep. Miserably, he pushed back the heavy quilt and crawled to the edge of the double bed. The young boy padded silently across the room, his bare feet cold against the floorboards. He opened the wooden door, and paced down the first flight of stairs, the voices from the floor below growing steadily louder which each step.
"I don't know, Edmund! I've already told you, it happened so suddenly!" Brian recognized his aunt's voice immediately, and froze; he knew the sound of adults arguing.
"Rebecca, this is just scandalous! I can't believe you allowed yourself to become involved in something so disreputable, without sending for me," Edmund Dickinson, although a well-intentioned man of fine moral fiber and loyalty, had found his wife's news of great concern.
"She is my sister! What would you have had me done? Ignore her and little Brian? I can't believe you! Where is your sense of, of family? Of compassion!" Rebecca brought her hands to her hips, never having raised her voice in front of her husband until now.
"Don't you dare presume to question my character. I simply wish I had been consulted, rather than informed that we'd be exposing our children to," Edmund couldn't find the word he was after, Rebecca, however, was able to deduce his meaning from the look of contempt plastered across his face.
"How dare you talk about my own sister, like some, I can't even finish. I told you what the doctor said, did I not? She needs us, Edmund. Please, don't make this more difficult than it already is," Rebecca softened her voice, and dropped her arms either side of herself.
He cleared his throat, "I'm sorry, dear but, for the sake of the children, might we not make her condition public. Edmund Jr. won't understand the sensitivities of the situation and Penelope will just be confused." He carefully began unfastening his necktie, wanting to end the conversation as soon as possible.
"Fine. I'm sure it will only be for a few weeks, Edmund, and I do appreciate your support," Rebecca leant forwards to kiss her husband softly on the cheek.
"Are we still going for supper at your mother's tomorrow evening?" He crossed the room, tired from a long day at work.
"Yes. I think we need to. It will seem conspicuous if we are absent," Rebecca replied, as Edmund nodded and headed towards the staircase.
Brian swiftly recommenced his descent, so as not to be accused of eavesdropping. He saw his uncle's surprised glare as he looked up towards the first floor. "Weren't you in bed, young man?" Edmund spoke sternly, although his face softened at the sight of the child in his son's large-fitting night attire.
"I couldn't sleep, sir," Brian hung his head, not moving until he heard his aunt's soft voice.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry. I should have checked on you sooner. Come down here," she beckoned warmly, the child obeyed immediately, as his uncle passed him hastily on the stairs.
Brian arrived in the sitting room, looking from the cozy fire to his aunt's open arms.
"Why don't we sit for awhile, Brian. It has been a difficult day for you, hasn't it?" She gestured towards the velvet settee, and both made themselves comfortable.
"Real scary," he paused, deep in thought. "Aunt Rebecca, how come everyone's mad at Ma? Colleen, the doctors, Uncle Edmund. She do somethin' bad?" He frowned, as Rebecca secured her arms tightly around his small shoulders.
"No, angel, don't you think that. Everything will be all right, Brian," she pressed his head against her shoulder, waiting until the small boy had relaxed into her embrace. "Brian, is your room comfortable? Or were you just not tired, yet?" She queried, watching the flames flicker in the large fire before them.
"It ain't that. Just, well," he tried to ignore the feelings of childishness that crept up on him. "I ain't been away from Ma since she got taken and then when I had all the bad dreams, she used to let me sleep with her, so I just got worried. What if I have a nightmare and I can't check that she's all right?" Brian sighed, comforted by the familiar feeling of his aunt's fingers as they ran through his fine hair.
"Ssh, Brian. Michaela is perfectly safe in the hospital, and she'll be coming home with us tomorrow." She felt the child's head press snugly against her chest.
"Aunt Rebecca, can ya sing me a lullaby? Ma does that when I can't sleep." He glanced up at her hopefully, as her hand rested against his back.
"Sweetheart, I don't think I know any," Rebecca looked down at the miserable expression on the boy's face.
"Well, what about a story? Can you tell me a story about when you and Ma were little. Did she ever get into trouble? She told me about the time Aunt Marjorie cut her hair, Did Ma ever do anything bad like what Aunt Marjorie did to her?" His eyes widened in intrigue.
"Oh my," she chuckled lightly, "I'd almost forgotten about that, Brian. Let me think. Michaela used to get into trouble quite a lot, but really only from Mother, when she tried to get out of dress shopping. Although, there was one time, it was just before I was married. Michaela would have been about nine or ten, I suppose," Rebecca paused as the young boy slipped his hand around her back and pressed up warmly against her. "She was always reading, or doing her schoolwork, but on this particular day, she was late coming down for supper. Father was rather angry, because he needed to be back at the hospital, and she was keeping everyone waiting. When she finally did appear at the dinner table, we all began eating, but Michaela didn't say a word," Rebecca looked down as Brian contributed to the story.
"Ma didn't say a word? The whole time?" His eyebrows raised in intrigue.
Rebecca smiled. "It wasn't until we were finishing dessert and Father reached over to see if she had a fever, because she was so quiet and he hadn't seen her eat any supper. Maureen and Claudette started giggling, and Mother pried it out of them, that Michaela had secretly snuck food from her plate and carefully hidden it in the pockets of her pinafore. Of course she denied it, until mother threatened to send her to her room for a week, and she ran off. Even with Father bellowing at her, and he'd never yelled at her, her entire life, she still wouldn't return to the table." Rebecca paused as Brian once again spoke up.
"So she got into trouble? Coz she didn't do what she was told?" He clasped his hands in his lap, having found the story very comforting.
"She would have been in a lot of trouble, had Father not very quietly followed after her, all the way through to the garden and into the cellar, where he found her feeding a mother cat and its kitten who had just been born. The mother cat had been injured in a fight and hid under the house. Michaela had found her and helped her deliver her kitten. By the time Father found out, it was too late. The mother cat was too weak, and died, there wasn't anything Father could do to save it. Michaela was awfully upset, but then she realized that the kitten needed her." Brian, still captivated by the story, blinked several times, before he responded.
"So Grandpa weren't mad at her for sneaking the food then, because she was tryin' to help the sick cat," Rebecca nodded and the child continued, "Did Ma get to keep the kitten?"
"Mother was furious, because she thinks animals are unclean. However, Father put his foot down and Michaela was allowed to keep the kitten," she frowned, and narrowed her eyes slightly, "I just can't remember what she called it. You'll have to ask her, sweetheart. Oh that poor little kitten. She used to wrap it up in blankets, and pretend to bandage its feet. It's a wonder it never scratched her," Rebecca reminisced contently, until Brian crossed his legs and let his eyes slowly flutter closed.
"Ma fixed up my deer for me, Byron, and then we had to let it go, coz Ma said it was mean to keep him tied up in the barn. Aunt Rebecca? Is Ma gonna get better once she comes home?" His voiced was hushed and sincere.
"What do you mean, Brian? Dr Burke said she's fine," she met eyes with the boy.
"But she ain't fine, she's not like herself. She yelled at me, really scared me. Don't even think she likes me anymore." He looked back towards the fire, as he sniffed back tears.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I wish I'd known what had happened, but you can stay with us, as long as you need to. It will be all right, Brian, you'll see," Rebecca neatened up a loose strand of blond hair on the child's head.
"How can it be all right, though? If Ma doesn't want to go home. What about Colleen and Matthew? They'll get worried us being gone so long," Brian drew a worried breath.
"They don't know you've gone, Brian?" She secured her arms around his shoulders once again.
"No, neither does Sully. I thought once she saw the doctor, we could go home again but now, everything's all messed up. I just want everything to go back to normal, instead of Ma all upset and everyone hatin' the Indians, and Sully and Matthew fightin' and, just all wrong!" He bit down hard on his lower lip, but could still feel the frightened tears well up in his eyes.
"Brian, I don't understand. Tell me about your birthday, when you said Michaela was, away," she couldn't bring herself to even say the word.
"Was just before my birthday. Started with all this fightin' between the Indians and the army. They were killin' people, and Matthew said there was gonna be a big war between them. The dog soldiers took Ma," Rebecca frowned and interrupted the child.
"Dog soldiers? I don't understand, is that the army?" she voiced her confusion.
"No, they're the bad Indians. The ones that kill people. They ride around and shoot things, even came into town and started fires." He remembered the frightening raids vividly. "Sully wouldn't tell me why the dog soldiers kidnapped Ma, just said that they were bad. Then the army held Cloud Dancing and all the other Indians prisoner, and said that they wouldn't release 'em until they got Ma back, and so Sully went to try and get her back, but he got hurt and nearly died and then when he didn't get back, all the men went out to find them and then, on my birthday, they got Ma back, coz I prayed to God to ask him to get her back, so he did." Brian raised his right hand to wipe the tears from his cheeks. "'cept she was real sick and the doctor had to come to make her better. Then when she got well, we went home. The kids were real mean at school, sayin' bad things about Ma and teasin' Colleen and me but the Reverend fixed them, and things were real good for ages, kinda like how they used to be, until Ma started gettin' angry with me and wouldn't play checkers with me or read to me, or nothin' and then she said we're comin' here," he shrugged, before he turned back to his aunt for a reply, confused by the morose expression on her frozen face. "Aunt Rebecca? Honest, it's the truth." He stumbled awkwardly, and was unaware of the enormity of his statement.
"It's all right, sweetheart. I know you wouldn't say something that wasn't true." She fidgeted with the collar of his nightshirt for several moments, still grappling with the specifics of the child's conversation.
"Then how come ya face went all white? Coz ya worried 'bout Ma?" He lowered his head miserably.
"Yes, Brian. How about going back up to bed now?" She dropped her arms from the child's back, and gestured for him to get to his feet.
"I guess so. Aunt Rebecca? Are we gonna stay with you until the baby's born?" He pulled himself up and waited for his aunt to do likewise.
"I don't know, Brian. That's up to Michaela. Come along, off to bed." She tapped him on the shoulder lightly, and watched as the child nodded and departed obediently from the room.
She turned back to gaze for several minutes into the flickering fire, Brian's naïve words having filled in the missing pieces in her mind, all too clearly. She could hear the child's footsteps upon the stairs, as she watched the flames dance between logs of wood; Michaela's actions were understandable now.
She'd never been out west, only read and heard her mother's albeit biased criticisms. Although she would never be able to fully appreciate what her sister's life had become, she knew it was not the guarded, protected life she had once lived.
Rebecca thought back to some of Michaela's letters and their visit last year. Michaela had mentioned working with the Indians, she'd mentioned several by name, whom she had described as friends. Rebecca shook her head hopelessly, also aware of what was regarded 'common' knowledge in Boston. Indians were savages, cannibals, barely even human. Even though she knew this was not how her sister felt, Rebecca struggled to make peace with the child's disclosure.
Fresh tears ran from her eyes; how dare somebody do this. The images in her mind alone caused her to feel ill. She knew now why her sister had kept so much hidden from the family.
Rebecca drew her hands to her face, as she struggled to accept the reality that had fallen into place. Everything made sense now. And if the unthinkable was in fact a reality, Rebecca knew she would do everything in her power to support her sister.
That somehow, they would deal with this, as a family.
Rebecca also knew vehemently that this was one scandal her mother would never survive. In that heartbeat, the eldest Quinn child knew with all certainty that there would be one secret she would be keeping from her mother her entire life. Elizabeth Quinn would never endure the horrors of Brian's recount. As much as she loved her mother, she loved her sister more; and she knew in that instant, that if Elizabeth were to discover their secret, Rebecca would be forced to choose between them. She also knew in that moment, if forced, which choice she would make.
~.~
X.O.X
Saturday, 21st August, 1869
One Day Later - 17 Weeks Gestation
X.O.X
~.~
"What's there to do 'round here, then?" Brian stuffed his hands into his pockets, and turned to the small, redheaded young girl who had clasped her hands delicately against her pale pink dress.
"How do you mean? After lunch, I usually read, or play in my room. Sometimes Mother teaches me sewing." Penelope stated crisply, and although delighted at having someone her own age to socialize with, was unaware of how bored Brian had been that morning.
"Don't ya ever go outside and play ball, or ride horses or, nothin' fun?" Brian leant against the wooden banister, and felt the tights begin to itch his legs.
"Outside? Sometimes we go on a picnic, and I have my riding lesson every Thursday after school. What would you like to do then? You are the guest." She shrugged her shoulders with a friendly smile.
"I dunno. If I were at home, we'd go ridin', or Sully'd take us fishin', or swimmin', all sorts a stuff. What about, can we play checkers?" Brian's face brightened momentarily, as Penelope considered the suggestion.
"I guess so, I've never played. Edmund plays with his friends," she muttered, and paced across the large entrance hall into the sitting room to locate the game.
"You mean you don't know how? That's easy, I'll teach ya, been playin' for years. Can beat everyone except Matthew, you remember my brother Matthew, don't ya?" The young girl searched around the precisely tidied room, as Brian kept chattering away.
"Sure, he and Edmund got into a big fight and Father scolded him for days." She looked up at the sound of a knock at the front door.
"Ain't you gettin' it?" Brian scurried across the room eagerly; however Penelope's frown of disapproval slowed his pace.
"No. Ellen always answers the door. That's the rules." The ten-year-old girl asserted very clearly. Brian had come to his own conclusion.
"It's Ma! Come on, Ma's back!" He lost interest immediately in the planned checkers game, and raced into the entrance hall. Ellen, the middle-aged maid, shooed him back as she answered the door.
Brian clung to the edge of the staircase, as Rebecca arrived into the hallway, and showed both William and Michaela inside.
"Ma!" Brian pushed away from the banister and was about to rush to his mother's side, when Rebecca pulled lightly on his left arm, to hold him by her side.
"But I," he frowned, however, was quickly overlooked by the adults as they launched into conversation.
"Afternoon, Mrs. Dickinson," William removed the top hat from his head, and with a small smile, watched as Rebecca awkwardly embraced her youngest sister.
"Thank-you, Dr Burke. For everything," Rebecca murmured sincerely, slightly concerned by Michaela's continued silence.
"Quite all right. I'll leave you to get her settled." He glanced over at Michaela long enough for Rebecca to take the hint and gesture for Ellen to take Michaela upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms.
"Come on, Ma. Aunt Rebecca's house is real big, like Grandma's, and my room's got all these fancy pictures and my own bathroom. I'll show ya!" Brian tugged on Michaela's right hand, as she silently followed behind the chambermaid and the young boy, up the stairs and out of sight.
"Penny, go and take Brian, go and play for awhile, sweetheart," Rebecca dismissed her inquisitive daughter, who frowned, and looked up towards the stairs.
"Mother, is Aunt Michaela all right? She's not like she was last time. She's quiet," The red-headed ten-year-old observed precociously.
"Hush, child. Upstairs," Rebecca ordered. The young girl obeyed her mother instantly this time, and disappeared up the stairs and onto the landing.
"I do apologize, Dr Burke." Rebecca shook her head. "Is everything all right?" She enquired with concern.
"Physically, yes. The overdose doesn't appear to have had any ill-effects, however she's not the same person I knew a year ago," William kept his voice low and serious.
"No, I," Rebecca paused immediately, suddenly realizing that to simply blurt out the specifics of Brian's disclosure from the previous evening would be less than appropriate. There were some things that even friends did not need to know. She sighed, and cringed with the reminder, however, brushed over the topic suitably: "I can't begin to imagine what she's going through. I'll stay with her, talk to her. Perhaps in time." Rebecca glanced back towards the stairs hopefully.
"I'll stop by again tomorrow, although I trust you will send for me if there are any further problems." William placed his hat back softly on his head and turned towards the large front door.
"Of course, is there anything," Rebecca stopped, as William remembered the items in his left hand.
"Here, for what it's worth," he smiled weakly, as he delicately passed Michaela's medical bag into her sister's hands.
"Oh, is there," Rebecca stumbled, however William knew what she was thinking.
"There's nothing she can harm herself with. She probably didn't even notice it was gone. I also contacted the hotel last night, they'll be dropping by the rest of their luggage this afternoon." William opened the door, and both glanced out onto the busy street.
"I can't thank you enough." Rebecca squeezed his arm with a sincere smile.
"It's not necessary. I'll see you tomorrow," William stepped outside, and strode professionally towards the waiting buggy.
Rebecca waited for several moments, before she closed the door and paced slowly towards the stairs. As she began the long ascent, she brought her right hand to her cheeks, to weakly dab at the moisture, which had collected under her eyes.
She had to be strong.