An Unsinkable Love - By Terri Benson Page 0,14
will be popular in Europe this year so we can plan our clothing designs for next year. It takes a year or so for the European designs to make their way across the ocean, you see. We manufacture ready-to-wear clothing, so of course our garments aren't so elaborate, but I've always believed every woman should be able to wear stylish clothes even if she can't afford French couture."
"It sounds to me like you know quite a lot about the business."
Elizabeth gave a tiny, deprecating wave. "Percy used to talk to me about things in the evenings over a glass of wine.
Eldon is too busy. He has a great deal of meetings with 50
An Unsinkable Love
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buyers, and travels frequently to make sure our business expands. I often don't see him for days at a time."
"What are the styles this year?" Bree said, but a knock on the door interrupted her. She opened it to find Mr. Cave standing next to a tall, kindly-looking woman with a black leather bag in hand.
"This be Dr. Leader, miss." He bowed to the doctor and inclined his head to Bree before he headed down the corridor.
Bree quickly ushered Dr. Leader into the bedroom, and the woman went straight to Elizabeth. She knelt beside her and asked a series of questions, while she gently examined Elizabeth's side, back and stomach. After a thorough assessment, she pulled several lengths of linen from her bag and carefully wrapped the material around Elizabeth's torso, securing the end with a tiny barbed clip. She stood and said,
"Let's get you to bed."
"Oh, I can't do that. Miss Barry is going to alter my gown and then I have to get ready for dinner with my husband."
An argument ensued as the doctor tried to talk Elizabeth out of her plans, but she relented when she realized Elizabeth's decision was firm. Turning to Bree, Dr. Leader said, "She mustn't move any more than absolutely necessary."
Bree nodded.
"Madam, if you insist on this foolish behavior, I can guarantee you'll be in constant pain." Dr. Leader reached into her bag. She held up a white envelope. "I'll give you some powdered laudanum, but I beg you not to stay out late, and don't have any alcohol. You shouldn't be alone after you take 51
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it, either. I don't know how you'll react. You might wake up disoriented and dizzy and end up causing further damage."
"Well, Eldon certainly can't stay with me. He has several business meetings scheduled after dinner. I'll be fine."
Bree spoke up. "I could sit with you."
Elizabeth regarded her with grateful surprise. "You would do that, my dear? Oh, I am so sorry, I never even enquired as to your first name. Please forgive me."
Bree smiled away the apology. "My name is Bridget.
Please, call me Bree. I haven't any plans tonight, and if you have other gowns you'd like altered, I could do them for you while I'm here."
"It's settled then," the doctor said as she snapped her bag shut. "Take a quarter teaspoon of powder in a glass of water right away. You may have another quarter teaspoon before bedtime if you need it, but not a pinch more."
Bree nodded and accepted the proffered envelope. She walked the doctor to the door where they paused.
"Under no circumstance should you leave her alone. Do you understand?"
Bree looked into Dr. Leader's sharp brown eyes and realized the woman had formed the same conclusion as she about how Elizabeth came to be hurt. "Yes, I do. May I call you if there are problems?"
"Certainly. Send the steward for me at any time. Good night."
Bree shut the door and went to the cabinet against the wall. She poured a draught of water from a pitcher into a cut-glass tumbler. She carefully measured out the prescribed 52
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amount of pain medicine, stirred it into the glass and took it in to Elizabeth, who drank it down without protest.
They sat talking about France for a quarter hour, until Elizabeth said she felt quite a bit better. After first making sure the pins and measuring stick were handy, Bree helped Elizabeth to her feet and gently tugged the gown into place.
The bodice gaped away from the woman's chest and the fabric fell in unbecoming folds to puddle on the floor, like a child playing dress-up. Clearly, she'd lost more than a little weight and was near to skin and bones.
With a nod and smile to reassure a fretful Elizabeth, Bree went to