“Miss Lucas,” he began, “I understand you have been experiencing a variety of symptoms lately. To ensure we leave no stone unturned, might you be so kind as to elaborate on their nature?”
“Indeed, Doctor,” Charlotte replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I find myself frequently fatigued, even after a full night’s rest.”
“Most distressing,” murmured the doctor, scribbling something on the parchment he held. “And what of your complexion? You appear somewhat pale, if you do not mind my saying.”
“Yes, sir,” conceded Charlotte, glancing down at her hands, which trembled ever so slightly in her lap. “My pallor has become increasingly pronounced these past weeks.”
“Any shortness of breath or heart palpitations?” inquired Doctor Abernathy, his brow furrowing as he considered her responses.
“Alas, yes,” admitted Charlotte, her voice strained. “Even the simplest exertions seem to leave me winded and my heart racing. Moreover,” she continued hesitantly, “I have experienced tingling sensations in my extremities and occasional moments of dizziness.”
“Very well,” said the doctor, nodding gravely. “Anything else of note? Please recall, if you will, that this is not a time for modesty.”
Charlotte blushed deeply, her cheeks suffused with a rare flush of color. “Yes, Doctor,” she murmured, her gaze fixed on the floor. “My stomach pains me often, and there is sometimes… ah… an effusion of blood… not of the monthly sort.”
“I see.”
“The apothecary back in Meryton believes it is a wasting disease and that my inner workings are cancerous. He gave me very little hope, but if there was a way to be more comfortable…”
“I do not yet know, Miss Lucas,” said the doctor, his voice firm and reassuring. “But your candor is much appreciated. Now then, let us proceed with the physical examination.”
And with that, he rolled up his sleeves and set to work.
“MissLucas,”DoctorAbernathysaid at last, “There is no question that your health is precarious, indeed. And it is only natural to fear for the worst when faced with such symptoms. However, I would caution you not to lose hope just yet.”
“Truly?” Charlotte replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Oh, it is impossible, I am sure. With such a decline as I have suffered… pray, Doctor, do not ply me with false hope. I could not bear it.”
“That is not my intention. I am cautious when making this statement, but I do not find all the symptoms that would be consistent with a cancerous growth. Let us not be too hasty in drawing conclusions. I have seen many cases in my time, and your symptoms, though alarming, may point to a less dire prognosis than you imagine.”
As he spoke, Dr. Abernathy busied himself with re-examining Charlotte’s pallor, the blueness of her fingertips, and the rapid flutter of her pulse beneath his practiced fingers. He muttered under his breath, clearly deep in thought as he considered each piece of the puzzle before him.
“Could it be...?” he murmured, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Yes, quite possibly...”
“Doctor?” I ventured tentatively, unwilling to disturb his contemplation but desperate to know his thoughts. “What do you suspect?”
“Miss Bennet,” he replied, meeting my gaze with an expression of cautious optimism, “while I cannot say for certain, I believe Miss Lucas may be suffering from a weakness of the blood.”
“Weakness of the blood?” I echoed, my heart lifting slightly at the prospect of a less grave diagnosis. “Is it... can she be cured?”
“Again, I must emphasize that this is but a preliminary assessment,” Dr. Abernathy cautioned. “However, should my suspicions prove correct, we may indeed be able to treat Miss Lucas and see her restored to health. Not a cure, perhaps, but it is possible her symptoms might be managed.”
Charlotte’s eyes brimmed with tears as she listened to the doctor’s words, her body trembling with a mixture of relief and trepidation. I reached for her hand, offering what comfort I could. “How can we be certain?”
“Let us not get ahead of ourselves,” Dr. Abernathy warned gently. “But rest assured, Miss Lucas, that I shall do everything in my power to see you well again.” He adjusted his spectacles as he reviewed his notes. “I would like to begin by prescribing a diet intended to strengthen your blood. This will include a generous serving of organ meats—liver, kidneys, and the like—along with an abundance of leafy green vegetables—cabbage, spinach, that sort of thing.”
I studied Charlotte’s countenance. She appeared dubious at best, her brow furrowing ever so slightly as she considered the doctor’s words.
“Organ meats, sir? And green vegetables? Can such fare truly make a difference in my condition?”
“Indeed, it can, Miss Lucas. If it is what I think it is. I do not fully understand the means, but I saw a young peasant woman at the charity hospital some years ago, presenting these same symptoms of which you complain. Except in her case, she had been seeing a leech who only opened her veins for a cure. When her money ran out and her condition continued to worsen, she was brought to the charity hospital to die. Lucky thing! She had a friend who came to care for her every day, which was well, because everyone else gave her up as good as gone. This friend could only afford pottage made of offal and a bit of cabbage, but she came faithfully every day and fed it to the dying woman, spoon by spoon. And I declare, it was like a miracle. When last I saw her, she still had to be cautious of exerting herself, but she was healthy and whole and still eating the same foods that her friend had brought to her bedside. So, you see…”
“Forgive me, Doctor,” Charlotte interrupted hesitantly, “but such a simple solution seems... almost too good to be true. Might there not be some underlying cause that we have yet to uncover?”
“Your skepticism is not unwarranted, Miss Lucas,” Dr. Abernathy acknowledged. “But let me ask you a question. When did you say that your condition grew most rapidly worse?”
“Well, always after any exertion. But most particularly when we came to London a few weeks ago. I thought all the busyness of the Season…”
“And has Mrs. Gardiner been observing more modest menus in observation of Advent?” the doctor asked.
