“Oh!” Elizabeth looked surprised. “I was not aware that you were… that is, I did not know…”
“I try to keep my involvement in charitable affairs private,” Darcy explained. “However, when there is a pressing matter that is time-sensitive, Mrs. Pingree knows she can contact me directly.”
“May I see the babe?” interjected Carson.
“Yes… yes, of course,” stammered Elizabeth. “I’m calling her Angela for now.”
She led the two men over to an empty bassinet at the side of the room. “Fortunately, this little one is the only infant we have at the moment. There are a few older babies who are crawling, and they are currently being tended by some of the older girls downstairs.”
Elizabeth placed the baby in the bassinet and unwrapped the swaddle blankets. Carson leaned over to make a visual examination. “Hmm,” he said, pulling out his notebook and writing down his observations, just as he had with Jane.
He then pulled out his ear horn and pressed it to the infant’s chest, who squirmed and began wailing pitifully once again. Elizabeth moved forward and held the babe’s arms with one hand while gently caressing her brow with the other, murmuring soothing words in a hushed voice.
At last, the examination complete, Carson sat back and added a few more lines to his notebook. Elizabeth swaddled the baby again before picking her up and rocking her gently in her arms, humming a soothing melody. The cries quickly subsided into soft whimpers.
“What is your verdict, Carson?” Darcy asked.
“Not very good, I’m afraid,” the doctor replied grimly.
“She isn’t going to live very long, is she?” Elizabeth’s question sounded more like a statement.
Carson shook his head. “I’m afraid not. We don’t really have a name for children who are born with this condition, but the physical features—especially the face and neck—are quite obvious. More often than not, they are born with severe heart conditions. Even if her heart were healthy, which I’m afraid to say it isn’t, her mind would most likely never develop beyond that of a child’s.”
“Like Jane?”
“Your sister is different,” Carson answered. “She may be a bit more simpleminded, and her heart is weak, but she still has theability to make decisions and use rational thought. Children like this baby, however, aren’t able to develop their minds past the age of two or three—and that’s if they live. Some end up not even learning to walk or talk, but others can. There’s just no way of really knowing until they grow.”
“But this child won’t survive,” Darcy said, seeking confirmation.
“No, her heart is too weak. Frankly, I’m surprised she was able to even withstand the birth. When I listened to her heart, I could hear a whooshing sound, which means there is damage to the organ of some kind. Hers is quite prominent, and from the sound of her cries, she is already having difficulty breathing.”
“What do we do?” Elizabeth asked.
“Keep her fed and comfortable,” Carson said. “Goat’s milk from a bottle will be better than a wet-nurse, as suckling will tire her out too quickly. I will leave some laudanum as well, which will lower any pain and help her remain calm.”
“Laudanum? For an infant?” Darcy asked in surprise.
“Darcy, I honestly doubt she will live more than a week at the most. The laudanum will be a kindness, both for the babe and for those caring for her.”
Elizabeth nodded. “This isn’t the first time a babe has been left here like this. Other doctors have recommended the same. At least, the good doctors do.”
“What do the others recommend?” Darcy asked.
Carson pressed his lips together. “Nothing.”
Darcy raised his eyebrows in shock. “You mean to say…”
“It’s because they know that there are so few resources available,” Elizabeth said. “If there is only so much milk to go around, why waste it on a child you know will die anyway?”
The conversation was interrupted when Mrs. Pingree came bustling into the room. “Thank you so much, Miss Bennet… Oh,Dr. Carson! Mr. Darcy!” An expression of chagrin crossed her face. “I do apologize for not being here when you arrived.”
“Not at all,” Darcy said, his formal tone of voice returning. “Dr. Carson has performed the examination, and Miss Bennet has been of great assistance.”
“Oh, I wasn’t aware that you were already acquainted.”
“Mr. Darcy is the good friend of my sister Jane’s new husband, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth said. “He was Mr. Bingley’s guest for several weeks, and he asked Dr. Carson to come see Jane when she fell ill. He has…” she hesitated; then said fiercely, “proven to be a good friend to not only my new brother, but to myself and my family as well.”
Darcy’s eyes darkened, and his gaze was so intense that she flushed and looked down. Carson looked between the couple and grinned, whereas Mrs. Pingree merely glanced around the room in bewilderment.
