Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so….
Traditional 17th-century folk song
On finishing the song, he noticed a single tear slipping down his daughter’s cheek. He wiped it with his thumb saying, “Sweetheart, why are you crying?”
“Grandmamma said she did not like my tears and she said she would not send for you if I cried. I could not help it, Papa. Dolly and I needed you.”
“Little one, you must not think of that. I am here now and will look after you while you rest and regain your health.
“Yes, Papa.”
It galled William to know that Lady Catherine would try to intimidate his daughter, her only grandchild, in such a way. In this instance, there was no excuse for his aunt’s mandates. Not only would he inform Lady Catherine of what had taken place at the ball, but he would also speak to her about her treatment of Anna.
At times like these, William could not help but remember his own dear mother. In contrast to Lady Catherine, Lady Anne, had been a caring and loving woman, standing beside him throughout every difficulty and encouraging him in all he did. Mother and son often spent hours in conversation delighting in each other’s company. He missed her guidance and despite the atrocity of his current situation, he knew his mother would again stand beside him if she were alive. He would be able to count on her support as he forged ahead with his marriage to Elizabeth.
“Papa, can you tell me a story?”
“Yes, sweet one.” He kissed the top of her head. “What would you like to hear?”
“Dolly and I would like to hear a story about a beautiful princess.”
“Hmm… Perhaps then, I shall tell you a story about Princess Elizabeth.”
Anna choked out a little giggle. “Papa, my second name is Elizabeth.”
“Yes, I know, dear one. You were named Anna in honour of your mama as well as my mama, and Elizabeth after your Great Grandmamma Darcy, a woman whom I truly admired.”
“Papa, I like both of my names,” she said snuggling into William’s chest while waiting for him to begin his tale. It warmed his heart to have her so close. Gently rubbing her back and kissing the top of her head he began.
“Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a princess. She was the second of five daughters who lived in a land far, far away. Her father was an old king and his health was not good. Over the years his kingdom had not prospered as it should have, and many in the land found themselves wanting. His daughters needed to marry well if they were to save the kingdom from ruin.”
“Papa, what did Princess Elizabeth look like? Was she pretty? Did she have a dolly?”
William chuckled. “Yes, Princess Elizabeth was very pretty. She had long, dark, curly hair, and her sparkling eyes were the loveliest shade of emerald green. And while some in her father’s court might not approve, Princess Elizabeth loved to be out of doors. Nearly every day she and one of her favourite guard dogs would take a long walk to Oakham Mount in the early morning. There she would look out over her father’s kingdom and greet the new day in song. And when she sang, every creature on the mount as well as workers in the valley below would stop and listen to her lovely mellow voice, for it was truly like a breath of heaven.”
“Oh, Papa, I wish I could meet her.”
“‘Tis a lovely thought. The princess was very kind and she loved little ones like you, so much so that she often made cloth dolls for the children of the poor.”
When William spent the evening with the Gardiners, Margaret and Grace had shown him the dolls which they hadbeen making with Elizabeth for the less fortunate children in the neighbourhood parish. That impression had stayed with him, and it was the type of kindness he wanted his daughter to embrace as she grew older.
“Papa, I should like to make a dolly, too. Do you think Princess Elizabeth would show me how to do it if she were here?”
He smiled at her request. Despite the disastrous predicament they found themselves in, William intuitively knew Elizabeth would make the perfect mother for Anna, guiding his daughter in ways that only a mother could. “Sweetheart, I am sure she would be very happy to show you.”
Anna yawned, her eyelids closing. “I should like that, Papa.” Moments later his little girl was asleep with a hint of a smile on her face. Anna was content.
Gently smoothing the hair away from her forehead, William tucked a wavy curl behind her ear and gave her a kiss. During the short time he held her in his arms, she had begun to cool. No longer burning with fever, he sighed in relief. Over the next few days, William would tell her more about her new mother, Princess Elizabeth. Leaning his head against the back of the rocking chair, William closed his eyes and fell asleep holding his precious daughter and dreaming of the woman he loved.
An hour or so later, William awoke, a bit stiff, but gratified when he again felt Anna’s forehead and found her fever had not returned. Gently placing his little one in her bed, he sent for her nurse and asked the maid to have some chicken broth brought up from the kitchen as soon as Anna awoke from her nap. Nurse had said that his daughter was not able to eat while she was most fevered and he intuitively knew her little body needed nourishment. When he was a child, chicken broth was one of the first things his mother would order to be served at his bedsidewhenever he was ill. In this case, the salty liquid would also be soothing to her raw throat.
After these instructions were given, William left in search of the housekeeper to request a poultice for Anna’s chest and another vial of the honey syrup for her cough. Not long after, William learned from one of the footmen that Mr. Purdy’s carriage was in the drive and that he would be arriving shortly. Before confronting Lady Catherine, he would be sure Mr. Purdy was well aware of his wishes with regard to Anna. Since Purdy had come all this way at his aunt’s request, he would allow the gentleman to see his daughter, but under no circumstances would he permit the man to administer any of his cruel treatments. She would not be bled, nor would she be given laudanum. Every suggestion made by the man would be subject to his approval, and not that of Lady Catherine.
William waited in the front parlour for the physician to be shown in. Following a brief conversation, he accompanied Mr. Purdy to Anna’s room, where the doctor examined the sleepy child. Even though her fever had abated, because of her congestion, the man insisted that she be bled as soon as possible. In addition to this, there were several draughts which he wished to administer, including laudanum. In his opinion, regular doses of the draught would be beneficial to the child in her weakened condition and would allow her to sleep undisturbed. Following these treatments, he would permit no more than weak tea with perhaps a bit of honey for the rest of the day. Then during the following three days, her diet would be limited to a dose of castor oil followed by a thin slurry of gruel.
