Gibbs approached the table and tapped her ledger with a blunt, ink-stained finger. “Miss Smith, you will be seen next.”
“Pardon me?”
“For your examination. All the girls must be seen by one of our physicians.”
“Oh. I see.”
“He is just finishing up with another patient. Wait here, and I’ll call you when he’s ready.” Gibbs strode briskly away.
Charlotte sat without moving, watching her go.
“Why, you look frightened half to death.” Sally laid her hand on Charlotte’s. “’Tis nothin’ to be scared of.”
“Unless she gets Dr. Preston,” Mae said. “That man’s like an orphan in a candy shop, all eyes and hands and lickin’ his lips.”
“S’pose he figgers, why not—ain’t the jar been opened already?” Bess’s sharp face was expressive. “A bit more used up won’t do any harm.”
Charlotte swallowed. “Are you suggesting this ... Dr. Preston ... takes advantage of the girls here?”
“I’m not suggesting a thing,” Bess said. “Only sayin’ you best watch your backside, underside, and all the rest like.”
“He’s never bothered me,” Mae said.
“Well, you’re not half the looker I am, are ya?”
“Well, then, I’m thankful I’m not.”
“Have they no midwives here?” Charlotte asked.
Bess smirked. “Oh, a country girl, ey?”
“They once had some,” Sally answered. “But not at present.”
“Do they ...? I mean, I have never been ‘examined’ before. Not ... like that. Do they ...? I mean, will I be asked to ...?”
“Take off your drawers?” Bess grinned.
Charlotte inclined her brow and swallowed nervously.
“I hate to break it to you, birdy, but when the babe comes, you won’t be wearing drawers or petticoats or much of anything else for that matter.”
“Hush, now,” Sally interrupted. “Don’t scare her more than she already is. Don’t fret, Charlotte. They let you wear your nightdress, though ’tis likely to be spoilt.”
“As for the examination,” Mae said, “it depends on which man you get.”
“Are there two physicians?”
“And a surgeon.”
“The young physician is real gentleman-like,” Mae said.
Bess snorted. “Green, you mean. He’s barely more than a boy. I don’t think he’s ever seen a woman in all her natural glory.”
“’Course he has,” Mae said.
“Can’t tell it the way he turned red as a robin when he looked me over last month.” Bess crossed her arms smugly.
Mae ignored this. “But if you get the other, Dr. Preston, I’m afraid you’re in for it,” she said. “He seems to like dressing us girls down.”
