“Georgiana, had you the measles, as a child perhaps?” Elizabeth was now extremely worried. Measles was caused by an infectious agent in the blood of patients, transmitting it to healthy individuals through mucus spread by coughing.
“When I was six or seven. Oh, how William teased me because of the red blotches on my face. He called me his little red Derbyshire leprechaun.”
“A red rash! Oh dear, I saw such a rash on my mother’s neck as she was dressing this morning. She hid it under her fichu,” said Anne, looking between Georgiana and Elizabeth, who now held expressions of great alarm.
“Georgiana, we must quarantine the house!” cried Elizabeth. “Measles is highly infectious; it can cause death not only to children but adults as well, and can lead to inflammation of the lungs and the brain.”
* * *
“Mrs. Reynolds, Winthrop. We believe Lady Catherine has the measles, likely Miss Anne as well. She is fatigued, with a cough, though not as severe as her mother’s. Georgiana has assisted her to her room.” Elizabeth wrung her hands. “We must place Pemberley in quarantine. The gates are to be closed—entry to the estate and exit of any persons already here must cease forthwith. Mrs. Reynolds, please identify those staff who are certain they had the disease as children, for they are likely immune. They must run the house with no contact whatsoever with the other staff. Winthrop, please enquire at the stables whether Lady Catherine’s attendants have any symptoms—it would be best if they were quarantined also.”
She turned once again to Mrs. Reynolds. “Anyone who has had contact with Lady Catherine or Miss Anne, unless they have had the measles before, must be isolated, kept away from everyone else. Mrs. Reynolds, how best shall we disperse the staff? We must keep contact with the disease to a minimum.”
It was agreed that the east wing, unused, would house the staff who had not been exposed to the disease before. There was sufficient space in the stable loft for the coachmen and footmen who had accompanied Lady Catherine to be kept well separated from the other staff. Mrs. Reynolds and Winthrop hurried away to organise the house.
Elizabeth fell into a chair, her mind working through a list of the tasks to be done. Notes to the tenant farms to keep away from the manor. An inventory of the stores in the house and outbuildings, since no supplies would be available from elsewhere. There was so much to consider. She stood, straightened her skirts. First, she must understand the disease, determine the best treatment for Lady Catherine and Miss Anne, and decide how long the estate should remain in quarantine. She walked briskly to the library. She remembered the title—Domestic Medicine: Or, a Treatise on the Prevention and Cureof Diseases by Regimen and Simple Medicines, by William Buchan. Good, there was a chapter on measles—
WHEN the eruption suddenly falls in, and the patient is seized with a delirium, he is in the greatest danger. If the measles turn too soon of a pale colour, it is an unfavourable symptom, as are also great weakness, vomiting, restlessness, and difficulty of swallowing. Purple or black spots appearing among the measles are very unfavourable. When a continual cough, with hoarseness, succeeds the disease, there is reason to suspect an approaching consumption of the lungs.
OUR business in this disease is to assist nature by proper cordials, in throwing out the morbific matter, if her efforts be too languid; but when they are too violent they must be restrained by evacuations, and cool diluting liquors, &c. We ought likewise to endeavour to appease the most urgent symptoms, as the cough, restlessness and difficulty of breathing.
REGIMEN. – The cool regimen is necessary here as well as in the small-pox. The food too must be light and the drink diluting. Acids, however, do not answer so well in the measles as in the small-pox, as they tend to exasperate the cough. Small beer likewise, though a good drink in the small-pox, is here improper. The most suitable liquors are decoctions of liquorice with marsh-mallow roots and sarsaparilla, infusions of linseed, or of the flowers of elder, balm-tea, clarified whey, barley-water, and such like. These, if the patient be costive, may be sweetened with honey; or, if that should disagree with the stomach, a little manna may occasionally be added to them.
Elizabeth took her notebook from her pocket. She carefully copied the regimen. Pray that Cook or the under-cook were not isolated, for she was uncertain who else could manage thekitchen with reduced staff, yet all of the household and the outdoors men were still required to be fed.
She wrote quickly, her mind racing as she noted: “Elder-flower tea, barley-water, clarified whey—avoid all small beer, no vinegar or sharp pickles. Light broths, stewed apples. Keep the chamber cool, the air fresh. No feather beds or heavy curtains.”
She underlined the last, recalling Georgiana saying that Lady Catherine had a penchant for velvet hangings and down coverlets—she would resist, but the sick must have air.
Her pen hesitated. What of the children in the cottages, the elderly labourers? She must warn them, too. A second list began in the margin: “Send word to each cottager, especially those with young children—strictly no visitors to the manor, nor to Lambton, until further notice. Alert Mr. Taylor, the apothecary, of fever at Pemberley. Request leeches, tincture of laudanum, and rose water. Enquire about fresh lemons, if any may be had—”
She broke off. Lemons?—perhaps the hothouses still sheltered a few.
A determined knock at the library door startled her from her thoughts. Mrs. Reynolds entered, her face drawn yet composed. “We have begun the arrangements, ma’am. The east wing is airing now, and the kitchen girls are preparing broth for Lady Catherine and Miss Anne. Mr. Winthrop is with the grooms—none appear ill as yet, thanks be.”
Elizabeth set down her pen. “Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. And the staff—are any in distress?”
“Two of the housemaids are in tears, fearing for their families. I have sent James with notes to the village.” Mrs. Reynolds hesitated, then added, “Should we write to Mr. Darcy? Or wait until—” she faltered, not wishing to speak the worst.
Elizabeth’s heart clenched. “We must write to him at once, and to Lady Jersey, for she must know the reason for the house’sclosure. Let them understand no one may come or go. I shall draft the letters directly—have them taken to the gatehouse, to be collected by the post from Lambton.”
The housekeeper nodded. “Very good, ma’am. And if I may—Miss Darcy asks if you would sit with Miss Anne, when you are able. The poor girl is frightened.”
Elizabeth pressed Mrs. Reynolds’s hand in gratitude. “Tell Miss Darcy I shall come immediately. And Mrs. Reynolds—thank you. I know this is not what any of us expected.”
“Nor you, ma’am,” replied Mrs. Reynolds.Indeed, Mrs. Bennet, we are blessed to have you here.
* * *
Chapter 15
Ireland, June 1813
From: E. Bennet, Child & Co.
To: F. Darcy, Royal Canal Co.
Darcy,
