Darkwater by V. J. Banis

housekeeper saw a fit object for her anger and she roared, “Nelly where were you when the knocker was banging? What you want is a good whipping again and I’ll see that you get it good, you hear?”
    â€œYes’m,” Nelly said, stepping aside and cowering, but her humble attitude and bent head did not prevent her receiving a resounding slap. The girl did not lift her eyes although she whimpered faintly.
    Jennifer made note of the girl’s pale complexion and her obvious fear, and she thought, if Walter sends Liza into servitude, that is what she will suffer. No, I cannot blame him for refusing to do that.
    The housekeeper disappeared through a door. At once the frightened little maid scurried away and was gone from sight as well.
    It was a shock to see such behavior and yet Jennifer knew it was not so unusual. So many girls had been driven into servitude since the war, and she was well aware that many of them were treated as badly as the unfortunate Nelly. Some of them, indeed, were treated far worse.
    It might be that Liza, if she were sent out to work, would fare better. Beyond question there were many good families in the South, families who treated their servants with affection and gentleness, but there was always the other possibility too.
    Liza was no meek lamb, either, like Nelly. Liza was proud and willful. Jennifer knew that first hand. What might Liza suffer if she found herself in confrontation with a cruel overseer?
    The housekeeper returned, moving along the hall in her curiously heavy way. “The doctor will see you,” she said, obviously unhappy to deliver the news. “Come with me.”
    Jennifer followed her. She found herself in a waiting room, painted a pristine white and as neat as a pin. Several chairs and a settee had been placed around the room and Jennifer seated herself in one of the chairs.
    She hadn’t long to wait. In a moment, an inner door opened and a man in a white smock appeared.
    â€œMiss Hale?” he greeted her. “I am Doctor Goodman. My housekeeper said you wanted to see me. Won’t you come in, please?”
    He led her into his examining room. Jennifer’s first impression of the doctor was favorable. He looked kindly and rather old-fashioned. His thatch of white hair refused to be combed, but stuck out impertinently on all sides. Spectacles hung at a precarious angle on the top of his nose, and behind them his eyes twinkled with a jollity that belied his serious expression and scientific profession.
    â€œNow then,” he said when Jennifer had seated herself in the chair he indicated, “what seems to be the matter?”
    â€œWith me, nothing,” she said, smiling. “I’ve come to you about Mrs. Dere. Mrs. Alicia Dere, that is. I understand she is a patient of yours.”
    â€œYes, that she is. And you are the new companion. We’ve heard of you here in town.” His twinkling eyes told her that she had been the object of much gossip and speculation since her arrival.
    â€œI suppose newcomers are not so common here,” she said. “And no doubt anything to do with the Deres is of utmost interest.”
    â€œExactly,” he said, bobbing his head to acknowledge that they did indeed understand one another. “But, about Mrs. Dere...?”
    â€œI thought perhaps you could tell me a little about her condition.” She saw his frown and quickly added, “I appreciate the doctor-patient relationship, of course. But I am meant to be her nurse as well as her companion, and I need to know a little more about what is wrong with her.”
    The doctor hesitated for a moment. Then, as if he had reached a decision, he said abruptly, “Nothing.”
    The brevity of his reply so startled her that she said, “I beg your pardon.”
    â€œNothing is wrong with Mrs. Dere,” he said, seating himself on the opposite side of his desk from her. “That is to say, nothing medical. I have