Til Death Do Us Part by Sara Fraser Page B

with the rattle she makes. It’s enough to raise the dead!’
    Tom drew a long breath, and invited wearily, ‘Why don’t you sit down, my love, and I’ll make you a pot of tea before I go to work.’
    In the drawing room of her home, Phoebe Creswell was experiencing greatly mixed emotions as she listened to Doctor Hugh Laylor, while Pammy Mallot stood protectively by her chair.
    â€˜I deeply regret, Miss Creswell, that in the type of apoplectic seizure such has stricken your father, I am not able to predict the outcome with any great degree of certainty. His condition is . . .’ Laylor hesitated, seeking the words.
    â€˜Pardon me for being so forward, Doctor,’ Pammy Mallot intervened. ‘But Miss Phoebe is well able to bear the truth. Nothing’s worse for her than not knowing what the likeliest thing is that’s going to happen to Master Creswell. So you do her the kindness of speaking out straight and true. I’m here to look after and care for her no matter what is coming about for her dad.’
    Laylor considered briefly, then sighed and told Phoebe, ‘Regretfully, Miss Creswell, I fear that your father is never going to fully regain his former robust health or clarity of intellect. Also I’m unable to foretell just how long it may be to recover some degrees of both physical and mental recovery. However, you may rest assured that now I have bled him, and thus weakened the malignant humours which have caused this seizure, his physical and mental condition will undoubtedly begin to improve.’
    He hesitated momentarily before admitting, ‘But to what extent, only the Good Lord above can know. I shall of course be ready to respond instantly to any further need you may have of my services during this unhappy period.’
    He added his customary words of condolence. ‘In this time of trouble, Miss Creswell, perhaps you may draw some comfort in the knowledge that your father has enjoyed a long and happy life, and has been blessed by spending much of that life with such a loving and dutiful daughter as yourself.’
    Now he fell silent and waited watchfully. Despite his long experience of telling people their loved ones were gravely ill, or in fact dying, he knew that he could still be surprised at how some individuals could react to such dread news.
    Phoebe Creswell lifted her hands to her mouth, and remained rigidly still for several seconds. Then she dropped her hands, and with a slight frown told Laylor quietly, ‘I must accept what you have told me without complaint, Doctor Laylor. All things are ordained by God, are they not? I shall be most grateful if you will continue to do what you can to help my father, and to ensure that he suffers no pain. I thank you for your kindness, and now must bid you good day, Sir. I feel overwhelmingly the need to be alone with my thoughts.’
    â€˜Let me see you out, Doctor.’ Pammy Mallot bustled to open the door.
    â€˜Good day, Miss Creswell. You may rest assured that I will come at your summons and ensure that your poor father will not suffer any bodily pain.’ Laylor bowed in farewell.
    He went to the rear yard of the house where his horse was tethered, thinking commendably about Phoebe Creswell’s reception of the bad news.
    â€˜She took it damn well. Like a true English gentlewoman.’
    He mounted and took the horse at a walk around on to the forecourt of the house. As he passed the large drawing-room windows he glimpsed movement within the room, and turned his head to look.
    â€˜Great God above! That’s a strange reaction to such bad news!’ He gaped in astonishment as for brief seconds he clearly saw Phoebe Creswell and Pammy Mallot locked in a close embrace. The younger woman’s features were hidden from him, but on Pammy Mallot’s face there was a broad grin of delight.

FIFTEEN
Redditch
Saturday, 26th January
Afternoon
    T he skies were still clear and although the