“Come in,” Ellen invited. She glanced over her shoulder to see Amelia stretching in her sleep. “Amelia could sleep through a train barreling through her flat, but I bet she’ll be up soon. I’m sure she’ll want to see you.”
The woman hesitated. “I’m not sure.”
Ellen beckoned her in, curious. “Is that for Amelia? She’ll be so disappointed if she misses you.”
Finally the woman nodded and stepped forward. “My name is Jiya.” She stepped inside and set the package on Amelia’s tiny table, unwrapping the paper to reveal a loaf of spiced bread. “How did it go?”
Ellen sighed, rubbing her temples. “Not good,” she said in low tones. “Mrs. Carlson’s labor didn’t end until dawn, and the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck three times.”
Jiya blanched. She glanced at Amelia, who tossed in her sleep. “Is she…?”
“Not doing well. Blames herself, though how is anyonesupposed to know about the umbilical cord?” Ellen sighed, feeling it down to her toes. “I’m glad she has a good friend like you to help.”
Jiya nodded, not meeting Ellen’s gaze.
Amelia made a choking sound on the bed.
Both Jiya and Ellen turned to see her awake, sitting up, fingers clutching the covers, and her eyes wide. “Jiya!” she blurted.
Ellen looked to Jiya.
Jiya smiled hesitantly. “Good morning. Er, afternoon?”
Amelia looked to Ellen. “Is it after noon?”
“Mrs. Daugherty told me not to trouble you if you weren’t awake yet,” Jiya said apologetically. “I should probably go.”
“No! Uh, stay. Stay!” Amelia’s hand went to her hair, trying to smooth sleep’s tangles from it. She looked at Ellen. “This is Ellen, my friend and colleague. She works with the infants and she pays my rent for me.”
Ellen smiled. “It’s a joint effort.”
“It’s nice you’re so close.” Jiya glanced between Amelia and Ellen.
“Ellen was resting here because of how late we stayed out, but she has to go home. And check on her husband.” Amelia tried valiantly to get off her bed with grace and aplomb. “She has a husband.”
“I heard you might have ideas for soliciting medical supplies and donations?” Ellen said.
Jiya blinked and looked at Amelia. “I…suppose?”
“We’re still working out the plan,” Amelia assured them both.
“I’ll leave you both to it. I probably should go check on my husband.” Ellen rose, privately amused at the display. She said goodbye as she walked out the door, but Amelia was still reeling from waking up to Jiya in her flat and didn’t notice. Ellen’s suspicions were right. Jiya was very pretty.
At the bottom of the stairs, she bumped into Mrs. Daugherty.
“Morning.” Mrs. Daugherty peered over the rim of her spectacles. “I gather it was a long night. When I came thismorning, I looked in on Amelia and saw you both asleep, still dressed.”
Ellen gave her a summary of what had occurred. “Amelia didn’t mean to sleep so late. I’m sure there’s a score of patients upset and waiting.”
The old woman shook her head. “If they have something serious, I’m telling them to go to the Royal Free Hospital. If they can wait, they’re coming back tomorrow.”
Ellen smiled. “Amelia’s not going to like that.”
“They hardly pay anyway, so it’s no loss to her profits.” Mrs. Daugherty turned back to whatever she was grinding in her mortar. “I know you’re curious, so I’ll go ahead and tell you the O’Malley children are settled in Spitalfields with one of their father’s cousins. I met them, and they seem nice. The cousin runs a rag shop with his wife. Their oldest is grown and in school to be a Nightingale nurse, I believe.” She paused, looking Ellen up and down. “You go home and rest, too. I’ve got the dispensary covered today.”
Ellen was so tired she didn’t even protest. She stumbled to a cab, gave the direction, and stumbled into her own home.
“Madam!” Gaye wrung his hands as he opened the door. “Thank goodness it’s you. We have all been wondering where you’d gone and if we needed to call the police.”