Chapter Fifteen
On Thursday morning, the housemaid Becky Brown returned from visiting her mother. She asked to speak with Isabella.
Isabella saw her in the book room. Becky entered with Mrs. Early, the housekeeper. They sat at her gesture, Mrs. Early solidly, the girl perching nervously on the edge of her seat. One look at Becky’s face told Isabella that the news was bad. “How is your mother?”
Becky shook her head, her hands fisted in her apron. “Not good, ma’am. She can’t even get out of bed anymore.” The girl swallowed convulsively.
“Has she seen a doctor?” Isabella asked.
The girl nodded.
Had Becky’s hard-earned money paid for that bill? “What did he say?”
“He said that there was something growing inside her. That she won’t get better.”
Isabella was silent for a moment, remember
