Page 145 of The Sun Sister

‘And, here we find ourselves on the sixteenth of March. Cecily dear’ – Dr Boyle reached for her hand – ‘given your symptoms and having had a good feel of your tummy, I would normally be fairly certain that you are expecting.’

‘Expecting what?’ Cecily stared up at him.

‘A baby.’ Dr Boyle gave her a wry smile. ‘However, given the fact that your engagement to your young man was broken off before Christmas, I am now confused. I will put this as delicately as I can...is there a possibility that youcouldbe pregnant?’

‘Oh my...’ Cecily put her hands to her face as shock resonated through her body and she wondered if one could faint clean away while lying down.

‘My dear, it is none of my business to ask you about the whys and wherefores, but I would stake my career on the fact that you are a couple of months pregnant. I can see this news has obviously come as a huge shock to you.’

‘Yes,’ Cecily whispered, her hands still over her face, too horrified and ashamed to meet the doctor’s eyes.

‘The good news is that you are most definitely not ill. Captain Price was concerned you may have malaria.’

‘Malaria would have been preferable, Doctor,’ Cecily muttered. ‘I beg you,’ she said, finally taking her hands from her face and looking up at him, ‘please, do you swear never to tell a soul about this?’

‘Patient–doctor confidentiality is guaranteed, my dear. However, I do think it is important you tell someone about your...current state of health.’

‘I’d rather die!’

‘I do understand, but let me tell you, living out here and treating my many patients, it is impossible to shock either me or most other people round here too. I would advise you to tell your godmother. Mrs Preston may be many things, but she is a woman of the world and has a kind heart to boot.’

Cecily lay there silently. No words could express her horror and shame.

‘What about the father? Am I to presume he is local to here?’

‘I...no, he isn’t. I met him in England. And no, he wouldn’t be...willing to take responsibility. He’s engaged to someone else. I only found out after...’

Cecily could hardly bear to look up into Dr Boyle’s sympathetic eyes.

‘I can understand how shocked you are,’ Dr Boyle said eventually, ‘but you’re not the first and certainly won’t be the last young lady to find herself in this predicament. I’m sure that you will find a solution; most usually do.’

‘Is...there any way I could, well...stop the baby coming?’

‘If you are asking me about an abortion, then I would tell you that it is not only illegal, but very dangerous. I think you must accept that your baby is coming in about seven months’ time and make your plans accordingly. Do you have family?’

‘Yes, in New York.’

‘Then maybe you should think about returning to America sooner rather than later, especially given what is happening in Europe.’

Cecily remained silent; her brain was fogged with shock and it was impossible to think of anything at all, let alone a plan for the future.

‘I’ll leave you to it now, my dear, but as I said, I’d certainly advise confiding in your godmother. She isin loco parentiswhile you’re here, after all. And not to put too fine a point on it, she’s bound to notice in the next few weeks. Here’s my card. Please call me if you need any help, medical or personal.’

Cecily watched him put the card on the bedside table next to her.

‘Thank you. Surely I must owe you some money for this morning’s...consultation?’

‘Consider it on the house. And of course, if you do decide to stay here, I’ll be delighted to look after you during your pregnancy. Good day, my dear.’

Cecily watched him leave the room. She stared at the wall in front of her, on which hung a dreadful painting of a Maasai warrior standing over the body of a dead lion, his spear piercing the animal’s side.

Her hands were freezing cold, despite the heat of the room. Pulling back the sheet, then tugging up her nightdress, Cecily tentatively placed her hands on her stomach. What was she meant to feel? She just didn’t know. Perhaps she could ask Mamie...

No! No, no...

‘Oh my dear Lord, my God...’ She shook her head as she curled her body up into a ball and turned away from the door as if to avoid any more bad news coming through it. ‘What have I done?’

There was another knock on her door and Cecily, her sight blurred with tears, remained silent.