the infant’s silken forehead. ‘A fine name. One day you’ll be as gallant and courageous as your namesake.’
‘Yes,’ Anne said quietly. ‘Just what I was going to say.’
The dawn, grey and drizzling, broke across the Irish countryside, and the rutted track soon became muddy and sucked at the carriage wheels as the vehicle splashed along. At noon they stopped briefly in a small town to rest the horses and take refreshment. Anne stayed in the carriage with the child and tried to breast-feed him again. As before, Arthur’s lips smacked as he sought out the proffered nipple, but after only a few convulsive sucks he turned his face away, choking and dribbling, and refused any more.
As the light faded, and darkness wrapped itself around the carriage once again, the turnpike wound round a hill and, ahead, Garrett could see the distant twinkle of hundreds of lights from windows as the capital came into view. Once more O’Shea had to slow the pace as he strained to see the track ahead. And so it was two hours after nightfall before the carriage entered the city, and clattered through the streets to the house at Merrion Street.
Garrett gently handed down his wife and child, and ushered them inside, giving orders that a fire be stoked up in the parlour at once, and that warm food be prepared for Anne and himself. Then he sent servants out to find a wet nurse and to summon Dr Kilkenny - the most reputable of the city’s doctors.
He was led into the parlour just as Anne and Garrett were finishing their broth. Garrett jumped to his feet and clasped the doctor’s gloved hand in greeting.
‘Thank you for coming so soon.’
‘Yes, well, I was told it was urgent.’ The doctor’s breath carried the odour of wine.‘So where’s my patient,Wesley? This young lady?’
‘No.’Anne gestured towards the crib, warming by the fire.‘Our son, Arthur. He was born last night. The midwife said he was poorly as soon as she saw him. She said we must expect the worst.’
‘Ah!’ The doctor shook his head. ‘Midwives! What does a woman know of medicine, an Irish woman at that? They should never be permitted to pronounce on medical matters.Their remit is purely the delivery of babies. Now what’s the matter with the boy?’
‘He’s not feeding, Doctor.’
‘What? Not at all?’
‘Only a few mouthfuls. Then he chokes and won’t take any more.’
‘Hmm.’ Dr Kilkenny set his bag down beside the crib, shuffled out of his coat and handed it to Garrett before leaning over the baby and gently folding back the linen swaddling. His nose wrinkled at an all-too-familiar odour. ‘Nothing wrong with his bowels at least.’
‘I’ll have him changed.’
‘In a moment, after I’ve examined him.’
Anne and Garrett watched in anxious silence as the doctor leaned over their child and examined the tiny body closely in the wavering glow of the candles in the chandelier. There was a faint cry from the crib as the doctor pressed lightly on the child’s stomach and Anne started in alarm. Dr Kilkenny glanced over his shoulder. ‘Rest easy, my dear woman. That’s perfectly normal.’
Garrett reached for her hands and held them tightly as the doctor finished his examination and straightened up.
Garrett looked at him. ‘Well?’
‘He might live.’
‘Might live . . .’ Anne whispered.‘I thought you could help us.’
‘My dear lady, there are only so many things a doctor can do to help his patients. Your boy is weak. I’ve seen many like this. Some are lost very quickly. Others linger for days, weeks even, before succumbing. Some survive.’
‘But what can be done for him?’
‘Keep him warm.Try to feed him as often as you can.You must also rub him with an ointment I’ll leave with you. Once in the morning and once at night. It’s a stimulant. It may well mean the difference between life and death. The child may cry when you apply it, but you must ignore any tears and continue the treatment. Understand?’
‘Yes.’
‘Now, my coat, please. I’ll have the bill sent round in the morning. I bid you both good night, then.’
As soon as the doctor had left, Garrett slipped down into a chair close to the crib and stared helplessly at the baby. Arthur’s eyes flickered open for a moment, but the rest of his body seemed as limp and lifeless as before. Garrett watched for a while longer, then rubbed his tired eyes.
‘You should go to bed,’ Anne said quietly. ‘You’re exhausted. You need to rest.You must be strong in the coming days.