Up and Down

Disease and Diagnosis

She had explained things to Mr Bert and Mrs Chase - as much as they needed to know. A man would play a role of a small landowner from Scotland, come to search for a diagnosis and help for his niece.

She let them fill in the gaps on their own. Mrs Chase asked if she trusted the man, perhaps assuming she hired an actor. Anna smiled and nodded.

Then, it was time. She checked her pocket watch. Almost eleven in the morning.

She took off her clothes and put on the outfit she had prepared for this. It hangs loose about her body right now, but that would change in a short time. Now, she waits.

A doorbell rings, and she hears Mr Bert opening the door and greeting the doctor. Anna pops open the bottle and drinks, the awful taste hitting her like a kick from a horse.

She gags and stifles a scream as she can feel her body twist and morph, bones lengthening, muscles stretching, the burning sensation of hair sprouting through the skin of her upper lip.

It's over in a moment, thank Merlin. She looks over herself in the dresser and smoothes out the clothes, well-made and pressed but not ostentatious, clears her throat, takes a deep breath and walks outside at a brisk pace.

"Ah, Mr Gilroy. A pleasure to meet you in person at last," she walks up to the man who turns to offer a polite bow, "I hope you found the place without any trouble."

"Mr Jackdaw, a pleasure. Yes, the coachman had no problem finding this residence. You said you will only be staying about two weeks' time?"

"Preferably, yes, but changes can be arranged. Shall we go see my poor niece?"

"Of course, sir."

Anna leads the doctor over to the bedroom, the biggest and warmest in the entire house, with beautiful south-facing windows overlooking a quiet road and a small garden.

Sebastian is sitting on a chair beside Anne and gets up to his feet to greet them.

"Uncle," he smiles, and she can see the laughter in his eyes.

"Mr Gilroy, this is my nephew, Mr Sallow, and my niece, Ms Sallow. She is the patient in question."

"How do you do, sir," Anne tilts her head in greeting, dressed only in her nightgown and a dressing robe, sitting in the bed.

Doctor Gilroy doesn't waste any time on any more pleasantries than necessary and proceeds to open his bag, fetching a stethoscope.

Anna meanwhile describes the symptoms, with Anne filling in additional details. Gilroy nodes, listening intently, taking a few notes in a small book for himself.

He then apologises for the request to inspect her stomach, which Anne waves away with a weak gesture of her hand. Her dressing robe is unclasped and nightgown lifted, and Gilroy uses the stethoscope to listen to her gut and intestines.

His brow furrows, and he puts the instrument away.

Then, he rests a hand on Anne's stomach and taps with his fingers over it, once again listening, comparing two sides laterally.

Finally, he feels around her abdomen with his fingers, probes deeper, pressing on various points until-

"Agh!!"

Anne's face contorts and Gilroy's hands shoot up to break contact. The girl gasps a few times, steadying herself, and Anna has to grab Sebastian firmly by the shoulder to stop him from rushing forward.

"My apologies, Ms Sallow," the doctor mumbles, his hands hovering above her torso, "may I try again? Not as hard, but I need to inspect the source further."