Redwitch Manor

A "Miracle"

It had been two months after David had pushed me down the stairs. My heart was filled with a violent, murderous rage. At first when my doctor arrived, Doctor Markus Johnson, he thought I had miscarried -after I told him that I was pregnant- the baby because of my violent fall. But that was untrue. The bleeding was just from the shock and I was fine and so was the baby. We had monthly visits after that. He was sworn to secrecy though. He wasn't to tell a soul about my pregnancy. Today was the fourth month visit. Doctor Johnson had calculated that I was two months along when I fell so he did the math and from then on we had been keeping track. Apparently this visit was an exciting one for most mothers. It was when you could hear the baby's heartbeat. Markus walked it carrying his black bag. He smiled at me but I barely looked up.

"Hello Lady Juliet. How have you been lately?" He asked as he set the bag on the edge of the bed and pulled out a stethoscope. I merely grunted my reply. "Do you mind rolling up your shirt?" I did as I was told. He stood by me, placing the cold head of the stethoscope on my growing bump. He moved it around for awhile. His constant hmms and huhs got on my nerves.

"Well? Can you hear it or not?" I cried. He smiled up at me smugly. I could feel my anger boiling.

"Truly you are a lucky woman. Always blessed with miracles." I sighed and pulled down my shirt. "I heard a heartbeat. Your child is alive. Or should I say children." My head shot up and I glared at him.

"You mean-"

"Yes. I didn't only hear one heartbeat. I heard three." The news was too much for me. I wasn't just blessed with one baby. I was blessed with three. How lucky. I felt the ground slipping away and the earth going sideways. Soon everything went dark.

When I woke up again I saw Father, Beth, Mother, and sadly David standing over me. I looked for Doctor Johnson but he was no where to be found. The moment David saw my eyes flutter open he gave me a small smile. But the smile didn't reach his eyes. His eyes were cold and terrifying. He was scheming. I just knew it.

"Thank god you're alright, love." He brushes some hair away from my face. "You got all of us worried about your health. Doctor Johnson told us the news. He told us that you are pregnant with three not one. We're all so very happy for you." He grinned. The grin only sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't find words to talk.

"How fertile you must be!" Mother remarked without much emotion. "I suppose it runs in the family. I think your late uncle's wife was about to have twins before they both were lost on the Titanic." I saw Father look down at his hands. How likely of mother to bring up the death of my father's only brother. "Anyway as soon as these children are born, dear, we are to have the wedding." To shackle, lock, and chain me away. To keep me in a prison cell with him. To leave Redwitch Manor and leave for a house that I didn't want to be in one bit.

"Mother you must give her a break. She just woke up from passing out. All of you. You're stressing her. Now Rosalyn, make yourself useful and go fetch Doctor Johnson from the drawing room." I was thankful for Beth's interjection. "And the rest of you, leave. Let me talk to my sister alone." One by one they left.

"Thank you." I croaked.

"Anytime, love. Of course it would be you of all people who would overdo it. You can't just settle for one illegitimate child. You have to settle for three. All in one go. Juliet, what are we to do with the children? We can't put them up for adoption. It's not what Sir Richard would want!" She said firmly.

"It's not what Sir Richard would want? Since when do you know him. I don't even know him yet here I am bearing his children. You know nothing about him or what he'd like. So what if I do abandon them. It's not like he'd care. Or notice. I could kill them and he wouldn't care!"

"He would." Beth said more quietly. Her face was slightly pink and she wasn't looking me in the eye. "Any good human would." She mumbled.

"Yes well, he's not a good human. No good human would just abandon his or her lover and leave them with the consequences of their reckless actions. Again, you don't know Sir Richard. He doesn't give a damn about what I do!" I almost yelled.

"I can't keep it in anymore. It's eating me inside out!" She cried. I looked at her, confused. "The night you fell down the stairs I had sent a letter to Sir Richard explaining to him what happened. And about your situation with Sir David. He told me he was coming to see you. But you had your accident so you were in bed-rest and in no condition to see him. Especially with David prowling around. So when he showed up two days later I took him to the garden and we began to talk. And we've been talking ever since for the last two months." I threw the blankets off me and lunged for Beth.

"YOU BITCH!" I howled. I grabbed her sleeve but she pulled away. "My own sister. You betraying bitch. You're nothing but a rat! A snake. Bitch bitch bitch! That's all you are. Get out of my room! I never want to see you again!" I screamed. Tears were pouring down her face. She stumbled out my room. Just as she was leaving Doctor Johnson came in.

"Lady Juliet? Perhaps I should come back later." He closed the door and left me to my misery. I curled up in my bed and cried. I thought about what I said to Beth. Did I mean that? Yes. She is seeing Sir Richard. The very Sir Richard who got me in this entire situation. I was angry and I just needed to get away. I paced my room.

What was the point of living anymore if I was only to be betrayed and controlled? The answer was that there was no point. None what so ever. I stared at myself in the mirror. Last time I saw myself I still had light in my eyes. Now there were purplish-blue bags under my eyes. My grey eyes didn't quite sparkle. I looked a mess. And I didn't care. If I wanted to live I'd have to stop caring. I had to let the caring side of me die. So I did.

Alrighty! Thank you so much for having to deal with me and my lazy posting. I haven't posted in like five years 😂 because my life got super crazy and I became inspirationless (is that a word?) My friends cheered me up but that didn't really help. It's not like I don't know where this story is going! I have a planner dedicated for it. I just am never in the mood to write lately.

Anyway here I am. I can't promise I'll post tomorrow or even today. I have this hecka long process which would go faster if my friends were a bit speedier. I noticed we hit 48 reads which, to some, it's not a lot, but for me it's awesome! That means that people care what I have to say and wouldn't mind reading it!

Tell me; did you expect the triplets? Is my story typical? I'd like to hear comments and feedback! It really makes me edit my work for the better! Thanks for reading. Please keep reading if you like.