Page 70 of Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure
“Josephine. Very nice,” Dora said.
“She can be Jojo,” Yvette said. “N’est-ce pas?”
Ellie encouraged her to put the baby to her breast. Josephine immediately latched on and began sucking. This made Yvette laugh. “How does she know?” she asked. “This feels so strange.”
“Well,” Dora said after they had left Yvette to sleep with the baby beside her, “that’s that, then. I hope she doesn’t become too attached tothat child, because she’ll surely have to give it up. There’s no way she can keep it.”
“I suppose not,” Ellie said hesitantly. Dora frowned, watching Ellie’s face.
“Now don’t you dare say that she can go on living here with us and we’ll help take care of the child,” she said firmly.
“At least until she’s got her strength back, Dora. And then it’s up to her what she wants to do. Maybe she can write to her young man in prison and make a plan for their future.”
“I don’t see how, if he’s got five years to serve,” Dora said. “They are not going to release him on compassionate grounds because he’s fathered a child.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“And frankly, I don’t want to be uncharitable, but I’d prefer to have my last moments on earth without her mooching around. She’s not exactly the most lovable of creatures at the best of times.”
“I know,” Ellie said. “But let’s not discuss this now. I’ll go and see Father André and learn where she can safely hand over the child.”
But she put this off, returning to the doorway and watching the tiny human asleep in Yvette’s arms.What if she does want to keep it?a voice whispered.Couldn’t we make it possible for her?
And then it was decided for them. One morning two weeks later they woke up to find that Yvette had gone. No note. No message. Just her clothing taken from the wardrobe and the baby lying in its bed, howling to be fed.
“Well, at least that settles it,” Dora said as Ellie picked up the baby and attempted to quieten it. “We take the child to the nearest nuns and drop it off there.”
Ellie looked down at Jojo’s tiny face. “I can’t do that,” she said. “What if Yvette has only gone off to think, to make up her mind? Whatif she’s gone in an attempt to see Pierre? Or to find a situation that will let her keep her child?”
Dora shrugged. “She hasn’t shown much initiative before,” she said. “So you’re suggesting we keep this child?”
“For now, Dora. Just for now.”
“And how do we feed her?”
Ellie sighed. “I presume there are plenty of mothers who can’t breastfeed for some reason or other.”
“They employ a wet nurse, and neither of us is equipped to perform such a task,” Dora said icily.
“I think wet nurses went out of fashion long ago,” Ellie said. “I’ll ask the doctor. He’ll know.” She reached out and put a tentative hand on Dora’s shoulder. “It’s only for now, Dora. We have to give Yvette a chance.”
“I’d say you’ve given her more than a fair chance, Ellie. We’ve handed everything to her on a plate. We’re paying her doctor bills. We’ve fed and housed her. And now she has left us in the lurch. Gone without a word, without a single thank you. She has played us for fools, Ellie. That’s what she’s done. I guarantee she’s off on the Riviera at this moment.”
“How can she be? She’s no money, has she?” She paused. “I’d better check my jewellery box. So should you.”
They returned almost immediately. “One or two of my good pieces are gone,” Dora said.
“And the emerald ring you gave me,” Ellie said. “Oh Dora, I’m so sorry. You were right. She was using us. Not the least grateful.”
“So do we tell the police? Have her arrested for theft?”
“I hate to do that,” Ellie said. “For all her faults, I did become fond of her. And she could have taken all our jewellery, but she took just enough to get by for now. Let’s give her a chance to make amends.”
“Hmph,” Dora said.
Mavis agreed with Dora. “I never did trust her,” she said. “And where I grew up, you got a pretty good feel for who was up to no good. I’ve always felt that. Maybe she was scared and we rescued her from a bad situation, but then she saw how soft-hearted you were, and she realized she was not only on to a good thing, but she could hide out with us, if they were looking for her.” She met Ellie’s gaze. “What’s to say she wasn’t part of a robbery ring with her young man? And we helped her hide out until the heat died down.”
“Oh Mavis,” Ellie said. “You may well be right. I wish I knew what the best thing to do was.”
