“She inside. With Amey.”
Jane turned to Louisa, who had acquired a trail of children. “I think I may just step in to see how this doctor is doing. Would you distribute the peppermint sticks?”
“I scarcely think I have any choice, madam.” Louisa smiled down at the youngest girl and tugged one of her braids.
“Well, we would not want to keep them waiting. I shall just take the clothes in to Nkiruka and have a word with the doctor.” Jane took the package from Louisa and left her with the children.
Through the door, the interior of the hut looked completely black. Jane stared at it stupidly for a moment before understanding. A glamour had been laid across the doorway to obscure the interior. It was only a crude stretch of black, designed to convince the eye that the interior was not lighted, but it cut so sharply across the door that not even the dirt floor inside was visible. If the interior were actually dark, then there would be a few feet lit by the glow of the exterior. This was nothing but black.
Jane paused by the door. “Nkiruka? May I come in?”
After a moment, Nkiruka’s head abruptly appeared in the middle of the darkness. Jane embarrassed herself by letting out a small yelp of surprise. The older woman chuckled. Jane could hardly blame her for being amused. It was absurd. She beckoned Jane. “Come in. Expecting you.”
Stepping through the glamour, Jane needed a moment to orient to the interior of the hut. Her eyes had been confused by the glamour into expecting a completely dark room, and while it was darker than the yard, the rough-cut windows on each wall let in plenty of light. Jane assumed that they were also obscured by glamour from the outside, which made good sense for a temporary examination room. Rough wooden beams lifted the roof into a high peak. Thatch made from palm fronds was visible in the broad gaps between the boards. There were no walls breaking the space into separate chambers, so it was easy to find Amey lying on a low litter, with a well-dressed woman seated beside her on one of the crude benches. They spoke in low voices about the frequency of Amey’s courses and diet.
The woman wore an India-print day dress in a rich salmon patterned with twisting vines, which was a sharp contrast to Amey’s threadbare shift. In an effort to distract herself from overhearing the conversation, Jane handed Nkiruka the sturdy calico gowns she had brought. “There are two dresses for you and one for Amey.”
Nkiruka fingered the cloth and nodded. “Good, good.”
That part of her errand accomplished, Jane peered around the room for the doctor. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“The doctor.”
Nkiruka laughed, a deep belly laugh that twisted her wrinkles so that they completely hid her eyes. “Hey, doctor!”
The well-dressed woman peered over her shoulder. “Yes?”
Jane gaped. “But you are a woman.”
“Also coloured. You may as well express surprise about that whilst you are about it.” She appeared to be between thirty and forty and was very attractive; her figure was rather small and slender, and her whole appearance expressive of health and animation. In complexion she was a clear brunette with a rich colour; she had full round cheeks, with mouth and nose small, and well-formed dark eyes. Black hair formed natural curls close round her face.
“I beg your pardon. I had not realised that a woman could be a doctor. I have been intolerably rude.”
“As I could not be admitted to any current institution, your surprise is understandable. ‘Doctor’ is a courtesy title. Most white people call me Jones.” She turned back to Amey and dipped her hands into a basin of water. She then lifted Amey’s dress. Jane found it necessary to study the window. “There is a white doctor for the white people, but I find enough employment among the blacks and coloureds. Most of my work is childbirth and sugarcane injuries.”
“Like the young woman outside?”
“Correct. Amey, roll onto your left side for me … good. Thank you.” After a moment, she continued. “I understand that your husband is interested in making some reforms, Mrs. Hamilton.”
“Oh. Yes, we both are.” Jane was not certain how the doctor would have heard about that, but she supposed that it was a small island.
“Mm … may I suggest then that you consider having an hospital built for the Greycroft estate? Monk Lewis, here in Antigua, had one installed, and found that it increased his productiveness due to the reduction in the amount of time it took slaves to recover. I would be happy to send the documentation around for Mr. Hamilton’s consideration.” She sighed, followed by the sound of water splashing. “Well, Amey, you show no signs of dilation, and the baby has not turned, so I think you have a while yet. You will send for me when the bearing pains are half an hour apart. Do you have a means of telling time?”