“I’ll just go on up to see Amy,” Sarah said, hoping she could get some time alone with the girl before the madam joined them. “I know the way.”
Before Beulah could object, if she really was going to object, Sarah found the back stairway and went up. The house was eerily quiet, and she recalled Jake’s reminder about the girls sleeping late. She saw no sign of anyone stirring on the second floor. All the doors were shut. Sarah tapped lightly on Amy’s door, then entered without waiting for an invitation.
Amy lay in bed, supported by pillows, and she looked up in alarm when Sarah entered.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said with a sigh. “I’m as nervous as a cat. I’m afraid they’re going to come get the baby.”
Sarah hurried over to the bed. She saw that the baby lay beside her, wrapped tightly in a blanket and sound asleep. “I spoke with Mrs. Van Orner’s secretary this morning.”
“Why didn’t you see
“Shhh,” Sarah cautioned, aware that Mrs. Walker could appear at any moment. “She wasn’t in, but the secretary was going to tell her your story today. You can’t be moved for at least a few more days yet, and they need some time to make plans. But they’re coming for you, Amy. I promise you they are.”
“What if they take the baby before they get here? I’ll never find him!”
“I told you, I’ll take him. I’ll speak to Mrs. Walker today about it.”
“What if she won’t let you? What if I lose him!” Tears flooded her eyes, and Sarah was afraid she would get hysterical. She’d have a difficult time explaining that to Mrs. Walker.
“You have to be strong, Amy,” Sarah told her. “Trust me. I’ll take care of everything.”
Amy didn’t look willing to trust anyone, but Sarah heard the door opening.
“How often is the baby feeding?” she asked in a normal voice.
Amy looked at her stupidly for a second before she noticed Mrs. Walker had come in. “He kept me up half the night,” she said. “He’s a greedy little thing.”
“That’s good.” Sarah put her hand on the girl’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever. I’ll need to—”
“So you came back,” Mrs. Walker said.
Sarah turned, feigning surprise. “I told you I would.”
This morning Mrs. Walker wore a red silk kimono. She looked weary, as if she hadn’t slept well since the last time Sarah saw her. “I always assume people are lying to me, Mrs. Brandt, and I’m usually right.” She nodded at Amy. “How’s she doing?”
“I haven’t had a chance to examine her yet, but I’ll be happy to give you a full report when I’m finished.”
“You do that. I want her healthy so she can get back to work real soon.”
Sarah flinched and Amy made a small sound of protest, but if Mrs. Walker noticed, she gave no sign. She just turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
“I hate her!” Amy whispered.
“You won’t have to be here much longer,” Sarah promised. “Now let me examine you and the baby.”
“And tell me everything that secretary person said.”
Half an hour later, Sarah could delay her departure no longer. She left Amy with a promise to return as soon as possible. When she reached the kitchen, Beulah led her down a hallway to what she discovered was Mrs. Walker’s office, a modestly decorated room in stark contrast to the rest of the house.
The woman sat at an elaborately carved desk, still wearing her kimono. She’d been making a list of some sort, and she looked up when Beulah brought Sarah in. When the cook had closed the door behind her, Mrs. Walker said, “Don’t believe anything that little whore told you.”
3
“PARDON ME?” SARAH SAID IN SURPRISE.
“I already told you, I always assume people are lying to me, and I’m usually right. That’s because I spend so much time with whores, Mrs. Brandt. They’ll say anything to get what they want.”
“Amy wants her baby to be safe.”
Mrs. Walker raised her eyebrows. “Nobody’s going to hurt it.”
“She’s afraid you’re going to take it away.”
She sighed impatiently. “Of course I’m going to take it away. This is no place for a baby. If men wanted to hear babies crying, they’d stay at home.”
“Where are you going to take him?”
“What business is it of yours?”
Sarah clenched her fists until the fingernails bit into the skin of her palms, but somehow she managed not to scream at this horrible woman. “None, but I know what happens to abandoned babies in the city. I’d like to take him someplace where he’ll be taken care of and perhaps even adopted.”
“You have high hopes for the little brat, don’t you?”
“I just think he deserves a chance to survive. He didn’t choose to be born here.”
“Nobody chooses where they’re born,” Mrs. Walker said. “A midwife should know that. How is Amy?”
“She’s doing well. She should stay in bed for at least two weeks.” Sarah hoped the girl would be gone long before then.
“Since she works on her back, that’s not a hardship,” Mrs. Walker said.
Sarah felt the heat rising in her face, but she refused to let Mrs. Walker make her angry. “She shouldn’t have relations for at least two months.”
“She could get childbed fever and die. You told me yourself she’s valuable to you.”
“She’s not valuable if she can’t work for two months.” Mrs. Walker sighed again, this time in disgust. “All right. If you’re finished with Amy, you can go.” She turned back to her list making, but Sarah didn’t move.
“Will you let me take the baby?”
Mrs. Walker looked up, annoyed. “What on earth do you want him for?”
“I told you, I want to make sure he has a chance. I know an orphanage where they’ll take good care of him.”
“I’m not giving you any money to take him,” she warned.
“I haven’t asked for any.”
“Are you going to sell him?”
“Whom would I sell him to?” Sarah asked in surprise.
Mrs. Walker smiled unpleasantly. “Lots of people would pay to get their hands on a little baby boy.”
“Even if that’s true, I don’t know any of them.”
“You aren’t going to give up, are you?” Mrs. Walker asked.
“No.”
“All right then, you can have him. You’ll save me the trouble.” She turned back to her desk again.
“When should I come for him?”
Mrs. Walker’s expression turned cunning. “How long until Amy’s milk comes in good?”
Sarah remembered what Amy had said about that and managed not to flinch. “A week.”
“Come back when he’s a week old then.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Walker. That’s very kind of you,” Sarah said sincerely.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and the color rose in her pale cheeks. “I don’t mean the child any harm,” she said gruffly. “And I don’t know what she told you, but Amy has a good life here. I take care of all my girls. They get the best of everything.”
Unless they try to leave, Sarah thought, but she said, “I’m sure they do. Will you tell Amy you’ve agreed to let me take her baby?”
“Of course I will. It’ll keep her from crying and carrying on. Men don’t like to hear women crying either. You can go now, Mrs. Brandt. I’ve given you everything you’re going to get.”
