Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 44

EXTRACT

THE IVORY ROSE
AFTER A FALL, JEMMA HAS WOKEN UP IN THE PAST. NOW SHE’S A SERVING GIRL – WITH A MYSTERY TO
SOLVE. WHY IS GEORGIANA SO SICK?

B

ack in the kitchen Agnes set
Jemma and Connie to work
polishing all the silverware.
There were mounds of it, and
Agnes checked each piece
meticulously. Jemma had to do most
of hers again because she had missed
some miniscule speck or smudge, which
earned her a sound scolding from
Agnes.
Relief came when the bell rang again,
but this time it was the front door.
‘That will be the doctor,’ Agnes
predicted, holding a candelabra up to
the window to see if she could find any
hidden tarnish. ‘Jemma, go and let him
in – show him up to Miss Georgiana’s
room. Wait while he does his
examination, then escort him down to
the sitting room to see Miss Rutherford.’
Jemma opened the front door to
reveal a sandy-haired, middle-aged
man with a moustache and round belly,
carrying his leather medical bag in one
hand and his hat and cane in the other.
‘I’m Doctor Anderson,’ he said. ‘I’m
here to examine Miss Georgiana.’
‘Come in . . . ah, sir,’ beckoned Jemma,
showing him into Georgiana’s room.
Jemma stood quietly by the door
observing everything.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Georgiana,’
the doctor greeted, his eyes twinkling
kindly as he laid his things down on the
end of the bed. ‘How are you feeling
today?’
‘Bored,’ Georgiana answered crossly.
‘I’m so tired of being in bed and staying
quiet. I just want to go out and have
some fun.’
‘That’s a good sign,’ agreed the doctor
cheerfully. ‘If you’re bored then you
must be feeling better.’
Doctor Anderson unpacked his
bag, taking out a stethoscope and a
thermometer. He listened carefully to
Georgiana’s heart, took her pulse and
temperature.

44 randomhouse.com.au/teachers

‘All seems fine,’ remarked Doctor
Anderson with a frown. ‘You seem quite
well today.’
Jemma’s mind was bubbling with
questions. If someone had murdered
Georgiana, did her illness have
something to do with it? Could it
be the medicine Doctor Anderson
prescribed her that was causing the
sickness? Perhaps Doctor Anderson had
accidently given her the wrong dosage
– or could it have been deliberate?
‘Excuse me, doctor,’ asked Jemma
politely. She pulled herself taller to
look older and more responsible. ‘What
exactly is wrong with Georgiana? I’ll be
taking care of her, so I’d like to know

bridge of his nose, peering at Jemma
thoughtfully, as though reassuring
himself that he was doing the right
thing discussing his patient with her
maidservant. Jemma smiled at him,
encouraging him to continue.
‘We now know that most gastric
illnesses are caused by bacteria, which
is why cleanliness of the sick room is
absolutely essential,’ insisted Doctor
Anderson. ‘Everything should be
thoroughly scrubbed every day with
carbolic acid. The patient needs to be
regularly bathed as well with soap and
warm water.
‘The patient needs fresh air, light and
warmth. You should keep the window

If someone had murdered Georgiana, did her illness have
something to do with it? Could it be the medicine Doctor
Anderson prescribed her that was causing the sickness?
Perha