Free Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson Page B

“Your information was invaluable.”
    “Not as invaluable as your courage,” Sarah replied. “If you and your friends hadn’t been willing to go in there . . .”
    Mrs. Van Orner waved Sarah’s praise away. “Not at all. We simply do God’s work. Tamar said you wanted to examine the girl. I think that’s a good idea. She was extremely agitated during the entire event. I’m so glad you brought the baby over, though. Perhaps she’ll calm down now. If not, we can give her some laudanum.”
    “I’d rather not, since it can go through the milk and make the baby too groggy to feed well. Let me see how she’s doing first.”
    “Certainly. Tamar, will you take Mrs. Brandt upstairs?”
    Miss Yingling seemed only too glad to oblige. She led the way and Sarah followed.
    “How many women live in the house?” Sarah asked as they climbed the stairs.
    “Just two others right now. We have room for more, but the women don’t do well if they have to share a room with someone, I’m afraid. They have a difficult time adjusting to normal life, so we try to give them privacy when we can.”
    “Is it unusual for a woman to be as agitated as Amy was?”
    “Not at all. They’re frightened and excited at the prospect of freedom. Some of them become hysterical while others just huddle in a corner and shake.”
    Miss Yingling stopped in front of one of the doors that lined the upstairs hallway. Sarah could hear the murmur of voices from inside. Miss Yingling tapped lightly, then opened the door without waiting for an invitation.
    “Mrs. Brandt would like to see Amy,” she announced.
    The room was already crowded. Furnished with a plain iron bedstead, a wardrobe, and a washstand, the place felt more utilitarian than comfortable. Plain muslin curtains hung at the window, and the walls were painted an ugly shade of brown. Amy lay propped in the bed, the baby at her breast, and Mrs. Spratt-Williams and the girl Tamar had told her about, Lisa Biafore, stood by, ready to help in any way. Miss Yingling and Sarah took up the remaining floor space.
    “Mrs. Brandt,” Amy said, brightening. “I got out!”
    “Yes, you did. I’m very happy for you.”
    “You should be. You have no idea how horrible that place was. Of course, my room there was a lot nicer than this,” she said, looking with disfavor around her current accommodations.
    “You should be grateful you’ve got a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in,” Lisa Biafore chided.
    Amy ignored her. “I’m hungry. I have to keep up my strength to feed the baby.”
    Lisa sniffed in disapproval. “It’s not mealtime yet, but I’ll see what we have in the kitchen.”
    “I’d like some bread and jam,” Amy said. “Strawberry is my favorite.”
    Lisa rolled her eyes as she passed Sarah on the way out of the room.
    “You missed all the excitement, Mrs. Brandt,” Mrs. Spratt-Williams said.
    “Miss Yingling told me. Amy, how are you feeling?”
    If Miss Yingling’s eyes were sparkling, Amy’s were glittering. “I’m as happy as I can be.”
    Sarah smiled. “No, I mean are you having any discomfort? Any bleeding?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t had a chance to even think about it.” But now that she did, she apparently decided she needed to complain. “That man was very rough with me, you know. Carried me out of the house and practically threw me into the carriage. Didn’t give me a chance to get dressed or anything!”
    “They didn’t have time,” Mrs. Spratt-Williams said. “They had to get you out before someone raised the alarm.”
    “And the carriage was so old, I don’t think it even had any springs left. I’m probably black-and-blue from bouncing around.”
    “Would you mind if I examined you? I want to make sure you’re still doing all right.”
    “Oh, yes, of course.” She unceremoniously removed the baby from her breast and held him out to Mrs. Spratt-Williams. “Would you take care of him for me? That girl who was here said she was