Chapter 1

 

'I'm so worried for you Caroline,' says Lily. 'I heard mother and father talking about sending you away.'

'A fine way to treat your eldest daughter,' says Caroline addressing her sister's reflection in the dressing table mirror. 'Out of sight and out of mind.'

Lily is standing behind a seated Caroline combing her sister's long fair hair, each girl wearing only a white shift with embroidery at the neck, sleeves and hem. Caroline's mane which extends to half way down her back is thick and lustrous with a slight wave; there is a tinge of red mixed with the gold. Lily's hair too is loose about her slim white shoulders but less striking in colour. She is slightly shorter in build than her elder sister.

'Be serious Caroline. I don't want us to be parted.'

'Where do they propose to send me?'

'Somewhere where you can have treatment, father said.'

'I'm not ill.'

'They believe you are. Father said he did not know what they'd done to deserve such a wild and wilful child.'

'Child! I'm twenty years old. Father wants to keep me as his little girl. He wants me to be just like you, Lily.'

'Ordinary and dull is what you mean.' She was tempted to give her sister's hair a sharp tug.

'I meant well-mannered and obedient.'

'Is that so bad? Why must you provoke them endlessly Caroline?'

'It's not intentional. It's just that they are so old-fashioned in their opinions of how a young lady should behave. We can't all be so prim and proper.'

'They think you're still seeing Jack Sefton.'

'Perhaps I am, perhaps not.'

'He's a farrier Caroline, hardly a gentleman. You should realize the gossip it causes. It's embarrassing for all of us.'

'He's very handsome. You should see him wielding his hammer to fashion a horseshoe, stripped to the waist and his muscles glistening with sweat.'

'You could have anyone Caroline. If you wait the right gentleman will come along. You're so handsome you can have your pick.'

Lily, though pretty herself, speaks the truth about her sister who is a true beauty. Any male observer would be more fulsome in his praise. Caroline has a perfect oval face, high cheek bones, full lips, bright blue eyes and the sort of flawless skin that is often compared to porcelain though there is nothing cold about her, rather the healthy glow of youth. It seems there is a certain animation and restlessness about her even when she is seated. The clinging shift reveals the contours of a shapely young body recently come to full womanhood; the outline of her high firm breasts very obvious, the points of her large nipples almost visible through the flimsy fabric.

The Hyde-Oliver sisters are the subject of much idle talk in the village, gossip which acknowledges their attractive appearance, particularly in the case of Caroline, but when the older girl is discussed the speakers invariably have a little knowing smile on their lips. When men discuss Caroline without women being present, the conversation is often demeaning and crude. Her association with the village blacksmith, though it is meant to be a secret liaison, and her general demeanour, have given rise to comment and rumour that mark her down as a woman of doubtful morals. Even Caroline's habit of looking people in the eye with a frank and open expression and her tendency to treat everyone the same irrespective of their station gives rise to criticism.

A few praise her for not putting on airs and graces but they are a minority. Still fewer praise her being for a lively and spirited young lady.

'Someone safe and solid you mean,' says Caroline in reply to her sister's view of a suitable husband. 'Someone father approves of.'

'He knows you've been taking Tempest out at night. Earnshaw has been directed to keep him informed each time you go riding.'

Tempest is Caroline's favourite horse, as spirited as his owner. Earnshaw is the Head Groom at Galtree Hall. Caroline does not ride side saddle, she rides like a man.

'You take such risks. Do you go to meet Sefton?'

'Sometimes I just ride across the moor on my own. It's so exhilarating riding by moonlight Lily. You should try it.'

'Father is afraid Tempest will catch his hoof in a rabbit hole. You'll be out there with no-one to help you.'

'Tempest is sure footed and would never be so careless.'

'How can you be sure in the dark?'

'He has excellent eyesight. You worry too much like mother.'

'I care about you like mother. Is that so wrong?'

 

 

Chapter 2

 

It is Lily, standing at an upstairs window, who first sees the man, who will become so important to all the family, alighting from a carriage. He is unusually tall and straight-backed like a military man. He has a well-trimmed dark moustache slightly waxed. Even at first sight he commands attention. His luggage includes what looks like a leather doctor's bag but larger than any Lily has seen. She is not party to the conversation this visitor has with her parents so has to wait to discover the reason for his arrival at her family home.

 

 

Chapter 3

 

'Thank you for coming Dr Cunningham,' says the Head of Galtree House.

'I should explain that I employ some of the methods used by other doctors but my approach is alternative in many respects. It involves creating a whole new regime for the patient not simply the prescribing of pills and potions.'

'Do you have an inkling as to what is wrong with our daughter?' This is the first question put by the concerned mother. The visitor turns to look at her with gimlet eyes. He sees a mature woman in her late forties of more than pleasant appearance. The Hyde-Oliver girls have inherited their mother's good looks but Cunningham has not yet seen the sisters.

The mother feels a shiver down her spine as he looks at her.

'I will need to examine her but I would be grateful if you could furnish me with a more detailed description of her symptoms than you were able to supply in your letter. What gives you the most cause for concern about your daughter's- Caroline's- behaviour?'

'Her waywardness and erratic disposition,' says her father.

'Can you give me examples?'

'She is very self-willed in everything,' he continues. 'If she is crossed or corrected she either loses her temper or becomes sullen and withdrawn,' the father continues.

'She appears to resent all our efforts to bring her up as a civilised and polite young lady,' attests the mother in support of her husband. 'We love her dearly but she is so difficult to handle. My husband is not in good physical health and Caroline's tantrums do not help.'

'When did she start to show these symptoms?'

'She has always been headstrong but things got much worse when she reached the age of twelve.'

'And she is twenty now? You've endured eight very difficult years I imagine,' says Cunningham. 'I wish you'd called on my services before now.'

'I've only got to hear about you very recently,' says Mr Hyde-Oliver. 'We could not entrust our daughter to anyone who did not have the highest reputation. We had thought of sending her away for treatment but I saw your advertisement and then made it my business to get to know more about you from certain friends and acquaintances. One of my friends was very praising of your results with his wayward young daughter. She has recently been married off to a very acceptable suitor.'

'This is a delicate question,' says Cunningham, 'but has Caroline shown any signs of sexual precociousness?'

'There is no point in concealing the truth,' asserts her father. 'Caroline has had a number of ...er...flirtations with men despite our attempts to forbid such conduct.'

'Men outside our social circle I'm sorry to say,' adds her mother.

'I can understand how worrying this tendency must be. Does she show a general disregard for modesty and decorum in the company of men?'

'I'm embarrassed sometimes by the way Caroline conducts herself,' says Mrs Hyde-Oliver. 'She behaves in an inappropriately informal manner in male company. She is a very pretty girl so she arouses a good deal of unwelcome attention.'

'What about her physical health?'

'She has never been ill in the conventional sense. She is robust, a fine horsewoman, skilful and athletic on the tennis court, a good swimmer.'

'What are your chances of success with our daughter Mr Cunningham?' Again Mrs Hyde-Oliver's voice betrays her extreme concern.

'In large part that will depend on you.'

'Please do not question our commitment Mr Cunningham. I will meet your fees and expenses in full and give you accommodation here for as long as it takes to effect a cure.'

'That was not my meaning. I meant whether you will trust me absolutely and give me a completely free hand. I mentioned that I create a totally different regime for my patient. At least in the early stages of the treatment I will need to be with Caroline day and night in her own room supervising every aspect of her daily routine, eating, sleeping, exercising...'

'In her bedroom? Is that proper?' It is Caroline's mother who puts this question but her husband's eyebrows are also raised.

'If your daughter has the illness I suspect she suffers with that will be entirely necessary. The regime will appear draconian at first and any naturally loving parent would not wish to see it carried through. Any parent would want to intervene and stay my hand but any break in the treatment, any watering down of the treatment, any slight compromise even, is likely to result in failure. Caroline must accept me as her mentor to the exclusion of anyone else and that will be hard for you to bear. I will need to lock her door against the outside world. I will need a connecting room if that is possible and a female servant at my disposal. Despite this isolation you may feel it is preferable to her being taken away to an asylum. At least she will remain under your roof.'

This speech is delivered in such a confident and persuasive manner that neither parent interrupts Dr Cunningham and if either retains misgivings at the end of it these doubts are not expressed. In any case their visitor begins speaking again without much of a pause.

'Perhaps the best thing is for me to examine Caroline and then see if I'm of the same opinion as to the most efficacious treatment to bring her back to a state of mental stability.'

'That seems eminently sensible,' says father. 'What do you think Mildred?'

Mother nods her head but asks, 'Do you wish to examine her alone?' It is clear she is still worried about the proprieties.

'I think it's best. She may be a little reticent in the company of her parents.'

'I'll tell Caroline to make herself ready for you Dr Cunningham. In the meantime Painter my manservant will take your luggage up to your room. It is an anteroom which adjoins Caroline's just as you asked. I will see a bed is moved in and I will assign a female servant to you. Alison is a young maid but a most reliable girl and I will explain that she must take her orders from you for the duration of your visit. Perhaps she could be present when you are attending to Caroline?'

'I can tell that you think a chaperone for your daughter is of great importance Mrs Hyde-Oliver. I think I can offer a solution.'

'Is Alison not the answer?'

'I think not. She would not understand the regime I must impose which might seem very harsh and frightening to her. My suggestion is that I summon an experienced nurse called Mrs Benson who has worked with me before and is fully conversant with my methods. The only question is whether you would permit her to come to Galtree House which would obviously increase the cost to you Mr Hyde-Oliver beyond the figure I quoted.'

'My only concern is Caroline's health. Please invite the nurse. It seems only proper that a female should be in attendance.'