Happy New Year, Everyone! I thought that my blog needed a new look. The banner is complements of one of my friends on The Rebelution forum. Here's Chapter 4 of my book. I have yet to finish Chapter 7 :(


                                                                 Chapter Four

      A week found the Woods family and their servants on their fourth day at sea. Except for Thomas, none of the travelers had suffered from seasickness. However, Georgiana could not help but notice that Faith was not her usual cheerful self. When Georgiana mentioned it to her mother, Lady Woods looked so concerned that Georgiana could not help but wonder if Faith was seriously ill. So she saw the ship’s doctor, Dr. Fulton, leaving the portioned part of the hull that Georgiana shared with her sisters, Georgiana was very worried. She watched as Dr. Fulton talked to her Lord David,.
     As soon as the doctor left, she ran to her father. “Is Faith alright? Does she have a serious illness? Will she die?”
     “Georgiana, please be quiet so your father may tell us about your sister,” Lady Woods gently reprimanded her daughter as she joined her husband and daughter.
     “After giving his wife a smile of thanks, Lord David told them what the doctor had determined was wrong with Faith, “The doctor thinks that Faith has scarlet fever. And since you and Hope share the same room, Georgiana, you must stay with her to reduce the risk of spreading the fever.”
     “But, Father -” Georgiana began.
     “It is just until this is over, Georgiana,” her mother interrupted, trying her best to comfort her daughter. “And it won’t be forever; just a few weeks, hopefully.”

     “More likely it will be for the remainder of the voyage,” Lord David corrected. “but your mother is right, dear. And scarlet fever lasts only for a time, if no one else gets sick. And, you and Hope may not catch it at all; some people are naturally immune. Your mother and I have not had it, so we will not be able to assist the doctor with Faith’s care.”

     “But scarlet fever can be deadly, can’t it?” Georgiana looked at her parents with tears in her eyes. When she received no answer, Georgiana repeated, “ is it not dangerous and deadly?”

     A small sob escaped from Lady Woods’ throat as she answered, “Yes, it can be in most cases.”

     “But the doctor thinks that since we caught it so early, there is a good chance that Faith will survive.” Lord David placed an arm around his wife. “We must hope that God will let Faith survive the fever. Let’s pray for his will to be done.” And that is what they did, in the middle of the hull. Each prayer was full of faith - faith in God and in His numerous promises.

                                                             ~ ~ ~                          

     Three days passed as the Woods waited for the fever to run its course. But, no matter how the family felt, their faith in God never wavered. Whenever Dr. Fulton came to check on the girls, he was surprised to find that Georgiana showed no sign of illness. Hope, however came down with the fever after being in the partitioned room for one day.

    After dinner on the third day of the fever, Dr. Fulton approached Lord and Lady Woods on the ship‘s deck. “Good morning, my lord and lady. I must speak with you, if it is not inconvenient.”

     Lord David looked at the doctor with concern. “ Certainly, Doctor. Why don’t we go to the railing over there?”

     When the small group reached the railing, Dr. Fulton turned to the worried parents. “First of all, about the eldest girl, Georgiana. She seems to have no signs of having scarlet fever. But, I still want her to stay in with her sisters to keep the fever from spreading. I have given her instructions on how to care for her sisters should anything happen.” Dr. Fulton paused for a moment before soberly continuing. “However, I am afraid that there is a very small chance that the twins will survive. The fever is very high and I doubt  they will live past the crisis.” Never before had delivering such a message been so hard for the good doctor. The parents’ faces turned pale with fright and terror. 

      “There is no serious worry, however. I believe that we have caught the fever in the early stages, so we have a fairly certain chance of beating the fever and the twins surviving.”

       “And Thomas?” Lady Woods asked, her eyes communicating her terror.

       “I believe that the boy will be fine, so long as he stays away from the girls and gets plenty of exercise.”

       “Thank you, Dr. Fulton, I am glad that you are here to care for our children,” Lord David said, shaking the doctor’s hand in farewell. “I am certain that they are in the best of hands.”