Walk-In Clinic #1

[Cora Clearwater]

Her recent initiative had so far been a resounding success. The students' complaints had thankfully been overwhelmingly minor—though one student had, much to Cora's alarm, revealed a rather ungainly rash that had required thorough treatment—and she had closed the first day content in the knowledge that she had laid several fears firmly to rest.

She was hoping for similar success today. So far it had been mainly coughs and colds (as well as a rather awkward conversation about a young man's feelings towards a young lady of his acquaintance) but Cora felt a flicker of concern as she took in her next patient. Miss Ruby Urquart had, after all, recently lost her mother and the nurse rather hoped that it was nothing more sinister than a persistent sneeze. Of course the girl didn't appear to be sneezing.

"Take a seat, dear," she said, smiling warmly as she indicated the chair opposite hers. "And tell me in your own time what you've come here about today."

@'Ruby Urquart'
@'Ellory Pendergast'

  

[Ruby Urquart]

The bleeding was supposed to occur every month. It had not returned on February. She was supposed to start bleeding in the beginning of that month, but there'd be no stain on her underthings.

Now, Ruby hadn't missed the horrible sensation. She'd quite happily go without bleeding in her life ever again, but the lack of bleeding meant one terrible thing when you weren't a married woman.

It meant that you were in the family way.

She couldn't possibly be, though. She barely even spoke to boys that weren't family, and she couldn't be in the family way through her Papa or brothers! So it had to be something else, and Ruby was determined to find out what it was.

"I've not started bleeding yet."

  

[Cora Clearwater]

This was hardly an unusual complaint. With so many young women on the cusp of puberty under one roof, visits of this nature were an almost daily occurence. Miss Urquart was not yet thirteen; it was unsurprising she had yet to begin the monthly curse.

"That's not unusual, Miss Urquart," Cora replied warmly. "Bleeding doesn't always occur quite so early. There's still plenty of time."

  

[Ruby Urquart]

Plenty of time? "But I was supposed to bleed again in February and I didn't."

  

[Cora Clearwater]

"Bleed again?" Cora replied, her brow creasing. "Do you mean that you have bled before, dear?" She wouldn't be surprised if she had given the girl's age.

  

[Ruby Urquart]

"Yes," Ruby replied. "I started bleeding on New Year's day and I was supposed to bleed again in February but I never did."

  

[Cora Clearwater]

If it had been any other student, Cora might have found the skipped month curious but Miss Urquart had been through a great deal lately. "There are many reasons you might have missed a month," she explained gently. "Stress is one of the primary explanations."