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“I will ask cook to see if she canswiftly He looked at the raging fire and pulled a face “I hope you are right, Ned” He picked up a pitcher of water and put out the fire

As the night continued, the temperature in the room dropped considerably Edmund found a blanket and wrapped it around Alice, but told his wife to leave her mother uncovered He noted Jane didn’t appear quite as restless

In the early hours, Henry arrived with the brewed draught He pressed it to his wife’s lips and ords of encourage a face at its bitter taste

“There, there,her back on the bed

Ed never had the co, could only watch as father and daughter rallied and gave each other words of coht, with the e, Edmund sat in the corner of the room and played whatever role he could to help

His wife’s devotion to her ht he was overcoret that he hadn’t expressed it enough to her He had used his body to give her carnal pleasure, moderated her unacceptable behaviours, but failed to simply declare his love She had been patient towards hiible declaration in words that were sweet to her ears

He prayed, as the dawn birds began to sing, that all wasn’t lost for his er keep his eyes open and the lids drooped as he drifted into sleep

Edht filled the roo then to one side, he could see sunshine and patches of blue sky The storm had passed away completely

Daring to look about the roo on the foot of the bed, bent over and she appeared to be asleep Henry, his legs stretched out before him, slept in the chair by the

Edmund rose and approached Jane She lay still propped up on pillows, her face pale and eyes shut However, he could see she was breathing steadily and slower than previously Touching her wrist gently, her skin felt cool to touch Reaching down, he stroked Alice’s hair until she stirred

“Alice, dearest, wake up”

Alice’s eyes blinked in the light “Mama?”

“The fever has broken,” said Edmund quietly “I believe the worst is over”

Alice let out a tiny sob,it with her hand “Oh, thank God”