That calmed her a little and made her feel worse at the same time. Alice brought her thumb up to her face and wiped her tears. Now that nobody was trying to force her, she felt bad for not wanting to hold her baby.

But it wasn't hers. It was Tobias's.

She glanced at the infant once more and her lip trembled once again. This time she managed to hold back the tears. She was so small. It wasn't the child's fault.

She looked up at the wetnurse. Grateful, yet suspicious. She wanted to say something, but she had no idea what. She wiped her face once more and sat up a little. "Thank you.... fer takin' care of 'er," she said very quietly in a hoarse voice.