Tristan reappeared with a bottle of pills and a glass of water in his hands, only to find Pippa gone and the wretched chamber pot still in its room, spreading a repugnant odor that the open window couldn't quite counter.

Surely he was being punished by some higher power for exposing his maid to drink.

He pulled a face and went upstairs, where he found the young woman lying on her bed. "This should help with the sickness," he said. He stood beside her bed and handed her the glass. Then he opened the bottle and shook out two pills, handing those to her as well.