Eve ran until she reached the wheat fields beyond the town. Panicked now, she slid into a ditch and lay there to catch her breath. Panting, she started to cry. She had no idea why she was still running, or why she hadn't answered Pierre. He wouldn't hurt her again, he couldn't... Exhausted, Eve drifted off to sleep.

It was late by the time Pierre arrived back at the house, the effort of riding the horse tiring him more than he cared to admit right now. He burst through the front door, and reached for the doorman, clutching the jacket's lapels.

"Has my wife returned yet?"

"No sir."

"Wake the entire household. The children's governess must watch over them, but every other servant is to comb the town and the surrounding area until you find her! Find some torches, quickly!"

The next morning, the search for Eve proving fruitless, Pierre was forced to allow the exhausted servants to take some rest. He prepared breakfast for himself and the two girls. Over the meal, he realised just what Eve had meant about Drizella. There was a certain amount of cockiness about her, a certain disregard for the rules. He had always thought it may be some of her mother's spirit, but now wondered whether he had spoiled the girl. He had taken her side against Eve on occasion. Now he had to put things right, somehow. But to do that, he needed to find Eve because she was the only person who could help him now. Despairing, he started to cry. Drizella looked up to her father and smiled.

"What's the matter?"

"I miss your mother, Drizella."

"I don't," said Drizella, biting into a croissant. Pierre looked at Drizella in shock. There was no doubt about it – Drizella genuinely didn't miss her mother and was very probably hoping she wouldn't return.

"Get to your room!"

"In a moment," said Drizella, greedily reaching for another croissant.

"Now!" shouted Pierre. Drizella stopped and looked shocked for a moment, then started crying. She walked towards her father. Pierre noticed for the first time she was quite capable of turning on the tears just to get him to comfort her and escape punishment. He stood and backed away from her. "Get to your room, now," he repeated calmly, pointing upstairs. Drizella looked as though she might argue, but instead turned and fled from the room. Pierre sat down, shaking slightly. He stared straight ahead. He started as a small hand reached up and touched his face. Anastasia lifted her other hand and cradled her father's face. He lifted her up onto his knee and held her tightly. Hot tears fell into her deep red hair.

"Don't worry Papa. Mama make it all better," cooed Anastasia. Pierre's sobs redoubled – those were the first words she'd spoken to him since she'd first learned to speak.

Eve awoke, freezing cold and damp with dew. She stood up slowly, finding she was dizzy. Stumbling, she started to make her way home to her children, half hoping that Pierre would not be there.

The maid was conducting a second search of the grounds when she noticed Eve making her way up the road and immediately ran out to greet her. Eve slumped to the ground as the maid approached, allowing herself to be half-helped, half-dragged toward the house. As the pair entered, the maid shouted for help. The doorman and Pierre appeared from different doors.

"Eve!" Pierre ran to his wife and picked her up into his arms. Eve struggled for a moment, but then lay still and started to cry. Pierre turned to the servants, "Leave us!" He carried his wife into the parlour and lay her on a chaise. He left to retrieve a bowl of warm water and a cloth, but returned quickly so as not to abandon Eve for too long.

"Pierre..." whispered Eve, as he placed a warm cloth to her forehead, "please don't."

"Does it hurt?"

"No, but I don't want you..." she broke off and started crying again. She knew she was never going to stop crying if Pierre was near her, the memory of their argument was still too strong. Pierre looked as though he might leave, but instead knelt by her head and stroked her hair softly.

"I'm not leaving your side. I am sorry I hurt you. You were right about Drizella – you were right about everything."

"Pierre, please, I just need a little time. Please leave me alone!"

"Time is one thing we don't have," said Pierre. "Just let me explain," he added, as Eve's eyes widened in horror.

Pierre went on to explain how he'd felt himself growing weaker over the last few weeks. He'd been vomiting blood for over a week and the family physician had advised him to place his affairs in order. Eve listened in stunned silence, before breaking down in tears.

It took five months for Pierre to die, slowly becoming weaker and weaker and finally retiring to his room and never venturing out. Eve spent most of her time by his side, until Pierre became too weak to remain awake for extended periods of time. Pierre died peacefully at last in his sleep, leaving Eve distraught and with little of his pension from the army. Eve buried Pierre in his family crypt at the cemetery. The sun refused to hide its face and shone brightly on the black coffin and funeral procession. As the gates of the crypt swung closed a final time, Eve started to cry. Anastasia felt her mother shaking and cuddled into her hand. Drizella stood staring at the crypt, hand clasped firmly behind her back and glaring occasionally at her mother as if this was all her fault. Finally, exhausted, Eve trouped the family home to grieve for Pierre.

As the months passed, it become painfully clear just how much damage Pierre's drinking and expenditure on the girls had done to the Labeau income. Pierre's meagre army pension barely covered living expenses and with little saved money, one by one Eve was forced to dismiss the servants. It was with a certain delight that Eve dismissed the governess however, a woman Eve had long suspected of being responsible for Drizella's foul disposition. She noted the pitiful look on Drizella's face as the governess left and hoped it was not too late to rebuild her relationship with her daughter.