Anastasia pursed her lips and started to play the flute again. She was determined to get the sonata right this time, she had tried so hard to perfect the timing. Eve picked up her cue and joined her daughter on the harpsichord. Her swollen stomach slightly discomforting her, Eve picked half-heartedly at the keys, hoping that Anastasia would not foul up this time – she was getting tired and needed to lie down. Neither of her previous pregnancies had been like this – she could only hope the next two months would pass quickly. Eve was becoming drawn and pale, her hair hanging lank down her back and losing its youthful shine. She needed to rest and could barely hold her head up. Finally, Anastasia blew the closing note of the piece and beamed at her mother.

"Well done darling," whispered Eve as Anastasia jumped up and hugged her tight around her neck. Anastasia pecked her on the cheek and ran out of the music room.

"Father – I can do it!" shrieked the little red-head as she bolted downstairs. Eve stood and walked over to the window. She didn't want to admit it, but she was uneasy about this pregnancy. She could feel the nausea from the first few months returning and she knew she was too weak for another month of hell.

As she collapsed back onto a chaise, she felt a small hand tapping her on the shoulder. Cinderella was standing next to her, offering a glass of water. Eve was touched by the child's thoughtfulness.

"Thank-you."

"Do you want anything else step-mother?"

"No. Run along and play." Eve watched her leave and sipped at the water. She had warmed to the girl recently – Cinderella being the only one who seemed to acknowledge that Eve was feeling below par. Cinderella had tried hard to impress her new step-mother, always trying to wait on her hand and foot. Eve wondered if Cinderella's caring manner was what caused her to make friends so easily with the servants. She thought it must be – after all, from Cinderella's childish point-of-view, the servants were only here to look after the family. If Cinderella wanted to take over the role of Eve's nurse, she was quite welcome to. Eve looked at the glass of water and smiled.

"I did not!" screeched Drizella.

"Mother – she did! You saw her," appealed Anastasia.

"No I didn't," muttered Eve sleepily, her head on Raoul's shoulder, watching the flames flicker in the hearth. Cinderella was asleep, her head resting on Eve's lap. Drizella and Anastasia were playing chess. Each time one or the other lost a piece, an argument broke out.

"You cheated!"

"Did not!"

"Girls – that's enough. Go up to bed – take Cinderella with you," said Raoul finally. The three disappeared from the room, Eve laying back and into Raoul's lap. He stroked her hair absentmindedly. "I was thinking of taking Anastasia and Drizella to buy some new dresses tomorrow," said Raoul. "I thought you would appreciate the break from their arguments."

"Thank-you. Will Cinderella be staying?"

"Yes. I'd hate to deprive you of your nurse."

"Thank-you."

"If you would like me to send the girls to my cousin's in Burgundy I will, so that you can have some peace."

"Thank-you."

"I love you darling," whispered Raoul.

"nk-you," muttered Eve. Raoul looked down at her in surprise at her reaction, then realised she had fallen asleep. Raoul watched her sleeping face for a moment, then rested his head against the chair and let himself nod off, hoping to get some sleep without having to disturb Eve.

Raoul set off early the next morning, pulling Anastasia and Drizella out of the door quickly to give Eve some peace. About mid-morning, Eve and Cinderella sat watching the birds through the window.

"Cinderella?"

"Yes stepmother?"

"Those white flowers would look nice in the vase on the dining table. Come and pick some with me!"

"Of course!" Both spent the next hour picking flowers in the garden, Cinderella barraging Eve with questions about the flowers.

"And some of those."

"What are they?"

"Wallflowers. They'll complement the pennyroyal we picked earlier. Pass some of that fern – it will set off the arrangement perfectly." Eve tried to remember when she'd last spent such a pleasant morning. At midday they returned to the house to arrange the flowers and plan a special dinner for Raoul when he returned with Drizella and Anastasia.

Meanwhile, in town, Raoul was having problems. He'd never taken a woman clothes shopping before and had not expected the girls to be so fussy. He was already laden down with dresses, piling the packages into the carriage and groaning as the sisters dragged him towards a hat shop.

"You don't need hats!"

"But father, they would look just right – the finishing touch!" begged Drizella.

"No!"

"Just one each!" pleaded Anastasia.

"No!"

"Then I want a necklace," shouted Drizella.

"So do I!" said Anastasia, stomping her foot. "Why can she have a necklace when I can't?"

"You've already had three dresses each and new shoes and new combs and new undergarments. Is there anything else you would like?" asked Raoul sarcastically.

"Yes, I want..." started Drizella.

"Carriage – now – no arguments!" said Raoul, dragging the girls towards the carriage. He helped them in, ignoring their protests and sat next to the driver. "Home!" he commanded, and the carriage set off.

At three o'clock, the order for dinner given and the servants dismissed for the afternoon that they might have some time to rest before dinner, Eve stood in the doorway of the chateau looking towards the road. Without warning, a sharp pain shot up her right side. Thinking it might just be a cramp, Eve ignored it. She could not ignore the next two shooting pains however and dropped to her knees.

"Gustav! Justine! Anyone!" she shrieked. Realising there was no-one else to help her, she called out "Cinderella!" Her stepdaughter came running quickly, throwing her arms around Eve when she arrived.

"What can I do?"

"Run down to town – fetch the doctor."

"I don't know where he lives."

"Just run to town – tell someone we need the doctor straight away."

"I don't know the way! I'm scared," sobbed Cinderella, hanging onto Eve's shoulder. Eve hugged her back, tightening her hold as another cramp passed through her stomach. It was too early – she should not be in labour yet.

"Cinderella – please! You can see the town from here just run in a straight line – you'll find it!" Eve gasped as a more painful twinge hit her, the pain coursing up her waist and through her ribs. "Please," begged Eve. "Just go – please!"

"I won't leave you!" replied Cinderella, hugging Eve closer to her.

Raoul saw Cinderella in the doorway as the carriage pulled up outside the chateau. Cinderella ran to him and buried her face in his shoulder, crying bitterly.

"Cinderella? Darling?" he coaxed into her hair. Cinderella was unable to speak, overcome with fright. Behind Raoul, Drizella and Anastasia jumped down from the carriage and headed into the house. Two shrieks from the doorway alerted Raoul and he picked up Cinderella before heading toward it.

Eve was just inside the hall, laying on her back and barely breathing. Raoul dropped Cinderella to the floor and kneeled to Eve's side. He picked up her shoulders and moved her onto his lap, stroking her face gently. The driver had followed Raoul into the house, but once he saw what had happened he sprinted out again and drove like a maniac to the town to fetch the doctor. Raoul picked up Eve in his arms and carried her into the parlour, laying her gently onto the chaise. He tried to ignore her pallid expression, the blood on her dress, the pained expression on her face. Raoul touched his forehead to Eve's and wept silent tears as he waited for the worst.

Hours later, the doctor closed the parlour door behind him. Raoul rushed up.

"Well?" he asked.

"She's lost the child sir. It was a boy." Raoul stared at the doctor in disbelief.

"Will she live?"

"It's too early to say. The maids have helped me to – dispose – of the baby. If she lives, she'll need to be told sooner rather than later. I'm sorry sir."

"Thank-you. Is there anything else we can do to help her?"

"No. Only time can help her now."

"Thank-you doctor. Come back in the morning. We will need you then, either way." Raoul's self-control failed as he turned and headed into the parlour. Tears streaming down his face, he hovered at the foot of the chaise and cried bitterly for some time. Part of him knew that their lives had been that little bit too perfect and that he should somehow have expected this. The greater part resented the fact that, despite popular belief, lightning did seem to strike twice. Eve was still asleep, white-faced and moaning softly. Raoul settled in a chair and studied Eve's face as the sunlight faded and night settled on the Tremaine household.