Later that evening, just as I had finished getting ready for bed, William called me into his study.

"What are you doing?" I asked, stepping into his study.

"Checking our finances."

"And how are they?" I asked, walking over to him.

"Perfect." William replied, pulling me into his lap.

"Are you alright, William?" I asked, with a slight air of caution.

"I'm not sure, Mary. I feel as if my life has just been turned inside out and upside down; it is all I can do to keep my mind off the beast. I still don't know what to tell the children."

"It'll be all right William. But for now, come to bed."

I gave him a reassuring kiss on the lips. William nodded grimly and followed me to our bedchamber.

Around half past six the next morning, I awoke with the slightly surprising feel of William's warm body still next to mine, his left arm resting protectively across my midsection. Feeling nauseous and a bit pained from being up all night with my unborn child kicking against my spine, but not wanting to wake William, I got quietly out of bed and left the room.

I was about to go downstairs when my nausea overcame me and I went to the washroom, grabbed a pail and threw up.

About ten minutes later, I went back to the master bedchamber and got dressed. Then, being as William was still miraculously asleep, I decided to go out to the stables before eating.

Half way to the stables, I felt a dull pain in my midsection. The pain left me as soon as it had come and after a minute, still had not returned, so I resumed my walk to the stables; but I had only gone about ten steps further when the pain returned, this time, sharp and persistent as the blade of a knife.

I collapsed on the ground in surprise and agony.

'No! This can't be happening! I'm only six and a half months along!'

"William!" I screamed as my body became wracked with pain. "Help me!"

In too much pain to walk, I began to crawl back to the house.