"Wasn't there?" Charlotte repeats, "But where is he?"

Thomas shakes his head, they both look at Eliza, her skin seems to have gotten whiter and her temperature hotter. As soon as the messenger had been questioned Benjamin left immediately for the heart London to ask around about Jasper's possible whereabouts. Thomas went upstairs to wake his wife and tell her the lack of news. Charlotte looks close to tears and her hands shake as she stands.

"I don't know." He says.

"But where on earth would he have gone?" She asks stepping out of her bed and rolling up the blankets and placing it with the pillows in a corner.

"You know more than me." Thomas says, "He's not in London, he's not in Oxford."

"He has houses all over England but he has no reason to visit them." He continues saying, "Does he have any in Europe?"

"He would never have left the country without Eliza," Charlotte says, thinking.

"Well, he can't just have vanished." He says exasperatedly.

"Scotland...." Charlotte says to herself. "Scotland."

"Why would he go to Scotland?" Thomas says dismissively.

"Because James is there." She says.

"What?"

"James has gone to Scotland. Jasper might have gone to see him." She explains.

"To stop the wedding, of course," Thomas says, Charlotte glances over at him but doesn't correct him.

"He's not going to arrive back in time." She says

"We don't know that." He says confidently

"Can you ride to Scotland and back in two days?" Charlotte snaps.

Thomas throws his hands up in defeat.

"How can we tell him that she died?" She murmurs in despair.

"She's not dead yet."

"But if she...." Charlotte asks, tears shining in her eyes.

"We will deal with that if and when it happens!" He shouts, "Charlotte you need to calm down."

Charlotte opens her mouth but she closes it when he glares at her. The shouting seems to have disturbed Eliza's fever as she moans and coughs.\Charlotte looks back at her husband and her heart weeps slightly, he has never shouted before.

"I am going to get dressed." She mutters, she leaves the room and walks to their room.

Thomas watches his wife leaving and he curses himself. He calls a maid to watch over Eliza, the woman listens to his strict orders with a nervous expression. He looks down and realises he is still in his pyjamas. He enters their bedroom as his wife is fastening up a plum gown. She doesn't talk as he pulls on some fresh clothes. They both finish dressing at the same town and they meet at the closed door, Thomas shuts is behind them.

"I am going to do some work." He says uncomfortably.

"I think I'll sit with her and read." Charlotte holds up a copy of Romeo and Juliet. Thomas nods and leaves her by the door, she watches him walk down the stairs and disappear out of sight.

Charlotte sighs and walks to Eliza's room. The maid inside tells her what her husband had asked of her, Charlotte dismisses her immediately and takes the seat next to her friend. Eliza's face has grown more gaunt, her skin sticks out where her bones are and her shallow breathing has turned into rasping. Charlotte opens the book at the start and begins to read. Time passes, the maid brings food and tea for both of them. Thomas remains in his study the entire day. Charlotte reads the book through till she is almost at the end, Eliza has shown no indication of worsening or improving. The night falls on the house and everyone's mood seems to have sunk with the sun. Charlotte turns the page.

"In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face. Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris! What said my man, when my betossed soul Did not attend him as we rode? I think he told me Paris should have married Juliet: Said he not so? or did I dream it so? Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, To think it was so? O, give me thy hand, One writ with me in sour misfortune's book!I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave; A grave? O no! a lantern, slaughter'd youth, For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes This vault a feasting presence full of light. Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd"

Charlotte pauses as she hears a small sound, like a wounded rabbit. Eliza moans again and Charlotte snaps the book shut as Eliza moans and opens her eyes a fraction.

"Eliza!" Charlotte drops the book and leans over to her as her eyes flutter slightly. "Eliza, can you hear me?"

Eliza's eyes dart around and she tries to sit up, Charlotte pulls a load of pillows behind her back to support her. Eliza's roll her head onto her neck and groans, Charlotte panics and places a hand behind Eliza's neck to support her, cold clammy hands grab her other hand.

"Damnation," She mutters, she turns her head to the open door. "THOMAS!!!"

Her voice is startlingly loud and commanding.

"It's alright Eliza." She whispers, stroking her damp forehead. There's a pounding from outside the room and then Thomas skids into the room, his face is a mixture of alarm and dread, he spies Eliza half conscious and he crashes into the wall.

"Give her the medicine." He orders as he relieves Charlotte form holding her head up. Charlotte grabs the bottle and pours the thick chalky liquid onto a teaspoon. She hovers the spoon in front of Eliza's dry mouth but she doesn't open it. She teases the spoon inside and Eliza accepts the medicine.

"Water." Thomas nods his head at the glass standing on the table. Charlotte holds the glass to Eliza's mouth, after a few gulps Eliza begins to drink greedily and soon the glass in empty. Charlotte refills the glass with water from the jug and after two and a quarter glasses Eliza's eyes begin to droop and Thomas carefully lays her back into the pillows.

"Is that good or bad news?" Charlotte asks her husband as they both relax slightly. Thomas just looks at her with a tired expression.

"You've been up all night, get some sleep." She advises, he shakes his head.

"I need to find Jasper." He says

"She's my friend, you have done far too much all ready for us." Charlotte protests. "You need sleep."

"I haven't done nearly enough." He says downheartedly,

"You've done more than most would for their wife's friend."

"You don't understand," Thomas mutters.

"What don't I understand?" She asks.

He turns away and tries to leave but she grabs his wrist.

"Tell me." She demands, he runs a hand down his stubble.

"You love Eliza and I know you love me but whenever you are with her, you are happier and you smile more. She makes you the happiest I ever see you, I don't think I can make you as happy as she does." He says lowly, "If she dies I think you would be miserable with me and I don't think I could make you happy again."

Charlotte takes a deep breath and squeezes his wrist.

"I do love Eliza, like a sister and, yes she makes me very happy." She begins. "But I don't want a family with her, I want that with you. I didn't marry her, I married you. You make me just as happy as Eliza does and I could never choose between you."

She kisses his cheek and hugs him. He wraps his hands around her waist. They stand for a minute, emerged in their moments.

"I'll make some tea." She says, "Come help me?"

Thomas allows himself to be led downstairs. They cross the hall and see very wet Benjamin standing in the doorway. He takes his hat off and hands it to a servant as they approach. His face is dark and lonely.

"Any change?" He asks them as the servant removes his heavy coat.

"She woke momentarily, we managed to give her some of the medicine and she drank some water, she's sleeping now."

"Is that good...or?" He looks questioningly at them. The servant takes his wet clothes down to the kitchen.

"I don't know," Thomas replies honestly, Benjamin nods solemnly.

"Did you find anything out?" Charlotte asks hopefully, Benjamin smiles sadly.

"Nothing. Lady Helen hasn't heard anything, neither has my aunt and I asked around at a ball too." He sighs. "No one has heard anything, the only thing everyone seems to know about is the scandal of the Duke of Devinshire."

Charlotte lowers her eyes to the ground at the mention of James but she feels her husbands gaze.

"What about James Eaton?" Thomas asks glancing back to Benjamin.

"Apparently his family went to Scotland to stop him from marrying my serving girl only to discover that they are already married." Benjamin says, "Shocking news."

"Charlotte. " Thomas turns to his guilty wife.

"I don't anything." She says too quickly. Both men look at her flushed cheeks and downcast eyes.

"I don't!" She insists, "But...I have suspicions."

"Which are?" Thomas presses.

"That James and Cecily went to Oxford to get married and Eliza was their credible witness..." She speaks very quickly.

"That stupid girl," Benjamin mutters to himself.

"You didn't think to tell me this?" Thomas asks.

"It was none of our business." She defends.

"That's why you said that Jasper might have gone to Scotland, no to stop the wedding but to find James." Thomas shakes his head, his mouth set.

"I...." Charlotte opens her mouth to speak but several raps on the door have her silenced. They all look towards the door. Charlotte steps behind Thomas as Benjamin opens the door, a figure, all dressed in black, steps inside without an invitation. The shadows from the lights disguise the face. No one speaks. The person steps into the light and Jasper's harsh face is thrown into focus.

"Where is she?"