Princess Joanna's apartments - 598 AC

[Marie]

"Ah good."

She saw the servants bringing in the cradle and smiled.

"Shall I put him down to sleep now?"

[Helyn Caron]

'Yes that may be best.' She smiled sleepily

[Marie]

Joanna laid the baby in his crib and , treurning to Anni said.

"I'm going to write the letter now. Try to sleep, but call out for me if you want anything. I'll be lying down on the daybed after the letter is written."

[Helyn Caron]

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Later Anni woke to the sound of her son crying. She stood painfully and went to him as not to wake Joanna.

[Marie]

Joanna, however, inevitably woke at the sound of the baby crying.

"Anni?" She whispered. "Is that you?"

[Helyn Caron]

'Sorry Joanna, i did not mean to wake you.' she said trying to hide the pain in her voice.

[Marie]

"It doesn't matter. Should you be on your feet? I know you have a mother's instinct to care for your son, which is as it should be, but you must rest."

[Helyn Caron]

'I hoped to stop him crying before he woke you and your son.' She said. She hoped Joanna couldnt see the pain in her face.

[Marie]

Joanna could see very little in the darkness but she knew from Anni's voice that something wasn't quite right.

"Oh, for heavens' sake, lie down, and take your son with you if you can't bear to put him down," Joanna begged. "i don't want you getting ill on me."

[Helyn Caron]

'I'm Sorry Joanna.' She sighed. She sat on the edge of the bed with her son in her arms

[Marie]

"You need rest, my dear," Joanna said. "Would you like milk of the poppy to help you sleep? I'll call in the nursery maids if I need help with the babies."

[Helyn Caron]

'I feel i am taking to much of an advantage of you.' she sniffed. 'I am sorry Joanna.'

[Marie]

"You are here because it's for your own good and because it pleass me to give you my friendship and to help you in your time of need. There is no obligation, Anni, nothing for you to be worried about."

[Helyn Caron]

She sighed. 'Thank you.' She got into bed with her son who fell asleep in her arms

[Marie]

Joanna smiled and lay back down on the daybed. She closed her eyes but listened for further sounds from Anni and the babies.