‘We would be most grateful for anything,’ Rosalind said earnestly. ‘But I don’t know how long we will be staying.’

Father Laurent smiled. ‘That is in the hands of the Lord, Madame Blanchard. I will go now but I will return when I have made the necessary arrangements with the housekeeper. The nuns will look after you until then.’ He glanced at Piers, shaking his head as he left the room, which was not an encouraging sign.

Rosalind sank back on the chair. ‘I’m here, Piers. I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m not leaving until you are well enough to return home with me. I don’t care how long it takes.’ She closed her eyes but opened them again at the sound of footsteps.

‘I’ve brought you some coffee, Madame.’ Sister Dominique set the coffee bowl on the chest of drawers. ‘Father Laurent will return soon.’

‘Thank you,’ Rosalind said, smiling. ‘You are very kind.’

‘I think your mama would like to see you. Perhaps when you have drunk your coffee you will go to her?’

‘I will, thank you again.’ Rosalind lifted the coffee bowl to her lips and sipped the strong black coffee. She watched for signs of recognition when she spoke to Piers, although it was obvious that he was too deeply unconscious to hear her voice. It was heart-breaking, but she knew she must be thankful that he was still alive. She finished her coffee and replaced the bowl on the chest before leaning over to kiss Piers on the forehead. ‘I’ll be back soon, my darling,’ she whispered, biting back tears. She straightened up and took a deep breath. This was not the time to weaken; she must put a brave face on things if only for Alex and Hester’s sake. She made her way back to the male ward.

‘Piers is much better than he was, according to Father Laurent, the priest who came to speak to me. And the good news is that he thinks he’s found us somewhere to stay. If it’s suitable I hope you will soon be able to move in with us, Alex.’

‘That would be wonderful, Rosie. I can’t tell you how much I long to be out of here, even though they’ve been very kind to me. I know that my men are waiting for a ship to take them back to England, and I was dreading being stuck here on my own.’

‘You wouldn’t want to leave your brother alone in a foreign country, would you?’ Hester said sharply.

‘Of course not but, from what the nuns tell me, Piers hasn’t regained consciousness. He doesn’t know where he is and perhaps he’s the lucky one.’