Aunt Margery blinked her eyes slowly. She turned her head and looked up at her tall nephew.
When she saw his kind, worried face, her lower lip began to tremble violently. She took a shaky, shallow breath. She lifted her hand, showing him the crumpled piece of paper she was holding.
"William is dying, Rowan," Aunt Margery replied.
Her voice was nothing but a broken, quiet whisper.
As soon as she spoke her husband's name, tears began welling up instantly in her eyes. The tears spilled over her eyelashes and rolled completely down her pale, wrinkled cheeks.
Rowan froze entirely still. The serious news hit him exactly like a physical blow to the chest.
Count William. Aunt Margery's husband.
