"The king's son is dead."
Livia stared at her. "What? The one that was just baptised a few weeks ago?"
Jane nodded.
"How?"
"No news yet," Jane said. "But the Lord Chancellor is expected to make an announcement later today."
A child. Dead.
"Oh," Livia murmured, her mind struggling to settle on the image of it. "His poor mother. The pain she must be feeling."
Jane sighed, her face tightening with sympathy. "I cannot imagine it. To carry a child, nurse him, watch him breathe, and then…" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "God have mercy. I hear the king was distraught too," Jane said.
At that, Livia raised a brow.
"Shouldn't he be used to the deaths of family members by now?" she asked. "I mean the man killed seven of his brothers. He should be able to handle one more."
"This one is different, Livia," Jane said softly. "This is his son."
"Jane, anyone capable of unjust murder should be given no pity."
"Anyways…" Jane said, drawing the word out. "How was your night?"
