Later on Ross was warm and dry and back in the study, he must have heard me enter.

"Listen to this 'Sometimes when a new audit is brought to an old  mine, they have holed unexpectedly to the house of water and have instantly perished'" I take his side and read over his shoulder

"'Great caution should therefore be taken, so that before breaking ground they have timely notice of water'" I continued

"This advice should not be relished by those who value money more than the lives of their fellow creatures'" he finished

"Ross, this is not us. We've never put profit ahead of our workers." I assured him as he sat back in his chair.

"Still...it makes for uncomfortable reading."

"Then don't read it." I close the book and move it away. Footsteps approached and Prudie came in.

"Mistress Rebekah be asking for 'ee maid. Shall I send for Doctor Enys?" she asks

"No, no, don't bother him. Sarah's also sick. It would be cruel of us to take him away from her." I tell her as I was going to leave

"Is she?" Ross asked

"It's only a cold. Caroline says Dwight is fussing over nothing." I shrug

"I think I will go to the mine and asess the damage." he stand and comes over to me "I will be back before supper." he kisses my check and leaves while I got to tend on Rebekah Grace.

Later on I was out playing with the children when Sam arrived, he looked in a solemn mood and I told him where his sister was.

"'Tis you I came to see Mistress." the two of us sat down and he told me what had happened with Emma and that she had taken a job as a servant of Sir Francis and that she would come back to give him an answer to his proposal. "What if she ends up turning me down.

"Then as you would say. It wasn't meant to be." I answered "Sam  you are a godly man but I think or I like to think God made love a never ending puzzle, he certainly made it complicated."

"Your love for Cap'n Ross never seem so." I chuckle at his observation

"Are you kidding, it's the definition of complicated. But, Sam if really is meant to be then it will happen. If not then again s you're so keen to point out. It's apart of God's plan."

--------

Ross returned that evening all teary eyed and gloomy. I was sewing as the children had settled in bed, even Eve after me singing her to sleep and as I left the room. I stopped what I was doing.

"What's the matter?" I ask as he comes and sits down next to me, taking my hands in doing so.

"I was asked to keep a secret from you. I did it because it was from a friend and it was their right to make that request. Yet now I am free from that obligation." he began

"Ross, you're scaring me, what happened?"

"Dwight told me some time ago that he noticed something wrong with Sarah. She was born with a heart defect which meant she would not survive infancy." I felt everything drop "The cold that Sarah had...she passed away." I covered my mouth in shock from a hand snatched in the embrace.

"Caroline...Dwight." Came my muffled response.

-

We walked behind Caroline and Dwight who was holding Sarah's coffin. People came out in the pouring rain to pay their respects. I kept a hold of my thought and remained silent for the longest time before I excuse myself.

I walked across the beach alone, until Ross joined me.

"It feels like the end of the world. Like I've lost Jonathan all over again." I struggled to breath telling him.

"Is he all you're reminded of?" I turn my head to him "Not Hugh?" I stop

"You dare ask me that now? After all this time, you still doubt me?" I question

"I doubt everything. My purpose, my use. The wisdom of returning to London.. The wisdom of going there in the first place." he looks away.

"Are you not obliged to return?"

"Yes." he answers "I am. But what of my obligations here?" he thought to himself

--------------

I sat looking over the finances of the mine as it was inspected. Ross, Sam and Zacky came back up.

"Was it as you feared?" I question

"No. Worse." Ross breathed

"Tunnels are blocked, timber supports washed away" Zacky continued

"Putin rods shattered and all below 30 levels under water." Sam added

"It will take months." Zack huffed sitting down next to Ross

"We don't have months. How do a hundred families survive without this mine?" he asked me leaning forward

"But how will 'ee pay 'em if all they bring up is mud an' stones?" there was silence