Suddenly it was terribly important that she should not miss one second of the time she could be with him and, without intending to, she began to run down the passage towards the King’s room.
Only when she reached it did she feel breathless, not only with hurrying but also with her own thoughts.
She opened the door and walked in and as she did so the Earl said,
“Dr. Dawson said I am to be quiet. I cannot understand why you allow all these people to pester me, knowing that it is bound to give me a headache.”
Mariota walked towards the bed aware as she did so that the Earl was scowling at her.
“I am sorry.” she said, “I thought you would want to see your sister and perhaps Lady Elizabeth just for a moment.”
“I have no wish to see anybody,” the Earl replied crossly. “Read me the Editoria
