Chapter Forty
GRIETE HOUSE, ANTWERP, 1630
She slept fitfully, waking often only to remember afresh. She doubted Henri would sleep. How would it be possible? And he must tell his children in the morning. She could not bear to think of it. They had both lost their mothers at a young age. He had no memory of his and she hoped that would not be so for Judith. What a terrible fate for a mother, not to be remembered. Adela and their mother were unknown to each other. That seemed the worst fate of all.
When dawn lightened the sky to a pale sapphire blush, Clara dressed and went down to her old studio, arriving just as a maid finished laying the fire.
‘Shall I light it for you, Mistress?’ The girl’s eyes were red from weeping.
Clara nodded and, lowering herself down onto the settle where Cons
