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you’re not one of those required to remain there. I assume Uncle Quincy has been restricted.” She turned to her aunt. “What of Amanda? Where is she?”
    Sophie motioned to her cousin. “Come sit down beside me, Fanny.” In hushed tones, Sophie related the news of their cousin’s illness.
    “We must go to her,” Fanny said.
    “We’ve already had this discussion. No one is going to go there,” Paul said. “Prayer is the answer.”

    An hour later Fanny and Sophie were the only ones who remained in the library. Paul had helped Jonas get Victoria to bed, hoping a brief nap would help her better cope with the situation, and then had taken Elizabeth for a walk around the house so that Sophie and Fanny might converse in private.
    “Do you suppose Amanda is very ill?” Fanny asked.
    Sophie shrugged. “She’s been exposed to the disease over and over by those she sought to help. I fear she’s gravely ill.”
    “I can’t bear it. The very thought of . . . of losing her is more than I can endure. It’s bad enough when you expect the death of an older person. I still miss our grandparents terribly.”
    “I miss my mother,” Sophie whispered. “Especially now that I have Elizabeth.”
    Fanny took hold of her hand. “Of course you do.”
    “My sisters have never been as dear to me as you and Amanda,” Sophie continued, tears in her eyes. “I wish we could be at her side to nurse her.” She squeezed Fanny’s hand. “I’d just feel better to be near and see for myself that everything possible was being done.”
    “Or to tell her how much we love her.”
    Sophie met Fanny’s damp eyes. “You do suppose she knows, don’t you? I mean, we’ve often said as much to each other. Haven’t we?”
    “We certainly could have said it more,” Fanny replied. “I don’t suppose one ever declares love and admiration for another as much as one should.” She paused only a moment before wrapping her arms around Sophie.
    “I love you so very much, my dear cousin. You and Amanda are true sisters to me.” She sniffed back tears. “I hope you know that I would do anything in my power to help either of you in any way.”
    Sophie cried softly. “I do know that, Fanny. I feel the same way. I love you and Amanda with all my heart. To lose either of you is . . . well . . . unthinkable.”

    Blake cradled Amanda’s head in the crook of his arm and offered a sip of water. “No,” she croaked from between parched lips. She touched her hand to her stomach and he understood. She would only suffer the pain of bringing up the small amount of liquid. He wet a cloth and dampened her lips, hoping it might ease her distress. He’d been by her side as much as possible, doing his best to lend comfort. What good was his medical training when he couldn’t do one thing to help this young woman who had willingly sacrificed her own health to help others?
    “There are others who need medical attention,” Quincy said.
    Blake glanced over his shoulder. The older man stood in the doorway, a shaft of light streaming over his shoulder. The sun must have finally made an appearance, but Blake hadn’t noticed.
    “I’m doing what I can, Quincy. I’ve worn a path on the floor going back and forth to care for them and Amanda, but I hate to leave Amanda’s side.” He rested his forehead in his broad palm. “I feel so responsible. I should have forbidden her coming here to work. Instead, I chastised her if she was late and scoffed when she mentioned feeling unwell. What manner of physician does such a thing?” Blake looked at Quincy. “Even worse, what kind of man does such a thing?”
    “You’re being too hard on yourself. These past weeks have been grueling, and you needed all of us to help wherever we could. Amanda understood that. She would never harbor ill feelings toward you. This is where she wanted to be.”
    “But I knew the risk. I should have protected her.”
    Quincy clapped him on the shoulder. “Come along. You’re