Olivia stood silently for a few moments, watching her ladyship stroke Orn’s hair. Gradually, her ladyship’s eyelids started to droop, and Olivia could tell she was about to nod off once again.

Her mistress’s head bobbed a couple times, as she tried to fight off sleep. She would likely fall asleep next to Orn again. She considered getting a spare blanket to cover her when she heard footsteps coming from the hall.

She turned to see a tall man with light brown hair identical to Orn’s, enter the room. Olivia smiled and curtsied slightly in his direction.

His lordship managed a small smile that did not reach is eyes. He could not hide his concern, or his exhaustion. She wondered where he had gone to cause him to look so disheveled. His riding clothes were battered, and she could see a leaf in his messy hair.

His lordship looked sadly at his wife who had collapsed into sleep next to their son. After a moment he turned back to Olivia. The black rings under his eyes were a perfect match for those of his wife.

She could see the worry written on his face. He seemed uncertain if he wanted to ask the question that she could see burning in his eyes.

“He woke up a short time ago and her ladyship just finished tending to him. She said he should be fine.” Olivia watched the count slowly let out the breath he’d been holding.

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As the tension fell away from him, he turned back to the pair on the bed and managed a slight smile. “Then I will take this one back to her own room. You should only have to tend one troublesome member of this family at a time.” Then walking over to his wife, he gently shook her shoulder.

She rose blearily and smiled at her husband. Once she was mostly upright, he reached his arms under her and lifted her.

She seemed ready to object, but he shook his head. “He will be fine. Olivia can watch him while he sleeps.”

Her ladyship’s eyelids drooped, and she nodded off against her husband’s shoulder. Her objections had clearly lost out to her exhaustion.

Carrying his wife towards the door, he stopped for a brief moment next to Olivia. “Thank you for looking after them both. I do not know what we would do without you.”

Without waiting for a response, he slowly carried his unconscious wife from the room.

Olivia noticed her ladyship didn’t stir as she was carried from the room. Once again, she was shocked by how much healing took out of her mistress. She was always so full of life but healing the slightest cut would make her tired. Taking care of Orn though…

Olivia turned to the small form on the bed. You never just get a little hurt though. She sighed as she considered how many times, she’d seen the young boy in bandages. Things which other children would simply shrug off became life or death ordeals.

Slowly walking back to her knitting, she internally cursed at the idiot who was supposed be watching him last night. Not that the maid in question would ever be allowed in the count’s lands again, much led his home…