Rochester sank into the chair that was facing Samantha directly, allowing his watchful stare centre on the other girl to her right. He could only imagine what she could be thinking at the moment. But that decision, the one he'd charged Mrs. Phellipe with telling her in his place, that decision had not been the smartest conclusion he would ever draw. Yet, he was full of hope; hope that she would be capable of sympathising with him over all of it. If she could then that would help him do away with so big a burden. Overall, the timing of Samantha's demand was bad. A few more days could have offered him the chance to manufacture a way out. He was not the perfect judge in such situations that involved an invisible clock ticking fast to have him decide.
"Hazel," Rochester sought after the right words to say. "Are you a lot better than before?"
"Ecstatic!" She suddenly announced, focusing back on her food.
"Apart from the fruits, is there anything you would like to try—"
