After the initial introductions were out of the way, Rose and Avery both left fairly quickly. There was so much to do in so little time after all, not to mention that both wanted to take advantage of the couple hours of rest the Archduchess offered them.
Once they had left, Dahlia and Valentina were left alone with an unconscious Bessie on an adjacent bed. The atmosphere was loving and comfortable, but also a little sombre. Finally breaking the silence, Dahlia looked up at the woman holding her in their arms.
"Is this really going to be alright? I feel like I don't know enough of what's happening and it's making me anxious. I can't even help you properly at this stage so I can't help but feel like a burden."
Of course this elicited a sigh. Valentina was clearly stressed and needed all the help she could get, but she despised the idea that Dahlia's sense of worth was being affected by all this. She stroked the girl's hair and held her close.
