Any trace of merry amusement faded from her at that. Children were the – sticking point. The only second thought she had ever had. She felt a breath die in her chest.
He thought he was better than her. More selfless. Putting his family first.
But she had to remain convinced that she had made the right decision, that she was right and he was well-meaning but misguided. If she had stayed, she would have died, wilted away to nothing. Taken the laudanum right to perpetual sleep if she could. Her son would not have forgiven her that, either. This way was a shade better for them both.
“And how happy will she be, growing up amongst your misery?” Ester said, a cool edge in her voice, though the words came out more shaky than she had meant. She shook herself out of it, forcefully; she beamed at Gwenog again, and gave her a little wave, and said instead, determinedly: “Well, have a lovely Christmas, darling.”
He thought he was better than her. More selfless. Putting his family first.
But she had to remain convinced that she had made the right decision, that she was right and he was well-meaning but misguided. If she had stayed, she would have died, wilted away to nothing. Taken the laudanum right to perpetual sleep if she could. Her son would not have forgiven her that, either. This way was a shade better for them both.
“And how happy will she be, growing up amongst your misery?” Ester said, a cool edge in her voice, though the words came out more shaky than she had meant. She shook herself out of it, forcefully; she beamed at Gwenog again, and gave her a little wave, and said instead, determinedly: “Well, have a lovely Christmas, darling.”
![[Image: uWJZ5yA.png]](https://i.imgur.com/uWJZ5yA.png)