The time kept moving on naturally, but terribly slow for Orland.
He stayed fixed to his place next to Marianne, without a hint of intentions to move.
At some point, Paige entered the room and found him seating on the edge of the bed right next to the sleeping Marianne.
She was bewildered by the situation. The lady she has served for years was acting what could be considered "lively" until she left to see the Duke merely an hour ago. Yet, when she came back, the young lady seemed to be fainting as she was being carried by her father, who rushed with a long and alarming pace towards her chambers.
All that previous vitality was unmistakably gone from her now weak body.
