'I 'ave comb with sad news that me thought you and Lady Darby shuld know.'
'Aye, and whot is the sad news then? Did Margaret 'ave the baby? Is the baby fine?' asked John.
'Aye, Margaret 'ad the baby and 'e is a fine lad,' replied Ralf. 'Boot, Margaret did nay fair so well.' Ralf looked at the ground and seemed that he would not continue.
'Margaret? Whot 'appened?'
Ralf continued looking at the ground and said, 'She is deed, Lord Darby. There was bleeding and she is deed.'
'Oh, I am so soory. Where is Richard? 'ow is 'e?'
'Richard is still at the cot'age. The baby is with a wet nurse. I thought you shuld know.'
'I am grateful to you. God speed,' replied John.
John returned into the house and told Agnes what Ralf had told him. Agnes started to cry when she heard that Margaret had died.
'Whot will Richard do for the child? 'e can nay take care of a child,' she said.
'I do nay know, me luv.'
'You must go to Richard and see 'ow 'e is doing and offer 'elp for the child. We can 'ave the child 'ere and bring in a wet nurse,' Agnes asserted.
'Aye, I will go right away. Will you nay comb with me? I do nay know whot to say to Richard.'
'Aye, I will go with you, boot nay on a 'orse. 'ave the servants ready the coach. We may need to bring the child 'ome,' replied Agnes.
It was mid-morning when Richard heard a tap on the door and greeted John and Agnes.
John searched for the right words, but in the end only said, 'I am so soory, Richard.' That seemed enough.
Agnes stepped forward and said, 'Richard, we both feel 'orrible and so sad. We know that God will care for 'er though.'
'Aye,' said Richard. 'I am grateful to you.'
Agnes continued, 'We will 'elp with the cost of the burial and John will let you delay work on the church for a few dees.'
Richard only nodded and John agreed.
'Your fine sone needs sumeone to care for 'im until you can make other arrangements,' said Agnes. 'If you agree, we will be 'appy to 'ire a wet nurse and 'e can be at our 'ome as long as is needed.'
Richard looked up at Agnes and John with tears in his eyes. 'I 'ave nay even thought aboot the care of me sone. I do nay even 'ave a name for 'im.'
'You do nay 'ave to decide either right away,' offered John.
'Nay, 'e dose need care and I can nay give it,' Richard said. 'I wuld be grateful if 'e culd be at your 'ome until I can make other arrangements.'
'We wuld be pleased,' Agnes assured him.
Margaret was buried the next day on the grounds of the All Saints' Church. James saw to it that she was buried in a sunny spot on the south side. John helped Richard to place the dirt in the grave and Richard stayed at the graveside long after they had finished. Eventually, he went to his cottage and didn't leave the rest of the day. Geva stopped by the next day and found Richard still sitting in the cold house.
Richard looked up when she entered, but didn't say anything and put his head back on his knees.
'Richard, you 'ave nay eaten a thing, 'ave you,' she said to him after she had looked about the room and finding everything as it had been when she last saw him.
Richard didn't look up, but replied, 'I am nay 'ungry, Geva.'
'I do nay believe you. You must eat. Do you wish to join Mar...?' then she stopped herself.
Richard looked up at her. He wanted to respond that yes, he did want to join Margaret, but remained silent.
'You 'ave a fine new sone to care for, Richard. You must carry on. That is whot Margaret wuld wish.'
'Aye,' replied Richard. 'Tomorrow I will go back to the church.'
'Gud, boot you must eat sumething todee. I will send Ralf with sume food.'
Geva left the cottage, but sent Ralf back in the late afternoon with the food for Richard.
The next day, John stopped by the All Saints' Church to check on progress and to check on Richard. He and Agnes had been surprised that Richard had not come to see the baby and they were concerned. When John didn't find Richard at the church, it added to his concern. It appeared also that there had been no progress on the windows