He was convinced that Josephine's father knew absolutely nothing of the trouble that was wrecking the happiness of Adare House, and he was equally positive that all, even Miriam herself, were fighting to keep the secret from him.
That Josephine's motherhood was not the sole cause of the mysterious and tragic undercurrent that he had been made to feel he was more than suspicious.

A few hours would tell him if he was right, for he would ask Josephine to become his wife.

And he already knew what John Adare did not know.
Miriam was not sick with a physical illness.

The doctors whom Adare had not believed were right.

And he wondered, as he sat facing her husband, if it was fear for his life that was breaking her down.