"I will never, ever leave you," Louis promised, reaching a hand out to rest on Claudia's shoulder. "You have me until I am dust, and one day you will have a maman as well. I can hardly conjure up a woman fitting to be mother to a princess such as yourself."

His mind went to the young woman he had so recently taken just to the brink of death. Miss Bennet, who lay bleeding out the last of her life in a small bedroom. She'd been small, and no great beauty, but strong. Perhaps...

The dying woman groaned, then, probably loudly enough for Claudia to hear.

[OOC: Eliza modded with permission.]