Lila gasped with shock as she stared at the pouch of coins.

"No, I could not possibly! I assure you, there is no need to trouble yourself!" She said, holding it back out to him.

"It is no trouble really. Please, I insist you allow me to do this." Bartholomew said with a kind smile, putting his arms behind his back.

Lila blushed horribly, but she was not too proud to accept such a generous gift, especially if it meant helping her father. So she quickly put the small pouch in her pocket.

"I do not know what to say. I am so grateful..." She replied quietly.

"Again, it is no trouble at all. I am happy to help in any way I can. Besides, I do not want you to work yourself too hard now Miss Lila." He said softly.

Lila had to look down at her feet again to hide the rose red color her face was at that moment. First, he had saved her from a fall, and now this! Just how was she ever going to pay him back?

"T-thank you again!" She replied, having to hold back tears of relief.

Bartholomew smiled. "You are very welcome. I wish your father a swift recovery. But please excuse me now, as I really must be going."

Lila nodded as he bowed and left. She watched his back until he reached the library door. But as he turned to leave down the hallway, he glanced back at her. Lila blushed wildly and quickly looked away as their eyes met again, although she thought she might have seen him smile.

"Oh my!" Daphne's voice suddenly said from somewhere nearby.

Lila jumped in surprise. She turned and looked behind the bookshelf they had fallen against. Daphne was standing there holding the bucket of clean water, a big smile imprinted on her face.

"That was Mister Bartholomew leaving, was it not? He came and spoke with you again!" She exclaimed.

"We were just talking. It is nothing!" Lila protested with furious embarrassment.

Daphne shook her head with a raised eyebrow. "I am not so sure about that."

Lila sighed and looked away. Her friend was nearly as bad as the maids some days! Suddenly though she remembered the coin purse, so she pulled it out and looked inside. About twenty or so gold pieces were contained.

Daphne's jaw dropped. "W-where did you get that?"

"Bartholomew just gave me this to use for my father's medicine. But I had no idea it was so much..." Lila replied, still in shock herself.

Her friend's jaw dropped. "He did what now!?"

Lila shook her head with disbelief. "I am just as surprised as you!"

Just then Daphne giggled and smacked her shoulder.

"See, he does like you! Why else would he do such a thing?" She declared.

Lila puffed out her chest defensively.

"Maybe he is just a kind and generous person!" She retorted.

Her friend giggled again. "Maybe."

Lila rolled her eyes and turned away. Then she pulled out the coins and quickly counted them. Twenty-two gold pieces exactly. He must make good money as the King's tutor indeed! No wonder everyone thought she might be trying to seduce him.

Lila turned to Daphne and took her hand, placing half of the money with her.

"I have more than enough now to catch up on our debts and pay for my father to see a doctor. Send the rest to your family." She said.

Daphne's face turned red and she almost started crying right then. She gave Lila a big hug, and the two of them quickly went back to work. After they finished their assignments both of them ran to the post to send the money back home. Daphne even decided to pay for another letter. Her friend was nearly in tears the whole time.

The next day Lila returned to the library in hopes she might run into Bartholomew again. She really wanted to pay him back for his generosity, although she wasn’t sure what someone like her could do for him. However, he was nowhere to be seen that day. Neither on the next day, or the one after that. She supposed that he was just very busy with the King's studies, but she did hope though to see him when he next had free time. Yet as the days turned into weeks, she began to lose sight of that goal. In the end she decided to forget about her waiting. It wasn’t like she had time to worry about such things anyways…

"Oh dear, I do hope the sun comes out soon." Daphne sighed sadly as they were moping the west wing one rain day.

"Me too! For this rain is positively depressing!" Another maid replied.

"Indeed, for we cannot even see the stable boys today." Someone else joked.

All the girls began to giggle, except for Lila who was sick of such inappropriate talk. She just wanted to get her work done and get back to bed! Luckily though, at about noon a glimmer of sun started to peek through the clouds, revealing some rays of hope for a sunny day, which encouraged everyone to get their work done within a reasonable amount of time for a change.

However, just as they were preparing to break for lunch, Lila heard some shouting coming from the end of the hall. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked to where the commotion was stemming from. She caught sight of a young girl running towards them with an absolutely terrified expression on her face.

"Everyone, everyone! Did you hear?" She exclaimed with tears when she reached them.

"What is it Rebecca?" A blonde haired woman asked with worry.

"Why, the King tutors have been thrown into the dungeon! For treason!" She said with a fearful face.

Lila's heart skipped a beat and her drowsiness wore off immediately. The King's tutors? As in Bartholomew and Mr. Jameson?

"Where did you hear such news?" She asked the girl.

"From Lizzy! She works in the kitchen, but her husband knows the dungeon patrol guard. She says he told her last night after he witnessed the two men being imprisoned for himself!" The girl explained in rush.

"I heard that this morning too, but I was not sure whether to believe it or not. After all, Amanda usually never gets the details right." Another girl replied.

Lila's face paled. Was this just another silly rumor? Or could this terrible news possibly be true somehow?

"But why? Why would this happen?" Lila asked the girl with increased worry.

Rebecca shrugged. "Apparently they were caught trying to kill the King. Or at least there was evidence that pointed to an assassination attempt."

Daphne gasped and the rest of the women started whispering among themselves. Some believed it, others didn't.

"No, it just cannot be true!" Lila exclaimed.