Bill's fingers stopped, then moved out and over her hand to hold hers between his. He avoided looking at her but his hands gently squeezed hers in gratitude. "She wrote to me before. Told me 'e was sick. Och, I just didn't know what to do with it, Lottie. Yer man's a coward. I kept thinking, maybe I'll go next week. Maybe I'll go next week. I just couldn't. And what with everything goin' on. I suppose it's better. I would 'ave only brought pain and chaos into their lives. 'E wasn't a bad man, ye know. 'E deserved to die in peace." His chest felt like it was about to explode.