Rebecca was shocked to see that the fever had returned. Lance was burning up, and moaning incoherently in his sleep.

"James!!" she called. "James!!"

James came running down the hall into Lance's room and gasped at the sight of his son. "I'll send Thomas for the doctor immediately" he whispered,running out to the barn. Thomas left immediately. James went back into the house with a bucket of cool water and a rag.

"Lansten?" Rebecca whispered, her voice choked with tears. "Dear God what is wrong with my son?"

"Mama" Lance whisspered weakly.

"I'm here Lansten," Rebecca replied, taking hold of his hand. "I'm right here. Papa too. Thomas is getting the doctor. You'll be alright Angel. You'll be just fine."

Lance's head dropped back on the pillow as a wave of nausea hit him. Helping him to role onto his side, Rebecca supported her son, praying the doctor would get there soon. "It's alright Lance," she whispered. "Try not to fight it."

"Mama, what's wrong with me?" Lance whispered.

"Shh, I don't know hon. The doctor is coming and he'll be able to tell us."

Presently Justin and Joshua poked their heads in the doorway. "Good morning" Justin whispered.

When Rebecca failed to acknowledge them, James turned and bowed slightly. "Forgive us M'lords, but Lance is ill again. We meant no disrespect in not acknowledging you."

"It is all right" Justin replied, staring at Lance. "What is wrong with him?"

"We don't know M'lord. He was fine last night and this morning, he was ill when we woke up."

Justin looked at Joshua, who had come in the room. "Will he not be able to travel?" he asked, trying to hide his annoyance at this setback.

"I do not think so M'lord. The doctor is on the way. He will be able to tell us more about what is wrong with our son."

Presently, Thomas returned with the doctor. Rebecca noticed how cold the temperatures had dropped. The blizzard was indeed on the way.

Grabbing extra blankets and filling the woodbox, James and Rebecca did all they could to both keep out of the doctors' way, and to make Lance comfortable. "Doctor, what is wrong with him? He was getting better yesterday, but now he's ill again," Rebecca asked, bringing in an extra thick blanket.

After examining him, the doctor stood up. "He will be fine, Rebecca, do not worry." Handing her a small bottle of pills, he looked at both her and James. "These are anitbiotics. He is to take one every four hours until the bottle is empty to ward off infection. Continue to make sure he gets plenty of liquid as well. If all goes well today, he should be okay to travel in a day or two."

"But Lord Joseph is returning home this evening," Joshua pointed out from where he and Justin were standing. "He is expecting us to be there when he returns."

Thinking, the doctor replied. "Would it be possible if you two go ahead and Lance come in a day?"

"No," Joshua answered. "Lord Joseph sent specific instructions that we all be home when he returns."

Rebecca shot a stern look at Joshua. "If the doctor says he can't travel until day after tomorrow, he will not leave this house until he is well enough to do so."

"Then you can explain to Lord Joseph why his orders were not followed."

"How can he travel if he is ill?" the doctor replied, becoming annoyed.

"He can ride on Ares with me holding him," Joshua answered. "Justin has done it before when he was ill. Why can't Lance?"

Thinking seriously, the doctor looked at Rebecca and James. "It is still early. Let Lance begin the antibiotics and give him plenty of liquid, maybe some of your homemade broth, Rebecca. I will come back and check on him later this afternoon. If he is doing better, then I will give my consent for Lance to return home to Herfordshire. Actually, I would prefer him to get back home before the storm hits."

"You would prefer he be away from his parents when he is this ill?" James asked, his voice confused.

"That was not what I meant, James," the doctor replied. "From what I have heard, the blizzard is going to be pretty intense. There's talk of it lasting for two days at least. If the storm hits before Lance gets a chance to get back home, I would not be able to get here should he have a relapse. At Herfordshire, there is a physician on the estate that would be able to tend to him."

Shaking his head, James showed he did not like the idea of his son, being as ill as he was, out in the cold weather, simply because of his husbands' whim to have them all home when he returned. But what could he do against Lord Josephs' wishs? Nothing.

"I will return in a few hours, James," the doctor replied, checking Lance's forehead once more. "If he is better, I will allow him to return to the estate. If it will make you feel better, I will travel with him to make sure he gets safe and sound."

"There will be no need for you to come with us," Justin said quickly. "We have traveled the blizzards before. We know how to handle Lance if he becomes ill again."

Looking from Joshua to Justin, Rebecca's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure of this? I don't want Lance to become sicker than he already is."

"Of course. We packed extra coats just incase this came up. And Herfordshire is only 1 1/2 hours away. We can be home before the storm is even close."

Rebecca looked at James. "James I don't like this. Lansten is too ill. What if the storm hits before they make it home? What would happen to my baby?"

"We will take good care of him Rebecca," Justin replied before James could answer.

Sighing, Rebecca looked at her son, who had fallen asleep again. "My baby," she whispered, placing the cool rag on his forehead. Turning to look at Justin and Joshua, she nodded her head. "Very well," she replied, sighing. "I am entrusting my son to you. But make no mistake, member of the royal family or not; if anything, and I mean anything happens to Lance...if you hurt or harm him in any way...there will be hell to pay."

"Nothing will happen to Lance," Joshua replied. "But should something happen, we will not rest until he is safe."

"Nothing better not happen to him, Lord Joshua," Rebecca snapped, staring him straight in the eye. "Because if it does, I will not rest until the person or persons responsible are punished severely."

"Nothing will happen Rebecca. As I've already said, we will do our best to see that your precious son returns to Herfordshire unharmed," Joshua answered sweetly. Oh if only they knew what was really in store for Lance he thought.

"James, what do you think?" Rebecca asked. She was still fearful of letting Lance out in this weather and with a severe storm approaching, but...it did make more sense to have him where a doctor could come immediately.

Sighing, James replied, "Lord Joseph sent orders that he wanted them all home. We cannot go against them."

Looking at her precious baby boy sleeping, Rebecca finally nodded her head and agreed to let Lance go with Justin and Joshua. "Please, M'lords," Rebecca begged as she began gathering Lance's things and packing them for his trip home. "Please take care of my baby boy. He is so precious to us and I'd die if anything happened to him."

"Well take good care of him Rebecca," Justin replied, smiling sweetly. "You need not worry about him so."

Sighing deeply, Rebecca nodded. "Very well. If the doctor gives his approval, you may take Lansten home. Just please get him there as quickly as possible. The clouds are getting thicker and I don't want him out in the storm as sick as he is."

Gathering his things, the doctor looked at the two lords. There eyes were filled with a look that told him not to challenge them, to give them what they wanted. "If they hurry and get him to Herfordshire, he should still recover."

Looking at her still peacefully sleeping son, Rebecca nodded. "Then I better start to prepare for his trip." Looking at Lance again, she sat next to him and cradled him in her arms, singing softly to him. Leaving Rebecca alone with her son, James showed the doctor out while Joshua and Justin went back to the guest room to pack their belongings.

Stirring slightly, Lance turned and opened his eyes to see his mother smiling at him. "Mama," he whispered weakly.

"Sleep well Lansten?" Rebecca whispered, pushing some of his hair from his forehead.

"Ye...yes, Mama," Lance replied smiling slightly. "Mama?"

"What is it Lansten?"

"I...I'm hungry," Lance replied in a small voice.

Smiling somewhat, Rebecca answered, "There's some soup left. Would you like me to heat it up for you?"

"Yes, m'am...please," Lance replied sitting up.

Helping Lance up, Rebecca propped up his pillows behind him so he could lean on them. When she was satisfied that he would be alright, she dropped a kiss on his forehead before rushing to the kitchen to heat the soup in the kettle.

James walked into the kitchen to see his wife heatingup their dinner from the night before. "Is Lance awake?" he asked.

Looking up, she smiled slightly. "Yes," she answered. "He woke up a few minutes ago."

"Good," James replied. "I'll go in and sit with him while you prepare his meal."

Looking up from the fire, Rebecca nodded and smiled. "Thank you James..."

Walking into Lance's room, James was disturbed to see Justin kneeling next to his bed and the expression on Lance's face. It was obvious he was upset. "What's wrong?" James asked suspiciously. "What's going on?"

Looking up quickly, Justin composed himself and answered, "Nothing. We were just talking about home." Looking at his father, Lance nodded his head, as if agreeing with Justin.

"Tha...that's what we were say...saying, Papa...honest," Lance whispered.

"Then why are you upset Lansten?" James asked, taking a few steps into the room.

"My...my head hurts...a little," Lance whispered, looking down.

"There is still a few more pills the doctor left," James replied. "Would you like me to get them for you?"

"Ye...yes thank you," Lance replied softly as he struggled to sit up.

Helping Lance sit up, Justin placed a hand lightly on Lances' stomach, a little lower then he needed to. "Here you go," he said sweetly, making sure to block James' view. Squeezing his eyes shut, Lance whimpered slightly. James hurried to get the medicine for his son and returned quickly.

"Here you are Lance," James said, moving to stand next to Justin. Handing his son the small pills and a glass of water, James noticed where Justins' hand rested and glared at him.

"What are you doing, M'lord?" James questioned, his anger beginning to grow.

Smiling sweetly, Justin answered, "Nothing. I was simply helping Lance to sit up."

Rebecca walked into the room with a hot bowl of soup. Setting it down next to Lance she looked from James to Justin. "What is going on?" she asked, instantly alarmed.

"Justin was helping Lance to sit up," James answered, his tone of voice harsh and unforgiving. "Lance has a bit of a headache."

"Did you give him his medicine?" Rebecca asked her husband.

Nodding his head, James placed the bottle of pills next to Lances' bed. "He took two of them just now. I hope they will help."

"They should," Rebecca replied as she sat next to her son and helped him to eat his soup.

"I'll help him," Justin said, taking the bowl from Rebecca. "I'm sure you and James have other things you need to see to."

"There's nothing more important to us than our son, M'lord" Rebecca snapped, sitting beside Lance and reaching out for the bowl.

Raising an eyebrow and glaring at Rebecca, Justin replied harshly, "You dare speak to a noble in such tone of voice?"

"Justin!" Joshua hissed as he stood in the doorway and pretended to glare at him. "We are guests here. How dare you speak to Rebecca that way. You should be ashamed of yourself. You were taught better manners than that. Now apologize to our hosts."

Justin did not like receiving repremands from anyone, let alone Joshua. He did not care if they were acting; he just hated being told what to do. Through gritted teeth, Justin looked from Rebecca to James, back to Rebecca. "I apologize for my behavior. I did not mean to be rude to you both."

Softening, Rebecca wiped some broth from Lance's mouth. "You are forgiven," she replied. "Would the two of you like some hot soup before you start out on your journey?" Justin wasn't sure how to answer. Instead, he looked to Joshua, hurt filling behind his blue eyes.

"Thank you Rebecca," Joshua replied sweetly. "That would be very nice. It does smell good."

Rebecca nodded as James said he would set the table for the two lords. "It will be ready in a moment M'lords."

Once everything was prepaerd, Justin and Joshua sat down at the table to eat. The soup was delicious, they thought as they ate. Justin looked up from his bowl to Rebecca. "May...May I have another bowl?" he asked timidly.

"Of course," Rebecca said, taking Justins' bowl and filling it with more of the soup.

"Than...thank you Rebecca," Justin replied as he picked up his spoon and ate. Just as they were finishing up, the doctor returned to the farm. Checking Lance over completely, he nodded. "He has recovered enough for M'lords to take him home. Keep him bundled up and make sure he continues to take his medicine."

"Yes Doctor," Justin said, taking the medicine from him. "We should be arriving back at Herfordshire within the next 2 hours or so."

"Very well," the doctor replied, giving Justin an extra bottle of the pills. "Be careful with him and get him home as quickly as you can."

Nodding and dropping the pills into his pocket, Justin vowed that he would be very careful with the precious cargo. "Joshua is a more expereince rider when it comes to double mounting," he explained.

Nodding, the doctor prepared to leave. Bundling up his coat against the wind that had picked up considerably, he turned to look at Rebecca and James. "They had better start back quickly. The storm is going to hit soon."

Nodding saddly, Rebecca left the room to gather the last of Lances' things. Handing the three Lords each a warm blanket for the trip, she leaned down and hugged her son. "Be sure to tell Lord Joseph thank you for letting you come see us Lansten."

"I...I will, Mama," Lance replied smiling at his mother.

Leaning down to place a kiss on Lances' forehead, Rebecca whispered, "Be good and listen to what they say. Especially the doctor."

"I will, Mama," Lance replied, as Joshua and his father helped him up on Ares' back.

Climbing on behind him, Joshua and Justin turned to leave the farm. "Thank you for everything Rebecca, James," they called. "We promise to take good care of Lance."

Leaning into James' arms for support, Rebecca tried her best not to cry as she nodded. Watching the two lords and her son ride away from them was harder this time for her. Last time, Lord Joseph had professed his undying love for Lance. And now, her son was being taken away from her by two different lords. "We will see him next weekend James, won't we?" she whispered quietly.

"Yes, sweetheart, we will," James assured her, as they walked into the farmhouse. "Lord Joseph has promised Lance to us every weekend."

Sighing, Rebecca nodded and turned to bury her face in her husbands' chest. "I miss him already James. I miss our son already."

"I know," James replied, hiding his worry at Lance's departure. "I miss him, too. But he will be safe at Herfordshire from the storm, and he will be taken good care of."

"I hope so James. I pray to God we did the right thing, letting him return to Herfordshire tonight."

"Rebecca you see the sky," James replied pointing to the thickening clouds. "The storm is going to hit any minute. I will be happier knowing Lance will be safe and warm at home with medical attention nearby should he need it. Lords Joshua and Justin will see that he gets home safe. It is what Lord Joseph wants. He would not allow anything to happen to Lance, my love."

"I know...I...I just cannot stop worrying about him James. He is so frail and sick already..."

James nodded and put an arm around his wife. "I know...but he will be safe at home." Looking toward the barn, James started for the front door. "I have to go and secure the barn. I shall return in a few minutes."

"Alright my love," Rebecca said, turning to go into the warm house. "Don't be long." Turning to look once more down the path that her son and lords had gone along, she frowned, as they were already out of sight. "Be safe, my son."