She can't breathe too hard while wearing a corset, lest she faint, but Christine tries her best to stay calm and take slow breaths. Her eyes close and she says a silent prayer for this soldier in their drawing room. How will she bear it if he dies? The guilt would eat at her, because she would believe she could have done more.

"Yes, yes, he will." It's barely a whisper and she repeats it a few times before opening her eyes and meeting his green ones. "Oh, I didn't believe the men of this city capable of such cruelty."