“A coward?” Sneed repeated with repeated slow nods of his head. He turned on the spot to face Molly, taking in the sight of her cheeks flushed with anger, her chest heaving after her outburst, firelight reflecting the sheen of her eyes. Tears that had yet to fall. “A fool? Only a fool would take risks and endanger the lives of their patients with surgeries that have never been studied, never been practiced time and time again. Only a fool would look Lady Jane and The Governor in the eye and tell them that you, the doctor who put all their hope and faith in, knows something is wrong with their daughter but he cannot save her life. You; a doctor who has spent years studying and practicing and training...I’d be a fool to tell them that—” Reed bowed his head, his throat thickening as a sob crept up him. He lifted a fist to his mouth, composing himself. “—To tell them that I don’t know how to save her, that I don’t think I can, so I won’t even try. I can’t try. I’ve had men die by my hands, yes. But, Lady Belle? Then, yes, I suppose I am a coward. And I am a fool for thinking”