"That's awful," he said with rather deep sympathy. Perhaps it sounded like something out of a fairy tale to him, but it had been very real for Greta - and she hadn't even been part of the family, she'd married into a curse that left her without children. He knew what damage that could do.

"I'm so sorry, Greta. I can't imagine painful that must have been to realize."

Without realizing, Thomas had reached across the table and gently covered Greta's hand with his own, offering what comfort he could.