In the next few months, Flora's health worsened. Seeking to expiate for her part in popularisation of the rumour, Victoria visited her at the Duchess' mansion. 

As she neared Flora's emaciated form lying desolately still, she couldn't keep her eyes off the belly of Flora's which seemed to have consumed her as a whole. The stale stillness in the room got to her eyes, tearful she sat besides Lady Flora. As her hands held Flora's bony ones,  she was reminded of her guilt. 

She thought to herself. 'A woman on her death-bed, lied undignified. Upon her death, her stature  was deemed to be nothing more than a bony mass buried under the ground, disdained, stained in purposeful disregard by those who'd walk by her grave. Who'd ever remember an unchaste soul, albeit misjudged when alive. It was my fault, all of it.'

"Please forgive me Lady Flora. My words cannot persuade you into forgetting what I did but I do hope that you will forgive me. I don't have much to say for there's no explanation for mistakes but just expiation. I have to apologise for the distress I've caused to you and your mother in having besmirched your family's name."

"I am grateful to you for your endeavours at making amends. I truly am."

Victoria sat still, admiring Lady Flora's character. 

Lady Flora broke the silence "Madam, you look rather healthy and I am happy to see you doing so well. I too, would like to apologise for all the things I did, that might have caused you distress. I am sorry for having a hand in tarnishing your childhood .....dear Victoria....."

Victoria wiped her tears and stood up saying: "Thank you, and I don't blame you for anything that might have happened to me as a child. I might have come across as crass in the past, but now I truly understand everything. I understand that the man whom my mother supports is the only one who is to be blamed. I hope to see you again, very soon."

Flora held Victoria's arm and pulled her near her face. She whispered "Don't let that man have any position in your household." To this Victoria nodded in reassurance. 

As Victoria turned to leave, Flora tugged on her arm and shared a glance with her, as if wanting to say "I shall not see you again." 

On her way out, Victoria stumbled upon Sir John, whom she had been avoiding that day. He looked her in the eyes and in a brusque tone said:

"You should be ashamed. The power shouldn't judge. The power cannot judge. You are simply too young to understand that."

Lady Flora Hastings died of a liver tumour on the 5 of July 1839. Her innocence became guilty of a national scandal that deteriorated Queen Victoria's image. In the wake of Flora's death, Sir John and Flora's brother campaigned against Victoria, in the hope of procuring for himself, a position in her household. But Victoria stayed adamant.

The Duchess and Sir John got a dog which they called Flora, but just like the person it was named after, it too couldn't outlive the last two members of the treacherous three.

Queen Victoria married Prince Albert on 10 February, 1840. They went on to have many beautiful children, four boys and five girls in total.