The stepmother gave word that her own daughters had died, and that the queen had miscarried and was ill; then, she put her own daughter into Biancabella's bed. Ferrandino, returning, was greatly distressed.
Upon learning of her own daughters' demise and the queen's pregnancy loss and illness, the stepmother decided to substitute her own child into Biancabella's bedchamber. Upon Ferrandino's return, he was overcome with anguish.