“Not really.”
“Indulge me anyway.”
Lily hiccoughed again. “I’m not feeling very well, Daniel.”
“Do you need a basin?”
Another hiccough. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Now, why were you drinking?”
“Oh, that. Rose, Ally, Sophie, and I were celebrating our betrothal. They’re all terribly envious of me you know. Perhaps you should marry one of them.”
“I don’t want to marry one of them. I want to marry you.”
“Oh. I think I’ll take that basin now.”
He brought it to her.
“Oh, never mind,” she said. “It passed.”
“Keep the basin here just in case.” He went to answer a knock on the door, took a glass of brownish red liquid from Putney, and delivered it to Lily. “Drink this, and I’ll get a cold compress for your head.”
Lily shook her head at the thick liquid. “I’m not putting that in my mouth.”
“Yes, you are, young lady. Come on, drink.”
She took a quick sip. “Oh, it’s disgusting!”
“Yes, I know, but it works. Come on, all of it.”
Lily held her nose and swallowed the thick liquid until the glass was empty. “If I wasn’t going to be sick before, I will be now.”
“You’ll be fine. In fact, within an hour you’ll feel much better. The basin is here if you need it.”
Another knock on the door delivered Brandy.
“Here’s your puppy, Lily,” Daniel said, placing Brandy in her arms.
“You adorable creature. I missed you.” She yawned. “I’m sleepy, Daniel.”
“Lie back now. Get some rest.”
“What about Brandy?” she asked drowsily, snuggling into Daniel’s pillow.
“Putney will take her to the kennels. They’ll care for her until tomorrow.”
“All right then.” She closed her eyes.
Daniel pressed a damp cloth to her forehead.
“That feels nice,” she murmured. “Come lie with me, Daniel.”
“No, love, not while you’re foxed.”
She opened her eyes abruptly. “I am not foxed!”
He laughed softly. “Of course not. Now go to sleep, I’ll wake you in a bit.”