“I am here, Your Grace,” Lily said as she raced into the room. “Oh, Your Grace, you must leave. I will undress her.”
“Come along, Charlotte. We will build your snowman now.”
Charlotte shook her head. “I want to stay with Miss Drake.”
“We have a snowman to finish.”
“I want to stay with Miss Drake!”
“She can stay if she would like,” Louisa said with a slight smile.
“As you wish,” he said stiffly before leaving the room.
“Do you want a hot bath, miss?” Lily asked as she unlaced Louisa’s stays.
“No, thank you. Just some warm clothes and that brandy would be fine.”
Charlotte had poured the small water glass almost to the top. Carefully, she brought the drink over to Louisa.
“Thank you, Charlotte.” Louisa slowly sipped the heady liquid as Lily instructed Charlotte to pull out a wool gown for her. Finally, her teeth had stopped chattering, and warmth seeped into her bones again.
Lily stoked the fire before gathering her wet clothes. “Do you need anything else, miss?”
“No, thank you, Lily.” She glanced over at Charlotte who sat in a chair across from her. “Charlotte, you need to get out of your wet things, too. Afterward, I will read you a story.”
Charlotte bounced out of the chair and then started removing all her wet outdoor clothing. “I’ll get a book from Nurse.”
She returned a few minutes later wearing a dry dress and carrying a storybook. She scrambled up into Louisa’s lap and settled in. Louisa sipped her drink, enjoying the warm sensation of the brandy and the child on her lap. As she read the fairytale, Charlotte’s breathing became steady, and slowly, her eyes closed. Louisa sat there, unable to move without disturbing the child. The sweet smell of soap surrounded the little girl. Unable to keep her own eyes open, she rested her head in the crook of the chair and let sleep take her.
“COME ALONG, CHARLOTTE.”
The sound of Harry’s whisper forced Louisa’s eyes open. “What are you doing?” she asked softly.
He lifted a groaning Charlotte into his arms. “I’m taking Charlotte back to the nursery to eat.”
“What time is it?” she asked, noticing that darkness had already fallen.
“Five. Shall I have a tray brought up?”
She paused, remembering last evening’s detached conversations. But the idea of being in her room alone held even less appeal. “No, I would prefer to come down...unless you have already eaten?”
“I have not,” he whispered. “Come down, and we will dine together.”
“I’ll be down in a few minutes.” Louisa slowly rose and noticed her half-full brandy glass still sitting on the table by the chair. She took a few more sips as she attempted to straighten the wrinkles from her dress. Then a few more sips as she adjusted her hair again. By the time she was ready to leave her bedchamber, the rest of the brandy was warming her belly and making her a little dizzy.
She walked into the salon to find Harry pouring two glasses of sherry. He handed one to her. The sherry tasted very sweet after the smoky brandy, but it didn’t stop her. “Will supper be announced soon? I did not eat much today and well...”
“A little hungry?”
“A lady never lets her true appetite be known,” Louisa aped her mother voice. Then she smiled and added, “But yes, I am famished.” And a little dizzy, but he didn’t need to know that.
Jenkins announced supper before she could finish any more sherry.
Louisa took Harry’s arm as he led her to the dining room. Feeling the effect of far too much brandy on an empty stomach, she wanted to put her head down on his shoulder. Instead, forcing herself to keep her head upright, she strolled into the room with dignity. At least she hoped she had some poise. She wasn’t entirely sure. She didn’t trip, and that was something, especially for her.
Once seated, a footman placed a bowl of soup in front of her. She giggled.
“Is everything to your liking, Miss Drake?” Harry asked before moving a spoonful of soup to his mouth.