The day passed by in slow minutes, in fast errands, and in long lessons. Beyond the whole encounter in the dining room, James and May Rose had no time to really interact with each other. They didn’t even get a chance to see other in passing. There was simply far too much to do.

But the day eventually reached its natural end. The sun set and the moon rose in the sky.

And even the busiest servant and their children had to go to bed.

******

James tried his best to imitate his father’s level of care as he undressed himself. One button at a time. Do not hurry. Do not rush. Careful. Check for any dropped hems, any weak seams, any loose or missing buttons.

He  removed his shirt and carefully inspected it.

There came a knock on his door.

“Come in.” he said, still preoccupied with his investigations.

The door opened and May Rose entered the room. “Ugh! Finally!” She trompsed over to his bed and flopped on it with much dramatic flair.

“May Rose. I am not sure if you’ve noticed, but I am undressing.”

“I know. That’s why I’m lying here instead to sitting up. I’m giving you privacy.”

Her logic was so profoundly off, he couldn’t even debate it. He simply sighed and resumed undressing. “Father would be quite unhappy if he knew that you were in here right now.”

She raised her arm in the air and waggled her finger. “So, we don’t tell him.”

He frowned. “It is not that simple. This is his bedroom as well as mine. He is bound to come in here.”

Her arm flopped listlessly onto the bed.

James pulled on his pajama bottoms and tied them. He noticed her arm flop. “Did you just die?”

She sat up and scowled at him. “That was not a very concerned tone of voice. Young ladies die all the time from all sorts of daft things. I could very well have died from a tedium based disease and all you had to say was ‘Oh, dear! Did you just diiiiiiiiiie?'”

He smiled. “There is no way on this Earth that you would die such a relatively quiet death.”

“Oh?” She eagerly leaned forward. “Do you suppose I’ll get murdered?”

“I should hope not! I simply meant that you are more likely to die from punching a rampaging bull in the wilds of Kansas City than to die from a ‘tedium based disease’.”

Her expression brightened. “So, you think I’ll go out with flags aflame and coughing up vast volumes of blood?”

He shrugged. “I hardly know how flaming flags tie into you being trampled by a rampaging bull.”

She clicked her tongue. “It’s a dramatic figure of speech, you daft.”

“Of course.”

Someone else knocked on the door.

James winced. “Now, we are in for it.”

“I could hide under your blankets.”

James looked aghast. “Certainly not.” He held his hand out to her. “Come. We might as well face the sword’s edge.”

She took his hand and hopped of the bed. “Face the sword’s edge. Hm! Now, that is a figure of speech I can stand behind and cheer for.” She marched towards the door, pretty much dragging James along. He hustled to keep up with her.

As soon as they stopped at the door, James pulled his hand out of her grip.

She scowled at him.

“I am sorry, but—”

“No. Don’t even try to explain. It will just aggravate me.” She opened the door.

Sure enough, Aloysius Arden stood on the other side. He did a slight head bow to her. “Miss Farlington.”

“Mr. Arden.”

His facial expression was 100% professional, 100% calm, and 1000% inscrutable. “It is rather late in the evening, Miss Farlington. I suggest you go to your own room.”

“Of course! I wasn’t planning to stay in here. Good night!”

“Good night, Miss Farlington.”

May Rose left.

Aloysius entered the bedroom and closed the door.