"How thoughtful of you, brother," she murmured. Tilly was the only servant present, and she was giving Roderick a look of impatience, clearly protective of the young miss who needed help to her own bed.

"Sir, she needs to be in her bed but came down here when Mistress Olivia came to see her." Her tone was flat, disapproving of the woman who hadn't helped, but rather, hindered. She muttered under her breath, "Self-absorbed wretch, that one."