Douglas had gotten up the next morning feeling much better.  After some sleep, some food, and then some more sleep he was feeling much more like himself.  That discussion with Tristan had also given him a new kind of hope inside.  Being lonely had been all he had expected in his future.  Now, perhaps, he was not cursed to live his life alone.

He got dressed in one of his walking suits, with a proper vest and tie.  He had eaten a solid breakfast, thanks to the cook, and thanks to Mr. Roberts he now had the directions for where the young maid and her family lived.  He was not looking forward to this at all.  However, it was necessary, or so he felt so anyway.  It was about after noon, and he figured it was past most eating lunchtime.  So, he would not be interrupting them eating, or so he hoped.

He had been all around the area over the last several months, as he painted and drew, so he was not a stranger in the area.  He had made some friends there with various families as well.  Thus he had seen the need for Tristan's professional assistance with several of the families.  This however was not a family that he had gotten to know nor meet other than Anne.

He greeted several people that he had known along the way but did not stop to visit this time, as he had to do this errand first.  He paused near the house and took a deep breath.  Then with a firm step, he went to the door and knocked.