"There yu gae.  See yu are nae losing the job, lass.  Sit down yur self and breath."  He said gently holding out the chair for her.

She tried to draw in air, only to find herself deprived. Pippa took the seat, though her rear nearly missed. Then she drew her legs up toward her chest and wrapped her arms around, rocking back and forth as she sought to control uncontrollable emotion. Deep breath, she reminded herself, sucking one in. The edges of her vision blurred with a mixture of tears and panic. He wasn't going to fire her, she thought, he wasn't going to put her out.

Tristan returned with half a glass of whiskey (for he didn't want to get her drunk again). He crouched down in front of her, trying to get her to look at him. "Pippa. Try some of this. Slowly. It's strong." He was hoping it would shock her out of the hysterics. He quickly glanced up at Douglas to see if he was okay.

Douglas was not sure what to do to help Pippa, he just stayed nearby just so she knew she had another friend there with her.  He watched Tristan help the lass with the drink.  "She said she had lost someone or everyone?  The lass is beside 'erself.  Is there anything I can dae tae 'elp?"  He asked with concern in his voice and in his expression.

The glass shook in her hand as she drank slowly of the contents, sputtering with the first taste of it and wanting to pitch the glass away from her. She set the thing down drained of contents despite. But it didn't fortify her. It made her feel fuzzy in the head within moments and she was already there. Their voices were muffled now and she stared off, not wanting to look at either man who had seen her at her worst moments. She was quiet now and wanting to crawl under the table.

"Help me get her up. The room upstairs is more airy and lighter. Pippa," he said, turning to the maid. "Lets go upstairs, alright?" He gently tried to help her stand and lead her up.

Douglas nodded and put his hand under her elbow and the other supporting her at her back.  "There yu gae, lass.  Some more air and just breath."  He kept a careful hold on her, not wanting her to fall.  The whiskey and wine made it a bit difficult to stay steady himself but he kept up with Tristan and Pippa as they got her up the stairs.

Her eyes were hooded, the alcohol not making her drunk but still affecting her head. Or maybe it was the lack of oxygen. She didn't know. All she knew was that she was being taken to a different room, probably hers, to get more air. "I'm... so...rrry..." she said haltingly, her voice sounding so drowsy as was normal in situations like this. At the top of the stairs, she did not faint but she seemed close as she sought to catch her breath.

Tristan could see and feel that she was close to fainting and he held her more firmly and led her into the drawing room. "There now, sit down. Douglas, would you mind opening a window?"

After making sure the girl was sitting down with Tristan, Douglas went over and opened the window wide to allow the cool air to come into the room.