Chapter 56: Refuse To Think About It

***

A knock at the door startled Gwen from her reverie. She had been sitting by the fire, staring at it since she came to the room. "Who is it?" She called.

A voice from the other side responded. "It is Paula, My Lady."

"Enter."

The maid entered and bowed. "Good evening, My Lady."

"Good Evening." Gwen replied. Then, "I thought you had retired for the night."

"I cannot, not when you have not been attended to for the evening."

Gwen took a deep breath. She was not helpless, and certainly not an invalid. She could attend to herself. She had been doing so for years. "It would not be a crime if you had retired before me. What if I had spent all night in the piano room? Would you have stayed the night up?"

Paula shrugged. "I suppose."