I’d not meant to walk in on them. Working, I was ready for a break and simply followed the smell of coffee.
But as I enter the kitchen, it’s plain that Michael is cornering Charlotte…
Again…
“Ah, my apologies. Didn’t mean to interrupt…”
… then I realise I shouldn’t even have spoken…
Charlotte breaks into a laugh. “You’re not interrupting. I was telling Michael to get out of his wet clothes.”
The Hmmph escapes me unbidden. “A likely story.” But I’m laughing inside as I follow the drips on the floor. “Michael, whatever your plans were, get a dry robe on. Charlotte, if that pot of coffee is fresh, you can serve it all round.”
Hmmph “ were“Of course, Master. Sit by the fire. I’ll pour you some.”
By the time Michael returns, now in a robe, hair roughly towelled dry, I’m stacking the f
