Lou wasn't sure what her endgame was, or why she seemed to be pushing his health so insistently. Was she — and by extension, then, Charles Jameshill — actually concerned about his wellbeing, and thought that he needed a nursemaid to follow him around like a child and ensure he took basic care of himself by reminding him to drink water? Or was she trying to lure him in with some sort of offer of assistance — perhaps an invitation to the Three Broomsticks for the aforementioned warm fire and drink — and then question him when his guard was down? He couldn't imagine what his father would want pried out of him that he couldn't simply ask himself in a letter (not that Lou would have replied to one) or sent Theo to discover (not that Lou would have spoken to Theo).

Well, maybe the avenues available to his father weren't quite as numerous as they once were, but Lou still wasn't sure what the point of this entire charade was. "I can take care of myself, thanks," he said as he turned to leave, pulling his thin coat tighter against the twilight chill. "Goodbye, Miss."