It felt hideously indecent to disappear into a bedroom with Ben. The butler was still silently observing their exchange, there were likely at least two or three maids stashed about the room to eagerly await the gossip. The news that Ben had shown up here in distress when he was supposed to be at school would be halfway across England by noon — further than that if the skies had truly opened up. Adding to the gossip that they had rushed upstairs to a bedroom felt incredibly disrespectful to Diana and William.
She shot a glance down the hall towards one of the more uncommonly used parlors. It was supposedly permanently set up for when William's mother visited and was far enough away from the south parlor where the children were currently playing for Melody to not fear being overheard. (That Ben required privacy to mourn wasn't new, that the news was tragic enough to warrant such measures was nauseating.) “Yeah, this way.” She nodded.
Melody led the way to the parlor, her hand tight in his until the door was eased shut behind them. Then, she quickly charmed the room silent to prevent anyone from eavesdropping on whatever it was Ben had to share. “Is it Aldous?” She then asked, her expression full of concern.
She shot a glance down the hall towards one of the more uncommonly used parlors. It was supposedly permanently set up for when William's mother visited and was far enough away from the south parlor where the children were currently playing for Melody to not fear being overheard. (That Ben required privacy to mourn wasn't new, that the news was tragic enough to warrant such measures was nauseating.) “Yeah, this way.” She nodded.
Melody led the way to the parlor, her hand tight in his until the door was eased shut behind them. Then, she quickly charmed the room silent to prevent anyone from eavesdropping on whatever it was Ben had to share. “Is it Aldous?” She then asked, her expression full of concern.