Ford held his breath while Cash considered. This might be the last chance Ford had to talk with him, but he knew he couldn't make Cash stay. His answer was a relief. Even if it wasn't long, some time was more than no time.
He crossed the room and took Cash's elbow on the arm that hadn't reached into his jacket. “Quiet on the stairs,” he said. “I don't know who's still awake.” At least the stairs to the third floor, being new, hadn't had time to develop creaks; there was very little chance of their disturbing Jemima. And if anyone else was awake to care about steps on the stairs they would probably have heard him coming down and taking no pains to be quiet. They'd think it was just him going back upstairs again; no reason to suspect company.
The reading light was still lit in Ford's room. He had to take half a second for his eyes to readjust, but then he turned them to Cash — assessing.
He crossed the room and took Cash's elbow on the arm that hadn't reached into his jacket. “Quiet on the stairs,” he said. “I don't know who's still awake.” At least the stairs to the third floor, being new, hadn't had time to develop creaks; there was very little chance of their disturbing Jemima. And if anyone else was awake to care about steps on the stairs they would probably have heard him coming down and taking no pains to be quiet. They'd think it was just him going back upstairs again; no reason to suspect company.
The reading light was still lit in Ford's room. He had to take half a second for his eyes to readjust, but then he turned them to Cash — assessing.
Set by Lady!