The fire had been burning steadily for most of the evening, keeping the sitting room pleasantly warm despite the cold weather outside.
William sat comfortably in his chair, occasionally glancing toward Isolde, who had finally managed to eat a proper meal after what he suspected had been several difficult days.
She hadn't mentioned neglecting her meals, but he'd noticed how readily she'd accepted the food when it was brought in.
At first, she'd barely spoken, concentrating on eating while Seraphina kept the conversation light. Now that she'd finished, some of the exhaustion she'd carried into the room seemed to have eased.
Isolde leaned back in her chair with a cup of tea held between her hands, watching the flames flicker inside the fireplace.
She looked considerably more relaxed than when she'd arrived, although William doubted she'd completely stopped thinking about her mother.
"She'll try again," Isolde said eventually, breaking the comfortable silence.
