At dinner Lord Ascot had predicted a thunderstorm. Now, by nighttime, the storm had come.
Henry didn't like storms. Not that he was exactly afraid of them, but his little attic bedroom was right under the roof and the thunder sounded uncomfortably close. When he had mentioned this at dinner, Randall bravely proclaimed that he would personally protect him, but then both of them had been sent to their rooms (Henry for speaking, Randall for standing on a chair). So now Henry was huddled under the bedcovers, his hands over his ears.
In the constant din of the rain and thunder, he didn't hear the voice calling his name until it was almost in his ear.
"Henry! Hey Henry!" Randall hissed, tapping him on the shoulder. "I came, just like I said. Can I get in? I'm cold."
"Master Randall…" Relief flooded through Henry. "What if someone finds you in here? They'll get mad at me."
"Then I'll just tell them not to be," Randall said. He lifted up the sheets and crept under them. "Wow, you have a tiny bed."
"I apologize," Henry squeaked.
"Scoot over."
"But what if I fall out?"
"Then just get back up." Randall scooted closer to Henry, vying for space.
"But there are spiders down there…"
"Spiders don't want to hurt you, Henry!" Randall said. "They're just little. Here, I can get you one to hold if you want to see…"
Randall tried to get out of bed, but Henry wrapped his arms around his waist and tried to pull him back down. "No, Master Randall, don't hold any spiders what if they're poisonous and besides they're just creepy—"
"Don't let the spiders hear you say that," Randall joked, "they'll come up into your bed and crawl under your sheets!" He started tickling Henry, who squealed in protest and tried to fight back; they struggled until they were both worn out.
"That was mean, Master Randall," Henry sniffled. "We ought to go to sleep…"
"Are you sure you don't want to explore the house at night?"
"Yes, I'm certain."
Their breathing slowed down as they lay there in the little attic bedroom right under the roof, listening to the pounding of the rain. In the dark they could barely see each other, just faint outlines and the glinting of eyes.
Randall's hand slid over Henry's.
"What are you doing?" Henry whispered.
"Just making sure you aren't scared."
Henry could feel his heart beating fast where it was pressed against the mattress. He wasn't actually that scared, not now that Randall was here. So why was it doing that?
When another roar of thunder shook the house, Randall's hand tightened. "Thunder is stupid, huh?"
Henry moved closer to Randall, so he could feel their cold feet touching under the sheets. The air was chilly, but for some reason he felt so warm. "Yes, Master Randall."