"That'll be all, O'Brien. Good night." Cora said, turning to her lady's maid. O'Brien nodded and headed for the door. As she opened it, she nearly tripped over Isis, who was laying in the hall. She cried out in surprise.
"What is it, O'Brien?!" Cora said, her hand flying to her chest in surprise.
"Sorry to startle you, m'lady. Your lordship's dog took me by surprise is all." She nodded sheepishly at her ladyship and stepped carefully over Isis. The dog, Robert's loyal companion, sat expectantly in the doorway. She was now entering her dotage and Robert had made more allowances for the dog as a reward for her committed companionship through the years. While they generally didn't allow her in the bedroom with the two of them - lest she try to join them in bed - for the last few nights she had at least come in to Robert's dressing room to lay contentedly at his feet while he prepared for bed, or read a newspaper. She had a small, cozy bed in the corner of her master's room where she would happily nap most of the day, and from time to time she would still nudge his leg with her snout in a puppy-like way when she wanted to take a walk about the estate.
"Oh, Isis. Sweet old girl." Cora said, rising from her vanity and heading for bed." Come."
Isis rose slowly, her back legs a little unsteady with fatigue, and she trotted into the master bedroom, looking around for Robert. Cora had always liked the dog but she knew that the pup only had eyes for Robert. Cora had always joked that about the other woman in Robert's life - Isis. The pup was named after the goddess of marriage and love, after all.
Robert emerged from his dressing quarters and his face lit up with he saw the dog. Isis wagged her tail in response. Cora giggled, picking up her book.
"It would appear that you will have your mistress joining you this evening." she said, "I think she has come to see this as her new nightly ritual - she was waiting just outside the door when O'Brien left and gave her quite a fright."
Robert chuckled, patting his thighs to beckon the dog over. "Frightened O'Brien, did you girl? You've still got it." He scratched her affectionately behind the ears, a favorite spot of hers. He stood up, suddenly, and headed back into the dressing room.
"Robert?" Cora inquired, looking up from her book.
"Just a minute, darling." he called, "I just want to put on some of my wool socks."
"Why?" she asked, closing her book on her finger to hold her place, "Were you cold last night?"
Emerging from the dressing room once more, socks in hand, Robert smiled. "Well, your toes kept touching mine - and giving them an awful chill."
"Robert, you know I can't sleep with socks on my feet - even on the coldest nights." she said. He came over to her and sat on the edge of the bed. Isis followed and sat obediently at his feet.
"I know, darling. But if I wear them your toes can touch mine all they please without causing frost bite."
He brought his leg up to put on the first sock and Isis whined. Her tail thumped against the floor and Robert regarded her curiously. "Cora, do you suppose they make socks for dogs?"
Putting her book on the nightstand, Cora sighed. "I don't know - but I suppose if you had socks that were small enough, you could put them on a dog's paws. Perhaps a baby's sock?"
Robert leaned down and took Isis's front paw in his hand, "Oh, Cora, her paws are actually quite cold."
Regarding his socks a moment, Robert rose and returned to his dressing quarters, emerging a few moments later with more socks.
"Robert, what are you doing?" Cora said, leaning across the bed to watch him as he knelt down next to the bed, lifting Isis's paw once again.
"I'm just going to see if, perhaps-" he began, sliding a sock onto her paw. Isis patiently waited, lifting her other paw for him as he slid on another sock. Reaching behind her to lift her back legs, Robert couldn't help but laugh. "She looks a bit ridiculous doesn't she?" he said. Isis whined. "Oh, old girl, I'm sorry."
He leaned back on his haunches and looked at her - Isis tentatively took a step, the socks confusing her senses, and she awkwardly began to trot about the room in an almost comedic little dance. She turned back to Robert and Cora, both of whom had begun to laugh affectionately, and looked at Robert with funny little half-grin.
"Oh, poor Isis." Cora said, "Robert, you mustn't let her suffer any longer, take them off."
Robert thumped the floor in front of him, calling Isis back. "Come, girl."
She trotted over, her paws angling awkwardly out as she did, and the socks falling down around her paws- she lost one on her way back, since they were far too big.
"Maybe we still have some baby socks of Sybil's?" Cora said as Robert sat back on the bed, putting the socks on his own feet now. "If they were smaller they would keep her warm without being so -" her voice hushed, "Silly."
Isis woofed low in approval as she circled the bed they had made for her on the other side of the room. Flopping down, she looked over at them a moment while she began to drift off.
Robert climbed into bed next to her, sliding under the covers. She slunk down next to him, laying her head upon his chest, and after a few moments, he jumped.
"Oh, Cora, your toes, they are like ice."
"Even with your socks?" she asked innocently, nestling closer.
"Well, my darling, the socks don't go up that high. . ."