Exhaustion and pain wracked my body as I entered my house, a mirror image of Henry's except it was filled with my belongings. "Evalina" "yes, Henry?" "where were you?" "I went to aid a lady in need" "did you alert Poole?" "I did, perhaps he forgot to tell you" "I needed you, and you were not home to greet me" I caught the scent of alcohol on him and mentally groaned. I had already taken him for a violent drunk and was now plotting on how to ensure John monitors how much he imbibes "Henry, can we have this discussion in the morning? Alcohol is not the best mediator" "like you have not spoken to me drunk" "it is impossible for me to get drunk, Henry. There is nothing that can take the pain away from me, things work once and that is it. So no, I have never been drunk around you and I ask that you keep your drunkenness away from me" "and why is that?" "because you turn cruel when you are drunk and I mislike it. Cruel and violent men are not my cup of tea, now let us get you into the bath and get a tonic in you before bed" "bed, Evalina? Not when there is work to do" "work can wait a night. They can wait, trust me, some of the best solutions I have come to came with rest and a good meal. Come now, Henry, I will drag you if I have to" I guided him back to his side "Poole!" the faithful servant appeared "help me, I need a bath run and a tonic for his head. Ensure he has a large breakfast tomorrow heavy with oils and meat. Vegetables too, he needs it" "yes, Madame" we got him in the hot bath "why hot water, Madame? Usually ice cold is used" "I don't want to startle him to sobriety, Poole. That is not my way" I got him into bed and ensured he drank the tonic before leaving "have another for when he wakes, Poole. Wake me if he worsens and make sure he cannot get to his lab. Bad things happen when a man is drunk" "yes, Madame" I went to my side and settled down again.