"Lady Astley! Lady Astley, what are you doing? Why are you not in your bed?! It is freezing in this room!"

Mai woke, her head still resting on the window. Her skin almost matched the snow outside.

"Someone get the fire," Madoka's voice ordered. "You are cold to the touch! Forgive me, but you are a foolish girl! Here, help me get her into bed. Someone make a fresh bed warmer."

Mai felt gentle hands help her to the bed. The warm, soft delightful bed.

"You foolish child. We cannot even call for the doctor in this weather! Why were you not in your bed?"

Warmth erupted around her feet, where a maid had inserted the bed warmer between the sheets.

"Someone waved to me," Mai slurred.

Madoka seemingly ignored her.

"Is that fire going yet?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Miss Mori," Mai tried again. "There is someone over there. I saw them wave at me."

"Over where? You're talking nonsense."

"What is all this noise?" a harsh male voice joined the fray.

"Lady Astley chose to sleep at the window and is now frightfully cold. I fear she has taken ill."

It was Lord Pembridge! He would want to know!

"Oliver!" Mai called, though in truth her voice came out barely more than a whisper. "I saw them! They waved to me through the window! I do not want them hurt…"

"I will ignore the impropriety of you calling me that as you are seemingly unwell," he stated. "But what do you mean? Someone in the West Wing?"

"She mentioned it before. She is not fully awake."

"They could get hurt…"

"See that she is well cared for," Lord Pembridge insisted. "Get another bed warmer. And have the cook make soup, it will be easier for her to eat if she is unwell."

"They waved, Oliver!"

He turned to Mai.

"I will check it myself, Lady Astley. I will ensure no one is hurt. You stay here and rest," he insisted. "I will inform you of my findings later as long as you rest."

Mai, apparently reassured by this statement, relaxed into the bed, and fell promptly asleep.

She woke only once more during the course of the morning, when Madoka arrived with a tray of food - a stew and some fresh bread. Mai ate it without speaking much and went back to sleep soon after.

A knock on the door woke her for the second time.

"Come in?"

"It is me," Lord Pembridge's voice replied.

Mai drew the blankets up around herself as the door opened.

"You have caused quite the stir," he commented.

"What happened, exactly? My memories are somewhat fuzzy."

"You attempted to recreate Napoleon's march on Moscow."

"Excuse me?"

"Napoleon marched his troops on Moscow, a place well known for being quite cold, without suitable equipment."

"I am confused as to how this pertains to me," Mai said.

"You fell asleep at that chair by the window," he said, pointing. "When Miss Mori found you, your skin was cold to the touch. The human body does not thrive at such cold temperatures."

"Why did I do that?"

"We hoped you would know," Lord Pembridge said. "You have worried Miss Mori quite considerably. We could not call for a doctor due to the weather, I have men clearing the road now."

"I am feeling quite well now."

"Miss Mori wants me to forbid you from attending Mrs Sakauchi's ball this evening."

"But why? I am well! Who is Miss Mori to try and control me? I am—"

"Under my care. Miss Mori thinks only of your health and considering your behaviour first thing this morning, I am inclined to agree with her."

"What do you mean? What behaviour?"

"You were quite improper."

Mai clutched the blankets closer to her body.

"No, no," he hastened to add. "Not like that. You spoke to me quite familiarly." At Mai's blank expression, he continued, "You called me Oliver."

Mai blushed scarlet.

"I am exceedingly sorry. I did not mean to cause offence, I—"

"You were quite unwell, I will overlook it."

"Lord Pembridge, I truly am—"

"Think no more of it," he insisted. "Now I understand you are keen to attend Mrs Sakauchi's ball. But I, and Miss Mori and a considerable number of the staff, are concerned for your wellbeing. It is a little after noon, the road is almost clear. Once it is clear, I will send for a doctor. If the doctor says you are well, then you may attend the ball with supervision."

"I am not a child."

"No, you are not, but I can ask my men to stop clearing the road so that no carriage will leave."

Mai scowled at him.

"Fine, I agree to see the doctor."

Lord Pembridge nodded.

"And Miss Mori wants you to remain in bed until the doctor arrives. Considering how much you worried her, perhaps you could do her a kindness and let her mother you for a bit."

Mai scowled again. He smirked.

"I am glad you are feeling better, Lady Astley. I will allow Miss Mori in now."

He left and was quickly replaced by an anxious Madoka.

"Lady Astley! You're awake, how do you feel? You had us all so worried. At least two of the maids have been crying that you were not long for this world. You were so pale and cold when I found you."

"I am quite fine, Miss Mori. But a little hungry, perhaps you could arrange for some food to be brought up?"

"Yes, right away, my Lady."

Mai subjected herself to Madoka's concern for the remainder of the afternoon. She did her best to make the situation bearable, asking Madoka to read to her and to fetch occasional things.

Eventually, the doctor arrived, checked her over and declared her fit for the ball, but that she should continue to wear warm clothing and not do anything reckless.

"So no dancing?" Lord Pembridge asked, as he oversaw the doctor's visit.

"She can dance, but nothing too exuberant. And she ought to limit herself to only a few."

"And play at cards? May I do that?"

"Yes, as long as you are sat by the fire."

"Then I must ask you two gentlemen to leave so that I might change. Else I shall be late."

The doctor laughed, but left. Lord Pembridge regarded Mai for a moment more before also leaving.

Finally free, Mai washed and dressed, had a maid do her hair and chose her warmest coat. She found a second pair of thick gloves to wear over her long gloves during the journey.

She descended the grand staircase to find more than just Madoka waiting for her. Lord Pembridge stood in formal wear and holding his hat.

"You intend to join us?"

"I intend to ensure that you do not overexert yourself," he said.

"I told him I was more than capable—" Madoka began.

"And if you had ensured Lady Astley had gone to bed, she would not have been in such danger for her life."

"It is no fault of Miss Mori's," Mai insisted. "I am to blame for my own foolish actions. You can join us if you wish. I am sure Mrs Sakauchi will not mind it."

The three walked out to the carriage, Lord Pembridge offered his assistance to climb in and they were soon on their way.

The journey was not long and they soon found themselves outside the Sakauchi's home. They entered, were announced and pounced upon by Mrs Sakauchi.

"Lady Astley! I heard you were taken ill!"

"I am quite well, I fell asleep in a chair, that is all. I promise you the fuss is all for nothing. How did you even know?"

"Gossip travels fast," Lord Pembridge muttered.

"I did not realise you had chosen to accept my invitation, Lord Pembridge," Mrs Sakauchi said with a smirk.

"I had not. I am here to ensure Lady Astley's health is in order."

"Of course," Mrs Sakauchi looked over at the long case clock. "The dancing is due to start soon. Do either of you have need of a partner?"

"Lady Astley will be subjected to me for the first dance. If she is not well, then we will be playing cards for the remainder of the evening."

"I do not remember agreeing to this," Mai muttered.

"Well it is either that or we just play cards for the evening, which would you prefer."

She scowled at him, but took his proffered hand and ignored the sparkle in Mrs Sakauchi's eyes. Lord Pembridge guided her to the dancing space and they waited for the musicians to begin.

"I think you are enjoying this," Mai said.

"Enjoying what?"

"Having me do things under the guise of caring for me."

"I promised your husband I would care for you, I am merely keeping my promise."

"Of course that is what you would say to me, but you enjoyed knowing I would have to endure Miss Mori's worrying all afternoon."

"I believe this situation is somewhat similar to how you enjoyed my mother's treatment of me when we visited her."

"Perhaps."

"And is Miss Mori really so bad?"

"No, she is very kind, I am lucky to have someone such as her in my life."

The music began and so did the dance. Mai noticed Lord Pembridge taking extra care, spending more time watching her movements than concentrating on his own. It was only at this point that she realised he must truly have been concerned for her health.

At the end of the dance, she looked to him for approval.

"Fine, you may dance a little more. But you must promise the moment you feel even slightly fatigued that you will rest."

"I promise," she said, allowing him to lead her away.

"Perhaps…" He looked around. "Ah, Mr Brown."

Mr Brown appeared from the crowd.

"Lord Pembridge! A delight to see you someplace other than church. How do you fare?"

"Quite well, I thank you. I need a favour."

"Anything, my Lord."

"Lady Astley was recently taken ill and while she is fine now and insists upon dancing, I do not want her to be thrown about."

"No one will throw me anywhere," Mai muttered.

The two men ignored her.

"Would you perhaps accompany her on the next dance? I trust you will look after her if she is taken ill."

"I would be delighted but Mrs Sakauchi had asked me for the next dance."

Lord Pembridge sighed.

"I will take your place with Mrs Sakauchi, she will not mind it."

"Of course, my Lord."

"Do I get any say in this?" Mai asked.

"Do you not want to dance with Mr Brown?"

"Of course I do, but—"

"Then there is no problem, is there?" Lord Pembrdige asked.

Mr Brown chose that moment to lead her away.

"That insolent man!"

"Lord Pembridge is—"

"Concerned for my health?" Mai scoffed. "He is enjoying dictating my life."

"Well perhaps turn your attention to our dance, if you have to suffer it, letting him know that will only cause him greater joy."

"Dancing with you is not something I have to suffer," Mai said. "But you are right, let us enjoy this time despite his meddling."


After the second dance, Mai took some brief respite and had a few of the refreshments.

"Your dress is divine, Mrs Clark made it, I presume?"

Mai spun around to see Mrs Sakauchi.

"Yes, she did. It is as fine as the work I saw in London!"

"And your dance with Mr Brown, was it worth stealing my partner?"

"I did not choose to steal your partner, Lord Pembridge decided it."

Mrs Sakauchi laughed.

"I know, his attendance alone will be the talk of the town for several weeks, but the fact that he danced twice! The gossips will not know what to do with themselves, especially as you, yourself are eligible for matrimony."

"Oh do not suggest such a thing, he has no feelings towards me other than to keep his promise to my late husband."

"I did not suggest it, others already have," Mrs Sakauchi said. "And we are not even halfway through the ball! Such a stir you have caused."

Mai hid her face in her hands.

"Come now, is it all that bad? Do you not think him a fine man?"

"He is a very handsome man, quite agreeable when he wants to be, but he would never think of it."

"I would not think of what?"

Mai grimaced, turned and forced a smile upon her face.

"Nothing, we were speaking of something else," she said to Lord Pembridge.

"I saw you were no longer dancing, are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I am quite well," she insisted. "Merely taking some refreshments, so that I did not overexert myself, as per the doctor's orders."

"Good."

"In fact, I am going to return to the dance now, goodbye."

Mai dashed off leaving Lord Pembridge standing beside Mrs Sakauchi.


Author's note: Happy Friday everyone! First week back at work was super fun! Hope 2022 is treating you all well!