10
Philippa stirred at the sound of someone moving about in the room. She opened her eyes and saw a curvy maid bent over the hearth, adding a few logs. Even though it was October, the weather had been warm until the last few weeks. Now Philippa welcomed the heat of a fire. She sat up and a blanket fell off her body. She stared at it, puzzled. She hadn’t remembered going to sleep with that over her. The maid must have done it.
“Hello,” Philippa greeted.
The maid spun, her curly red hair escaping her cap. “Oh! Pardon me, miss. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s fine. Thank you for the blanket.” She removed the blanket and folded it.
“Oh, that wasn’t me, miss.”
“Oh.” Philippa frowned slightly. She wondered who had. “I’m Philippa, by the way.”
“Louisa, miss.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lou
