Chapter 40

In the morning, Michael was ready to travel before heading down to breakfast. He went to Louisa's room for her to accompany them, but she still refused to leave the room. So he asked them to prepare a tray so that he and she could have breakfast together.

Roger allowed it, due to the girl's condition. He would do the same with Emmeline.

"Cousin?" Michael called after knocking on the door. "I can enter?"

"Yes." Louisa replied. Michael then opened the door and entered the room, placing the tray full of food on the nightstand.

"I'm leaving in a little while, but I'd like to have one more meal with you." He said. Louisa nodded and sat on the bed. She was no longer in her nightgown, but in a simple dress. The same one she'd taken to the Crawford house, the one Eva had sewn.

They ate practically in silence. Michael didn't know what to talk about without Louisa remembering her parents.