Lord Merrick's POV
"What are you doing in here?" I asked, when I realized she wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place.
"Looking for food," she replied. Quickly.
"In the storeroom."
"That's generally where food is kept, yes."
I looked at her. "In the middle of the night."
"Food is useful at all hours." She turned towards the shelf. "Your point?"
"My point," I said, "is that it's…" I stopped. Recalibrated. "What I'm asking is why you're in here specifically, at this specific hour, rather than sleeping?"
"What are you doing in here?" she said, without turning around.
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
"This is my house," I said.
She turned then, and the look on her face was the look of someone who has just found a small but satisfying inconsistency and intends to use it.
"Is it?" she said pleasantly.
"Yes."
