"Good night, Monsieur." Finally she closed the door on him and set about undressing her mother who was in no fit state for the maids to see her. There was little conversation. It was too late to admonish the woman for the excess of wine she'd drunk, and Lady Charlotte merely groaned, holding her head as she sank to the bed.Raven had mixed the usual powders in lemonade, but her mother refused to drink it. She complained of a grinding pain in her stomach and then lay down atop the bed cover, still in her petticoat and with her corset cast aside. "Leave me be," she gasped out, her eyes very dark. "I do not need you here. Leave me alone, ungrateful child."So Raven left the glass of medicine by the bed, blew out the candles and left her mother to recover alone. She knew that there was nothing more she could do to help her at that moment. The lady was better off left in the cool dark and they would deal with the morning when it came.As she stood at the door, Raven looked back at the dark shape on the bed and said, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier, mama.
