Darcy thanked Miss Sully with a bow, and he gathered up the items to go to the back room she'd spoken of. Once inside, he secured the door and at first he just collapsed onto a seat, leaning forward so he was practically resting his head on his knees. He stayed like that for a few minute, breathing deeply and trying to calm himself down. None of it made sense. Absolutely none of it.
The more time that passed in silence, the more he realised that he was shivering. He wasn't sure if it was just the cold, or part of it was stress and nerves. Still, he was definitely going to be ill after his dunk in the lake.
He pulled off his boots with some effort, as they seemed to have become suctioned on with the water, and then quickly stripped off what was left of his damp clothing. The towels were so welcome, and by the time he'd swapped his clothes for the dry ones, he was sure a little colour was returning to his cheeks. It was strange - they fitted him very well, and how on earth had someone managed to select him boots without knowing his shoe size? Really, it was one of the least strange things that was happening today.
What was he meant to do with his wet clothes? Leave them there? And the towels? After some consideration, he decided to fold the towels and leave them there, and then do the same with his clothes in a separate pile. He could go back for them. For now, he was going to have to try to get some answers.