Harry heard the knocking, and got to his feet. It was the house-keepers evening off, and the maid had gone home, so it was only the master of the house and his family left within. "I'm just going to see who's at the door." He said to the boy, stroking over the boy's cheek with his fingertips, leaning down and kissing the corner of Nell's lips.
He didn't have much idea of who it could be, Mary perhaps, although from the top landing he could hear her voice and knew then it was not her. Ann, perhaps, if she'd been caught this end of town in the rain and couldn't make it back to her own place in such foul weather. Or Will, with tonight's takings, although it was hardly 10'o'clock according to the large clock in the hallway, and so if it was Will, Harry would need a word or two with him about shutting the theatre early.
But it was not a man standing at the door, the silhouette was all wrong. "Mary, who is it?" He said as he made it down the last few steps, hand sliding to his pocket and the dusters contained within.