Once inside he nodded to one of the servants, asking him to bring a bottle of sherry up stairs, hoping that 'up stairs' would not upset Lalla or give her the wrong impression of him. The requested drink did not surprise him, he was sure she was nervous, as many of the other women had been. He also needed it, though for him it was a reminder of keeping himself in check.
"The man must have been an utter fool." he said quickly, leading her towards and up the stairs. He continued to speak to her, hoping it would calm her nerves. "Now you will have to tell me what you think the room's original use was." he was speaking of where he had set up his canvas and other painting supplies. "I believe it was a Lady's sewing room, but my grandfather never told me, and he never used the thing as he could not walk up stairs after he started suffering from gout."