Anna wide awake.

William was about to say something else to his brother when footsteps sounded and they both noticed their mother coming up the steps. She stopped short when she saw Ethan and William looking stoically at her.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, looking suspiciously between her two sons. “Did I interrupt something?”

Ethan smiled innocently.

“Nothing’s wrong at all. We only ran into each other, mother.” He said, and she relaxed.

“Of course,” she sounded wry as she spoke. “I thought you two might be hiding something from me. Well, I’ll just go on to bed, then.”

Ethan bade his mother a Goodnight and left before William could properly process what had just went on. Their mother gazed at her older son who still stood stock still, and shook her head.

“You have been incredibly distracted today.” She observed with a hum. “I do hope you don’t forget where your duties lie.”

Those words spurred William into action and his head snapped in his mother’s direction.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” He asked