Dorian does not concern himself with his Servant. All he cares about is his friend. Íde flies them to the upper rooms of the Citadel, a hallway leading to Hermione's quarters. The first maid who sees them gasps in horror, the laundry falling from her hands. Dorian calls for the guard. He sees to it that they will recover Adela's body for proper funeral rites, and he insists that they recover the body of the attacker as well, including the weapons. Then it is a flurry of activity: calling the maids to bring the Marchioness to her quarters, asking for a servant to bring Dorian's own clothing from the rooms he keeps here, going with Hermione to her rooms and seeing to it that the servants know to be gentle.

Only when they take Hermione to bath, to get the last blood off of her, does he let go of her hand.

In that moment when he is alone, when Hermione is being cared for by other hands, Dorian becomes very still, and very quiet. He lifts a hand that was broken. He sets it to a gut that was punctured.

And then he thinks of what he must do for Hermione next. By the time the maids bring her out, they're both dressed in night clothes. Unconcerned for the gossip, even grateful at the idea that it might blot out the whispers of Hermione's bloodied return, he dismisses the servants and helps Hermione into bed. Once he has her returned to him, he does not let go of her hand.

"Thank you," he tells her. "I am very fortunate to have a friend like you."