Cissie was fussing about in the house, making beds with clean linen. She spoke to the cats who were following her closely around the rooms. "Now my pretties you can't stay in this room tonight.... this is for Stephen and Dora and they won't want cat hairs all over the place. Go, shoo, shoo, my pretty ones." The cats once again seemed to disappear in an extraordinarily quick time. Cissie giggled as she met Amelia at the top of the stairs. "What have you been up to Cissie." her sister questionned. Cissie giggled again. "I've made the room up Amelia, for Stephen and Dora." Amelia shook her head. "Really Cissie... do you think they're ready?" "Oh yes, Amelia, they have the aura about them." Cissie said excitedly. "Well, I don't know whether they'll share the same room Cissie." "They will Amelia... I can see the signs in Stephen. He's just like his father... and uncle Tom's going to help me." "Well, Cissie, just don't let him know he was conceived in that room or you'll never get him in there." Cissie giggled again and made Amelia smile. "They'll make such wonderful parents Amelia, won't they?" Amelia nodded. "Yes Cissie, they will. But when they choose!" Amelia walked past Cissie towards her own room and Cissie smiled to herself - they're ready... they have the aura.
Cissie showed Ron into his room in the East Wing then she took Dora and Steve over to the West Wing and opened the door into a large room. She had lit the open fire which warmed and lit the room, along with two oil lamps either side of the bed. There was a porcelain bowl and jug standing on the dresser by the window, filled with hot water, and flannels, soap, towels, toothpaste and two toothbrushes were neatly placed on one of the shelves. The bed was a very large four-poster, the covers turned back, allowing the sheets to be aired. "You'll be in here Stephen." she said. Steve smiled. "Thanks, it's lovely." he exclaimed, looking around the pleasant room. Cissie smiled. "Now Dora dear, you'll be a way away from Stephen, up at the top. It used to be the servants' quarters years ago." Cissie could see that Dora was not happy about being far away and when, as if exactly on cue, thunder began rumbling in the distance and a flash of lightning lit up the house, Dora looked decidedly worried. Steve could see her anguish. "I'll come with you and see where you're going to be." he smiled at her. Dora managed to smile back and nodded her head. She and Steve followed Cissie to the room way above Steve's at the top of the house. The thunder was closer now and every time the lightning flashed, Dora thought she could see the shape of a man standing in her room. Cissie had left them now and Dora was sitting on her bed. "You OK girl? Steve asked her. Dora looked up at him. "Steve, I'm scared." she said sadly. He sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "What's there to be scared about?" he asked softly. She looked into his eyes, tears beginning to well in her eyes, and just as a clap of thunder exploded right above the house, she flung her arms around Steve's neck and clung to him tightly. Steve held her, closing his eyes and once more breathing in her scent. Then he put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her. "How about you come and share with me tonight?" he said, not expecting Dora to agree, but she nodded quickly as soon as he said it. "Oh yes Steve, please, I'd feel so much better." They went back down to the room and closed the door behind them. Cissie watched from around the corner. Next to her Uncle Tom smiled.