Charlie often got embarrassed about things that weren't under his control, as though his occasional clumsiness was not understandable. He could feel his master's skin grow warmer. Despite the rugs laid down over the marble, a metallic echo carried up to Will's ears. Charlie’s right foot hit the floor too heavily. His gentleman attempted one more time to stand on his own but gave in when Will would not release him. Will eased one hand over Charlie's shirtfront and pressed until he could feel warmth and the beat of a heart. There was much his gentleman did not notice. Will wanted to hide his face when he recognized it and was grateful for the darkened entryway, although even in broad daylight he did not think his gentleman would have noticed his reaction. The scent was Lily-of-the-Valley perfume. There was a cloying, heady scent on his master's clothes that was neither the cologne Will sprayed onto Charlie's handkerchief, nor the crisp smell of the starch Will had personally used in his master's collar. There was no sign of his master's cane, so when Charlie attempted to stand on his own, Will stubbornly stayed where he was. He pulled the hat from his gentleman's hand and set it aside. 'It's just me, sir,' Will whispered as he slid one of his master's arms around his shoulder in order to take his weight. He hurried closer without a thought and startled his master who must not have seen him in the dark. For a moment Charlie was a tall, strong figure silhouetted by yellow, flickering street lights, and then he removed his hat to lean against the wall and sigh, which told Will all he needed to know about his master's current state. Charles Howard, esq.-pushed open the door to let himself in. Will had not meant to linger by the door, but at a quarter past twelve when he heard it open he was there to watch as Charlie-his gentleman, Mr.

Play It Again, Charlie by R. Cooper