The attention feels...nice, he thinks. Now that he's not getting it against his will, that is.

Of course, had it really been against his will even then?

Not thoughts to grapple with now. He stops drinking when the pain ebbs away, pulling back and wiping his mouth with the back of his shaking hand. His fingertips...hurt, the nails feeling raw and achy. Growing, maybe? Oh, if only he had studied harder!

Now he's just...staring up at Herbert, trembling both with the cold and with the lingering fear.

"It's...almost sunrise, if I...if I hadn't made it here...." The idea of Sarah being the Count's 'bride' stings, but...well, she clearly had rejected him, hadn't she?

"You would...you really want to...to help me?"