Steve nodded quickly, giving a soft response of, "Of course," before moving over to the desk and carefully gathering up the papers, ranging from mildly damp to sodden. He didn't see any smudges to the ink, for which he was thankful for Marie's sake.

He followed Marie into the sitting room, carefully laying the papers out along the hearth, pressing them flat, as close to the grate as he dared without getting close enough that a stray ember might pop and alight on them. They were too wet to catch fire, but they might smolder a bit if it happened, and damage some of the writing.