[Alice makes a good point. Henry briefly touches his knuckles to his mouth in a habitual gesture.]

...This is a grand residence. So I would expect there to be a guard. When outer walls are breached one usually retreats to hold a defensible part... Were it my castle or manor, I would use my great hall.

[It's nothing more than speculation of course, but reasonable speculation, he feels. And if he is wrong, he is at least skilled enough to cut their way out of trouble.]