The sound of the helicopter blades woke me up from my sleep. I had dozed off after reading my book. I could hear it getting closer and closer and then landing. Without switching on my light, I walked over to the window, but it must have landed on the other side of the castle. The helicopter was switched off and calm was restored to the night. I looked at the time. It was nearly midnight.

I lay back down on the bed and wondered if someone had arrived. Seemed a weird time to be arriving. Then again it was a weird household. Perhaps it was Mrs. King coming back. I thought about my conversation with Brett King. His voice was deep and smooth. It sounded like the voice of a very sophisticated, suave man of great culture and knowledge.

Even though I had felt his anger throbbing through the intercom system his voice had remained incredibly calm. This was my first night in the country after a long time being in the city and I was struck by how incredibly quiet it was. I could literally hear myself breathe. The quiet was broken by my phone vibrating against the desk. I leapt out of bed. It was April. Taking it with me I plopped myself onto the bed.

“Are you still awake?” she asked.

I was instantly worried about her. “Yes, but why are you calling so late?”

“Why are you whispering?” she asked dropping her own voice.

“I don’t know. It’s so deathly quiet here, it feels wrong to disturb it.”

She giggled. “You’re mad.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. Come on, tell me why you’re calling. Where is Yuri?”

“He’s downstairs, working. After you told me about that weird household I couldn’t sleep thinking about you. How did your first day go?”

I sighed and ran through my memories and impression of the day. They had all been inevitably overshadowed by my short conversation with Brett King.

“Oh Lord, what did she do?” she asked, thinking my sigh had been about Mrs. King.

“Nothing. She went to some function, probably in London, and hasn’t come back yet. Unless, she was in the helicopter that just landed a few minutes ago.”

“Then why did you sigh like that?”

“I just spoke to the boy’s father over the intercom.”

“Wow! What was he like?”

My mind went back to Brett’s voice. “He was nice. He had a rich voice. One of those deep and smooth voices. I can imagine him wearing a velvet suit and sitting in a box in an opera house.”

“I wonder if he was handsome?”

“I have no idea,” I replied. “But he has something.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t describe it. There is something magnetic about him. I could listen to him all night.”

“Whoa! Watch it. That’s someone’s husband, Charlotte.” April sounded anxious.

“I didn’t mean it in that way. I think I am attracted to him because he has suffered a lot and I want to try to help him. He loves his son, but the boy is afraid of him.”

“Just be careful that it doesn’t become anything more. Remember your motto. Other women’s husbands are off limits.”

“Yeah, I know that. I won’t go there even though the housekeeper said his wife sort of abandoned him when he met with his accident and went her own way.”

“Wow, she sounds like a complete bitch.”

“Apparently, she has loads of lovers.”

“You’re not looking for an excuse to have an affair with him, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” I said firmly. “I told you it’s not like that. It’s something to do with the guilt I feel about Aisha. I just think maybe I’m getting a second chance to help. To redeem myself.”

She sighed. “It was not your fault, babe.”

“I know. Look, I should go to bed. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Have fun indoors.”

“No, I’m taking Zackary outside to play tomorrow.”

“Hey! His mother said no.”

“His father insisted otherwise.”

“Whoa, Charlotte, you’re on a tightrope right now.”

“Tell me about it, but I have to do what’s right for the kid. I’ll just take him out for a short while.”

“Alright then, let me know how it goes.”

“Wait—” I called just before she hung up.

“What is it?”

“Does … can someone’s voice affect you through the phone?”

She was quiet for a few moments, so I immediately stepped in. “Don’t assume anything, it’s just an innocent question.”

“What exactly is innocent about that question? Whose voice affected you through the phone?”

“Goodnight!” I said to her.

But she was like a dog with a bone. “Don’t you dare put the phone down.”

“It’s nothing, I was just wondering.”

“Charlotte …”

I started to regret my decision to even ask the question in the first place. “You know who …” I mumbled.

“What? You just said …”

“Forget it. It’s late and I’m tired.”

Her voice was serious. “What was so special about his voice?”

I sighed. “I don’t know. It was just … I’m not doing this. It was nothing. Goodnight, April.”

I cut the call and threw my phone aside. I shut my eyes to sleep, but shivered at the waft of the early autumn breeze. The nights in the country were much colder than London.

Dragging myself off the bed, I headed over to the window by my bedside and was about to pull the curtains shut when I stopped. Mrs. Blackmore had told me earlier that his wing was opposite mine, across the inner courtyard. All the lights were turned off, other than perhaps one dim lamp, and I got the glimpse of a shadow by the window, standing silhouetted in the dark, just as I was.

I was startled, but I didn’t scream in fright. Unmoving, I stood and watched the figure, tall and unidentifiable in the shadows for a few more seconds.

Was that him?

Whoever he was I knew he was watching me, staring straight ahead, and unmoving. I was suddenly hot. Stepping away from the windows I stood just inside the shadows and watched him. He turned away and I found my breathing was shallow. Had he truly been watching me, or was it all just my imagination? A trick of the light. My phone buzzed and I picked it up without even bothering to check the ID. I smiled as I saw that my mother was trying to Skype me.

“I knew you were awake because I saw your green light,” she said.

“You’ve really learned to use your phone properly now, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have,” she said proudly.

I smiled. “Good.”

“I didn’t wake you, did I?” she asked.

“No, you didn't. How are you?”

“I’m alright. How are your new employers?”

“They’re alright,” I replied.

“Are they nice people?”

“Yeah, they’re both great.”

“Oh, good. You know how I worry about you.”

“Mom, I’m living in a castle. You should see this place. It’s like a fortress.”

“Well, as long as they are nice to you.”

“They are. I’m just about to go to bed, but I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes, you do that. You must be tired. I just wanted to say thank you. I received the money you sent. You’re a wonderful daughter to me.”

Her compliment made my heart turn to mush. “Wow, you change your tone so easily don’t you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when you threw me down the stairs for being your too stubborn, bad tempered daughter?”

“I didn't throw you down the stairs, you brat, you fell.”

“And whose fault was that?”

“I’m sending the money back to you if you're going to gloat about that accident,” she snapped, and I was glad I had my feisty Mom back. “If not for those damn scraps they call a pension,” she continued, “I wouldn’t have to bother yo—”

“You're not bothering me, Mom. Being able to give back to you is a blessing for me. I love you.”

She sighed deeply. “I love you, little one. Make sure you take care of yourself. When will your day off be?”

“I’m yet to sort it out. When I do I’ll let you know, alright?”

“Very well, goodnight sweet child of mine.”

“Goodnight, Mom.”