Chapter Forty-nine

“What’s that?” Rachel asked, pointing at a wall of perfectly manicured hedges that seemed to have been grown in circles.

“That’s a maze,” replied Alfred with a lopsided smile. “It leads to a lovely cottage on the other side of the property. It’s pretty secluded and even has a swimming pool and some modern conveniences that the manor doesn’t have. I had it built as a guest quarter away from the main house but I never have people over for more than a day, so it’s barely in use. I even toyed with the idea of letting your bodyguards stay there but I don’t trust those big guys. My cottage is too delicate to accommodate four giants who walk like elephants, no offense to you, Derek.”

“None taken,” said Derek with a laugh.

“Has anyone ever gotten lost in the maze before?” Rachel wanted to know.

“Yeah, me,” said Alfred. “Twice. By the third time, I had to go with a map of the maze because I was tired of getting lost in the middle of my own creation.”

Rachel laughed, thoroughly enjoying Alfred’