Chapter 7

Charles returned before his scheduled time.

A sudden leg cramp tore me from sleep in the dead of night. There he was, slumped in the armchair beside the bed, eyes shut and brow lightly creased with exhaustion.

Pale moonlight filtered through a gap in the drapes, tracing a faint silver line across his tired features.

"Did I wake you?" he asked, opening his eyes, his voice a little hoarse.

"Not at all." I pushed myself up against the headboard. "What brought you back early?"

"Finished ahead of schedule." He rose and came to sit on the edge of the bed,…