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Helene sat in the big over-stuffed chair in her bedroom with her legs curled up under herself reading the latest Tom Clancy. Reinhold was away on business, the servants were out celebrating Jeeves' birthday and Max was in his room doing whatever it was that teenage boys did when they were in their rooms. In short, it was peaceful.

Normally, she would have been at the Historical Society meeting, but Caroline Sedgewick had rung up to say it had been cancelled. Just as well, she thought. Her schedule had been a whirlwind of board meetings and luncheons lately with the holidays fast approaching and plans being made for bazaars and fund-raisers, and she'd been feeling guilty about not spending enough time with Max as it was and she'd always tried to compensate for her Reinhold's absences.

Helene chuckled. If someone had told her eighteen years ago that she would be a pillar of society -- British society at that -- she would have told them to "take another drag man and get over yourself". Eighteen years! Sometimes it seemed like yesterday and others it seemed a century ago.

A budding actress, she'd met Reinhold at a party that a director friend of hers had given. He was looking for backers for his latest flick and had promised her a major role. Well, the role never quite happened though Steven had gotten his funding. She had become pregnant during an affair with the besotted Sir Reinhold Fitzwilliam Fairfax -- and got their son, Maxwell, instead.

Placing her bookmark in the page she just finished, Helene closed it and got up. Maybe she and Max could do something that they hadn't done in a very long time -- popcorn and a movie. She'd go down and make it before calling him. She knew it was late -- after midnight but she knew he'd still be awake and hoped he'd be pleasantly surprised.

Still wearing the pink silk lounging pajamas that she'd put on after realizing she'd be staying in, Helene was making her way to the kitchen when a noise from Reinhold's study caught her attention. What was that boy doing in there? He knew his father didn't like anyone in his private sanctuary.

"Max?" she called out. "Are you in there, Max?"

Not hearing an answer, Helene opened the door and walked into the room.