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house. I’ll find a way to earn a living and we can be together.”
    He squeezed her fingers. “I didn’t lose my
brains during the last ninety years. I know you don’t know me, you can’t love
me yet. I think I’ve shown you how you’ve bowled me over. I never expected to
come to life, much less to find a beautiful woman so ready to share my fantasies.
I want a chance to prove to you that you really want me to be your slave for
the rest of our lives.”
    It sounded totally crazy to her but what
hadn’t been crazy the whole time she’d been in this house? What was one more
mad idea? Besides, the thought of getting to know him more gradually soothed
many of the little panicky feelings fluttering in her chest.
    After all, what did they have to lose? From
what Pierce said he was here to stay whether as the grandson of the family, her
lover or whatever else. She might have to help him get some kind of ID but in
the euphoria of the moment that was the least of her concerns.
    “I’ll think about what you need to know,”
she said. “But first you can tell me something. Is there such a thing as a
shower around this place?”
    He shook his head. “No showers that I can
remember but lots of baths. I’ll go outside for some wood.”
    He sprang to his feet and made for the
door.
    “Hold on a minute! Wood?”
    “If it’s the same old boiler, you have to
light a fire under it to heat the water.”
    He saw the dubious expression on her face.
“We had servants.”
    “I guess you’d have to.” It had been clear
when she first went into the house that it had electric power. “Let’s check
first to see if they converted the furnace to electricity when they wired the
house.”
    “Good thinking.”
    Pierce led the way through a cavernous
kitchen where tarnished copperware hung from racks. A massive cast iron stove
took up almost all of one wall. But the place was clean. A crew had obviously
been hired to spruce it up before the prospective sale. Lots of creepy things
probably still lurked under the cabinets and sinks but Jane resolved not to
think about them.
    Pierce located the boiler, which looked
more modern than the rest of the appliances. It was all relative because the heater
was still enormous. An electrical switch sat on the adjacent wall.
    “Thank heaven.” Jane smiled. “Is there
water in it? We don’t want the whole thing to blow up.”
    “Good thinking,” Pierce repeated. “I’ve
been out of touch for too long.”
    Water and power assured, they stood and
looked at the monster. Jane sighed. “I guess it will take a while.”
    “With that amount of water? It used to take
all day but I don’t know with this new system.”
    “I’d guess a couple of hours. I need some
fresh air. Let me throw some clothes on and we’ll go for a walk. I’ll start
your first history lesson. Tell me what you last remember…”
     
    It was a beautiful summer morning. The sky
was an improbably perfect blue and a light breeze blew from the direction of
the water. Pierce drew in a deep breath. “Intoxicating,” he said. “God, what a
lot I’ve been missing. I shall be eternally grateful to you for grabbing hold
of me.”
    They walked through the grounds for a
couple of hours, stopping occasionally to admire the view and more often to
kiss. Jane talked a blue streak, trying to think of everything that Pierce
would need to know if he was to carry off his deception. World Wars flashed by
as they ambled under the beech trees. Cold War and détente were covered as they
crossed a grassy meadow. She listed the presidents, particularly the last ones.
    At the door of the kitchen she paused at
last. “I don’t know about you, but I’m talked out. Let’s check on the water.”
    The boiler was nicely warm.
    “Where’s the bathroom?”
    “Fetch your things and follow me. There
should be towels in the linen closet, which if I remember correctly is this
way.”
    He opened a door onto a narrow passage
lined with shelves. Sheets,