Thirty minutes before the party, and the estate was alive with movement. Guests streamed in, voices rising and falling as conversations wove through the space. Heather had already been to the main house, but Lily had insisted she arrive with Caius, something about family tradition.
She hadn't planned on going back for him. She hadn't even wanted to. But if they were going to keep up appearances, it would look strange if she arrived alone.
Before heading to Caius, Heather decided to check on Alex first. The maid assigned to watch him sat beside the bed, hands neatly folded in her lap, but Alex lay there unmoving. He wasn't watching a science convention, wasn't reading, just… still.
Heather brushed his hair back gently. He barely stirred.
"He's been having headaches, Mrs. Thorne," the maid informed her.
