The Crossroads

When she was certain Miss Spratling had gone to bed, Sharon hurried down the winding cobblestone path to the carriage house.

She couldn’t sleep, not without checking in on her son. All the talk about the missing boy had scared her.

“What is it now?” her mother grumbled when she opened the door.

“I just wanted to be sure Aidan was okay.”

“Aidan? He’s not here. Mr. Willoughby picked him up hours ago.”

“What?”

“He said Miss Spratling had given permission for Aidan to sleep up at the manor house tonight.”