The Siren

* * *

Rory Callan strolled along the lane, unbuttoning his coat as sun and exercise warmed him. After a week spent unpacking and arranging in the temporary trailer, it was time to meet his neighbors. The Winthorpes, to the east, were nearest, but they were elderly and the missus was deaf. His neighbor to the west was the town librarian. He imagined her with buttoned-up blouses and low-heeled shoes. But books were his livelihood, so they would have that to discuss, at least.

He came to a low fence of rose brambles, and a white gate with a latch made from a rusted horseshoe and a length of twine. He let himself in and went up the path. Nearer to the house he found a woman pulling weeds with abandon from a round bed edged with small stones. He cleared his throat and said, “Excuse me.” She looked around, shielding her eyes from the sun. (His first thought was: They didn’t tell me the librarian had a daughter.)

“I’m Rory Callan,” he said. “Your new neighbor.” She rose, placing her hand in his. There was a thud. The sound of the other shoe dropping, he thought wryly. She was quite fetching. He had an immediate desire to use his grip on her hand to draw her closer. Instead, he let go.

A line appeared between her finely arched brows. “At Hartwell?” she asked. “But the house burned down a year ago, and all that’s left of the old place is the Round Tower.”

Rory Callan was enamored of the way the locals spoke. True, there had been a house (of decidedly modern origins) that had burned down in the last year. But “the old place” she referred to was in actuality the ruins of a fifteenth-century fortified manor house. He had been born in a small town, but had lived most of his life in London, and he was beginning to think his return to the country had been long overdue.

“Do forgive me,” she said, before he could answer. “I’m being unpardonably rude.” She brushed the dirt from her hands. “Please come in for a cup of tea. Would you prefer Lapsang souchong or Darjeeling?” And she motioned for him to follow her into the cottage.

She was attempting politely not to, but she was definitely staring. He was born and bred in England, held a British passport and both of his parents were British nationals, but nonetheless, people being what they were, he was now and then asked where he was from. “My great-grandmother was Malaysian,” he offered. “You’re seeing the bit of her that’s left in me.”

She paled. “It isn’t that at all. You must think me terribly rude. It’s only that…I know we haven’t met, but I feel as if I know you.” She looked down. “That’s a ridiculous thing to say. I’m afraid you’ve caught me at sixes and sevens. Did you say you were living at Hartwell?”

He nodded, mid-sip. “I’m planning to restore the Round Tower first, then continue on from there.”

She laughed, a light, trilling sound. “You must have a lorry load of money and a lot of free time on your hands.”

“That’s about the size of it,” he agreed.

She put down her cup, her face the color of alabaster. “How vulgar you must find me! I thought you were joking.”

She had lost her composure, and over a trifle because he had taken no offense. “Look,” he said kindly, “it’s like this. I’m tired of living in London. I’m an antiquarian book dealer, which is now a job that happens mostly on the Internet. I’ve come into an inheritance and need a way to spend it. When I’ve finished with it, the Round Tower is going to be my library. I’ll build the house later. I need to do some research. Is there a local archive?”

“There is.” She took a deep breath. “I’m a librarian. I spend my time trying to save books no one wants anymore. It’s all about the Internet and e-books and electronic devices. Perhaps if I help you research your manor house, you could save some of my books?”

He considered her proposal. “Might I call again?” he asked.

“Of course,” she said. “We’re neighbors.”

He stood up, thanking her for the tea. He went to the door. “At the risk of sounding forward, might I call in tomorrow for tea?”

She blushed. Later, he came to think of it as the first thing he learned about her. She blushed when she was pleased. When she was embarrassed, she went ashen.

Amanda met his eyes, so like the eyes of the man in her dream it made her skin prickle. “I would like that very much,” she said. She came close to dropping a curtsy, but stopped herself just in time.

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