From the window of his second story bedroom Richard gazed down at the asphalt paved circular driveway. The family limousine had just pulled up. It was raining. The chauffeur exited the vehicle, at the same time unfurling a large umbrella. He opened the rear door, and a woman stepped out under the hovering umbrella.
Richard could see the woman was dark haired and appeared otherwise unremarkable. He discerned she was mid-height and slender of figure. He watched as the chauffeur escorted her in the direction of the house. Richard's governess had cautioned him not to engage the woman in small talk. Suddenly, he was feeling alternating pangs of fear and excitement.
Richard heard the sound of the front door chime, then the door being opened, presumably by his governess. The house was otherwise empty of others, his parents overseas on vacation. Before he turned from the window he saw the chauffeur returning back to the limousine alone.
The boy, Richard, went over to his bed, sat down on the edge, and waited. Next came the sound of two pairs of footsteps ascending the circular stair. To him it seemed like an eternity before the door to his bedroom opened and his governess ushered the woman inside.
Immediately the woman began to assess the boy, her expression stoic. "I'm going to need to know his age," she said finally. And for the first time since she entered his room Richard became attuned to the sound of her voice.
"Richard has just turned eighteen," the governess replied for him.
"Still a boy," the woman mused. "That's good. Perfect." Her tone indicated she was pleased with what she had just learned.
Richard's curiosity compelled him to steal frequent glimpses of her. He turned to his governess and whispered something in her ear.
The governess then addressed the woman. "The boy would like to know your age."
The woman smiled. "Forty-one," she replied. Then as though she felt the impending situation required some kind of moral justification, she added, "I hope you don't think there's anything perverted about my wanting to be with a teenage boy. Really."
Upon hearing that, Richard was beside himself. Wow!
"You're not here to be judged," the governess said.