I followed her across the wide expanse of grass, and as we neared the far building, I could see that there was a low light coming from one of the windows. It was a barn, I could tell now, though since the Smythes had no livestock, I doubted it housed anything more than lawn-cutting equipment. As Judith reached the door, I stepped behind the shelter of a tree and watched. She tapped once, lightly, and it swung open. I could see a man step out, and I ducked my head behind the tree just as he craned his neck to look toward the house.

“Anybody see you?” he asked softly, and I recognized his voice almost instantly. I dared to take another glance to make sure, and I was right: It was Alan Bennet.

“No,” I heard Judith whisper, and then they both stepped back inside and pulled the door shut.

I hesitated, suddenly feeling the cold for the first time since slipping out of the pool. I was soaking wet, the towel around me was also soaked, and I was freezing! Still, I took a few running steps toward the barn, hoping I would be able to hear them.

What are the two of them doing out here? I wondered as I inched along the rough boards of the barn’s side. I finally found a gnarled hole that seemed to go all the way through to the inside. Pressing my ear against it, I could hear a low murmur. When I looked through the hole I realized that Judith Smythe and Alan Bennet held each other in a tight embrace, kissing. Near them was some sort of makeshift bed, and it didn’t take much imagination to figure out where things were going from here.

I stepped back from the barn wall, wondering how Alan had even gotten on the property. Peering around in the darkness, I could see that we weren’t that far from a quiet road that ran along the side of the estate. He must’ve parked there, among the trees.

Interesting, I thought to myself as I jogged back across the lawn, toward the pool. Though I would’ve liked to stick around and see if there was anything else on the agenda besides a lovers’ tryst in a barn, I didn’t exactly feel like waiting them out, damp and cold in the darkness. I gathered up my things, glad to see that my wet footprints leading from the pool had already nearly dried.

Back in my room, I was still shivering from the chill even though I had rinsed off in the shower, changed into a dry nightgown, and climbed under the covers. All the relaxation of my swim had been wiped away, my head filled with the image of their secret encounter, my mind racing with questions. Why the secrecy? Was Alan married? If so, why were they meeting in a filthy barn rather than in a nice hotel room somewhere? It wasn’t as though they couldn’t afford it!