Alex froze in her tracks as she came to a halt. The voice shook her a bit. It was a male voice.
"What else had he heard?", she thought, as she turned to face him.
"I sincerely hope I didn't startle you?", he asked innocently. It was Old man Bennet, the chief groundskeeper and she could tell he didn't intentionally mean to startle her like he did. He was still wearing his gardening clothes, as he was working close to the mansion trimming the bushes.
"Just a little, I am sorry I didn't see you when I walked past just now", she said, laughing anxiously and apologising to him.
"No no, you don't need to apologise, I startled you and I should be the one apologising to you instead. I honestly didn't mean to", he apologised remorsefully.
"No, I insist I should be the one to apologise to you
