Helen of Troy; and Rose

In the tranquil lakeside setting of a former Italian palace turned hotel, Horace Lestrange spends his mornings tossing stones across the water, each leap a reminder of the love he lost ten years ago. Still haunted by the memory of his beautiful wife and the son she left behind, Horace has buried his grief in routine and the quiet counsel of an old friend, Bambridge. When the opportunity arises to reunite with his son’s devoted caretaker, Edith Walton, the prospect of a new, steady companionship begins to stir feelings he thought long dormant.

Edith, a dark‑haired, kind‑hearted woman who has tended the boy for eight years, meets Horace beneath an ancient ilex tree, surrounded by blooming camellias and roses that mirror the delicate tension between them. Their conversation flits between polite small talk and a deeper, unspoken yearning, hinting at the possibility of healing both heart and household. As the lake’s surface shimmers and the mountains retreat into mist, listeners are invited to follow Horace’s cautious step toward love, friendship, and the fragile promise of a second chance.