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Chapter 203: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 23, Richard's Gift
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Charlotte's Search Chapter 1: Her Master's Wedding, Part 1, The Dream
JAMESPain....Blinding, shrieking, unholy agony....Screaming....My Jade-Eyes screaming....Blood....Pain....Screaming.My Jade, weeping....With a gasp, I rear up, blinking into darkness.A nightmare....Just a nightmare....Beside me in the bed, my flame-haired mermaid, safe and sound, sleeps peacefully. Beyond her: Michael, his chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep.Everything is fine. Everything is perfectly normal.But I'm drenched in sweat, my heart hammers behind my ribs and my breathing snatches. The wound in my thigh throbs a slow, heated beat.And for the first time, the memory surfaces, how I took the wound. Corby, his gun trained on Charlotte. Michael, flinging himself bodily at the gunman in a desperate bid to prevent the shot. And looking for refuge, finding none, I seize her, shielding her with my body....Pain....Shrieking unbearable agony......... And a fall into darkness....Christ!I check the time; it
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 2: Her Master's Wedding, Part 2, The Best Man's Speech
JAMESI slam my pen down on the desk.Fuck!I'm educated, intelligent and usually articulate. I have no difficulties expressing my thoughts.So, how difficult can it be to write a five-minute Best Man's Speech?I rose early, wanting a little peace and quiet so I could get on with the most classic of a Best Man's duties. I'd assumed it would be easy and I would run the job off in twenty or thirty minutes.An hour later, the paper in front of me remains stubbornly blank.And my eyes ache.Surely I don't need another eye test?It goes with middle-age I suppose....There's no upside to getting older....I need coffee....Leaning back against the counter, sipping at my drink, my mind wanders, travelling back in time to my first marriage....No....My marriage....For this wedding, it's Michael who is marrying her.But it doesn't feel like that.It feels like my wedding too.And I'll get it right this time....This is my true marriage.Even though it w
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 3: Her Master's Wedding, Part 3, Klempner
KLEMPNERSutcliffe pokes his head around the door. "You have visitors, Mr Klempner." I jolt to attention. "Who? Is it her?""No sir, it's two men. The blond one who came with her last time, and another one.""Dark-haired? Looks a bad bastard?""That sounds like him, yes, sir."From outside my cell comes another voice, brusque; Hartland. "Sutcliffe, get on with it. Larry, move yourself. We don't have all day."Sutcliffe rolls eyes, offering me a look of mute apology, then, "Yes, Mr Hartland. We're coming now."In corridors of concrete and steel, sour with the stink of disinfectant and sweat, Sutcliff walks behind me, as per the rules. I speak in a low voice. "You remember what I asked you to do?""Yes, sir. Leave it with me."*****MICHAELKlempner ambles in as though he'd been invited to a tea party. His eyes pass over me, already seated, instead sliding across to James who stands, arms folded, lids hooded, silent.Klempner sits, the screen separating us. "On
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 4: Her Master's Wedding, Part 4, Uncle Albert's Funeral
BETHThe car crunches onto the drive, pulling up by the front porch. Ross jumps out then walks around the car to open my door. "Will there be anything else, Mrs Haswell?""No, that's fine thank you, Ross. You go home. It's been a long day."Inside, Richard is waiting. "Elizabeth, it's good to see you." He kisses my cheek, takes my coat and offers me the armchair near the fire. "How did it go?"I feel sad. Not upset, but sad. The old uncle I knew as a girl had long since vanished into a haze of confusion and bitterness. His time had come....No, not upset, but yes, sad."Oh, you know funerals. Everyone was there, whether they really knew him or not. All exchanging family chit-chat and nonsense over canapés. No-one was really close to him anymore, not even David and Stephen.""David and Stephen?""Uncle Albert's two sons. He'd pretty much stopped talking to them over the years. I think they were just going through the motions today."Richard perches on the chair arm nex
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 5: Her Master's Wedding, Part 5, The Charity Dinner
Charlotte's attention becomes distracted, Veronica probing the detail of the wedding; outfits, choice of church, how many bridesmaids, dresses....How much it's all costing....James leans close, speaking in a low voice. "Thanks for that. Charlotte would have been mortified. One of the things I know she was taught on that farm was that you don't waste food. That it's bad-mannered not to clear your plate. Between that and starving as a kid, she never...."I brush it off. "Forget it. I asked you to bring her so she could get used to this kind of thing."He arches brows. "Really? Should I read something into that?"I prevaricate. "She was worried about the wedding reception, about knowing how to behave at a formal occasion. This is good practice for her."He nods, chewing his food thoughtfully.In for a penny...."As a matter of fact, there's something else I wanted to run by you." I glance across to check Charlotte's attention is elsewhere. It is. She's listening politely
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 6: Her Master's Wedding, Part 6, Michael's Help
BETHAs I step out of the elevator and into the reception area, Michael is there. Hands behind his head, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles, he sits staring into space, humming tunelessly."Waiting for someone?"His eyes flick to me. "Hi, Beth," he smiles. "Yeah, Charlotte's running late." He stands, reaching for the box I'm carrying. "Here let me take that for you.""Thanks." Gratefully, I pass it to him, then shake the blood back into my aching hands before brushing myself down of dust and cobwebs."Heavy," he comments, lifting it with no apparent effort. "Where do you want it?""In the conference room, please. Just put it down in the corner."Michael deposits the box, gritty with the dirt of years, on the expensive carpet of my husband's meeting room, then swipes hands together with the logic that argues you can clean off one against the other. "Any more like that?""I have a carload of the stuff and more where that came from. But don't bother. Ross is brin
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 7: Her Master's Wedding, Part 7, A Bar And A Beer
RICHARD"How about the bar and a beer?""A beer?""I really appreciate the help you've been giving Elizabeth with those old papers of Albert's. The least I can do is buy you a drink.""Thank you, Richard. That's a great idea.""This round's on me."*****"So, are you finding anything of interest in that appalling pile of garbage from Elizabeth's old uncle?"Michael muses into his glass. "Depends what you're looking for I suppose, but it's actually quite interesting, seeing someone else's life like this. Once you get past thirty-year-old bus tickets, you find the things that really tell you something.""Like what?""Did you know he was a bankrupt?""Was he now..."Wonder if Elizabeth knew that....".... That could explain a lot. What little I saw of him was mainly complaints that things weren't as they should be, and everything was better in his day.""Mind you...." Michael gulp at his beer. ".... he must have recovered from it. At least enough to have owned
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Charlotte's Search Chapter 8: Her Master's Wedding, Part 8, The Day Before the Wedding
JAMESWe're blessed with glorious weather and a good forecast for tomorrow. A May Wedding....Perfect....Michael is somewhere in the bowels of the hotel finalising the reception arrangements....Handy having our own venue....Sitting on grassy slopes, stretching out my bad leg and letting the heat of the sun work its magic, I take time out to wallow in the glow of success....Almost there....Something rustles behind me. Michael, bearing two steaming mugs, his footsteps muffled by springy turf. Even before he speaks, the breeze carries the scent to my nose."Coffee?" he offers, holding out a mug."Ah, great. Thanks." As I twist a little to take the mug, the wound in my thigh growls a quiet message to me. I wince.Michael sits by me. "That thing giving you gyp?""Mmm. A bit.""The doctors said it would take several months to heal properly.""Oh, it is healing. It's better all the time. But I've a feeling I'm going to have a weather-wise ache for the rest of
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 203: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 23, Richard's Gift
A sound... Charlotte clearing her throat. "Ummm...""Yes, Charlotte." Richard swings around. "I believe that makes it your turn. James... Together or separately?""You're the guest, Richard. You choose.""In that case, I think together. Heads or tails?""Oh, tails I think, if that suits you?""Absolutely."As I withdraw from Beth, tucking away my subsiding erection, I help her upright.Richard and James both stand, side by side, towering over Charlotte. I back away from the action, giving them space, but take Beth with me, pulling her down onto my lap as I sit, nuzzling into her neck. "Thank you. You have no idea how much..."She twists back, kisses me on the mouth. "I think I did know."James and Richard are both stripping off jackets, ties and shirts, kicking off shoes. "I think Charlotte's about to get it big time," she murmurs."I'd say so, yes."James drops to his knees, settles between her thighs.Richard unzips, releases himself, then stroking his erectio
Charlotte's Search Chapter 202: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 22, Kink
MICHAELheading south, I tug at the ties of the thong, pulling away about a square inch of satin as the flimsy thing falls away.Richard sucks in air. "So, James, where would you like me to start?""I'm sure you don't need instructions from me..." James drops eyes to Beth's smooth pubis. "... An old hand like you." His gaze shifts to Charlotte... "But I think we'll adjust the furniture a little." Rising, he takes a stand-mirror from the corner of the bedroom, moves it to the side of the bed, adjusts the angle, then stands back to gauge the results. He adjusts it a little, measures it by eye again and then nods. Charlotte has an excellent view of her own sex."Would you like her opened a little further, Richard? I imagine you'll want to reach everything easily.""Excellent idea, James. The knees wider I think, and we'll lift her hips."It's a game they play, the pair of them, torturing her with anticipation, but Charlotte's eyes tell a tale. The two Doms work as a team, J
Charlotte's Search Chapter 201: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 21, Michael
MICHAELI sit, staring at nothing, thinking about...... Nothing...Maybe I should get something to eat?My gut's griping. I've not eaten all day. Sally brought me one of her usual offerings for lunch; a plate-sized bacon and egg sandwich and a can of beer, but the smell turned my stomach.Scruffy ate well though along with Kirstie's tribe, running wild around the gardens in hairy, waggy, excitable enthusiasm.The pint-sized rag-tag lies by my feet. Occasionally he looks up at me, whining. I scratch his ear and he settles again.There's no sign of James and Charlotte other than James' tablet on his armchair and a book, marker inserted, on Charlotte's favourite spot on the settee. With no real interest, I look at the cover. 'A Song of Ice and Fire - A Dance with Dragons.'The scent of something is drifting in, James' cooking I assume. A part of me says it smells rich and savoury, winey and herby, but my gut recoils.Just a coffee maybe...I head for the kitchen, but
Charlotte's Search Chapter 200: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 20, Sandwich
MICHAELI don't much feel like breakfast, but for the sake of form, I join Mitch, James and Charlotte in the kitchen, downing a coffee, then pouring another.James is on his usual 'toast and coffee only' breakfast. Mitch works her way through yoghurt and muesli, eating tidily and sipping at a cup of peppermint tea.Charlotte's standing on tiptoe, rummaging at the top shelf of the store cupboard. James stands, walks across. "What are you looking for?""Pickled onions.""You don't like pickled onions.""I felt like one sliced up on my sandwich."I've already seen the other items laid out on the worktop for Charlotte's 'sandwich', along with the expression flitting across James' face as he saw them too.Hmmm...But he snakes up a long arm to the top shelf and takes down a jar.In some fascination we sit, watching Charlotte assemble a peanut butter, avocado and pickled onion sandwich, on crusty bread cut thick enough to use as a draught excluder. In a final flourish, sh
Charlotte's Search Chapter 199: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 19, Redemption
JAMESIt's a nice area. A pretty area. And it's a day for seeing it at its best.Yachts and pleasure boats float in bobbing ranks on sparkling water. Tourists walk by with ice creams, tossing coins to cross-legged artists sitting by pavement chalkings. Shops sell souvenirs, art and holiday wear.The apartment block is clean and well-maintained. The hallway as we approach the door smells of new carpet and fresh paint.Mitch stands outside the door, seeming to gather herself together, then taking a breath, she inserts the key, turns it, opens the door and we step inside.It's... lovely...Sunlight dances over walls painted in soft neutral colours. They complement the furnishings, made from some pale golden timber, perhaps beech."Can't fault his taste," comments Michael.Paintings dot the walls, abstract mainly, except for a single striking piece taking the centre of one wall; an image of ice and broken water in astonishing rainbow hues."Amazing painting," I say, looki
Charlotte's Search Chapter 198: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 18, The Package
RICHARDJames steps out of the elevator looking...What?Harassed?Worried?"James?"He looks to me then jerks his head towards his office. I follow him in. Silently, he offers me a small, padded envelope, still sealed. "This was waiting for me down in the lobby. Special delivery.""A packet?""Look at the addressee."I look, extract spectacles from my top pocket and look again.And the hair rises on the back of my neck.Michelle Kimberley, c/o James Alexanders."Klempner?""Who else could it be? Conners wouldn't know where to find her. Michelle's brothers would probably send it to her direct. So, who else?""James, before anyone opens that envelope, could it be a letter-bomb?"He blows out air, rubs his forehead. "I wouldn't have thought that was Klempner's style... If he wanted her, he come after her himself..." He paces the room. "And why would he send it through me?""You parted... amicably... from Klempner? After the shooting?"He huffs. "I'm not
Charlotte's Search Chapter 197: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 17, Remembrance
MICHAELJames interrupts my gardening. "You seen Charlotte?""She said she was going for a walk." I nod along the road. "She went that-a-way." I straighten up, pressing hands into my lower spine. "Actually, now I think about it, her tone was a bit odd.""You look as if you've done enough for a while. Want to take a break and stretch your legs?""Good idea. I'll just tell Chad we're going out."I find him inside, paint bucket in hand, slapping emulsion on a bedroom wall. "James and I are just going for a walk. I don't think we'll be long."He cocks an eye at me, his expression assessing. "You might like to know that Mr Kalkowski is buried nearby, in the churchyard.""He is? I thought...""He had no traceable family, so he stayed here. Some of the holier-than-thou churchy types tried to kick up a fuss about it, but Mrs Collier kicked up a bigger fuss and they found a space for him.""Gotcha."He moves to the window and points a long finger along the road; the same dir
Charlotte's Search Chapter 196: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 16, Charlie
MICHAELThe lawns might have been mown, but the shrubs and borders are heading for the sky. A quick exploration of a small back shed produces saw and secateurs, so I set to, getting the garden back under control."Hello."I turn to see a woman, standing by the garden gate. Wearing jeans and a shirt, her hair tied tightly back in a ponytail, she has a prim, pleasant face. "Hello, I'm Eleanor Collier. I've been keeping an eye on the house. I saw something was happening...?" I stand, wiping muck and sap off my hands and onto my pants, then stride forward to offer my hand. "Michael Summerford." My brain connects the dots. "Collier, was it? Charlo... Jennifer's foster mother?"Her face lights up. "That's right. You know Jenny? She's here?""I'm her husband. And yes, she's here." I yell towards the upstairs window. "Charlotte! Friend of yours here." I gesture to the gate. "You'd better come in."From above, a movement at the window, then a clatter down the stairs and Charlotte
Charlotte's Search Chapter 195: Her Enemy's Promise, Part 15, The Legacy
JAMESMichael...He's depressed...What can I do?Change of scene maybe?*****"Charlotte, I was thinking, we're about due for your road-trip."She pauses, half a sausage impaled on a fork midway to her mouth. "Road-trip, Master? What road-trip?""Have you forgotten that you were bequeathed a house? And everything in it. Perhaps it is time to make good your claim?"The half-a-sausage drops back to her plate. "Go back to the farm you mean? The last time I was there, they... they weren't very welcoming."Michael is listening, chewing on toast and marmalade, suddenly looking more animated than he has for days.Thank God..."Things have changed since then, haven't they," he says. "You've spoken with your friend Tom. He knows the truth of what happened. And of course, there's Chad."Still she stares at the sausage and the fried egg congealing by it. "I'm not sure..."I pour myself more coffee. "Even if all you decide to do is sell the house, you'll need to visit
