Masters And Lovers 1-4 novel Chapter 74

*****

Later I find him at his desk, holding a picture frame. Georgie’s face looks out, a little blurry at the edges from where I think he must have blown up the photo to fit. Edging a hip over a corner of the desk, I look at the face of my Master’s daughter.

“Are you alright?”

“Just remembering,” he says.

“Where is she now?”

“I don’t know. I’ve not seen her in a long time. She was working towards a PhD around the time I met you, but that’s the last I heard from her.”

“You miss her.” It’s not a question.

“Yes, I miss her.”

“And her mother? Your ex-wife.”

He snorts. “No, I don’t miss Marlene. That’s good riddance as far as I’m concerned.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

His eyes rise to mine and his head tilts. “How could you possibly help on this, Charlotte? When a child turns from you, how could she be turned back?”

His eyes droop, his sadness so palpable….

Dropping to my knees, I place my hand on his. “Master, you gave me everything. I want to give you everything.”

“I don’t think you can give me this, Charlotte.”

*****

James

Ben is getting on my nerves.

It’s all very well that he is Michael’s brother and it’s good of him to offer so much help with the work in the grounds, but his eyes follow me. He stays for a couple of days at a time, usually over the weekend. I’m uncomfortable in my own home.

Heading out of the house to go to work, Charlotte, as ever, walks like queen of the world. I am slightly behind her, my hand in the small of her back.

“Hi, Champ.” Ben nods and smiles. His smile withers when he sees me. “James.”

“Ben.” He scowls, but I make no move to take my hand from Charlotte….

…. That would look like guilty behaviour.

Instead, I simply step to one side and open the door ahead of her, breaking my touch on her in a more natural manner

I'll be glad when that bastard goes back home….

*Warning bells ring*

But I want to be courteous. I settle for prevarication.

“Oh, we just ran into each other one night at a bar we were both hanging out at. I was in town on business. We got talking and... Well, you know how it is. We hit it off.”

He nods and takes a suck of the beer.

Then another.

“So, you met Charlotte first?”

Christ….

“That's right.”

Another suck on the beer, then, “And it was what.... Some kind of older-guy-young-girl thing?”

I don't reply.

He keeps talking. “I'd have thought you’d both have it out of your system by now. She's married for God's sake. And to my brother. Anyone would think you were trying to sabotage their marriage. Or steal his wife.”

My temper snaps. “I’m doing no such fucking thing, Ben. He’s my closest friend and I want their marriage to be a successful and happy one. And for the record, I am not trying to steal anything from Michael and neither of us needs your interference.

His face hardens, and our brief camaraderie has gone.