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Chapter 42: Her Lovers' Touch, Part 24, Man and Wife
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Charlotte's Search Chapter 43: Her Lovers' Touch, Part 25, Night Terrors
JAMESWe wave Richard and Beth off down the drive. Both still look half-asleep, but both also are wearing smiles.I think we can count that as a success...."I'm going for a soak in the bath," says Charlotte.Michael twinkles. "Want me to come and scrub your back?"Hasn't he ever had enough...?She grins and punches him on the shoulder. "Give me ten minutes first."I stretch and yawn.An easy day today methinks....Coffee....In the kitchen, pondering the evening's events, I stare out of the window to the bubble and pop from the stove-top and the rising fragrance of Arabica.There's a click behind me: Michael carefully closing the door behind him. He nods back behind himself. "She's headed for her bath," he says quietly."I daresay we'll see her again in a couple of hours and lightly poached."He huffs. "What is it with women and hot water?" Then he turns serious. "You okay now?""Yes, I'm good. It went well wouldn't you say?""I would indeed." He parks a
Charlotte's Search Chapter 44: Her Lovers' Touch, Part 26, Visitors
KLEMPNERThe cell is depressing. Not just the naked walls, the furniture bolted to the cement floor, the steel sink and toilet, but everything........ The constant daytime echo of footsteps on metal walkways, the murmur of my companions........ colleagues...?.... carrying through from the rest of the floor, Jackson's constant fucking snoring at night....Surely I can get my cellmate changed?Still, he'll be gone in a month........ And who do I get then?.... And the smell.... Disinfectant, sour sweat, stale tobacco, cabbage....My door eases open and the guard stands, not exactly to attention, but respectfully. For appearance's sake, I stand. "Mr Sutcliffe?""Mr Klempner, you have visitors."About fucking time...."Is it them?""Yes, sir. All three of them."Well, there's a first....So, the men kept their word........ Not that they gave their word...."Anything I should know?""Not sure, sir, if it's relevant, but they opened some kind of hotel
Charlotte's Search Chapter 45: Her Lovers' Touch, Part 27, Blessingmoors
KLEMPNERAlexanders hesitates, then, "You say she knew about Blessingmoors. Had she seen inside?""Yes. I wouldn't have hurt her. I just wanted her back.""Did she know about the cellars?" He leans forwards. "I've been in those cellars," he hisses. Jennifer jerks alert again, staring at him, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand. "They're enough to scare the shit out of anyone, let alone a young woman, alone in the world."I think back.Was she down in the cellars?I don't know...."What would you have done?" says Jennifer, "If she'd come looking?""I don't know. Taken her somewhere I suppose. Where we could be together."She cocks her head. "You mean, invited her to go with you? Or taken her?"When I don't reply, she continues, "You see, I think your idea of love is ownership. And my mother didn't want to be owned."Is that a fact?"I know what kind of relationship you have with him." I nod at Alexanders. His chin tilts up, eyes narrowing. "What's the differe
Charlotte's Search Chapter 46: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 1, Edward Haswell
RICHARDMichael appears at the door of the conference room, wandering into my office, musing over some document he holds. "Who was Edward Haswell?"James and I exchange startled glances. "Edward Haswell?" I say. "He was my father. Why would you ask?""Because according to this...." He holds up the document.... ".... forty years or so back, Beth's Uncle Albert was in business with one Edward Haswell." I stand without the intervention of my brain, all but snatching the yellowed paper from his hand. "Let me see that." A smile plays around his mouth. "It's news to you I take it?""Good God, yes. I'd no idea there was any link between Elizabeth's family and mine." I flip through the pages, speed-reading as I go. Francis and James are also both standing. Francis, in deference perhaps to her position as my PA, is trying not to seem too intrigued. James, with no such qualms, is simply leaning in, trying to look over my shoulder."It is the same Edward Haswell, I suppose?" he as
Charlotte's Search Chapter 47: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 2, Forty-Three Years Ago
"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr Haswell.""No problem, Mr Kimberley. I'm always happy to talk with someone who's had a new idea. Please...." The tall man gestures to a chair. "Do sit down. And it's Edward. May I call you Albert? Or is it Al?""It's Al. And yes, of course." He takes the seat offered, placing a file and a document tube on the desk.Edward clears his throat. "Would you mind if I bring in someone else to the meeting?"Al hesitates, looking nervous. "Er.... Who...?""No-one to worry about. Just my son. He's following me into the business and it will be good training for him to see how these things are done.""Of course. I'd like to meet him."Edward shouts through the door again. "Linda, can you ask Richie to join us."A minute or so later a boy appears at the door; maybe fifteen or sixteen, tall like his father, although with the usual teenage lankiness. He is dark-haired, is going to be handsome and has eyes unusually sharp in so young a face."Dad
Charlotte's Search Chapter 48: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 3, Albert Kimberley
JAMESRichard sits, the Heads of Terms document open on the table in front of him. Beth arrives and sits next to Charlotte, the two of them chattering excitedly."Yes, I remember him now," says Richard. "My father introduced me when they were setting up the deal. It was for the development of what later became the Imperial Hotel and the area all around there.""The Imperial?" Michael raises brows. "Where James had his apartment originally? And, isn't that where you first met Beth?""That's right." Elizabeth and I exchange grins at the memory of that first meeting and she grins wickedly. My cock stirs....Christ.... Not now...."Bit of a coincidence that, isn't it?"Elizabeth chimes in. "No, actually, it isn't a coincidence at all. I was working at the Imperial because Uncle Albert suggested I go there for a job. He almost insisted actually."Everyone's attention turns to her. "Go on," says Michael. "What did he say?""And when was this?" I add.Beth frowns. "It's so
Charlotte's Search Chapter 49: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 4, The Past Emerges
MICHAELCharlotte is white and starting to tremble. Eyes streaming, shaking violently, she drops her face into her hands.Christ........ She's going to collapse....James, his expression alarmed, is already rising, but I'm there before him, catching her before she falls.Supporting her as I guide her back down, I pull her back to cradle her on my lap. She's not usually a 'sitting on the knee' kind of girl, but by any measure, this is a special occasion."Shhh...." I kiss her hair, murmuring something to her. She's sobbing and crying into my chest.... "It's alright. It's alright."Richard, his face stricken, stands. "Charlotte, I....""Just emotional," I say. "Don't worry. She'll be fine in a minute."Richard nods, then walks to a cupboard, taking out a bottle of brandy. He splashes a measure into a glass passing it to me, then holds up the bottle, looking around the room."Good idea," says James. "One of those all round I think.""But, this can't be right," prote
Charlotte's Search Chapter 50: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 5, Forty-Two Years Ago
It's a nice house, a pretty house. Neat lawns to the front, edged by well-kept borders, lead to a pleasant avenue. To the rear is a large fenced area, the grass a little rough but short enough to kick a football around. A child's swing hanging from the branches of an old apple tree and a rug is laid out nearby with a child's tea-set arranged around the edges, each plastic cup and saucer next to a teddy bear, or a doll or a soft toy. A line stretches over the grass bearing sheets and pillow slips that billow and blow in the light breezeInside the house, it is equally pleasant. The walls are painted in a pale, fresh shade, dotted with prints and pictures, family photos, and here and there, framed displays of butterflies, dragonflies and beetles. Drapes flutter by windows opened to let in sun and air, carpets are clean, and surfaces wiped or dusted. By the front door, a collection of boots, shoes and trainers in various sizes is neatly stacked on a rack. In the utility, clothes tumble
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