Buying the Virgin
Chapter 53: The Girl Who Came Back - Chapter Nine
Michael reaches into the pocket of his robe and pulls something out: a small box. He does not try to give it to me. Instead, he opens it, showing me the contents: a ring. It is very beautiful: interwoven strands of gold in different shades, gleaming threads of yellow and white together.
My throat dry, I reach with a finger to touch the ring, stroking it in its silken cushion, but I do not take it.
“I’m not asking you for an answer now,” he says. “I’ll keep it for you. You can take your time. Think about it for as long as you want.” Then he takes me by the shoulders and kisses my forehead. “Really,” he says, “no pressure. But please think about it.”
Lost for words, I just stare at him. He begins to look upset. “Please tell me you will at least think about it.”
I nod. “Yes, I’ll think about it.”
*****
My Master pulls up outside and I rush out to meet him, Michael following in my wake.
“Master! How are you?”
“I’m good Charlotte. Glad to be back here again with you both.”
He hugs me and swings me around, kissing me soundly, but I notice his eyes lock briefly with Michael’s. Is it my imagination? Michael gives him the smallest of headshakes, all but invisible.
We go back inside, my Master’s arm around my waist from one side, Michael’s from the other.
“How was your trip?” asks Michael.
“Very successful: much more so than I expected.”
“They’ve extended your contract?”
“Better than that. I’ve been offered a directorship. Apparently, this first phase was a practice run for me, while they weighed me up. Haswell wants me to take charge of the project.”
“That’s great, James. I…. assume you accepted?”
“Oh yes.” My Master rubs his hands together. “Why would I not? All that hard work is paying off at last.”
“It sounds as though congratulations are in order then?”
“I think so, yes. Do we have any…? Ah, Charlotte. Thank you.”
glass of champagne, and another to
“Congratulations, Master.”
“Yes, congratulations, James.”
“Thank you both.”
*****
“I see that you have not accepted Michael’s offer.” His eyes slide sideways to the ring, braided white and yellow gold, gleaming, in its open box on the
expected my
wine, face expressionless, but holding me
I try to speak. My voice is small. “Don’t you want me anymore,
would you
are trying
stands frozen, then, for the first time since I have known
you off’? Onto my closest friend? A man who adores you? Who wants nothing more than
but he
you know that, no-one better… and, how could I walk away from you? I
who says you would have to?
feel as though I am confessing, but what
say?” My
that he would never try to
was
“No, but…”
hear it. Michael is one of the most trustworthy men I
voice is a little gentler, but still I detect the steel in
did Michael say? And what did you say? This
whisper the words, trying to speak through a throat tight and dry. I cannot meet my Master’s gaze, looking
never marry me. He said that he loves me. He offered
up my face to his. Listen to me. Michael is correct. I will not marry you, however I may feel about you. And I am too old for you. You are a young woman.
don’t care about that,
now, but you will in a few years’ time. Michael is much closer to your own age. And besides, I have been married before, in the past. It
you, that
hesitates. “She
would any woman leave
Master? What went
writ large.