Masters And Lovers 1-4
Chapter 48
“Why don’t we head for the hot-tub… well warm-tub, Charlotte being in the condition she is…” says James, giving her a wink. “I put the wine on ice out there and we can talk in comfort.”
In the tub, I find myself flanked to one side by Charlotte, then James; to the other side by Beth then Richard. James pours cava for me and Richard. Charlotte pours for herself from a bottle of elderflower fizz then offers it to Beth.
Charlotte twists around, touches my lips then runs the finger through my hair before pressing her mouth to mine. “It’s good to see you smiling again.”
“I’m sorry. I… abandoned you. It felt as though all the lights had gone out. As though I were in the dark.”
She kisses me again, her expression intense. “You didn’t abandon me. You would never do that. And the sun is here now.”
“Feeling good, Michael?” says Richard.
“God, yes.” I brush a knuckle over Charlotte’s cheek then turn to face the red-haired beauty on my other side. “Beth, thank you.” I kiss her cheek. “And Richard, thank you too, for er… loaning me your wife…”
James turns away, as though hiding a smile and Richard’s lips pucker. “Interesting that you should choose to phrase it like that, Michael. In fact, that brings us to something I want to talk to you about.”
“Oh? What’s that then?”
James reaches across, topping up my wineglass. “Richard?”
“Yes, thank you.” Richard takes a mouthful of wine then, “Michael, you spoke of my loaning Elizabeth to you. How would you feel about it being a more permanent arrangement?”
The cava blows bubbles up the back of my nose and I splutter. “Sorry? Come again?”
“Within the bounds of our group of five, you and Elizabeth have been occasional lovers, with my blessing of course. Just as you and James have allowed Charlotte and me to enjoy each other.”
Where the hell’s this going?
“Yes… So…?”
“So…” Richard pauses, sips his wine again. “Let me start at the beginning. As I understand it, when you, James and Charlotte set up your Triad, it was at least partly because of the age difference between the two of them. He knew that he would age sooner than her and that Charlotte would outlive him, probably by many decades.”
“That’s right, yes.”
“Also, James felt that in his later years, as he grew older, perhaps as his health failed, it would not be fair on Charlotte, while she was still in the prime of life, to be limited by marriage to a much older man.” He glances down, in the direction of Charlotte’s belly. “Let alone to any children there might be.”
“Yes, that’s true too. But…”
Richard leans back, stretching his arms along the edges of the tub. “And so, you reached an arrangement between yourselves; a very practical arrangement. James and his closest friend shared the woman they both loved, in your different ways. Charlotte has both the men she loves. And as James grows older, you will be there to protect her, to love her, to be her husband.”
this is true,
of an age. Charlotte is only a few years younger than
this is headed. “Richard,
you enjoy each other’s company out there in Real
knock back the contents of my glass. James refills it. “Richard, are you offering Beth to
if you want
scale of what Richard is suggesting, Beth looks up into my face, her fingers, warm and slippery, winding into mine.
swing to Charlotte. “You
did. You think Richard
alright
Why shouldn’t you be
Why indeed?
James?
I thought James was going
“You knew too?”
a smile. “I
“And you… approve?”
think it’s an excellent idea. And
and Beth are important to each other. Close to being sisters. And they’re both comfortable with the idea,
WTF?
never
know you haven’t. But you always enjoyed women. This way you get to have your cake and eat it.” He taps off another finger. “Thirdly, it enlarges the family and brings in more resources for the raising and protection of the children. Richard’s assets are considerable and I for one am happy having them brought to bear for the
on…” I interrupt. “Children? Plural?
was that you would… ah… Get the Next One… was I think the phrase she used.” He takes a swallow of wine. “And besides…”
takes his prompt. “And besides… Charlotte isn’t the only one with an extra passenger
one rattles around my skull for a
yes. I’m just a few weeks behind Charlotte. Our babies can grow
“When Charlotte announced her pregnancy, Elizabeth more or less
on your husbandly duties?”
course, happy to do so.” His
I’m trying to think how this would work. Richard, you’re a public
official spouse. In public, James presents himself as a ‘friend of
really comfortable
grow older? After I die? This way, I know