I was an idiot and, worse, I was a slut.

Ronnie’s words flashed through my mind suddenly; Don’t do anything you might regret.

Suddenly, they took on a whole new meaning.

I pushed the guys’ hands off me and pulled my straps back up over my arms. Pulling up my panties and smoothing my skirt down, I pushed past them all. I stalked out of the room, ignoring their cries of protest and blinking back the tears that were already springing from my eyes.

    Forty

Him

She’d appeared to be enjoying it. She’d even stripped for them, instead of them having to take the lead. I wasn’t sure how they’d done it. Usually they had to use some sort of coercion, or resort to doing it themselves. I’d kept the sound switched off – I couldn’t bear to listen – but I couldn’t help but watch, even as it killed a tiny part of my soul with every further development.

And yet – I wasn’t sure if she was enjoying it as much as she’d expected. For the most part, her expression had been tense and fixed, staring past the guys, rather than at them. I didn’t know what to make of it. If she wasn’t enjoying it, why had she stripped so willingly?

Just as I thought the party proper was about to begin, she caught sight of me and, within seconds, she was dressed again and out the room. I heard it shut with a bang behind her and by the time her running footsteps reached my office, I had the door open, waiting for her.

She burst in, sobbing, and threw herself at my chest. Alex was just behind her, standing there, aghast.

‘You didn’t tell me she was submissive, Sir,’ he said. ‘I thought she wanted to. She did it without a murmur.’

‘It’s okay, Alex,’ I said. ‘Tell the boys they can go.’

‘They’ll be disappointed, Sir.’ Alex hovered by the door, glancing at Grace hopefully.

I glared at him. ‘Fucking good,’ I said. ‘Look, there’s been a mistake. This was all a mistake.’

She was sobbing quietly into my chest but, as soon at the door closed, she pulled away, fury in her eyes.

‘Is this what you do?’ she hissed. ‘Seduce girls into falling in love with you, so they’ll do anything to please you?’

I stepped back. ‘Now, wait a minute,’ I said, and then it hit me. ‘Falling in love?’ I said, taking a step towards her. ‘Oh, Grace.’

‘Don’t touch me,’ she snarled. ‘I don’t need your pity. You had a wife all along. God knows how she puts up with you.’

The door opened, and Ronnie sauntered in. She’d been quiet in her office all evening, and I’d forgotten our intercom was on.

‘I’m divorcing him,’ she said smoothly, and ran her hand down Grace’s cheek, brushing away some of the angry tears. ‘And, for what it’s worth, you did the right thing. He’s a stickler for loyalty.’

She shot me a fond smile.

‘Look, I’ll take her home,’ I said. ‘Sorry, Ronnie – I didn’t realise.’

‘It’s fine, Nat, really.’ Ronnie ran her hand down Grace’s hair, and smiled at me fondly. ‘She’s not going anywhere tonight, not like that. Take her to your quarters.’

I took Grace’s elbow and steered her, still sobbing quietly, towards the door.

‘And Nat,’ Ronnie said, as we walked out the door. ‘She really does look very like Aimee, doesn’t she?’

    Forty One

Her

He led me back to the entrance hall, and up one of the sweeping, stone staircases. At the top, he guided me right, into a corridor and through a panelled door into a living room. It had the same high ceilings as the rest of the place, with an open fire and Edwardian furnishings. I looked about me, taking in only the most obvious details. I was too overwrought to focus properly.

He closed the door and came up behind me, putting his hands on my waist.

‘Did you mean it?’ he said. ‘When you said you’d fallen in love with me?’

He turned me round, gently, to face him.

‘I…I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Yes…no…maybe…’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Yes, no, maybe? Hmm. And you moan about me being vague with my answers.’

‘I don’t,’ I said, with a sniff, then remembered Leadenhall Market. ‘Oh, right, yes, I suppose I do.’

‘So which is it?’ He pulled me in closer. ‘I don’t do maybes.’

I looked up into his enchanting blue eyes, their lashes so dark and thick, and sighed. ‘Yes, I suppose.’

‘I suppose.’ He pulled me into him and kissed the top of my head. ‘Jeez, I’m getting all the love tonight.’

The warmth of his arms around me, and the hard planes of his chest against my cheek, made me catch my breath. ‘There’s no suppose about it,’ I said, reluctantly. ‘As well you know.’

He pulled back from me and smiled, looking relieved. ‘I know no such thing,’ he said. ‘If I did, I wouldn’t have needed to ask.’

He led me over to the couch and sat me down. ‘To be honest,’ he said. ‘I didn’t think you were interested. God knows, I tried…’

I looked up at him, disbelievingly. ‘How could you not have known? I thought you hated me.’

‘Hated you?’ He looked shocked. ‘How could you think…I’ve done my best to look out for you. I’ve had your back, even when you didn’t know it.’

I nodded. This much was true.

‘But,’ I felt my cheeks start to redden. ‘You didn’t try to stop me…tonight…in there.’ I shuddered as I said it.

‘Let me get you a drink,’ he said. ‘And I’ll explain.’

He went over to a cabinet. It was full of bottles of wine and, as he sorted through, I gazed around the room. It wasn’t just elegant, it was opulent, with beautiful cornicing and sage green flock wallpaper. It suited the Castle, but I wasn’t sure it suited him.

‘Is this where you live, then?’ I said, getting up and walking around. There were photos of him on the mantelpiece. I guessed they were of his student days, because they were mainly of sporting teams; rowers, rugby players, cricketers.

‘No.’ He poured the wine. ‘I seldom come here, but they keep it ready for me. I live in the City.’

‘And who’s this?’ I said, indicating a small photo, in a simple frame, which took pride of place in the centre of all the others.

‘Just an old friend,’ he said. He’d got out a bottle of whiskey, and was pouring himself a glass.

‘She’s beautiful.’ I couldn’t help a pang of jealousy.

‘She’s very like you, as a matter of fact,’ he said, coming up behind me. He put my wine into my hand, and let his hand drop to my hip. ‘She’s not…around anymore.’

‘Dead?’

He nodded, and raised his glass. ‘To Aimee,’ he said. ‘For whom I do all the things I do.’

On that cryptic note, he steered me back over to the sofa.

‘Sit down, Miss Anderton,’ he said.

I sat down on the sofa.

‘Stand up.’

‘Is this some sort of game?’ I said, as I got, once again, to my feet.

‘Not exactly,’ he said, regarding me with a certain degree of amusement.’Now sit down.’

I sat down again. ‘Does this serve any purpose?’

‘Yes, very much so,’ he said, sitting on the arm of the sofa. ‘It makes me think Alex may have been right in his assessment of you.’

‘Which was what, exactly?’ I couldn’t remember what he’d said. I’d been almost hysterical when I’d left the playroom.

‘That you’re submissive,’ he said and looked down at me, amused. ‘Didn’t you know?’

‘I’m no such thing.’ I took a sip of wine and glared at him.

‘Spirited,’ he said, with a smile. ‘But you do asyou’re told, which is often a sign. Stand up.’

‘I won’t.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘A challenge,’ he said. ‘I like it.’

‘It’s not funny,’ I said. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Stand up, Miss Anderton.’

I stood up and then, when I realised what I’d done, I went to sit down again.

‘No,’ he said, and I stopped in my tracks. He looked up at me, amused again. ‘Now I’m giving you permission, you may sit down.’