Masters And Lovers 1-4

Charity dinner night and the four of us make our way to the table, Elizabeth on Richard’s arm, Charlotte on mine. Like Richard, I detest these events, but these days it’s expected of me and at least this evening I have some entertaining company.

But Charlotte looks glum, muttering under her breath.

“What’s bothering you? I thought you wanted to come?”

“I feel like the ugly duckling.”

?

?

I look down at my Jade, exquisite in a plain black dress, cut to her figure and stopping just short of the knee. “Why Charlotte?”

She gestures around the room. “Look at them all, in their dresses and jewellery and.…”

*Sigh*

“Charlotte, look at the other women in this room. They may all have designer dresses and jewellery and bags and shoes. You could have all of that too if it meant a damn thing to you. But it doesn't, and I don't insist, because if you were wearing a sack, you would still outshine every other woman here.”

She rolls eyes at me but looks a little reassured.

Richard harrumphs and I smile to Beth. “Present company excluded of course.” But there’s a twinkle in Richard’s eye.

I turn back to Charlotte. “Besides which, I’m sure you know as well as I do, the ending to the story of the Ugly Duckling.”

I wink at her, and she smiles.

*****

At the large circular table, I have Elizabeth to one side, Mayor Vandervoort to the other. My elegant wife makes a manful effort to smile as she exchanges chit-chat with his wife, Veronica, a couple of seats along. She’s doing a great job. I know she loathes the woman, an overly-made-up blond who nurses the illusion that traffic-stop-red suits her complexion. If you stepped in her personality, you wouldn’t wet your feet.

Beyond her are my old friend, Will Stanton, the Police Commissioner and his wife. Across from us are some of the local Councillors and minor politicians with their assorted females. And finally, there is James, and beside him, looking petrified, is Charlotte.

Completely out of her depth….

…. and her comfort zone….

But the practice is good for her….

When I get her on my Board in a few years’ time, she’ll need to be to grips with this….

However, regardless of the quality of some of the company we are keeping, the food is very good and Charlotte, finally raising a smile, tucks in. Her eyes, I notice, follow Elizabeth as the hors d'oeuvres are served. Her hands hover over the cutlery, before, following Elizabeth, she picks up the tiny rounds of toast and pate in her fingers.

I keep watching, surreptitiously of course.

The soup, a Vichyssoise, is delicious, and after a doubtful moment, while she sniffs then tastes, true to form, Charlotte spoons it up with relish, right to the last drop. Her dish emptied, she tears a chunk from a roll, swiping around her plate, then gulping the bread down in large economical bites as she polishes away the last smear of soup.

After a moment the conversation lulls and she glances up. Everyone is looking at her, watching the performance. Veronica wears a faint sneer.

Charlotte flushes, looking around at the assembly, and then to James who eye-points the remains of the roll in her hand. With a guilty look, she drops it on her side plate.

my own bowl. “…. That when we become wealthy, we shouldn’t lose sight of some of the core values that got us here. And one

is, after all, a charity dinner, isn’t it, for

out,

“Quite right.”

“Yes, just so.”

basket of rolls is empty and I

*****

becomes distracted, Veronica probing the detail of the

much it’s all

the things I know she was taught on that farm was that you don’t waste food. That it’s

bring her so she could

arches brows. “Really? Should I read something into

worried about the wedding reception, about knowing how

nods, chewing his food

In for a penny….

run by you.” I glance across to check Charlotte’s attention is elsewhere. It

in her hands,

Good practice….

“Go on,” says James.

mentioned to me some while ago that you’d caught her hacking

Along with whatever else caught

any attempt to stop

said you were happy for

assume that she’s probably continuing along those

long pause, he says, “I don’t know. I

necessarily. That’s not

scratches his

had more training, what do you think of the idea of Charlotte as Head of

glances around. “Sorry, folks. Clumsy of

don't like the

that.” He ponders. “In fact, as I think on

the kind of devious mind and the sheer tenacity that a job like that needs.

be suspicious

“Exactly.”

the thought over. “She wanted to be

I don't see why they

then back at me. “No, they wouldn’t conflict at all. One set of skills would boost the

“You're her Dom.”

keep this on the table for the long-term and meanwhile, I

if she's permitted to pursue the interest, you'll

He huffs. “True.”

*****

fish course is

is the fish knife?” she hisses. “I thought

down at

Oh, God….

They’re serving oysters….