Masters And Lovers 1-4

Chapter 13

We’re blessed with glorious weather and a good forecast for tomorrow.

A May Wedding….

Perfect….

Michael is somewhere in the bowels of the hotel finalising the reception arrangements….

Handy having our own venue….

Sitting on grassy slopes, stretching out my bad leg and letting the heat of the sun work its magic, I take time out to wallow in the glow of success….

Almost there….

Something rustles behind me. Michael, bearing two steaming mugs, his footsteps muffled by springy turf. Even before he speaks, the breeze carries the scent to my nose.

“Coffee?” he offers, holding out a mug.

“Ah, great. Thanks.” As I twist a little to take the mug, the wound in my thigh growls a quiet message to me. I wince.

Michael sits by me. “That thing giving you gyp?”

“Mmm. A bit.”

“The doctors said it would take several months to heal properly.”

“Oh, it is healing. It’s better all the time. But I’ve a feeling I’m going to have a weather-wise ache for the rest of my life.”

“Saves me buying a barometer I suppose.”

Smart-ass….

But I laugh. “I love you too…. How’s it going up there?”

He heaves as he speaks. “Oh, fine. Just getting everything in place for the Big Day.…”

Michael should be high as a kite. God knows that he wanted this enough, but….

“You okay?” I ask. “What’s wrong? For a man who’s getting married tomorrow, you look a little…. melancholy?”

He takes refuge in his coffee mug, looking away and taking a long swallow without speaking.

What the hell…?

There really is something wrong. “Come on. Out with it,” I insist. “What’s wrong? You’re not having second thoughts, are you…?”

God forbid….

After the time and effort it took me to make this happen….

“…. If you are, Now’s the time to say so….”

“No.... No,” His head shake is definite, but he continues, “Nothing like that….” His breathing shudders. He looks heartsick. “…. but I’m wondering if Charlotte is?”

Christ, no…. Not now….

But I try to keep my tone conversational. “Why do you say that? I’m sure she does want to marry you.”

hard. Blinking hard too. “James…. I’m not stupid. I know you persuaded her to do it, to marry me. If you’d asked her yourself, she’d not have

Whoa, Boy!

a finger wagging in the air. “Yes. You’re right. I did persuade her. That doesn’t mean it was against

the last few days. As though something’s bothering

at everyone

on her plate the

More than nerves, then…

pick

I swill back the dregs of my coffee and push the mug into his hand. “Thanks. I’ll go find her, see if I can get to the bottom of this. Where will you be? If I

back at the house. “Dining room. I’m getting all the

*****

some trouble to be sure she had a room to call her own and it’s a lovely space; light and airy, overlooking the

there’s not a bad view from the house, but she gazes down pastures verdant with Spring to the

moment for my own, to revel in her being

length, I shift. She hears the movement, turning and smiling

you like your

room. How could I not like

to arrive; a desk, seating, but priority was given to bookcases. Still, as

space for all

put some

last of the great

to me. As always, the

Down Boy….

is something in her, a tension not normally present when I hold her. But still, I steal a few more moments to indulge myself, and to try to relax her while I try to learn what is wrong, what is distressing her. Finger-combing her hair clear, I nuzzle and nibble at her neck from

relieve the pressure at my groin. But she slips her fingers into

as good a time as

“Are you happy, Charlotte?”

Master, I am. Very

“No regrets?”

cheek against mine. “None at all. I wouldn’t change a moment of it. Not even

Really?

the bit where I got shot?” But I keep the laughter in my voice, keep

chuckles. “Well, yes. I might change

pull back, framing her face with

eyes drop, then rise

“Mmmm?”

wanted to say…. thank

“Thank you? For what?”

“For…. for everything….”

Where’s this going…?

my life. Even to making me realise that

stress uncoiling. Whatever the issue

can deal with

Whatever it is….

marry him? I’m very aware that

I do want to

to

Talk to me….

It’s not going to change anything, is it? My being married to him?” Her voice

“What would change?”

of us. It will still be the

Ahhh……

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