Chapter 92: Beth's Favour – James

"A favour that means I should speak to you, as Charlotte's Master, before I speak to anyone else about it."

"Beth, you've lost me." I scrape through my hair, then flap the hand upwards at her. "Now, please, if you have something to ask me, then sit, and tell me what it is you want."

Her smile puckers into dimples and she offers up her hand. Helping her to her feet, I gesture her to the other armchair. "So, give. What's on your mind?"

She relaxes back into the chair, tugging the wrap tightly around herself, all trace of submission gone. "James, let me preface the conversation with this. Some time ago, with my birthday coming up, Richard asked Charlotte's permission before he 'gave' me Michael as a birthday gift. He spoke to Michael himself next. I gathered afterwards that you weren't too pleased about it. As you saw it, being cut out of the loop."

Where the hell's this going?

"True enough. So?"