Caroline drives west to choose a slave, but was she wise to trust slavers like Frank and Felicia?
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Part 1
The plush Maybach Limousine purred quietly along the narrow streets amid the terraced houses and Chapels on its way up the narrow valley while from the back seat Caroline gazed wearily through the rain lashed windows peering at the depressing scene of industrial dereliction while silently cursing the Friday afternoon traffic which had so delayed their trip from London.
Caroline accepted the need travel in Felicia's Maybach, and the need for secrecy and for absolute confidentiality which meant that she could hardly punch Felica's address into her VW Golf's sat nav and drive there herself, but she was seriously concerned that she was already two hours late for her appointment with Felicia.
Caroline had initially booked into the Queens Hotel as agreed with in advance and she immediately rang for Felicia's chauffeur to collect her, "I'm so sorry," she apologised, "The traffic on the M4,"
The Maybach was in fact waiting barely fifty yards away, "Yes Madam, My Mistress, is well aware of the traffic situation, Madam, My Mistress travels from the metropolis in the Agusta on Fridays Madam." the Chauffeur explained as Caroline made her excuses.
Caroline surmised an Agusta was some kind of flying machine, "Oh! have you eaten, only there must be a Burger King somewhere around here," she exclaimed.
"Perhaps I should return you to the Queens if you would like to eat Madam?" he replied.
"Oh, no I was thinking about you," Caroline explained.
"One can hardly park a Maybach at Burger King Madam!" he replied ending the conversation abruptly.
They headed north and west relentlessly at the thirty seven mile per hour top speed of the typical Welsh Nissan Micra which they were compelled to follow for mile on mile until the narrow valleys gave way first to open hill sides and then to high moorland, where as the Chauffeur flicked a switch the windows first went dark and then opaque.
"My Mistress's instructions Madam," the Chauffeur announced as the privacy curtain slipped silently across blocking Caroline's view completely, "I'm afraid I am instructed to darken the windows, but be assured it's not far now Madam."
The pace increased briefly, swooping past the dawdling Nissan, then as the road opened out inexorably accelerating until as they hurtled around the smooth swooping curves of the road towards Brecon, Caroline lost all idea of how far they had travelled as Partridge the Chauffeur briefly enjoyed the full power of the mighty V12 Mercedes engine, then their speed diminished once again as they turned onto a minor road where they twisted and turned, before they crunched along a gravelled driveway and climbed steeply once more.
There was a hollow rattle as they passed over a bridge and then the Maybach glided to a halt within a high walled courtyard.
Caroline reached for the door handle but found Partridge had already opened the door for her and as she stepped awkwardly from the Limousine she saw Felicia coming down a flight of stone stems from an ornate colonnaded entrance to greet her.
"Caroline, how delightful!" Felicia cooed seductively.
"I'm so sorry, it was the traffic, the Severn Bridge, was impossible" Caroline explained.
"I'm afraid we've eaten already," Felicia apologised, "but I'm sure Cook can send something to your room, please, come in."
The building was intriguing, from the Courtyard it appeared to be a medieval castle, but was of much later construction and Caroline struggled to make out its form in the fading twilight of dusk, but as she entered through the huge oak doors the scene was pure Victoriana, all terracotta tiles, chandeliers, polished oak and mahogany.
"Sarah" Felicia spoke softly but firmly and a pleasant young woman in a black dress and white apron appeared, her blonde hair pinned up neatly, her flat shoes eminently sensible, "Take Miss Bradley to the Green Room would you please, and then ask cook for a tray, I suggest the smoked salmon, you're not vegetarian are you?"
"Oh no!" Caroline smiled, "Thank you smoked salmon would be lovely."
Caroline followed Sarah up the wide elegant staircase which curved around the left side of the impressive three storey high clerestoried entrance hall towards the guest bedrooms as Partridge followed with her cases, "I'll get your tray Madam, is there anything else Madam?" Sarah asked politely.
"No, thank you," Sarah replied and then asked, "Is there a TV?"
Partridge spoke as Sarah stuttered in confusion. "The television is behind the mirror Madam, the control is beside the bed, will that be all Madam?"
"Yes, thank you." Caroline replied as she looked around her room, it was huge, like a suite at a top hotel tastefully furnished in pastel shades, with not just a Queen size bed but easy chairs, a couch, a table and as she soon found an adjoining en suite bathroom with a full size bath.
Caroline had barely started to unpack when Sarah brought her tray, "I didn't offer you the wine list Madam, do you have a preference? I'm afraid I only brought our local bottled spring water."
"Water will be fine," Caroline smiled at Sarah "Thank you!"
Sarah bowed slightly and went downstairs.
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"What do you think Sarah?" Felicia asked as Sarah joined her and the Chauffeur in the kitchen.
"Hopeless, absolutely hopeless," Sarah replied.
"Frank?" Felicia asked.
"Totally hopeless, she was all apologies, even tried to help with the luggage." Partridge replied, What did you think dear,? I mean Felicia."
"You better stick with Madam, Frank." Felicia agreed, lapsing into her welsh lilt, "I agree she's hopeless, shall we send her home?"
"She's quite well rounded, not too big, nice hair, pleasant face, not too old, unattached," Sarah suggested.
"What are you suggesting?" Frank asked, "She just looks like a nice ordinary girl to me."
"It could be subliminal," Felicia considered, "shall we proceed anyway?"
"Yes, we've got the girls booked, so why not." Frank agreed.
The girls were playing scrabble in the cellar behind the kitchen, "I think we'll need you around Ten," Felicia announced, "have you got your costumes sorted out?"
"Yes, Madam, Myfanwy is playing Mistress tonight Madam," Bronwyn said, "She said I hit her too hard last Thursday."
"I've still got the marks!" Myfanwy agreed, "It's just till tomorrow is it?"
"Oh yes, just one night." Felicia agreed, "Have you had supper?"
They nodded and returned to the game.
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Caroline brought her own tray downstairs almost catching Felicia and Frank in earnest discussion as she walked into the kitchen, "Caroline dear, use the bell please!" Felicia said earnestly, "That's a servant's job!" she scowled disapprovingly, "But now you're here shall we see the girls?"
