Note: All characters are over 18, as indicated in this or the previous chapters
Deep Waters - Chapter 6
When I woke the next morning I found that my worries had resolved themselves into a decision. Further, I was determined to act on it regardless of what George Webster or even my beloved Izzy thought.
The problem that was troubling me was that George clearly expected his heir to drink the Deep Well waters and live a long life as the new master of this house. But that meant to me was that I would live on while Izzy aged and died. I knew in my heart that was something I could never accept. I would rather live a dozen years with my wife than a hundred without. Nor did it matter how many women I slept with under the influence of this place, I knew I would only ever love one. The very thought of losing Izzy was like a dagger to my heart.
So I had made my decision. I would tell George that I refused his offer and he could find go and find himself another heir unless he agreed to my sharing the gift of the Deep Well waters with Izzy. I had no idea what the effect of us having a half dose each would be and I suspected George wouldn't know either, given it had never been done before. It could be that that the dilution of the dose would mean we both simply grew old and died naturally, but then that was what I had signed up for when I married Izzy and I was more than prepared to take the risk. The alternative was unthinkable.
I got out of bed quietly, Izzy still being asleep, and picked up the flask George had given me the day before. The bedroom had tea making facilities similar to those you would find in a hotel. I selected a tea cup then filled it with murky orange fluid from the flask, then carried the cup back to the bed and gently woke Izzy. As she sat up I said, "Morning sweetie. I want you drink this - I promise it doesn't taste as bad as it looks," and held out the cup.
Izzy brushed the hair from her eyes and looked dubiously at the unappealing liquid: "Isn't that the special water George gave you? Why are you giving it to me? It's supposed to be yours."
"Yes, but I've decided we share this or I don't do it at all. I've been dosed for several days, so you have a bit of catching up to do. So this one is yours and after that it's fifty-fifty." I could see she was about to argue. I expected that, as Izzy would automatically want what she thought best for me, not appreciating that I had already worked that out. Fortunately, the control this extraordinary liquid afforded me was my secret weapon, so I added, "That's an order Mrs Kemble."
She glanced at me doubtfully, but either I had convinced her or the power worked. Izzy drained the cup and then looked at me again. "What now?" she queried. "I don't feel any different."
"I don't know how long it takes to have an effect," I replied, "But it doesn't seem to have taken long with me. I'll tell you what, let's test it. Olivia and Ryan arrive this morning. You greet them, get some of the ordinary Deepwell water into them and then try giving a few instructions and see what happens. I'll leave them at your mercy until the late afternoon at least. I have business with George and his lawyer that is likely to take some time and it's probably going to involve an argument about me sharing my inheritance with you."
Izzy nodded, looking thoughtful and, I felt, a little excited. I began to wonder what I had let Olivia and Ryan in for.
*****
I dressed, breakfasted and then kept my 10 a.m. appointment in George Webster's office. His solicitor was already there along with a youthful assistant. I was slightly surprised, although perhaps I shouldn't have been by now, to discover that George's lawyer was female and very attractive for a woman in her mid-forties. I had not the slightest doubt that their relationship extended beyond the professional.
However, at this particular moment her interest seemed more focussed on her colleague, a young man who I guessed was maybe five years or so my junior, so in his early twenties. He was tall, slim, pale, reasonably good looking, but had a nervous manner as if confused as to why he was here.
George greeted me and then introduced the lawyer. "Ed, this is Melissa Wilkinson, my solicitor. She has the papers ready for us to go through and sign. And this is her junior..." He looked to Melissa for help with the name.
"This is Thomas Stevens, who has just joined the firm from university." Melissa had a sexily deep and husky voice for a woman. It made everything she said sound seductive. "I've brought him along for... let's call it work experience. Say hello Tom." The young man blushed as he did so, as if shy. Although he wasn't all that much younger than me, I thought he was obviously still finding his feet in the adult world of work. University was a different sort of environment, as I recalled myself. "Why don't you go and work on those documents I gave you," Melissa added and Tom left George's office with what seemed to be some relief.
As soon as he had gone George turned to the glamorous older woman. She had a great mass of curled and permed chestnut hair and a smart business jacket, skirt and blouse combination that made her look simultaneously formidable but also slightly as if left over from a 1980s American series such as Dynasty. She looked slim and fit and I guessed that a gym featured in her routine. She was clearly a woman who didn't lack in self-confidence and the description 'cougar' sprang unbidden into my mind.
"Mel, you really are a very wicked lady," George teased, a mix of humour and affection in his voice. "Inviting that poor boy here when there was no real need, and you old enough to be his mother. He won't know what's hit him."
Melissa grinned in response. "Oh, don't worry about Tom," she said. "He's been eyeing me up ever since he joined the firm, but has been too shy to say anything. I think an older woman taking the lead is just his kind of thing. All that's going to happen is I'm going to make his dreams come true. Lots of men like younger women so why shouldn't the reverse apply as well?" As she said this Melissa gave me a very direct and appraising look that oozed sultry sexuality. I found myself blushing. She saw it and grinned.
"Just to remind you," cut in George, "we do have some business to attend to before you start fulfilling fantasies - whether Tom's or yours. Do you have the papers ready to confirm the transfer of my assets in line with my will?" Looking to me, he added, "This will make any challenges to the will itself extremely difficult. I do have a lot of other living descendants. I have provided for them to the degree I deem appropriate, but that doesn't mean they will all be happy with most going to you."
It was time I followed through on my decision. Forgetting Melissa's distracting presence, I put on a serious tone and said: "Actually, I want to talk to you about that before I sign anything. Might we have some time alone?" I asked, looking at the lawyer.
"Yes of course," George said, sounding puzzled at my request. "Mel, would you excuse us for a moment? I'll send Sarah to find you when Ed's told me what he wants."
