Note: All characters are over 18, as indicated in this or the previous chapters
Deep Waters - Chapter 7
Later that evening Ryan and Olivia left us to return to their allotted room and no doubt wonder about what had happened to them since their arrival that morning. Izzy took herself off to bed and I didn't blame her for that. I was weary myself, in a satisfied sort of way, but an idea had taken root in my mind and there was something I needed to do before I slept. Putting on a bathrobe I went to find Sarah Lim. Although it was late I hoped Sarah wouldn't mind, as she had in effect given me a standing invitation, telling me which room was hers on that evening we had shared while Izzy was with George.
I knocked on her door and after a short delay George Webster's PA opened it. I could tell she had also gone to bed because her hair was tangled and she was wearing a very cute pair of light blue silk pyjamas. I could see into the room and - slightly to my surprise - she was alone. So erotically charged was the general atmosphere at Deepwell I somehow imagined that people always paired off at night, probably in varying combinations. But that was a silly of me; there was no real reason they should.
However, seeing me standing there Sarah obviously had similar thoughts - that's to say she seemed to assume I was here because I wanted to share her bed. The idea obviously didn't displease her because although I had woken her she still smiled at me, although I thought Sarah looked like she needed some sleep, so I hastened to put her mind at rest.
"Sorry to disturb you," I said. "I won't keep you, but I've an idea for tomorrow and if you like it, I'll need your help to make it happen." I proceeded to tell her what was on my mind and was pleased to find she liked my plan too. By now I was becoming strongly reminded how sweetly attractive the Singaporean girl was, and if I hadn't just come from several hours of making love to Izzy and Olivia I might have taken up her unspoken invitation to join her. Instead I just gave Sarah a kiss, which she happily returned, and said I would check with her in the morning.
I went back to my own room. I found Izzy asleep, so I climbed into bed and soon joined her.
*****
After we had shared our daily dose of Deepwell water the following morning, I told Izzy about my idea and she was enthused as I was. Post-breakfast we spent the rest of the morning in preparation. To be honest Sarah did most of the actual organisation - and did it brilliantly of course, with her usual calm efficiency. The main contribution of Izzy and me was to make sure the various house guests didn't leave. We wanted everyone here for this.
With Ian and Annabel Thornton that was easy. They were enjoying themselves too much to want to leave anytime soon, and my idea met with their complete approval. Melissa Wilkinson and her protégé Tom Stevens were due back at their law firm - in fact they would have explaining to do as to why they had stayed overnight - but, as I guessed, Melissa didn't want to miss what I had planned. She rang her office to say she and Tom would be delayed due to what she called 'unforeseen circumstances'.
"In fact, I'm expecting several hard things to come up today," she said on the phone grinning at me to acknowledge the deliberate double meaning of her words. "I'll need to use all my experience to get on top of them".
"You're a very naughty lady," I said laughing as she ended the call.
"You really have no idea!... Not yet anyway," Melissa replied with a smirk that was blatant in its meaning.
Ryan and Olivia presented the most difficulty. They were still more than a little confused about what had happened the day before. Answering what had seemed a simple social invitation from Izzy they had found themselves swept up in a whirlwind of promiscuous lust and exploring aspects of their sexuality they had hardly even been aware existed. It was true they had enjoyed it all but were still struggling to process what it meant.
Given I needed to test the powers of the Deepwell waters now I was splitting them with Izzy, I decided on a little experiment. A few gentle suggestions from me and the pair were soon agreeing to stay several more days, almost as if it had been their own idea. It seemed that half a dose was more than ample for that purpose at least. I suppose I should have felt guilty about controlling someone like that but to be honest I didn't because I knew what it was like to be on the receiving end. George Watson had been doing it to me since the day I arrived and I couldn't remember ever being happier than I was now.
*****
So it was that at 3 p.m. that there were eighteen of us, evenly split between men and women, assembled in the manor house's stately ballroom. I hadn't even been aware of the existence of this space in the west wing of the ground floor, but I had asked Sarah what the largest room in the manor house was and she had duly delivered. She had arranged for the ballroom to be opened and cleaned and for food and drink to be laid on.
My idea, which had met with such universal acclaim, was to hold a party. It had a dual purpose, firstly to explain to everyone what was going on between George and me, so ending all speculation and, more importantly, to celebrate George Webster's life and thank him for everything he had done for us all. George had graciously agreed it was a good notion when I told him, particularly the announcing of my inheritance of the position of Master of Deepwell Hall.
The refreshments were laid out on trestle tables along the east wall. A low platform had been set up at the west end for speakers and the French windows that led out into the gardens had been opened, given that the summer weather was so beautiful. Slightly oddly, but on my instructions, a group of mattresses had been bought into the ballroom and laid on the floor, filling much of the space between the dais and the tables. However, there was enough room left for the small crowd to gather in front of where I planned to address them.
My audience was puzzled by these arrangements but happy enough, the latter aided by the fact everyone had a drink in hand, including the maids who had been serving them only moments before. I climbed onto the platform (which in truth was only about a foot off the ground) accompanied by Izzy and George and surveyed them. Clustered to my left were George's employees, the staff of this house - Sarah Lim, his PA, the four maids, Madelaine, Jenny, Martha and Cerys, Andrew the footman, Steve and Pavel the gardeners and the only one I had not met so far, Phillipe the French chef, who had provided such wonderful food all week.
To my right were the house guests; George's investment managers, Ian and Annabel Thornton, his lawyers, Melissa Wilkinson and Tom Stevens and my wife's best friend Olivia Gibson and her boyfriend Ryan.
