Before and After by Lockington Laura

Author:Lockington, Laura [Lockington, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press Ltd.
Published: 2013-08-18T21:00:00+00:00

Rule Number Sixteen

“Topicking is a lost art. It is much more than just the ability to make small talk. It is about making small people who talk feel bigger than they actually are. And no one excels at it more than I.”

Archie Amble was indeed pacing his hotel suite. But he wasn’t practicing his speech, he was wrestling with a black silk bow tie. The damn thing simply wouldn’t sit properly. It was already creased from his earlier efforts, and was in danger of looking like a comedy clip on if he didn’t stop his efforts soon. Archie decided to wait until Sylvia arrived. She had the knack for them. Her long slim fingers would calmly smooth and wind the ridiculous bit of silk into the right sort of shape that passes for civilised dress amongst the tribes of white middle class men. He went to the fridge in the suite and checked that the bottle of champagne was chilled. Good. He eyed the large double bed with distrust. Was it too much to hope that tonight Sylvia would, well, would be his wife again? He began to allow his spirits to rise, after all, a night in a grand hotel with champagne was enough to put any woman in the mood, wasn’t it? He knew that Sylvia dreaded these junkets, but really Sir George wasn’t that bad, and Lady Patricia, although quite fond of the odd tipple, was amusing enough in a disconcertingly direct sort of way. The Brighton incident a few years ago was the exception, rather than the rule with Lady Pat, and anyway, no harm had been done. Not like that bloody Ellie woman. Archie stopped the train of thought abruptly and continued along safer lines. And say what you like about hotels, they do induce a feeling of decadence and abandon. His mind skittered dangerously to the last time they’d stayed in a hotel – well – if you could call The Dolphin a hotel. More like a bordello. He cast aside the image of Sylvia and Ellie as territory too dangerous, and went to open the champagne. Perhaps he should look at his speech? He definitely hadn’t been up to snuff the last couple of days, and had let things slide. But Sylvia was due any minute and he would hand her a full glass as she arrived and offer to run her a bath. Yes, that was it. A glass of champagne in the bath had the right touch of sophisticated debauchery that he had in mind. The speech could look after itself, after all, he’d done the thing so many times now it was a matter of rote. He thought of Sylvia, her mouth for once curved in a welcoming smile. He would gallantly offer to wash her back, letting his hands wander under the hot soapy water and she would smile and raise her body out of the suds allowing …

The tap on the door coincided with the discreet pop of a cork.

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