Read Online The Gift of Shame by Sophie Hope-Walker - Free Book Online
Authors: Sophie Hope-Walker
Ads: Link
bit of a tart, isn’t she?’
She frowned and conveyed her dissension as best she could without yet daring to try out her voice.
He seemed to pick up on her dilemma and sorted it out. ‘Now, George, I know your voice is about to break and you’re embarrassed about it, but you can talk if you want to, you know.’
‘She’s not a tart!’ she said positively.
‘Well, you would say that wouldn’t you? Being a loyal brother and all, and, of course, I respect that, but tell me, George, have you ever had a woman yourself?’
She reverted to a resentful shake of the head while waiting to see if this was going to lead to an explanation of the phone call.
‘No, I suppose not. The Old School keeps to its regime of cold showers and avoiding “evil” thoughts, eh?’ He paused and drew in a long breath as if contemplating the ‘good old days’, before going on. ‘Matter of fact I was reading the other day that cold showers actually
stimulate
the libido. Did you know that?’
She shook her head.
‘So you see, the Old School idea can lead to a lot of mischief in the showers.’ Idly picking an imaginary thread from his jacket sleeve, he went on. ‘Much of that going on still?’
Again she shook her head, aware that her ‘twin brother’ wasn’t being very good at this. Despite the sanctioning of her unmasculine voice, she still couldn’t speak because, having been reminded of where all this was supposed to be leading, she was scared to death. He
hadn’t
been bluffing!
Seeing Jeffrey in the role of an ‘old queen’ intent on seducing a ‘young boy’ was unnerving to say the least. He was just a little too smooth and convincing for her taste. An added concern was the knowledge that there was a ‘surprise’ on its way.
Perversely, she also resented him thinking that any brother of hers, imaginary or not, would fall for such a line.
Jeffrey, who had been watching her/him for some silent moments, now gave the most sickly smile she could imagine before patting the couch beside him. ‘You look so distant sitting over there. Why don’t you come and sit by me?’
Feeling sickened and revolted – Jeffrey was that good at it – she warily moved to sit next to him as he had asked.
Jeffrey, laying a careless arm along the couch behind her, smiled again. ‘Got a little treat on its way for you, George.’
A very real shudder of revulsion went through her body. ‘Really?’ she squeaked.
‘Yes. Possibly something a young lad like you has never seen before.’
Quite suddenly she felt she wasn’t there. It was as if her body had been invaded by another creature. Everything was suddenly unreal, even surreal. She really was starting to respond like a nervous schoolboy in the company of a disreputable uncle.
This was ridiculous. A waking nightmare. Could it be that she had been subtly hypnotised or even drugged?
When the arm, which had been ‘carelessly’ laid along the back of the couch, became a hug, she actually felt quite sick.
Abruptly, not quite sure where the impulse had come from, she found herself on her feet blurting out that she wanted to go.
Jeffrey was staring up at her, obviously taken aback. As they looked at each other in confusion the apartment door bell cut through the tension like a knife.
‘Not now,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘Surely,’ he added, before turning away to answer the door.
She looked around for succour but none was apparent. She began to think she might be going mad when she strained to hear the subdued murmur of voices coming from the apartment’s lobby.
Now, in total confusion, she felt as if she was suffocating. Her brain had simply ceased functioning and the earlier ‘disassociated’ feeling grew even stronger.
The voices drew nearer and she turned to see Jeffrey returning accompanied by a tall slender girl wearing a full-length ‘gowny’ dress and, of all things, a feather boa over her shoulders.
‘This is my young nephew, George,’ he was saying
She frowned and conveyed her dissension as best she could without yet daring to try out her voice.
He seemed to pick up on her dilemma and sorted it out. ‘Now, George, I know your voice is about to break and you’re embarrassed about it, but you can talk if you want to, you know.’
‘She’s not a tart!’ she said positively.
‘Well, you would say that wouldn’t you? Being a loyal brother and all, and, of course, I respect that, but tell me, George, have you ever had a woman yourself?’
She reverted to a resentful shake of the head while waiting to see if this was going to lead to an explanation of the phone call.
‘No, I suppose not. The Old School keeps to its regime of cold showers and avoiding “evil” thoughts, eh?’ He paused and drew in a long breath as if contemplating the ‘good old days’, before going on. ‘Matter of fact I was reading the other day that cold showers actually
stimulate
the libido. Did you know that?’
She shook her head.
‘So you see, the Old School idea can lead to a lot of mischief in the showers.’ Idly picking an imaginary thread from his jacket sleeve, he went on. ‘Much of that going on still?’
Again she shook her head, aware that her ‘twin brother’ wasn’t being very good at this. Despite the sanctioning of her unmasculine voice, she still couldn’t speak because, having been reminded of where all this was supposed to be leading, she was scared to death. He
hadn’t
been bluffing!
Seeing Jeffrey in the role of an ‘old queen’ intent on seducing a ‘young boy’ was unnerving to say the least. He was just a little too smooth and convincing for her taste. An added concern was the knowledge that there was a ‘surprise’ on its way.
Perversely, she also resented him thinking that any brother of hers, imaginary or not, would fall for such a line.
Jeffrey, who had been watching her/him for some silent moments, now gave the most sickly smile she could imagine before patting the couch beside him. ‘You look so distant sitting over there. Why don’t you come and sit by me?’
Feeling sickened and revolted – Jeffrey was that good at it – she warily moved to sit next to him as he had asked.
Jeffrey, laying a careless arm along the couch behind her, smiled again. ‘Got a little treat on its way for you, George.’
A very real shudder of revulsion went through her body. ‘Really?’ she squeaked.
‘Yes. Possibly something a young lad like you has never seen before.’
Quite suddenly she felt she wasn’t there. It was as if her body had been invaded by another creature. Everything was suddenly unreal, even surreal. She really was starting to respond like a nervous schoolboy in the company of a disreputable uncle.
This was ridiculous. A waking nightmare. Could it be that she had been subtly hypnotised or even drugged?
When the arm, which had been ‘carelessly’ laid along the back of the couch, became a hug, she actually felt quite sick.
Abruptly, not quite sure where the impulse had come from, she found herself on her feet blurting out that she wanted to go.
Jeffrey was staring up at her, obviously taken aback. As they looked at each other in confusion the apartment door bell cut through the tension like a knife.
‘Not now,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘Surely,’ he added, before turning away to answer the door.
She looked around for succour but none was apparent. She began to think she might be going mad when she strained to hear the subdued murmur of voices coming from the apartment’s lobby.
Now, in total confusion, she felt as if she was suffocating. Her brain had simply ceased functioning and the earlier ‘disassociated’ feeling grew even stronger.
The voices drew nearer and she turned to see Jeffrey returning accompanied by a tall slender girl wearing a full-length ‘gowny’ dress and, of all things, a feather boa over her shoulders.
‘This is my young nephew, George,’ he was saying
Similar Books
