Beautiful Strangers

by Ellen Dean

  ‘What do you mean?’ Beth paused. ‘The diamond pendants some of the girls wear? What a funny question. I haven’t told anyone about them. What’s to tell? The girls have excellent taste.’

  ‘Yes, they do. Well done. Now, can you tell me anything else?’

  Beth thought before answering, ‘No, I can’t. Except that I would like to have one of those pendants, they are very beautiful. I adore diamonds and the way they sparkle, like stars in the sky. Do you think you can get me one?’

  Beth began to feel clammy and shaky. I felt like this when H gave me that jet lag potion. Where is she?

  Felicity spoke, ‘We should initiate Beth into our little group now. She’s such a beauty.’

  Initiate! Beth remembered her overheard conversations.

  ‘Once you are part of us,’ Penny paused, ‘you can never leave. We will always look after you — in all respects — but I must warn you now that we expect total loyalty. If you tried to hurt any of us then you would face dire consequences, and so would your family. Have I made myself clear?’

  Beth’s heart started racing. What the fuck is going on here? This is way past a joke. She wanted the blindfold off, and her hands untied. Anger stirred in her veins as she tried to stand up, only to be pushed back down again. She tried to send a telepathic message to Hyacinth to come to her rescue, but couldn’t. She began to feel drowsy and in her befuddled state heard footsteps and voices echoing along the passageway. As they came closer she heard Felicity greet Julie and Davinia.

  Then the chanting started. Beth could sense people moving nearer to her, circling her. Someone sprinkled her with liquid.

  Her knees started to hurt and her back ached. Her bones felt as if she had been in this position forever. She’d had enough of this silly game. She wanted out, now.

  Warm breath fanned her face, someone was too close, invading her aura. Lips touched hers.

  Is the truth game turning into a sex game? Matching her thoughts she felt a series of soft lips sensuously brushing across hers. Several pairs of hands started to touch her, stroking, seeking, invading, moving all over her body. She felt herself surrendering to the erotic sexual sensations. Not resisting as her clothes were removed with the minimum of effort. She was aware of standing naked, except for the blindfold.

  Someone wrapped a robe around her before she was lowered onto a bed of cushions on the floor. Laying either side of her, the women took it in turn to languidly lick her nipples and then their tongues seemed to be everywhere at once.

  Beth reached out to touch her seducers, but someone took hold of her hands, ‘No, darling, just go with the flow. I promise you’ll enjoy this.’

  Will I, Hyacinth? Beth wanted to say, but she was unable to speak. The blindfold remained. She wasn’t capable of thinking clearly. She wasn’t capable of thinking much at all. What had they put on the orange and what was in the delicious wine they kept feeding her?

  Beth’s legs were parted, her body invaded by hands and tongues working to bring her to a state of tremendous arousal. Tongues and fingers worked in and out of her wetness, teasing, making magic. Beth was moaning with pleasure when the dildo slid inside of her. Successfully wrenching her hands free she pulled off the blindfold. She had to see who was on top of her, riding her.

  ‘Lou!’

  ‘Sssshhhh, relax baby.’

  Beth’s body responded of its own accord as she was tipped over the edge into orgasm. She opened her eyes momentarily to see Petra lying beside her.

  ‘Going down.’ Petra said, licking her lips in greedy anticipation.

  Beth was being devoured, relishing the caresses of the women, her body soared. She was the kingpin in this glorious orgy of feminine abandonment, and loving it.

  She felt Lou roll off her, watching in amazement as Lou started to fuck a total stranger. Then she cried out as Petra’s tongue expertly teased her clitoris. She was just about to crest her second orgasm when a deafening bang exploded in her head.

  Chapter 48

  Beth’s head ached. She raised her arm to shield her eyes from the daylight and found herself in bed next to Petra. Oh no! Struggling to sit up, she tried to focus on her surroundings. She was in a guest room at Melton Manor.

  Where’s Lou? Beth held her head in her hands trying to remember. Then she saw the dildo at the bottom of the bed. She rubbed her eyes hoping she was dreaming.

  She closed her eyes and willed herself to wake up again. But she was awake. Vague images began to filter through her mind. Exactly what had gone on the night before? For the life of her she couldn’t remember.

  Aghast, she stared at Petra sleeping beside her. A picture flashed through her mind. She could almost feel Petra’s tongue caressing her clitoris. Other images crowded in: Lou sitting astride her; Hyacinth stroking her breasts while cradling her head; Fliss and Penny exploring her naked body; women she didn’t know having uninhibited sex together, taking turns with her.

  Dazed, Beth swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was naked. She examined herself for evidence of sex. She was sore and sticky and the insides of her legs were starting to bruise. Petra opened her eyes.

  ‘Please Petra — tell me what happened.’

  ‘Did you not enjoy, my Beth?’

  ‘I can’t remember anything. Who else was here? Was I drugged?’

  ‘What do you mean, drugged? Are you crazy? Who else would be here except us?’ Petra was indignant.

  ‘I had this dream. It was so vivid. Lou was here, at Melton Manor. She was making love to me.’

  Petra smiled impishly, and snuggled back into the bed. Beth tried to convince herself Petra was just being a bitch, but deep down in the pit of her stomach she had a terrible feeling it had been real. Sitting on the side of the bed, shivering, she tried to piece together the events of the previous night, from arriving at the party. Her memory was like a jigsaw puzzle with the main pieces missing.

  ‘Don’t you dare tell anyone you slept in my bed,’ Beth said.

  ‘Why would I want to share the details of our love making with anyone else?’

  ‘Get rid of that!’ Beth pointed at the dildo.

  ‘Ah, yes, Beth. You enjoyed that, very much.’

  Pulling on her housecoat Beth went to find Felicity who was drinking tea and reading the paper in the conservatory.

  ‘Good morning, Beth. Is Petra looking after you? H told her she mustn’t leave your side until she got back. You do know she’s been called to an emergency, don’t you?’

  ‘When did she leave?’ Beth stood over Felicity, hands on hips. ‘What happened last night? Someone drugged me and . . .’

  ‘For goodness sake calm down.’ Felicity stood up to face her. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Have some tea. Petra was supposed to bring you breakfast in bed. H arranged it before she left.’

  Beth didn’t move.

  ‘I want answers. Something happened to me last night, in the cellar. You and Penny were there. H was there too.’

  ‘You really should go on the wagon. I think you’ve lost the plot,’ Felicity poured a fresh cup of tea. ‘Here, sit down and drink this.’ She pushed the tea towards Beth, ‘You’ve probably had a nightmare.’

  Beth sank into a chair.

  ‘Penny and I found you passed out on the bathroom floor from too much vodka. You should be thanking us for putting you to bed.’

  Not for a second did Beth believe her. She was certain Felicity was being deliberately blasé, covering something up.

  In her dream, if that’s what it was, she had been given something that tasted bitter. She was sure they had drugged her, but why? It couldn’t have been just for the group sex.

  ‘When did H leave?’

  ‘Last night, probably while you were passed out. She’ll contact you soon, but you are welcome to stay here for as long as you wish.’ Fliss’s tone was gentle. ‘Come riding with Penny and I,’ she said, ’I’ll get Phantom ready for you.’

  How can she act so normal?

  Felici
ty put down the morning paper. ‘Go on then. Get ready. The fresh air will help to clear your head, and mine too if I’m truthful. By the time we have a canter through the park, H might be back. Okay?’

  Reluctantly, Beth agreed. ‘I suppose so. But you’ll have to give me time to shower.’

  Beth returned to her room expecting to find Petra waiting. She had left and in her place was a breakfast tray laden with hot coffee and warm croissants. The room was in perfect order, curtains fastened back and the bed made. Housekeeping must have swept through like a tornado. Beth picked at the croissants.

  Felicity had the horses ready and waiting when Beth arrived in the stable yard. But when she pulled on her riding hat, it felt like a vice.

  Mounting gingerly she said, ‘I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I feel terribly sick. I’ll have to get off. I need to lie down.’ Her face turned ashen.

  Penny would not hear of it. ‘Oh come on Beth. You’ll feel heaps better once you get some fresh air into your lungs. Too much alcohol, Miss McConnell. You really must learn when to stop.’

  ‘That’s if it was the alcohol.’ If I can get a good look around the house on my own, I might find that grotto.

  When they arrived back at the stables Penny insisted that Beth go and rest. Shaking her head in such a way that an aunt would do to her favourite niece, she turned Beth by the shoulders, pointed her towards the house, patted her bottom just a little too hard and said she would see to Phantom.

  ‘A nice warm bath is what you need now. Get Petra to run it for you. She can wash your back.’ Penny leered at her.

  To hell with a bath. I’m off to do some searching.

  Hurrying across the courtyard into the kitchen she noticed Davinia and Julie were busy in the rose-garden.

  Davinia’s father, Lord Macfarline, was in the ballroom, so she couldn’t breeze in and start tapping on the wood panels nor check the wall mirrors or he would think she was bonkers.

  Backing out of the doorway before he noticed her, Beth ran upstairs and into the bedroom that Penny and Felicity had disappeared from the night before. Closing the door quietly behind her, she started to methodically feel along the walls. She discovered a button, like a doorbell, at the side of a long wall mirror. Tentatively she pressed it and the mirror slid silently to one side revealing a steep, stone spiral staircase.

  Bingo! She flicked a light switch on just inside the doorway. A dim light shone onto the stairs. Beth stepped through the opening, turned, grabbed a handle on the back of the mirror and pulled, sealing the doorway behind her.

  The dim glow lit her way as she crept carefully down the steps, feeling dizzy by the time she reached the bottom. A familiar smell of damp greeted her as she crept along the passageway. Beth was surprised, and grateful, when sensor lights in the wall lit up. At the end of the passageway she found the grotto.

  Fear gripped her. God, it hadn’t been a dream after all. Standing in the middle of the room she closed her eyes, concentrating hard, trying to relive what had happened.

  But how could she? She was unable to separate fact from fiction. Opening her eyes she walked the circle of the grotto. There was no furniture stored in here, no evidence of candles or regalia, but there was a strong smell of incense; she did recognize that.

  The place was empty. As she looked closer at the area where the altar had been set out she spied a mound of candle wax that had dripped onto the floor.

  She had no idea what she was looking for, but was certain there had to be something to confirm last nights activities in here.

  Kneeling down she brushed her hands carefully over the cold stone floor, disappointed nothing was to be found except a piece of glass. She picked it up, and went to stand under one of the sensor lights. Nestled in the palm of her hand a diamond the size of a pound coin sparkled.

  Something had sparkled in the candlelight, it must have been diamonds, and then there was Penny saying to the diamonds, followed by her peculiar interrogation. There was something much more than sex games happening here. Lindsay will just love this; if I dare tell her.

  Cupping her hands around the diamond, Beth closed her eyes. She could feel the diamond vibrating. It was generating such a powerful energy that she started to sway.

  Unexpectedly she was in Hyacinth’s mind with full access.

  Normally H blocked Beth from certain areas, but not today.

  Beth watched images play like a film sequence. She could see a midnight harbour, dark and deserted except for one person standing on the dock side. A car was sinking slowly into oily water, inside it a man was fighting for his life. The man’s face was contorted with fear, air bubbles escaped from his mouth and nostrils as he fought to get out of the car. Beth watched his body go limp as he lost the fight. H looked on unperturbed.

  What have you done? Beth shut down her connection. Then she closed her mind, building her imaginary wall, totally blocking H from her thoughts.

  She had to get away from Melton Manor without raising any suspicion. She raced back to her room, packed her overnight bag and took the back stairs that led to the outside.

  A delivery van was parked.

  ‘Any chance of a lift to the village?’ she said as she jumped in beside the driver.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Newcastle.’

  ‘It’s your lucky day. Buckle up, and I’ll take you.’

  * * * * * * * *

  Home. Locking and bolting the door behind her, Beth leaned against it, and took a deep breath. Taking her phone out of her coat pocket, she slid to the floor as she selected Lindsay’s name. She told her everything, but omitted the part about her telepathic connection with H.

  Lindsay was astonished at Beth’s story about the sex orgy in the grotto, be it a dream or a reality. ‘I know this will sound heartless after what you’ve told me, but I need to know. Where is the diamond you found?’

  ‘I have it with me, of course. It’s in my jeans pocket.’

  ‘Put it somewhere safe. You must not tell anyone about it. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, I’m not stupid, you know.’

  ‘The jury’s still out on that one. I don’t know, girl. The things you manage to get yourself into. Why I even bother to try to keep you out of harm’s way, I don’t bloody know, it’s a waste of my valuable time! Anyway, listen. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you because Lou’s —’

  ‘Lindsay, I . . . ‘

  ‘Shut up and listen. Lou’s provisionally booked a ticket for you to fly out to LA in a couple of days. And you, lady, are going.’

  Briefly Beth’s heart sang. Lou still loved her but, what about the grotto?

  ‘Lindsay, don’t. How can I go now? You know what she did to me with Vanessa, and I gave her my heart, completely.’

  ‘She loves you. She was set up.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘I’ve found Vanessa and I’ve spoken to her. She was under orders,’ Lindsay paused. ‘H controls her. I told you that woman has more contacts than you could begin to imagine.’

  ‘But why? Does Lou know?’

  ‘It’s you. It’s always been you. Hyacinth will go to the ends of the earth to get you. And no, Lou doesn’t know the real reason and we need to keep it that way.’

  ‘H succeeded in getting me, Lindsay. I can’t possibly go to Lou. I’m tainted.’

  ‘You are so dramatic.’

  ‘You know what I mean!’

  ‘You are going. No arguments. You and Lou are made for each other. I’ll be with you tomorrow. I’m putting you on the plane myself.

  ‘What would I do without you?’

  ‘God knows, girl. God knows. Just one more thing, don’t let anyone know you’re home. Especially Hyacinth.’

  Beth’s head ached. She knew it was caused by H trying to probe her mind. The wall around her thoughts was impenetrable, but it was taking all of her concentration to keep it there. One slip and H would be in.

  The fury she felt against H stopped any chance of s
leep. All night she sat ramrod like on her bed concentrating on Hyacinth. Her initial fury grew into a rage the like of which she had never known before. Hyacinth would pay. One way or another, legally or otherwise, Beth would ensure that she did.

  * * * * * * * *

  Hyacinth felt ill. Drained. Her head was pounding as if millions of hammers were thrashing her brain. Beth, why are you doing this to me?

  Chapter 49

  Lindsay arrived mid-afternoon the following day.

  Sitting at the dining room table, which was now covered in pages of Lindsay’s notes, Beth knew how it must feel to be under interrogation. Lindsay wanted to know everything Beth could remember about the party at Melton Manor. Who was there, what they wore, even what they ate, going over it again, and again, until Beth was certain she’d recalled everything she could. When Lindsay was confident Beth couldn’t tell her anymore, she dropped her bombshell.

  ‘You do realize we’ll have to go back there, don’t you? I need to suss the place out.’

  ‘We?’ Beth had already handed the diamond over and as far as she was concerned, that was it. She was never going back. ‘I can’t, Lindsay. I’m sorry. I just can’t go back there — end of story — and you shouldn’t ask me to! You don’t know what I went through in that grotto, I don’t exactly know myself. No, sorry. Not going. I’m a surgeon, not a police officer, as you so often point out to me.’

  Lindsay hated herself for insisting. ‘I know I’m being a total hypocrite, but I have to go. I’m under orders. My superior thinks you can help us,’ she paused. ‘Don’t worry. We’ll not be going alone and we won’t be announcing our arrival. We’ll sneak in from the grounds, through that door you told me about . . . ‘

  Beth cut her short. ‘Don’t worry? Are you mad? And who else will be coming on this expedition?’ Beth flung her arms up in the air in exasperation.

  ‘Constance.’

  ‘Constance? What has she got to do with this?’

  ‘There is something you need to know about Constance.’

  ‘Oh, God, now what? I’m going to need therapy after all of this.’