The Stranger Master (Vol. 2 - Total Control) Read Online Free Page A

Katherine closed her eyes, took a deep breath and said;
     
    'Yes, this is Kitten. What do I have to do?'
     
    Katherine listened intently as the woman spoke. She had expected the usual clear, precise instructions but on the contrary, Madame Sword sounded more like she was arranging a dinner party with an old friend. She asked Katherine when would be the best time for her to come into town to meet and there was no absolute deadline, an hour either way was fine with Madame Sworde.
     
    'Us girls are so busy!' She had said, and Katherine could not suppress a smile. 'Us girls' ?
     
    They arranged to meet for dinner at 8 o'clock that evening. Katherine put the phone down with a relieved, girlish grin. She felt as if all the pressure had been taken from her. And her rendezvous with Madame Sworde promised to be a lot of fun... even though she had no real idea what to expect.
     
    *****
     
    Katherine entered the restaurant at five minutes to eight and found Madame Sworde already seated at a table for two in a quiet, candle lit corner. She stood up, smiling to greet Katherine, taking her outstretched hand warmly in hers and kissing her on both cheeks with the panache and charm of an old fashioned aristocrat. Katherine felt immediately comfortable with this woman. They sat down and Madam Sworde ordered champagne. The two women eyed each other with open, good-natured curiosity.
     
    Madame Sworde was in her fifties, Katherine guessed, well dressed and well educated with that air of subtle sophistication and confidence that comes from living a privileged life. Her silver black hair was perfectly coiffed in a bun tied with a single scarlet ribbon, her skin had a dark, shimmering tint that suggested a life spent in exotic climes and Madame Sworde's make-up was perfect, with lipstick to match the colour of the ribbon in her hair. Katherine was in the presence of a 'woman of breeding,' she thought to herself and smiled. She had always considered the archaic phrase to be redundant, until now. It was Madame Sworde who spoke first;
     
    'How lovely to see you my darling, you look fabulous!'
     
    Katherine grinned with embarrassment. She was wearing her favorite black dress and boots, nothing nearly as glamorous as the woman opposite her. The waiter came with the champagne in a bucket of ice and two crystal glasses.
     
    'May I propose a toast?' Madame Sworde asked, lifting her glass and a questioning eyebrow at Katherine.
     
    'Please do.' she said and raised her glass.
     
    'To absent friends,' announced Madame Sworde, 'may they fare well and return to us soon.'
     
    The crystal glasses, caught pink and blue in the unobtrusive restaurant light, chinked in the air between them and they sipped the fizzy champagne, and then suddenly they were both giggling like a pair of naughty schoolgirls. Again Katherine felt the tension leaving her body in waves. The past few weeks, exciting as they had been, had taken their toll, physically and emotionally. Katherine thought that an evening with Madame Sworde would be just what the doctor ordered. When her laughter had subsided enough for her to speak, she took another sip of champagne, lent forwards across the table and asked;
     
    'Tell me, why am I here?'
     
    'To learn to serve.' Madame Sworde said simply, as if it was such a matter-of-fact thing to say.
     
    Taking the bottle from the ice bucket, she refilled her glass, and topped up Katharine’s. She was looking intently at Katherine now, openly, in a manner that was totally unashamed, her grey-green discerning eyes searching Katharine’s face.
     
    'What?' Katherine asked, squirming slightly under the close scrutiny.
     
    'His exquisite taste in women still holds true,' Madame Sworde said, 'you, my dear, are a fine specimen indeed.' Katherine blushed and gulped at the champagne, then in a whisper she asked;
     
    'So you know him? You know Sir ummm...Dominic?'
     
    'Oh yes!' Madame Sworde said with a soft laugh, 'he and I go back a long, long