With her close friend Kitty imprisoned for her suffragette activities, Emma is glad to see her old lover Charles. She first seduced him years ago in Paris, when he was a young man (as described in the first volume of the trilogy, 'The Seductress') and now she welcomes the chance to renew their carnal friendship . . .

'Charles! Yes, do send him in,' Emma smiled, pleased at the prospect of seeing an old admirer. She had great need of company that evening. He had come because he'd seen Kitty's name in a newspaper as being amongst those arrested. Quickly Emma explained what had happened and they spent some time discussing their mutual friend's plight. 'I am still fond of her you know, Emma, even though things went badly between us.' 'That is because you are a sweet and generous man.' Emma kissed his cheek. 'Anyway, all that was my fault. My dalliance with you cost me dear. All three of us were losers in the end.'

'I miss you, too,' Charles sighed. 'Tell me what you have been doing since I last saw you. It seems a very long time ago.'

Emma had a great deal to tell him, especially about their other mutual friend, Lily Merchant. He chuckled as she related how they had spent their night together in Paris.

'I can see the two of you growing old disgracefully together!' he chortled. 'Not two old maids but two bold jades, a danger to every lusty young man in the vicinity!'

'I shall take that as a compliment.'

'But tell me, what became of that young woman whose lover was being blackmailed?'

'Sybil? Oh she has gone to Florence for the summer with her new lover, Rupert Heaven.'

'You mean Angel?' Charles frowned. 'Last I heard he was divinely in love with you, my dear. Don't tell me the angel has fallen from grace!'

'I was glad to let him go to her,' Emma sighed. 'He was rather . . . wearing. But I have not seen Daniel since we returned from Paris and there is no-one new in my life. Sometimes the prospect of seducing someone new seems just too fatiguing.'

'Then why not try someone old?' Charles advanced towards her with a twinkle in his eye. 'I have an enduring fire for you, Emma dearest, you know that. And since there is no-one important in my life either at the moment, why should we not indulge ourselves? I see no harm. Kitty is no longer interested in me, and even if she were . . .'

'You mean she is safely locked up in prison and therefore need not know?' Emma said, tartly. 'Shame on you, Charles!'

'My philosophy of Life has but two principles: Pragmatism and Opportunism. It works particularly well where beautiful ladies are concerned. I ask myself what will be the result of my taking any opportunity that presents itself, and if the answer comes back, "Pleasure for both parties with harm to none other" I feel an irresistible force moving me in that direction.'

'Then you are a Hedonist, too!' Emma laughed. 'Oh, Charles, you are quite incorrigible!'

'But if anyone knows how to correct my deficiencies, it is you. Why, you have known me practically from the cradle. I was a virgin youth when you snatched me from my mother's bosom and made a man of me, for which I am eternally grateful.' He gave her a sly smile. 'Will you not let me prove how grateful?'

Emma opened her mouth to protest but found it swiftly covered by Charles' red lips. The overwhelming feelings that his kiss produced in her were a timely reminder of how much sexual joy she had been deprived of since returning from Paris. Now she revelled in the sensual thrill as his tongue played cat-and-mouse with hers, one hand holding her close while the other stroked and clutched her buttocks beneath the layers of her clothes.

'Oh Emma, there is no woman to match you!' he breathed, his voice guttural with lust. While his lips nibbled softly at her ear and neck, Charles began to undo the buttons of her blouse until the top of her chest was exposed. His mouth travelled down to the deep vee between her breasts, nuzzling the sensitive skin and sending electric impulses shooting up and down her spine. Emma could feel her legs weakening and, unwilling to let the love scene proceed where they might be interrupted by a servant, she pulled away from him and suggested they should move upstairs.

'Tell me you want me!' Charles demanded, his eyes red-rimmed with passion. 'I need to know that you really desire me, Emma, and are not just giving in out of pity.'

Emma was shocked. 'I never make love out of pity. Really, Charles, what an idea!'

'I am sorry. Sometimes I forget what a truly remarkable woman you are. One meets so many young women who are not at all like you.'

'That is the whole raison d'être of my Academy. But do you really wish to discuss the female condition right now? I rather think not!'

'No, let us proceed upstairs, my dear.'

At the door she paused, turning with a solemn expression. 'One moment. Do you undertake to let me do with you whatever I want?'

Charles said, with a mock bow, 'You may take complete charge of me, Emma. I am at your disposal.'

Laughingly she led him from the room and upstairs to her own bedroom. Emma had not forgotten that he was partial to a good thrashing. Neither had she forgotten that he and Kitty had had the temerity to mete out such punishment to her, when they were all three together in that same room. Well, she would make him pay now.

Emma made him strip and lie face down on her bed, then she found two tasselled cords and tied first his ankles, then his hands behind his back just above his buttocks.

'There you are, trussed like a bird for the oven!' she chuckled.

'Whatever is your pleasure, Madame!'

'Oh, you'll pleasure me soon enough. Now be a good boy and lie there nice and quiet.'

Quickly Emma undressed and, sitting on the end of the bed, began to tickle the soles of his feet. Every time he squirmed and squealed she slapped the fat cheeks of his behind, making them wobble and blush, then returned to torment him saying, 'Lie still, you naughty boy, or I'll smack you again!' Charles wriggled all the more, evidently enjoying the excruciating sensations of being first tickled then slapped.

Emma knew, from the way he was groaning, that his libido was high and her own desires were being increased in the process. She began to pinch his buttocks, then dipped her hand between his tightly clenched thighs and felt the hairy balls beneath, making him writhe and giggle all the more. It excited her to see him getting so worked up. There was something of the concupiscent glee of the boys' dorm about it, the tussles and teasings, the masturbatory games after lights out. Mature as he was in years, she knew that Charles had never quite outgrown such pubescent pranks and she was happy to indulge him.