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Chapter 13: The Chateau & The Comtesse
Clegg had been sitting comfortably in his suite at the Chateau D'Ysel when he had received Bertie's call. It had been disturbing but at least Bertie had been quick enough to realise what needed to be done. Elspeth would make sure that things were sorted out properly but these hiccoughs were always tiresome.
There was a knock at the door of his room. “Come in,” Clegg called, “Entrez.”
The woman that entered was a tall, imposing figure. Clegg got to his feet to greet her. “Bon soir, Madame La Comtesse, ” he smiled.
“Come off it Freddie, one castle doesn't make a countess and anyway they're ten a penny these days,” she said with a broad Scots accent. She sat herself down in one of the suite's enormous armchairs. “What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?”
Clegg turned to the array of bottles on the sideboard. “Well I can manage a glass of the Chateau's own white or there's a rather pleasing burgundy, some Mosel , …”
“Scotch, I think.” She replied.
“Anything with it? Ice? Water?”
“Scotch, thanks.”
Freddie laughed as he poured her drink, “They can take the girl out of Glasgow but they can't take Glasgow out of the girl, I see.” He passed the glass to her and poured one for himself. “Now to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening?”
“Thanks,” she said taking the glass of whiskey from him. “Well I thought since your little menagerie downstairs is growing I would just check what you would like doing with them. They've had a couple of days fairly untroubled, It's a good time to get them started on whatever training you had in mind. When are you moving them on?”
“Err, about a week. The flight's arranged for the 30 th . Oh, by the way there's another one coming in tomorrow but she can just go in with the others. Elspeth's bringing her down in the Rapide, they'll need some transport at the ‘field when they land and some lights to guide them in too. Oh, Elspeth will need a room and there'll be one other plus his man.”
“We can look after that, Freddie. Now what about the trainees?”
“Well let's see there's the two we really started out with: Alardyce and Addams, the tall willowy blonde and the slightly older one.”
“Slim waist, biggish tits, long mousey hair, blinks a lot like she's missing a pair of glasses?”
“That's her. And she is, I guess we ought to do something about that. Well those two don't need too much doing with them. I'll be quite happy if they can just be put through the normal adjustment programme; I'll be happy if you can just turn off their free-will, their sense of independence. They only need to be conditioned for obedience, really.”
“Drugs?”
“If necessary but nothing too addictive – I won't want to have to waste a lot of effort keeping them on a tight rope between high and useful..”
“And the other two?”
“Well, three actually with the one that's coming across. They weren't really in the original scheme but I can see a use for them. They'll need adjustment like the others but you could give them a hand with some of the domestic service skills – plus there's a couple of specifics I'd like you to add to that – mainly to do with working in enclosed spaces – I'll give you the details.”
“Doesn't sound too demanding. Same constraint with regard to drugs?”
“Less of an issue but again they are going to need to be useful so take it easy. It's really too much bother if we have to worry about getting them dosed at this time or that.”
“Fine. Is sex on the agenda?” Clegg peered across at the Comtesse over his glass. “Freddie, behave,” she chided. “You know what I mean.”
Clegg smiled. “It's not central to what they'll be doing. They're all attractive girls and I'm sure it figures in their future. There's no real objection if you feel there's value in using it as part of their adjustment but they don't need to be prepared for anything specific. We can take it as it comes really. Or as they do.”
“Freddie really. Sometimes you seem like a monk; at others you're just a disgrace.”
Clegg grinned. “I'm un-reformed. I admit it. However, I'm sure you can have my little quintet happily singing to whatever tunes I have in mind for them by next week.” The Comtesse nodded. “And in the mean time I hope I can indulge in a little relaxation – it's been a trying few weeks.”
“Of course Freddie, the Chateau is entirely at your disposal. I also have a little do planned for Friday evening. Nothing too elaborate, a few friends. Hope you can join us and Elspeth and your other chap of course. I assume he can hold a glass and talk at the same time.”
“What, Bertie?” Clegg laughed. “That's just about within his capability. We'll be delighted to join you.”
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