" You really don't want me here," Bob pleaded. "This is a conversation you two should have in private."Ralph looked at Bob closely before he spoke. "M...ybe she's right," he said."I've been trying to tell this to Ralph for weeks now," Patricia said. "I think it's because you're here I can finally tell him." Like a catalyst?" Bob asked."I don't know what that is," Patricia went on. "But, maybe,... maybe, having someone else to talk with made it easier for me to talk." Okay," Bob said, accepting. "I'm going up to London today. I should be back around midnight. I assume you can amuse yourself."Marian smiled as she opened the paper, for even if he had stayed she would have had to amuse herself whilst he buried himself in his books. "I'll be fine, father. I told you, me and Victoria are taking tea at the Ledbetter's."With a nod to indicate that she had told him, but it being of little import he had forgotten it straight away, Josiah left Marian alone.She quickly found the article that had. Keri was suitably impressed as they turned into the drive and saw about a dozen other cars already parked there. When they parked, Adam pulled out the mask and held it out to her.“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked once more.”Why not?” Keri asked, taking it from him. “What’s the worst that can happen?”She pulled it on over her head and adjusted it so that it was comfortable before turning so that Adam could lace it up tightly. When he finished doing so, he also quickly clicked a lock. " And the loser of the second test will receive ten strokes." "But the loser of the third test... you will receive five strokes with this...." And he showed us the instrument: a thin bamboo cane. Like a garden stake. I knew that however much the crop caused pain, this thing would be immeasurably worse. I gulped, and looked across at you. I did not want you to have to suffer. You were a sweet girl, and I really enjoyed being with you, touching you, kissing you. I think I really would enjoy.