Chapter 2

Friday came round and Rupert walked back to their house with Mary and Amelie. Amelie was quite excited at the idea of another week with him. Mary had told her, in no uncertain terms, that there would be NO sex. Amelie accepted that, but it hadn’t stopped her from using it as a series of unlikely fantasies late at night.

Amelie and Rupert had somehow been stranded on an island for the night. In one fantasy, Rupert and her huddled together for warmth with the inevitable result. In another fantasy, Rupert tied her to a tree and forced her to have sex over and over. She didn’t call it rape, she called it ravishment because that sounded nicer.

In another rather shocking daydream she had, she caught Rupert having sex with an eleven year old; but the really shocking part was that she then imagined forcing the girl to satisfy her, Amelie, too. She wasn’t sure where that fantasy came from; she was a little shocked, but she still went with it to its conclusion.

They arrived round at the Craft house, and settled down to an hour or so homework. Unlike at his own house, Mr Craft was often not back in time to eat with them. It being Friday, they still had a tradition of fish. Fish and chips, actually oven fish and chips, but still very acceptable.

Mairead Craft came in: “Well, tea is on. I should explain a little more about the week, well, five days. These girls are often from quite protected environments. Some have or will do Duke of Edinburgh, but many don’t even do that! In Guides, we have a mixture of events, but I just thought the events were mostly inside. When I suggested this, a lot of the girls were keen. We’ll have a day of sailing – which you are vital for, a day including a Via Ferrata – no? It’s a high level walk where you are clipped on to metal hooks. There will be a day in Kendal where we’ll have a walk around and see the Quaker Tapestry and other things. There will be a day walking round Derwentwater -”

“All the way round? Wow, that’s ambitious.” Rupert said

“Can’t hack it Rupert?” Mary asked.

“I may need you girls to practice your stretcher making skills.” They all laughed.

“And then also we have a boat trip on Windermere combined with a walk over some hills.”

“And you are camping? Whereabouts?”

“Ah, no, we are staying in pods in the grounds of a hostel. There is a kitchen we will use. Two of the pods are for four, and the rest are small two person ones. Some of the girls have never stayed in less than three star hotels, so this is roughing it for them. The team leaders will take it in turns to organise dinner. Lunch will be make your own sandwiches. Breakfast will be toast, juice, cereal, tea. Nothing fancy.”

“Team leaders?” Rupert asked. He was good at picking up the details that people skated over.

“Yes. So the sailing means that we will be organised into groups. I can’t sail to save my life, but the boat I would be in charge of will be the one that Chris Marchall – from the boat yard – will take. I’ll not be with you that day because of the limit on numbers per boat.”

“We told mum to hire a canoe and chase after us, but I think she’s going to go for a leisurely lunch in some swanky place.” Amelie said.

“Maybe, I couldn’t possibly comment.” Her mother replied. Rupert was starting to like Mrs Craft.

The previous meeting he had felt that a wrong word could have resulted in him being reported for having sex with an underage girl; but she was much more relaxed now. Nothing further had happened with the three girls, they were all still friends. Rupert still protected them sometimes against unwanted attention; and he had, once again, escorted a very drunk girl home to safety – not one of her two, but she heard the story. He was clearly a worthwhile boy to have around.

She also intended to check the hostel and the pods, though it was a bit late if they weren’t how they had been advertised. Rupert asked about going over to check them early, and finally the four of them agreed that they would go over the following day to ‘recce’ the pods.