Chapter Six
Later, Beth would have further meetings with Aidan and Pilar, but before that she was to have a real-life encounter with Charles, her online friend. He informed us that he was taking a trip to New York. Would we care to meet him? Matthew replied that we should be delighted to see him. Charles asked if Beth might be made available to him. Matthew replied that undoubtedly Charles would be given a display of her charms, but that certain restrictions would be placed on what might be done with her.
As time went on, it was becoming clearer to me that Matthew was changing; his attitude towards Beth became more possessive. I don’t know whether the experience of lending her to Pilar and Aidan had a particular effect on him, or whether it simply crystallised a tendency which was alread
