On the scene, so to speak.’ Allyson offered the wine bottle to Rob, who took it and poured himself another glass. He then settled his arm around Lucy, re-establishing the link that led from him to her to Richard, on the sofa, and smiled at his interlocutor. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I’ve never been a scene kind of person.’ ‘How do you know if you haven’t tried it?’ Allyson’s challenge was friendly enough but her eyes were hard. Rob had been told she could be difficult if you rubbed her up the wrong way. ‘You should come to the club. Meet some of the girls.’ ‘Well, I’m trying it now, I guess,’ he said. ‘And I’m liking it so far. I wish I hadn’t missed the show.’ ‘Perhaps we could do a repeat performance with Lucy?’ suggested Allyson, slyly. This prompted a squeak of alarm from the submissive in the room, who clung to Richard and curled into a defensive ball. ‘I’m not sure she’s ready for that,’ said Richard. ‘Ah, proper knight in shining armour, you are, Rich.
