Free Untouchable Things by Tara Guha

green chaise longue behind the circle of chairs and stuck her tongue out lewdly at Seth, who had stopped talking to Catherine and was looking over. “I’m all yours, darling.”
    “Later, wench.” He grinned at Rebecca. “Whatever she’s telling you, just remember the Irish and their tall tales.”
    After a while they settled down again. Seth put down his drink and turned to her. “As I said, Catherine tends to round things off in these groups, but tonight I’m using host’s prerogative to take that spot. So, over to you, Catherine.”
    Catherine moved towards the piano, clutching some sheet music.
    “Ah, so someone can play the piano.” Rebecca smiled, making an effort to be friendly.
    Seth grinned. “Oh, she can play all right. You’ll see.”
    Catherine shook her head as she fiddled with the stool. “Don’t get too excited. I really didn’t know what to do this week.”
    “She always says this,” whispered José, seated next to her. Rebecca smiled, feeling much more a part of things. Hopefully it wasn’t just the cocktail.
    “This may be familiar,” said Catherine, striking up a soft chord. It was slow and beautiful, and then the penny dropped. The theme to the Hamlet cigars advert, one of the few pieces of classical music Rebecca knew. A ripple of chuckles.
    “I’ll name that tune in one.”
    “Nice one, Catherine.”
    The voices died away as the music continued. Rebecca noticed how much straighter and stronger Catherine looked at the piano, holding the attention of the room effortlessly. Before long she had forgotten the advert connection and closed her eyes, letting the delicate notes ripple over her. She could tell the piece wasn’t difficult but there was something in the way Catherine delivered it that made it completely spellbinding. There was clearly more to her than met the eye.
    Warm applause as Catherine took her seat.
    “Ah, the old Hair on a G String, always a winner.” Rebecca stared as Charles and Michael started chortling like a couple of school boys. Charles looked like he might be getting tipsy. She noticed Catherine shift ever so slightly away from him on the sofa.
    “Follow that, as they say.” Seth was on his feet. “I know you’re all hungry and you’ll be glad to know I won’t take long. I was, let’s say, inspired to write poetry on today’s theme.”
    “This should be good.” The mood had got a bit raucous now.
    Seth looked at Rebecca. “It’s called My Lady’s Pleasure .”
    Her heart throbbed as the room quietened and Seth’s voice softly filled the space, rising and falling with lingering cadences.
    “ My lady lies a-waiting
    Reclined on golden pillows,
    Her ruby hair stretched out in waves
    Where’re my fingers follow.
    My lady lies a-sighing
    With eyelids drawn for dreams,
    The ruffles of her white lace gown
    Cascading o’er her knees.
    My lady lies a-gasping
    With twisting bosom wild,
    Her fingers spread to grasp the air
    Her cry is like a child.
    My lady lies a-weeping
    Her head drawn into mine,
    Our bodies merge in silent prayer
    As distant noon bells chime. ”
    As the last vibrations of his voice drifted away, Rebecca felt rooted to the spot, unable to look up. She had found it deeply erotic. Was ‘ruby hair’ a reference to her? Were the others wondering the same thing? A second of stillness gave way to whistles and murmurs of approval.
    “Raunchy but restrained – like it, buddy.”
    “Lucky lady is all I can say.”
    “I thought the end was moving. Hmmmm.” Everyone laughed at José’s wistful voice and Rebecca started to relax; no one seemed to be thinking about ruby hair. But as she glanced to her left she caught Catherine watching her. The eye contact was blinked away immediately, and later Rebecca wondered what she had really seen.
    What did it look like?
    Hatred, I suppose.
    Scene 11
    I’m getting the impression that things changed in your group when Rebecca Laurence came on the scene?
    It was twilight and the trees outside the