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</div>He held his tongue regarding Audrey's feigned innocence.  She was actually quite good at it and the casual observer might believe that she truly did not get Karl's reference regarding her likely recent bed partner, but Karl knew that she and Grace had spent the previous night in this mansion.  Given the stressfulness of the situation and knowing Grace's preferred coping mechanisms, he thought that the likely odds were good that the pair had sex some time during the night or maybe even this morning.  Her remark on his likely part in Grace's stress reduction after the reading of the will confirmed Karl's suspicion that she'd known exactly what he'd meant.<br/>
<br/>
Karl liked Grace, but he'd stopped loving her.  The sex?  Well, he'd heard an old saying that he believed, 'even if it's not great it's still pretty damn good'.<br/>
<br/>
Audrey had caught him like the pot calling the kettle black and tallied a mental point in her favor.  He didn't feel like playing the game enough to voice a 'meow' and let her think that he was jealous.  He'd once entertained amorous designs on Audrey, but Grace would have made that impossible and Grace didn't share.  <br/>
<br/>
The intrusion of the blonde woman had given Audrey an excuse to attempt to 'boss' Karl.  It wasn't pretty on her, it was more Grace's style, and Karl decided that he actually wanted to leave her.  So, without another word to Audrey, Karl went to do his 'job' and followed the blonde woman into the dining room.<br/>
<br/>
During his time in the army and as an NCO over a platoon of men, Karl had cultivated a degree of 'command presence'.  He could very often induce fear and respectful silence with the tone of his voice and the expression on his face.  Other 'big fish' recognized the implied challenge, 'small fry' were 'put in there place', leaving only the drunk and stupid to not getting the message that when Karl said, 'jump' the only acceptable responses were to jump or ask 'how high'.<br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"Miss"</span> said Karl, with a stern edge in his deep bass voice.  <br/>
<br/>
When she turned around, Karl could see that she was embarrassed at being caught snooping around the mansion.  He did not expect that she would offer much, if any, resistance to his 'suggestions'.<br/>
<br/>
His face was 'stone' and his eyes were 'cold' as he continued,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)"> "Allow me to escort you back to the parlor, please."</span>  there should have been no doubt that this was not a request. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)"> "We wouldn't want you to be 'lost' in the mansion at the time when the will is being read."</span>  Karl then closed the space between them with a few steps and, like a gentleman, offered her his arm that she might take it and be led back to the parlor.</span>