truth.’
‘And tell the whole world of this deception? I think not. There is a way, but you must speak to him and soften his mood, give him hope. I’ll think of something to soothe his
pride,’ Mirabel ordered, knowing there was only one explanation that would do for now. ‘Leave it to me.’
She unlocked the door and brought a candle across the room, drew the drapes open across the bed and let the husband in.
‘Sir,’ she bobbed. ‘Do not distress yourself that you have been barred from my Mistress. See for yourself, she is abed waiting but fears she cannot give you pleasure for it is
a delicate matter that has occurred that only women speak of between themselves.’
Matt stepped forward, not understanding. ‘Sir,’ she continued, ‘The moon courses are upon my Mistress and sorely cramp her stomach. She has suffered much these past two weeks
and that is why she cannot oblige but the moment they are over, she will open the door and you may fulfil your obligations to your satisfaction. Is not that so, Mistress?’
Eliza smiled wanly and nodded. ‘It pains me to disappoint you, Master. Please be patient with me.’
This took all the air out of his bellows and he blustered and apologised and made for the door. ‘I’m sorry to have distressed you, Madam.’
‘And she is sorry to disappoint you,’ Mirabel replied, ushering him out of the door quickly.
‘Now what’ve you done?’ Eliza cried. ‘How will I oblige him?’
‘You can’t, but I can,’ Mirabel smiled.
‘Are you cracked? You will be uncovered.’
‘In the darkness we see what we want to see and feel what we want to feel,’ she said. ‘Darkness covers a multitude of sins and confusions. It’s the only way.’ It
was a risk she must take but she felt nervous, wishing her hair would grow longer, her skin softer. One flicker of light and her ruse would be discovered.
A few nights later, with Eliza tucked up in the dressing room that served for the maid’s chamber, Mirabel unlocked the door and waited for the handle to turn with thudding heart. She had
undressed with care into a soft silk shift with long sleeves that Eliza had prepared, bathed her limbs in the tub with attar of rose oil, covered her growing hair with a pretty lace night cap and
blew out all the candles for fear of exposure. Once the curtains were drawn there would be nothing but silk between them.
At first there was silence as he climbed into the sheets, only the sounding of his breathing as he ferreted under the counterpane whispering her name. Hidden in the darkness, she was to him what
he had imagined, young, beautiful and willing. She caressed him through the silk and let his hands slide over the shift. She surrendered to his touch with a warmth and passion that stunned her with
its novelty and enjoyment. Pictures of Papa’s secret drawings came into her mind and she mounted him so that he cried out for mercy and they laughed and kissed and slept until the light of
dawn began to creep under the shutters.
Mirabel then slipped into the side room shaking her sister awake. ‘Tis done. Go to him and make a fuss. He is well satisfied now.’ Eliza for once was compliant and uncomplaining.
Mirabel lay on the truckle bed feeling sad that she must leave his side but they were in so deep in deception that she had no desire for him to be distressed by the sight of his lover. Dressing
quickly, she made noise to rouse the lovers and sped down to the kitchen where the Mistress sat smiling into the fire.
‘It is done then?’ His mother looked up as she grinned. ‘I was beginning to wonder at the wisdom of his choice but all’s well that ends well.’
Mirabel bent her head in shame knowing it was wrong to deceive this kind lady but Matt was happy and contented with his lot for the moment. Her own new-found pleasure would have to be rationed
but no matter. As a go-between she would be able to ensure he didn’t go too long without lovemaking.
The days grew out
‘And tell the whole world of this deception? I think not. There is a way, but you must speak to him and soften his mood, give him hope. I’ll think of something to soothe his
pride,’ Mirabel ordered, knowing there was only one explanation that would do for now. ‘Leave it to me.’
She unlocked the door and brought a candle across the room, drew the drapes open across the bed and let the husband in.
‘Sir,’ she bobbed. ‘Do not distress yourself that you have been barred from my Mistress. See for yourself, she is abed waiting but fears she cannot give you pleasure for it is
a delicate matter that has occurred that only women speak of between themselves.’
Matt stepped forward, not understanding. ‘Sir,’ she continued, ‘The moon courses are upon my Mistress and sorely cramp her stomach. She has suffered much these past two weeks
and that is why she cannot oblige but the moment they are over, she will open the door and you may fulfil your obligations to your satisfaction. Is not that so, Mistress?’
Eliza smiled wanly and nodded. ‘It pains me to disappoint you, Master. Please be patient with me.’
This took all the air out of his bellows and he blustered and apologised and made for the door. ‘I’m sorry to have distressed you, Madam.’
‘And she is sorry to disappoint you,’ Mirabel replied, ushering him out of the door quickly.
‘Now what’ve you done?’ Eliza cried. ‘How will I oblige him?’
‘You can’t, but I can,’ Mirabel smiled.
‘Are you cracked? You will be uncovered.’
‘In the darkness we see what we want to see and feel what we want to feel,’ she said. ‘Darkness covers a multitude of sins and confusions. It’s the only way.’ It
was a risk she must take but she felt nervous, wishing her hair would grow longer, her skin softer. One flicker of light and her ruse would be discovered.
A few nights later, with Eliza tucked up in the dressing room that served for the maid’s chamber, Mirabel unlocked the door and waited for the handle to turn with thudding heart. She had
undressed with care into a soft silk shift with long sleeves that Eliza had prepared, bathed her limbs in the tub with attar of rose oil, covered her growing hair with a pretty lace night cap and
blew out all the candles for fear of exposure. Once the curtains were drawn there would be nothing but silk between them.
At first there was silence as he climbed into the sheets, only the sounding of his breathing as he ferreted under the counterpane whispering her name. Hidden in the darkness, she was to him what
he had imagined, young, beautiful and willing. She caressed him through the silk and let his hands slide over the shift. She surrendered to his touch with a warmth and passion that stunned her with
its novelty and enjoyment. Pictures of Papa’s secret drawings came into her mind and she mounted him so that he cried out for mercy and they laughed and kissed and slept until the light of
dawn began to creep under the shutters.
Mirabel then slipped into the side room shaking her sister awake. ‘Tis done. Go to him and make a fuss. He is well satisfied now.’ Eliza for once was compliant and uncomplaining.
Mirabel lay on the truckle bed feeling sad that she must leave his side but they were in so deep in deception that she had no desire for him to be distressed by the sight of his lover. Dressing
quickly, she made noise to rouse the lovers and sped down to the kitchen where the Mistress sat smiling into the fire.
‘It is done then?’ His mother looked up as she grinned. ‘I was beginning to wonder at the wisdom of his choice but all’s well that ends well.’
Mirabel bent her head in shame knowing it was wrong to deceive this kind lady but Matt was happy and contented with his lot for the moment. Her own new-found pleasure would have to be rationed
but no matter. As a go-between she would be able to ensure he didn’t go too long without lovemaking.
The days grew out
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