‘I cannot conceive, my lord!’
‘Maybe you can. Behave, and let me put this in.’ He kissed me on the mouth to silence my argument and his fingers parted my cleft and forced the sponge well into me. His greater strength, the sternness of his voice in demanding my obedience, enhanced my appetite for him even further, and within seconds of him entering me, my body convulsed about him and I shuddered with an ecstasy that was not holy and yet divine.
So divine that we did it again.
And again.
No wonder Holy Church called this a sin. With Lord Hastings the act was not faith, it was a visitation. The songs of the troubadours were true. Lust by consent with skill. Perhaps my lover was right, I might become addicted to this pleasure.
‘By the Saints!’ he exclaimed, collapsing beside me after our third coupling with a satisfied groan. ‘Not bad for an old lad. That was …’ But I never heard. I drifted into sleep in his arms, blissful and at peace, and I think he slept too.
A rude knocking roused us. Neither of us had thought to bar the door. I struggled to pull the coverlet across me, afraid it was Shore, but the stranger who barged in was too tall for my husband, thank God. For an instant I thought he was one of the serving men, but this man’s broad hat and riding cloak proclaimed ‘outsider’.
‘Ha! Master Ashby!’ He disappeared into the alcove as though he knew it well and the next instant, Lord Hastings’ clothes fell across us. Surely even a trusted servant would not behave so. This had to be some friend from the court.
‘The pretty fellows from Brittany,’ the stranger said cryptically. It was the closest he came to an apology.
‘Excellent!’ Hastings exclaimed gleefully, and grabbed for his shirt.
‘Caught me unawares too!’ the interloper replied. I could not see much of the man’s face beneath the deep brimmed hat but he was staring at me. I was like a helpless moth caught in a candle flame.
‘I must go, sweetheart,’ Hastings laughed, turning to kiss me. He seemed quite unaware of my predicament. I dared not move since my scant covering was precarious already. ‘Fare you well.’ He stroked a playful finger along my lips. ‘The tariff is paid, by the way, so take your time in leaving.’
‘Well, don’t take yours,’ admonished the stranger with extraordinary rudeness, pelting Lord Hastings’ hose at him. ‘Where’syour other boot.’ He disappeared again behind the curtain. ‘Not in here,’ he called out.
I instantly scrambled to hide myself within the sheets.
‘Hey, sweetheart, help me with my points!’ Hastings made it a plea not a command. I cursed inwardly but how could I refuse after his generosity to me? Then I espied his discarded robe upon the rushes and swiftly scurried from the bed and drew it on. The silken belt was missing but at least its folds bestowed some modesty and my loosened hair would hide my face as I stooped to tie my lover’s hose points to his gypon.
‘Who is this?’ the stranger asked, prowling as I performed a servant’s duty.
Hastings ignored him. ‘Find my other boot, sweetheart.’
It lay within the shadow of the bedsteps and he took it from me with thanks. ‘You can leave my robe here when you are finished.’ A command that mightily displeased me, but I smiled up at him in gratitude, my only act of defiance to his friend’s impatience. The strategy worked. Lord Hastings touched his lips to mine and then, as if to stoke the other man’s annoyance, he gave me a deep farewell kiss that told me we should couple again before long.
‘God keep you, my lord,’ I whispered huskily as he lifted his face back from mine, and still I kept my arms defiantly wrapped about his neck.
The stranger’s spurs jingled as he strode to the door and held it open. ‘Are you done, Will?’ he demanded impatiently. Then they were gone and I was left alone with Hastings’ kiss drying on my lips.
Fragrance in a vial of Venetian glass was discreetly
‘Maybe you can. Behave, and let me put this in.’ He kissed me on the mouth to silence my argument and his fingers parted my cleft and forced the sponge well into me. His greater strength, the sternness of his voice in demanding my obedience, enhanced my appetite for him even further, and within seconds of him entering me, my body convulsed about him and I shuddered with an ecstasy that was not holy and yet divine.
So divine that we did it again.
And again.
No wonder Holy Church called this a sin. With Lord Hastings the act was not faith, it was a visitation. The songs of the troubadours were true. Lust by consent with skill. Perhaps my lover was right, I might become addicted to this pleasure.
‘By the Saints!’ he exclaimed, collapsing beside me after our third coupling with a satisfied groan. ‘Not bad for an old lad. That was …’ But I never heard. I drifted into sleep in his arms, blissful and at peace, and I think he slept too.
A rude knocking roused us. Neither of us had thought to bar the door. I struggled to pull the coverlet across me, afraid it was Shore, but the stranger who barged in was too tall for my husband, thank God. For an instant I thought he was one of the serving men, but this man’s broad hat and riding cloak proclaimed ‘outsider’.
‘Ha! Master Ashby!’ He disappeared into the alcove as though he knew it well and the next instant, Lord Hastings’ clothes fell across us. Surely even a trusted servant would not behave so. This had to be some friend from the court.
‘The pretty fellows from Brittany,’ the stranger said cryptically. It was the closest he came to an apology.
‘Excellent!’ Hastings exclaimed gleefully, and grabbed for his shirt.
‘Caught me unawares too!’ the interloper replied. I could not see much of the man’s face beneath the deep brimmed hat but he was staring at me. I was like a helpless moth caught in a candle flame.
‘I must go, sweetheart,’ Hastings laughed, turning to kiss me. He seemed quite unaware of my predicament. I dared not move since my scant covering was precarious already. ‘Fare you well.’ He stroked a playful finger along my lips. ‘The tariff is paid, by the way, so take your time in leaving.’
‘Well, don’t take yours,’ admonished the stranger with extraordinary rudeness, pelting Lord Hastings’ hose at him. ‘Where’syour other boot.’ He disappeared again behind the curtain. ‘Not in here,’ he called out.
I instantly scrambled to hide myself within the sheets.
‘Hey, sweetheart, help me with my points!’ Hastings made it a plea not a command. I cursed inwardly but how could I refuse after his generosity to me? Then I espied his discarded robe upon the rushes and swiftly scurried from the bed and drew it on. The silken belt was missing but at least its folds bestowed some modesty and my loosened hair would hide my face as I stooped to tie my lover’s hose points to his gypon.
‘Who is this?’ the stranger asked, prowling as I performed a servant’s duty.
Hastings ignored him. ‘Find my other boot, sweetheart.’
It lay within the shadow of the bedsteps and he took it from me with thanks. ‘You can leave my robe here when you are finished.’ A command that mightily displeased me, but I smiled up at him in gratitude, my only act of defiance to his friend’s impatience. The strategy worked. Lord Hastings touched his lips to mine and then, as if to stoke the other man’s annoyance, he gave me a deep farewell kiss that told me we should couple again before long.
‘God keep you, my lord,’ I whispered huskily as he lifted his face back from mine, and still I kept my arms defiantly wrapped about his neck.
The stranger’s spurs jingled as he strode to the door and held it open. ‘Are you done, Will?’ he demanded impatiently. Then they were gone and I was left alone with Hastings’ kiss drying on my lips.
Fragrance in a vial of Venetian glass was discreetly
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