At the hotel my uncle waited our return with obvious pleasure, though naught was said to him of. what had passed. One rarely discusses such things in distant aftermaths. What is done is done. Such pleasure as had been taken is but to be renewed. Only when it is may confidences be exchanged. Reminiscences are best exchanged or conveyed in the heat of the moment, unless it be in immediate converse-such as at the Comte's-after several lubricious bouts.
I spent the night alone. Carried to bed by her Papa, my cousin uttered not a squeak of protest. I had no doubt, however, that she would find cause to struggle prettily on less private occasions.
CHAPTER twelve
A few more days having passed in divers sports, we returned to England, having learned more than pride would oftimes allow us to confess. That mattered not to Pearl who was wise enough to know that consent lies often in silence. Our general air of wellbeing was obvious to all. Having actually visited the Louvre, the Tuileries and other places of notable interest over several afternoons, we were able to talk about them and thus allay any doubts as to the official reason for our visit.
But a week after our return, when life began to seem unconscionably dull again and not a penis had pulsed its longing before my eyes, Pearl brought news that she said would please me. I was invited to a wedding.
Socially interesting as the prospect appeared to be, it hardly filled me with the sense of excitement that I needed. I was too polite, of course, to say so. Imbued with mischief and meaning to tease me, Pearl allowed me at first to think that that was all there was to it. Soon enough, however, she divulged such further news of the event as made my eyes sparkle.
The bridegroom was to be one Ewart Maudsley, an honourable gentleman of the realm, who had reached the prime of his life at the age of forty-two. His bride-to-be was a widow, Catherine, who counted her years four less than he, and had two charming daughters and a son.
After the ceremony, which by necessity would be a non-ecclesiastical one, since Mr. Maudsley was divorced, there would be a private reception, said Pearl who could well see that I was bubbling for her to get to the point.
“Well, then, I shall tell you, for I have teased you with mundane facts for too long, Arabella. There is a certain tradition in the lady's family which decrees that upon marriage or remarriage the bride is to be anointed.”
“Oh, Pearl, you tease still! What does that mean and how does it interest me?”
“It will interest you muchly when I say that anointment is understood to be by means of a spouting penis well lodged in one or other of the bride's orifices! More than one, in fact, for it is decreed that the bride shall be mounted by all the male guests present and that the bridesmaids and others may follow suit.”
“Good heavens, do you really mean that this is a family tradition!”
“In this case yes, my pet, rare as the custom may be. The bride's mother herself was so saluted many years ago, and two of her sisters have been. It is said to be a ceremony akin to those that take place along the lower orders at harvest time when the field women are stripped and take part in lewd pagan ceremonies. Have you not heard of such?”
“Indeed no. But wait! I do recall now that on the last harvest I wished to view the celebrations of the farmworkers, but that Papa forbade me to go. He said it would not be seemly for me to attend.”
“Indeed, Arabella, for while the menfolk would not have dared draw you into the proceedings, you would have seen many a bottom or cunny tupped over the hayricks. Such comes from ancient times, I am told, when it was believed that with the harvest all should be fertilised again.”
“Really, I cannot wait after what you have told me! Dear Pearl, you have always been my mentor, and indeed Elaine's. You have guided us along the paths of naughtiness to excellent effect. Tell me then how it will be and how it is that I am invited.”
“You are invited by dint of my mentioning your divine talents most confidentially to Catherine. You may think it strange that she does not otherwise indulge in lewdnesses, but believes it her duty to follow in the tradition. It will not be a rumbustious affair for the guest list is very much handpicked and will be held in her future home which is being furnished now for the occasion. Catherine will not be the only one to be laid on the altar of love, as I have indicated. There will be two bridesmaids and they, of course, are already apprised of their fate.”
“But surely this will break the circle of discretion and secrecy!”
“By no means, my pet, for the bridesmaids are her daughters. The older one, Grace, is eighteen and a proud young thing. She may not be easily put over. The younger, Susan, is but fifteen and as pretty a cherub as you could see. She has a mite more mischief in her, though is only to have her bottom breached so that her virginity as such may be conserved for a few years.”
“Oh my goodness-and this is to happen in the sight of all?”
“How else? Otherwise the daughters would not be able to attend, and that would be quite unthinkable. As to our own role, you will be a Mistress of Ceremonies, if you wish, for Catherine is quite content to leave all such things in the hands of others. There is by tradition a curious formality about the affair, as you will see. The bride is not required to speak and must certainly not invite. Having herself chosen the due hour for her anointment-though I feel that the term were better expressed in the plural-she enters and offers herself quietly upon the altar which will be either a divan or a table, as her desire dictates.”
“What a strange and wonderful affair! Yet will there not be an uncomfortable hiatus in it all, Pearl, for once the gentlemen have loosed their anointing sperm in her, the daughters may be restive in awaiting their own fate.”
“Such also was foreseen in the beginning. It is said that the tradition in Catherine's family runs for many hundreds of years. The males attending will number no more than six, as also will the females. Each is to receive the prick in succession, but only the last one to mount is permitted to come. Any gentlemen who do so inadvertently or by becoming over-excited must quit the arena. The way is thus left free for any further enjoyment.”
“Mr. Maudsley then-or perhaps I should begin to call him Ewart-will have a delightful harem of three after the event!” I exclaimed.
“As to that, Catherine opines that having been inducted, as it were, the girls are not to be further brought to pleasure by him thereafter, but I fear she is behind the times and may have to be content with a third of his offerings in the future. However, that is not for us to say. Catherine means to carry herself in a proud manner and not to indulge, as she says, in an orgy. What quaint ideas she has, for she has already been through it once when her Papa and her brothers anointed her dell. She had no passion for them, she says, though took their cocks dutifully. Being men of honour and in full knowledge of the rules of the affair, they did not attempt her thereafter.”
“I can scarce believe what I am hearing, Pearl! Do you then believe her?”
“Only in part. Catherine is, I believe, a secret worshipper at the altar of Priapus, though she may well have persuaded herself of her goodness. There have been hints of anniversaries. I believe her drawers were taken down for them, though she denies it. It is said, in the tradition, that two 'strangers' must attend to see that all is done and done well, and we are they. Thus are we privileged! She is of an age, of course, at which she might want to break out a little and hence our presence could well provide the excuse for it.”