Tomorrow it may be eggs and I shall say that I hate meat. Qui sait?
Who knows? We all say this or that, and change our minds. The world turns still. In mist the sun looks duller yet behind the mist it shines as brightly as it ever does. I never make my word my bond, nor should you two. Come, or the cook will be dismayed and throw a far worse tizzy than you will attain to in your silly quarrelling. Be as you will, and happy be the day!', said Esmeralda throwing open the door and standing there until we passed without. The carpets all were purple-rather grand, I thought, and stretched from wall to wall wherever we walked. In the drawing room, which had a cheerful air and was not too cluttered, Lumley rose to greet me first, affording me a brotherly kiss on both my cheeks. 'You are not too put out with us?', he asked. I did not answer, and I dared Jane with my eyes to hold her silence, too-the which she did. Harkness, as I thought of him, came forward next and bowed and kissed my hand. 'May I, too, be included in your sweet mercy?', he implored. He had changed his garb and wore a fine, black suit. 'There are no tears, my dears', said Esmeralda, beaming on us all, whereat there came a knock and a female servant of some girth appeared, a white cap crooked on her head, an apron stained. 'Meal 'as bin ready this past hour', she said, and took us all in balefully. 'Cook, dear, you do exaggerate. You mean that it is really ready? Well, we shall come in.
I have no arm to hold, but will follow on our guests'.
'H'exaggerates, do I?' Well, I shan't stay a moment longer in this 'ouse. All ups and downs, it is-all ups and downs!', the cook declared and slammed the door, bringing a heartfelt sigh from Esmeralda. 'The dear thing has been saying that each day for five years now', she yawned. 'Come, let us to the feast, if such it be. I suspect that it is rabbit once again, and fish before. The silly woman always will have fish before. You may toy with it only if you do not care for it'. The meal, in fact, was utterly delicious. Lumley sat beside me and caressed my thigh. 'Are we forgiven yet?', he asked and clearly brought some real anxiety into his words. 'Of course you are. And anyway, you did it to me first', said Jane.
'Sometimes it is nicer not to be forgiven, but to wait and see', she added, which caused me to put my tongue out at her, whereat there was laughter and a general easing of the atmosphere. 'I had best tell you, my pet, quite plainly, that I married Lumley for two things-his money and his virility, and in that order', Esmeralda said.
'There are no better reasons', her brother said. His name was really Mark. I liked the name. 'In your case, dear, only the latter would apply', she answered, bringing a laugh and flecks of fish upon her lips from Jane. 'Did he apply to you for references in the latter instance, Esmeralda, then?', she asked, and threw a glance at me which caused me to tip out my tongue again. 'My dear, the ink never ran dry-if ink it may be called. Being fostered, we enjoyed ourselves just as we might. Parents as such are such a bore-sometimes', she added carefully, and then as if to throw a crumb to Jane, went on, 'Indolence and summer days-even the wintry nights when the fires burn in the bedrooms-all beget a stirring of desires.
Mark being found one day at play with me, his cock a-working in my nest (such innocence, so sweet, you know!), we were taken to bed by our elders to advance our studies, as it were. Being a rampant little devil as he was, Mark soon enjoyed himself between his foster-mother's legs, and then the amourous arts were fully taught us. Oh, many a time there were four of us together on a bed, all coming joyfully. Such fun! There… I have told you almost all, dear Jane, dear Emily.
Now-as to you?' 'Tell her', said Jane. Perhaps I wanted to.
I needed to unburden myself to careful listeners, as they proved to be, and spoke of my disastrous marriage, veiling much, but even so expounding on the naughtiness. At this, Esmeralda's face took on a solemn look. Lumley even ceased to fondle me, and took a cloud himself upon his face. 'There is a covenant-a marriage settlement, is there not?', he asked. Mark nodded his approval;
Esmeralda, too. I felt I was surrounded by close friends who drank upon my every word, savoured the sugar and the salt therein and measured each grain carefully. 'Yes, but since I have left…', I said, and felt quite lame. 'Have you declared the most positive of intentions to remain apart? No. It follows, then, that the contract is not broken. Any lawyer worth his salt would say the same. A mere interval has obtained that is of itself of no importance, Emily. Your wretched husband first must buy a house, and that you must demand-one separate from his family; close to yours, I would suggest', said Mark, and gave me a most loving look. 'I do not wish to live with him', said I, and put a pout on once again. 'You foolish angel-nimble-hipped one, pretty as you are, you have no need to live with him. Share the same bed, I mean. May not Jane live with you and- what was your cousin's name? Ah, Julie, yes. And your Papa could keep a carriage there-to show authority, I mean', Esmeralda then declared.
'We could', said Jane before I had a chance to speak. I did not wish to for the moment, anyway. Arnold was weak-could be manipulated on his own. My allowance would continue. It was possible-just-yes.
'I s'pose…', I said, and then we all laughed as if a huge bubble had been broken and much chatter rose as to the ways and means, and many of them subtle, others plain. At moments I showed doubt-at others was quite bright. Seeing me pensive at one point, Esmeralda asked me playfully, 'You have not committed adultery, dear? There is naught to lay against your door?' 'Why, goodness, no!', I uttered laughing. Lumley's hand returned then to my thigh and fumbled up my dress a little underneath the tablecloth. 'It is time then that she did', said he. 'No, no, my pet, for you would tire the poor girl out, working your engine in her tunnel. Either one of them, in fact! Later, perhaps. Dear Arnold need never be told', said Esmeralda with mock solemnity. 'And, by the bye-Emily and Jane-we use no crude words here no more than are used in your own household. A girl is never fucked, but creamed, bedewed, or spouted in. There are a dozen names for it-all quite pretty and acceptable. There are entertainments, as I call them, here occasionally-when a suitable maiden can be found'. 'Oh? Is she treated then as I?', I asked, then added, 'Jane, too', as my sister stared at me. 'Oh, goodness no! Well-rarely, anyway. After all, we felt you part of us, and that is something other. Here, when a girl is put to trials-brought by an uncle or a guardian, perhaps (for such they often like to call themselves) she is much flattered, cozened, cuddled even. I may take her first into my bed and warm her up. Then Lumley or Mark-and never the two together at first-will dip her briefly, dip their cocks, I mean, and hold her till she quietens, then draw out and leave her to me once again. She has then had her taster, as we say, and will not moan nor quiver half as much when put beneath her sire, her uncle, or her guardian. Some girls become quite lewd, some others remain shy, when first alone with us. In bed, that is. Lumley and Mark are perfect dears: once in her nest, they let her feel it throbbing deep, but do not stir the rod and never do they come. That first pleasure is reserved for others. If she must be birched, then so be it. I wield a stinger when it is necessary, my dears. Some men prefer a bright-red bottom offered up to them. It makes the maidens wriggle more, but brings them to obedience. We all must be obedient when the moment comes. It is the fate of womanhood'. 'Do they not struggle, at the end? I mean when they are really put to it?', asked Jane of our hostess. Her curiosity hung like a flag upon the air, as did in truth my own. So often the story is the same, yet it renews itself. 'Am I strict, d'you mean? Yes, very strict, when I am called to be. You will perceive, if you look carefully, two iron eyelets in the wall of my boudoir up above. They are placed high up, and to a purpose.