The Lady's Lesson

The Lady's Lesson Cassius Wentworth, Earl of Chasten, has many carefree years of bachelorhood ahead of him—or so he thinks. Then he meets Lady Alise Ellington, the polar opposite of his ideal woman. She is too bookish, too opinionated, and too intelligent, but he can’t forget her. His obsession with her intensifies when he deflowers her during a morning ride in the woods beyond her estate. Unfortunately they are seen by her old enemy, and Cash has to track him down and make him pay for wrongs done to Alise. Cash determines to prove to Alise that to really experience life she must live it, not read about it. With himself as arbitrator, he plans a ménage a quatre which will assist her in choosing a husband from two men who adore her and will also allow Cash to walk away. Will he teach her a lesson, or will he learn one? Genre: Historical, Ménage a Trois/Quatre Length: 34,719 words

THE LADY’S LESSON

Tish Domenick

MENAGE AND MORE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage and More

THE LADY’S LESSON Copyright © 2011 by Tish Domenick E-book ISBN: 1-61034-941-5 First E-book Publication: October 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of The Lady’s Lesson by Tish Domenick from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Tish Domenick’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Domenick’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To my husband who has taught me many lessons and has learned one from me—patience.

THE LADY’S LESSON TISH DOMENICK Copyright © 2011

Chapter One No sensible man should be in this spot. Like a wary medieval knight on guard at the castle gate, Cassius Wentworth, Earl of Chasten, gave an involuntary shudder as he waited at the cathedral altar. Harps, lutes, kits, and drums serenaded the bride’s procession over a flower-strewn path, although November weather yielded few naturally grown blooms. Stylish, as always, Lady Faith Lovejoy’s russet gown was adorned with ribbons tied into lover’s knots to distribute as favors later in the afternoon. Cash slid a sideways glance at his good friend, Ramsey Keith, Viscount of Bostwick, and shook his head. The man wore a smile wide as the river Thames, though otherwise he looked perfectly normal, besotted, but normal. For the hundredth time during the past three weeks of pre-marriage revelry, he congratulated himself for being a mere witness to it all and not the groom. He had freedom to do whatever, whenever and wherever he wished, and the money to do it with. Despite his position, he didn’t mingle much in polite society. He didn’t need to, because he had representation through his fun-loving parents who never missed an important party. Ram nudged him with an elbow and whispered, “You really must find a bride of your own, Cash, my man. It’s time.” “Because you’re hooked, must I also noose myself?” “You are ready. You simply haven’t realized it yet.”

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“Ha, not likely.” Fortunately, during Good Queen Bess’s long reign, the ceremony had been shortened, and soon the couple said their vows and started down the aisle. Cash’s responsibilities were over. He frowned. “Over,” except for a mission imposed by his father. His parents were leaving on a business trip to the Orient directly from church. They had entrusted one small social task to him. At the wedding supper, he was needed to be escort to a Lady Alise Ellington, daughter of the Earl of Rossford. The Earl, his father’s latest business associate, was also sailing this night. Since, as best friend to the groom, he was required to attend this particular soiree anyway, he didn’t mind overmuch. Once in the midst of the wedding ball, Cash searched for his charge. How was he to recognize this maiden in distress when he’d never met her or her father? Lady Alise was known as a bookish sort, his father had said. Such information did not help. A woman approached him, a tall woman with a purposeful, man-like stride. This could be no other than the studious, straitlaced Lady Alise. Although her hair had been severely pulled into a knot at the back of her head, she wore no jewelry to soften the effect. Her gown could only be called nondescript, as it was beige with a taupe panel inset in the skirt. He liked voluptuous curves on his women, and this Lady was more than slender. Lady Alise, all in all, appeared as plain as weak consommé. Fortunately, he merely had to dance with her once, sit with her at dinner, escort her home, and be done with it. God’s ears she was tall. As she approached, she squinted directly into his eyes, and he was over six feet tall. “I am Alise Ellington, and you, I presume, are Cassius, my escort in the absence of my parent?” “Cash, please. And yes, I would be most honored to be your companion for the evening.” She offered her gloved hand, but when he bent to kiss it, she pulled it away. “I really loathe all that hand-kissing stuff. When I’m kissed, I don’t want it to be on that particular part of my

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anatomy. Also, you needn’t feel obligated to care for me, as I intend to slip away as soon as decently possible.” “Before supper? Before the couple leave the hall?” His response was stupid, but he couldn’t stop himself, she’d shocked him so. Where should he have kissed her if not on the hand? Did other men meeting her for the first time kiss her somewhere else? “Are you not enjoying the evening? The music is lively and the wine superior.” “Oh, yes, I’ve met a few interesting persons, and I do like the wine.” “I see. You have another engagement, then.” “No, the only engagement I have tonight is with a good book. You see, I am uncomfortable in crowds. I detest large celebrations. One always feels so insignificant if one is neither the bride nor the corpse.” “I shall see you home, then.” Again he’d become a blithering idiot. This chit had set him back on rather unsteady heels. “You cannot leave, as you are an honored guest and shall be missed. I, on the other hand, am merely on nodding terms with the bride’s family, and my absence will not be noticed.” “I cannot, in good conscience, let you travel on your own.” “Your conscience cannot stop me. Please ease yourself, as I have two coachmen at the ready. They will ensure my safety.” “Yet I should feel remiss in my duty.” “Salve your conscience, then, by locating a glass of spiced wine for me. The toasting is about to begin, and I do feel an ass empty handed.” He nodded and took a few steps toward a servant before swinging back to look at her. Had she said “ass?” He shook his head, found two goblets of wine, and brought them to her. “Thank you.” What an enigma this woman was. A mere “thank you.” No flirtatious curtsey, sultry smile, or clink to his glass. Simply “thank you” and a half turn away from him. He stared at her back until she turned to him, alarm on her face.

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“Hadn’t you best rush over there next to the bride and groom?” “I’ve done my part, signed the register, stood at the altar, didn’t lose the ring. From now on they will do fine without me, poor love-sick saps though they be.” He thought back to the tryst the three of them had before Faith agreed to marry Ram and smiled with satisfaction. She’d had her adventure, and a few more since, with both Ram and Cash. The three of them did enjoy playing with each other. “I see by your grin you have happy memories of the day, but I do believe you are expected to give a toast. The groom is waving in your direction.” “Good God, I hadn’t thought of giving a toast. I have nothing prepared.” “You’d best shake something loose from your brain. Someone is coming with a stool for your platform.” “My mind is a quagmire of wine. This is my best friend in the whole world. I cannot disgrace him and his lovely wife whom I also adore.” “Stall, then, and I shall think on it. Give elaborate congratulations or some such.” A squire set the stool in front of him and helped him up onto it. The rest of the people, except for Alise, moved away. As he bent to her, the scent of lavender drifted up to him. Nice. He was transported to the verdant fields he’d romped in as a child. “Is it possible to hear me from your lofty height, Earl?” “Yes, of course.” Did her words hold double meaning? Were they meant to cut him down to size? Alise cleared her throat. “Okay, I’m set. Do not worry.” The huskiness of Alise’s stage whisper sent unexpected shivers through him. “Dear friends, Ram and Faith, my heartiest felicitations. Of course, the rest of you do not know, he could not have won her without my help.” Only the bride and groom knew the truth of those words. He paused for the laughter of the crowd to abate.

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Alise gave his stocking a tug. “Say this—Shakespeare must have written this passage expressly for such a couple as Faith and Ram.” He repeated her words aloud. The expectant hush of the crowd unnerved him. He hoped Alise knew what she was doing. He was entrusting a complete stranger with this important moment. “No sooner met but they looked.” He repeated it. Somehow he did trust her. “No sooner looked than they loved.” Again he repeated her words. “No sooner loved but they sighed. No sooner—” Cash waved her away and took over. “No sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason. No sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy. And in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage.” Wild shouting and clapping as the couple kissed wiped out the need for any other words. He climbed down from his perch. “Thank you, Lady Alise. That was perfect, and I never would have come up with it in time.” “You are a complicated man, Cassius Wentworth, Earl of Chasten. Despite your scoffing at marriage, you know love poems.” “I do read, Lady Alise Ellington. I read quite a bit, and I have this unfortunate quirk of remembering whatever drivel I concentrate on for more than two seconds. That particular passage is from a play, however, not a poem.” “Yes, As You Like It. I have seen the production at the Globe.” “Surely not. A Lady at the Globe? Unheard of.” Again, she had shocked him, and again, he’d spoken rashly to the daughter of his father’s associate. He was usually smooth with women and could not fathom what was causing him to be clumsy tonight. Perhaps thinking too much on Ram and Faith’s marriage had dislocated something in his brain.

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“I do not dissemble. Dressed as a lad, I accompanied two of my friends into the pit and joined the rowdiness with the rest of them. I must say I found it liberating, being of the masculine gender.” “Ah, liberty, that is a subject I am able to embrace wholeheartedly.” “As it happens, liberty is a subject to be pursued at my Tuesday discussion group. Since your services will not be required this evening, perhaps you would attend the group instead? We are in need of a new perspective lest we grow stale and our ideas too firmly formed, like rusty locks that refuse to open.” “A discussion club?” Could he insult this woman yet another time and tell her he’d as soon spend time in Bedlam being forcefed raw liver? “Why, Lady Alise, I should be honored to attend.” “Good. Now, I shall try to slip away unnoticed after giving my regards to the bride’s family once more.” Cash groaned as soon as she was no longer within hearing distance. God’s teeth, a discussion of books and liberty? His father would owe him for this sacrifice. He’d draft a letter tonight and demand a boon, perhaps the deed to one of the London townhouses. The end of the midnight supper was also the end of Cash’s reserves of energy. He’d spent most of the evening angry at Lady Alise, angry at himself, simply angry and out of sorts. A thousand retorts came to him now when it was too late. My Lady, Alise, thank you for considering me worthy, but to me discussion groups are about as entertaining as a parade of marching frogs. An evening spent with you and your friends t’would seem a yearlong imprisonment. An examination of life by those who have yet to live would freeze my brain for weeks to come. Oh, yes, now he could think. In her presence his mind was empty. If not for the financial bonds between their fathers, on Tuesday next he would say these things to her and set her running as fast as her extremely long legs would carry her. Were they shapely legs? Why was her neckline so damnably high? Why was he thinking of her body at all?

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He made his way to the happy couple as they were about to leave. “Ram and Faith, are you certain you don’t want me along on your trip?” Faith kissed him on the mouth. “You know we’d adore it, but tongues do wag, and we must act with decorum until eyes of the town are busy elsewhere.” “I shall take my leave if my duties are complete.” “Thank you, and we shall be together soon.” Ram’s voice sounded a note of true regret. For some time, Cash thought perhaps his friend would resent the ménage that had been Faith’s foray into wicked adventure. He thought Ram might avoid him altogether. But that had not been the case. Ram had enjoyed seeing the woman he adored being fulfilled and to Cash’s delight had set more such sessions in motion. Now, just as his parents had done, his closest friends would shortly set sail as passengers on a cargo ship. They refused to divulge their itinerary to any, save their parents, and Cash felt bereft with the loss before they were actually gone. For days after the wedding, he let his Steward, Baines, run the estate alone while Cash wallowed in self-pity. Baines had indulged his master until this morning when he’d pulled the draperies open at six, declared it a new day, and had a bath sent up. Cash languished in the tub until the water turned cold. He should order more, but that would mean rising dripping wet and walking to the bell pull. A soft scratching at the door announced Baines. Cash groaned. “Today is Tuesday, Milord.” Baines placed a damask towel on the floor at the foot of the brass tub and held another aloft, ready for drying. “It is indeed. And why should that interest me?” Cash emerged from the bath and swiped the towel from his servant’s hands. He frantically wiped his body, quite set to hop back into bed. “You have an engagement at the hour of nine. Do you not recall your agreement to attend Lady Alise’s discussion group?

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You bade me write it in the day book as you could not slight your father’s business associate by ignoring his daughter.” “God’s teeth, must I go? Can you not think of an alternative?” “Indeed, I cannot. Your attire is laid out in the dressing room. Shall we proceed?” “If we must.” Body weighed down with woes he couldn’t define, Cash proceeded to dress. “Baines, why have I not been out drinking, gambling, and wenching these past days? Why am I cooped up with an ennui I cannot shake?” “Mayhap you had been inordinately absorbed in your project to convince Lady Faith to marry Lord Ramsey, and you now are at odds to find interest in a new project.” “And how do I decide upon a new project when nothing seems to matter?” “I do not know exactly, Milord, but you will not find it lying about like an indulgent tot.” “How are you so wise, my man?” “I have lived in this world many more years than yourself. Ah, you are ready with this falling collar, I think. No ruff needed.” “Do we have some mutton left from last eve’s supper? It was uncommonly good.” “I salvaged a joint before sending it to the parish house.” “A bit of small ale and some of that mutton and bread should fortify me for the morning of bandying words with silly ladies.” “As I understand it, Lady Alise is anything but silly.” “I admit she is quite sober, yet I doubt the others shall be up to her wit. Indeed, she is quite unique among women.” “Is she? She sounds interesting, promising even.” “Remove that knowing grin from your face, Baines. I only meant she is different from any other women I have met. I certainly have no romantic intentions toward her. Do you know she is near as tall as I?” “I see.” “Stop thinking whatever it is you are thinking. Believe me, standing at the altar with Ram waiting for Faith gave me enough of

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a fright to know I do not wish to be in a similar position until father is on his deathbed and I must secure the future of the family name.” Travel to Rossford Manor was a trek, not because of road conditions but because of Cash’s dull mood. The manor, built of red brick with stone dressings, was typical rather than impressive with its crow-stepped gables and clusters of chimneys. Cash would have liked to study them, but he’d taken the long way around and was several minutes late. At the wide-arched inner courtyard, he gave his mount over to a stable lad. A stiff, uniformed elder gent greeted Cash’s knock. The doorman, as he directed the way, informed Cash that Lady Alise and her guests had already begun their meeting. At the library, double doors were thrown open by a very young gentleman, dressed to the nines with an elaborate pleated ruff, trimmed in delicate lace. Across the room, another more casually attired gentleman, of an age equal to Cash’s own thirty four, faced him with an unwelcome stare of consternation. Alise, on the other hand, seemed pleased at his attendance. “Welcome, Earl Chasten. Come meet my friends. Sir Derry Dandridge, who opened the doors for you, has been my companion since nursery days. The gentleman at my side is my neighbor, Lord Trowbridge. Derry and Bridges, I call them.” Lady Alise came toward him, arms outstretched, and took both his hands, fairly dragging him into the room. She seemed a completely new person from the frump he’d thought her at the wedding feast. Although she wore spectacles with strings attaching them to her ears, her face was more glowing, her dress a more colorful blue, her neckline lower, a fact not unnoticed by Bridges. Her hair, though bound at the back, was loosened around her face. It appeared brighter, with several shades of red and blonde streaks through the chestnut brown. “We usually have ale and cakes later, but if you wish some refreshment from your long ride—” “No, no, I am content to wait.”

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“Please take a seat, then, and we will begin anew.” She sat on the settle. Cash thought about joining her there, changed his mind, and chose a chair on the opposite side of the hearth from where Derry had parked himself. Bridges continued to stand directly behind Alise. “Very good, everyone’s settled. I have opened the discussion with a quote from playwright William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. In the second act, Adriana says, ‘Why should their liberty than ours be more?’ She is of course referring to men.” As if directing an orchestra, Alise swept a hand across the room to elicit responses from the others. Was she being gracious toward the newcomer by using Shakespeare, since he had recognized the passage from the Bard’s play at the wedding? Somehow everything Alise did confused him, made him question his own motives. Derry jumped into the fray. “And does her sister not answer by saying men have more needs that must be fulfilled?” Alise reclined against the arm of the tufted settle, providing counterpoint to the gold brocade. “Very good, Derry.” She cleared her throat. “Before marriage, a man can dally as much as he wants without censure. A woman should have the same right.” Might as well contribute since she went to the trouble to accommodate him, the new member, by choosing something she supposed he would know. “Luciana, Adriana’s sister, replies, ‘Because their business still lies out o’ door.’ If I am not mistaken, she means to say women need less freedom because they are able to stay at home and not go outside to deal with estate or family finances.” Cash questioned his own motives for speaking. Under most circumstances, he preferred to keep his uncanny memory under wraps. What made him feel the need to boast of it now? For some mysterious reason, he took satisfaction in the shocked stares from the men in the room. Naturally, they’d assumed an Earl would not have a thought in his head, save hedonistic delights. Ah, hedonism,

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there was a topic he’d enjoy discussing with Lady Alise. Would she throw him out if he broached it? Derry rose and plopped onto the settle, next to Alise. “Exactly what I said, though I hadn’t had advance notice so as to memorize the text.” He pouted like a petulant poppet. With a playful peck to his cheek, Alise moved closer to her friend. Bridges remained standing behind the settle, focused on his hostess’s décolletage. He looked away only long enough to deliver a comment. “John Knox writes, ‘Woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man.’ I am not keen on the obey part, but I do like the serve idea.” “Oh, and how would you have women serve you?” Alise tilted her head to look at him. “Should we kneel at your side like faithful hounds? Should we feed you sweetmeats? Or mayhap, we should lie abed naked all day ready at any moment for you to take your pleasure on our bodies?” Three men drew in a breath. Didn’t the chit realize the image now permanently burned into each man’s mind? If she wanted to delve into the mind of a man, Cash would counter and examine the mind of womankind. “A lady might quite enjoy a man who wished her body each minute of the day. As Sappho said of Helen, and I paraphrase rather than quote this time, she but yielded to love forced by her passion and dared fate. Do women today have no such passion?” Alise didn’t pale as he’d expected, she chuckled. “Indeed they do, Milord. Indeed they do. Yet we have not the freedom to act upon such passion. Men frequent bawdy houses, where can we go? We must wait upon our father’s edict for a spouse he deems worthy. Our passions are thus curtailed.” “Unless a woman tosses convention aside and finds a novel means to satisfy her needs.” Cash spoke directly to Alise, ignoring the others in the room. “And I do believe women have carnal desires, though many, for modesty’s sake, pretend otherwise. Is that not so, Lady Alise? Would you not like to dare fate as Helen of Troy did?”

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Bridges visibly stiffened. “Your intimation is totally improper, Earl. We do not use this forum for personal attacks.” The snap of his voice whipped through icy air and sent cold slivers of loathing at Cash’s head. “Did my observation seem to attack someone here, my man?” Alise interrupted. “Of course it did not. Bridges is very solicitous on my account, I’m afraid.” Derry rose from the settle and minced to Bridges’ side. “I agree with Bridges. Your observation seemed aimed directly at Alise.” “Perhaps it was, but he is my guest and has been asked here to voice his opinions.” She turned to Cash. “Do you believe I suppress hedonistic tendencies, my lord?” “As I barely know you, I cannot say for certain. I suspect it may be the case, however.” “Ah, so you were referring to me in particular?” “No, I was referring to the feminine gender of which you are one. And I believe you are correct in your assessment that societal restraints prevent women from blossoming into the sensual creatures they were meant to be.” “Not at all,” Bridges broke in, “they have gentle natures meant to be cosseted from man’s baser instincts.” “Bridges, you are being an awful prude today. Do you mean to tell me if I were to lower my bodice and ask you to fondle me, you would refuse so as to protect me from myself?” “I–I—” Derry laughed aloud. “Truth, tell the truth.” Bridges turned his back on the assembly. “Truth be told, I don’t think I’d be strong enough.” He swung around, nose to nose with Derry. “And what would you do, sir?” “Dunno, but I rather imagine I’d enjoy it.” Cash was sorry he’d started the whole thing. Somehow, he didn’t want these men to envision Alise’s bosom. The woman in question looked stricken, the men looked miserable, and he felt a cad. “Since we shall never be presented with such a delightful challenge, I propose we change the direction of our discourse.”

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Alise went to the bell pull. “Some cakes and ale seem called for at this juncture.” “Excuse me, I have no appetite. I will see you next week, Alise.” Bridges swept out of the library with such regal aplomb, only a fanfare of bugles was missing. Derry’s head swiveled from the closing door to Alise and back again. “I cannot leave you here with Lord Chasten, thus I will sit.” He trudged to the settle, turned to look at Alise, and whined, “Should I stay?” “Do sit, and stop being an ass.” He shrugged and dropped onto the seat. Alise held up her arms and sighed. “Please forgive Bridges for his rude departure, Cash.” “I’m afraid my presence here has put a pall on your discussion group. Bridges is obviously in love with you, Alise. Are you betrothed to the man?” “No, I am not, although your assessment is correct. He loves me, and I return his affections.” “What is stopping you from consummating the relationship?” “Consummation is not the problem. I simply do not wish to marry at present. You see, I also love Derry, and he loves me. Though his proclivities are dual in nature, I cannot desert him. So, you see, we are at an impasse.” “Hmm.” Cash traversed the room as he spoke. The books on one particular shelf were surprising. The Book of the Thousand One Nights, Painter’s translation from Italian of The Palace of Pleasure; the Tragicall Discourses in French. “I shall give the matter of your impasse my attention, as I am without a project at present. Have you read all the books in this area, Lady Alise?” “Yes, I read much Italian and French, as well as my father’s Latin tomes.” A servant arrived and laid a tray of refreshments on a stool covered with a tapestry rug.

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Cash roamed the room perusing books on elaborate shelves built into the walls. She had many of the same books as he, and her tastes seemed as varied as his. He wasn’t at all certain he wanted Alise and Bridges to marry, and he couldn’t conceive of her being married to such as Derry. He should disentangle himself immediately, walk away never to return. What happened to the woman was of no concern to him. He turned to tell her this and caught her leaning over to plant a kiss on Derry’s cheek. The delightful show of bosom caused him to adjust his breeches. He tore his gaze back to the books. Was this the woman he’d thought too slender, with no womanly curves? God’s teeth, her every word and action confused him. “Come join us, Cash. I have a very fine cook. May I call you Cash? You did say to refer to you that way at the wedding. We never stand on ceremony here.” “Cash, please.” He removed the chair from a black-leather desk near him and placed it opposite the settle. “Sir Derry, Lady Alise, you speak of liberty for women in the abstract, yet make no mention of remedy for the appalling lack of freedom for women in actual society.” Alise’s jaw stiffened. “One cannot much affect mores of the day in a grand way, but one can choose not to be bound by them.” “I, for one, have never let society dictate my actions,” Derry said rather piously. “Do be serious, Derry. We know men have freedom. Cash and I refer to the stifling bands of propriety put upon women.” “Ah, my dear Alise, you have said since we were tots you would plow your own path through life. Yet you, just last year, submitted to the excruciating, season-long spectacle of ‘coming out’ merely to please your father. And with no thought of choosing a husband among the young bucks lined up for your hand.” “’Twas not for society’s sake. ’Twas for my father who felt it his duty to set me on the path my mother would have chosen for me. I could do no less for the man who has sacrificed much for me. ’Twas not an imposition and harmed me not a bit.”

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Cash, surprised at the sibling-like bickering between these two, determined to set them back onto the trail of the discourse he wanted to explore. “Lady Alise may have placated her father, but she did not submit to the requisite betrothal at season’s end, because she is her own woman. Am I not correct?” “Certainly.” Alise shot a pointed look Derry’s way. He sheepishly nodded. “I concede. Alise has tasted many a forbidden fruit. She is liberal in both body and mind in many ways, save one.” Ah, family secrets? “Alise, is Derry right? Do you strike out in support of fairness for women, except for one restraint?” Alise blushed and turned her head. Derry answered for her. “She has taken many liberties in a quest for knowledge, but not all. I leave it to your imagination to figure out what that is and to her determination whether or not to reveal it.” Alise stood, hands on hips. “I believe, as you well know, Sir Dandridge, that the senses need satisfaction as much as the mind. In fact, I am adamant the mind must be involved in pleasures of the body.” She plopped down rather indelicately. “We shall not leave these lovely cakes untouched, shall we?” She sat and poured ale and passed plates of cake. No more discussion of liberty took place that afternoon. The trio chose instead to speak of lighter subject matter. On his ride home, Cash once again berated himself for becoming involved with someone else’s troubles. Ram and Faith were one thing. Ram was his closest friend, and Faith had proved a most agreeable bed partner for them both. Alise was nothing like the free-spirited Faith. Or was she? What exactly had she implied when she said consummation was not the problem, marriage was? Did she mean she would bed Bridges without…No, of course she didn’t mean any such thing. Her knowledge of the world came from books, not experiences. He’d consult with Baines. The man had uncanny insight into the human condition. He galloped the rest of the way to Chasten Hall,

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leapt from the back of Black Vanguard, and called to his Master of Horse to rub the steed and supply him with extra rations. Baines met him in the entry hall. “You seem a bit perkier than you did this morn, Milord. Did you find the ladies’ discussion stimulating?” “No ladies, two men and myself.” Cash stripped off his gloves, tossed them to Baines, and headed for the stairs to his room. “Follow me. We need to speak in private. I do believe I’ve found another project.” “Praise the Lord.” Baines entered Cash’s apartments in time to catch the doublet thrown in his direction. “Here’s the problem. Baines, are you listening?” As he brushed the doublet, Baines shot his retort over his shoulder. “Committing every word to memory, Milord.” “Do you suppose Lady Alise would enjoy an arrangement?” “What sort of arrangement? Of flowers, perhaps?” “Of course not flowers. Are you being intentionally dense?” “Me, Milord? Would I engage in such a childish act?” “No, you would not.” “Unlike others in this abode.” “I heard that. You know perfectly well what I meant, an arrangement similar to the one Ramsey, Faith, and I have.” “You mean would Lady Alise marry you but welcome another into her bed and body as well?” “Married? Me? Why would you say such an inane thing? You are trying my patience, Baines.” “I say it because you seem to be taken with her, and you need to think on consequences. You will need to marry someday, and like Ramsey, you must wed a virgin and be certain any heir is actually of your own loins.” “Someday, a long way into the future, I shall marry for convenience’s sake. And I am not taken with Lady Alise, not in the sense you imply. I am inclined to bed her, actually much inclined after being with her today, but marry? Never. In fact, she is in love with someone else, two someone elses, actually.”

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“Ah, a triangle. Or including you, does it not produce a quadrangle? You went to University, not I. I’ll leave it for you to ponder.” “Are you going to assist me or continue to pretend to be obtuse?” “I’ve been assisting you in and out of scrapes since you left the nursery. Why would I stop now?” “All right, then, here is the problem. I wish to bed Lady Alise. Lady Alise loves two other gentlemen, neither of whom she is inclined to marry.” “She spoke of this disinterest in marriage to you?” “She spoke of not refusing the consummation, only the marriage. In other words she is ready—” “In other words she would have either, or both, take a spade to her rose bush but will not relinquish ownership of the garden.” “Then, Baines, you take the same meaning as I?” “I do, Milord. Unlike Lady Faith, however, Alise is not demanding adventure. She lives through literature and appears content to derive pleasure from escapades of fictional heroes.” “Yet I sense disquiet beneath the surface. She wants more than paper thrills.” “Devil’s farts, she wants romance.” “Baines?” “She craves romance. She has arrived at the conclusion that if heroines in books find romance, why shouldn’t she?” “Of course.” He grabbed the man by the shoulders and kissed each cheek in turn. “Baines, I do love you.” Cash sat at the smallish desk in his dressing room and took out pen and paper. “I haven’t written a love poem since my days at Eton, but I believe I can recapture the knack.” “Good God, I must alert Sir Edmund Spenser, Faerie Queen is about to be eclipsed.” “Enough, Baines. And you needn’t hire a runner. I shall deliver my tribute to Lady Alise in person.” “Ah, the heated blood of youth.”

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“Baines, do you not have enough duties to occupy yourself?” “By your leave, Milord.” Baines bowed from the waist and backed obsequiously out of the door. Cash paused, pen upraised. What should he praise about Alise? Her eyes? No, they were either squinting at him or hidden behind spectacles. Her hair? Possibly. He rejected praising her mind, no romance in that. Long after a maid had turned down his bed covers and placed a warming pan under them, Cash continued to write and reject each effort. A near ream of paper, quarts of oak gall ink, and several broken quills later, he gave up trying for romance and simply displayed his true feelings. Dissatisfied with the effort, he left the poem on his desk and dropped into bed. The words tripped around his brain all night. ’Tis said by bards and those very wise Love looks with the mind, not the eyes Thus, though your beauty may send siren’s call ’Tis your mind which has me in thrall The next morning, he rose with the dawn, completed estate work left undone for far too long, and sent a servant to the village to locate Derry. By sundown, the lad returned with the information. Derry’s father, a carpenter, had done some work for Queen Elizabeth, and the noted parsimonious lady had knighted him in lieu of payment. At present, he did odd jobs in nearby estates and raised sheep. Derry’s mother, for many years, worked in the kitchens of Rossford Hall and had been allowed to keep Derry in the nursery with Alise when they were tots. She was retired with a pension three years ago. Since attaining the age of consent, Derry, youngest of the three boys in a family of the same number of daughters, spent few days or nights at home. A pub in the next town let him rooms two or three nights a week, and if not with Lady Alise Ellington at Rossford, he could be found there.

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Cash had his black stallion, Vagabond, saddled and set off in the dusk of a moonlit eve. He loaded a pistol and thrust a dirk inside his boot in case some other highwaymen had taken up where he and Ram left off. Such men would not be accommodating and secretly return all the loot as he and Ram had done. His trek to the Boar’s Head Tavern was uneventful. Upon inquiring for Sir Derry Dandridge, he was shown to the door of a room. Cash knocked and announced himself. A bored and irritable “come in if you must,” emanated from the other side. Cash opened the door and quickly shut it behind him so as not to expose the scene before him to prying eyes.

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Chapter Two Derry lay, arse raised, on a feather bed with a burly, aproned chap, rod at the ready, standing behind him. “As we have merely begun, and neither of us is satisfied as yet, I hope you will be brief.” Derry’s strained voice held undertones of impatience and animosity. The burly man threw back his head and chortled. “Unless you’d like to join us, that is. Derry likes to watch the buggering near as much as he craves it. And he’s quite capable of doing the same to you, if you wish.” Derry sat up. “May, from the kitchen, will join us soon, if that is more interesting to you, Lord Chasten.” “She has delicious engorged teats, having recently given birth, so you may milk her for all she’s worth. A treat you won’t forget.” Burly chortled again. “Whatever is your pleasure, May will accommodate you. As for me, I like to go from one arse to the other without release for as long as I can. Derry prefers her mouth on his cock to fucking her, so she will lay atop you for that. Loves to have all ’er holes filled at once, our May.” May breezed into the room and immediately lowered her bodice. “These are painful. Someone please drain me. The babe is asleep.” On the opposite side of the bed from Derry, she leaned across to give him access. Derry, on his knees again, chomped down on one breast while Burly’s stiffened rod sunk deeply into his ass. May threw the back of her gown up to reveal her naked buttocks and gave Cash an inviting look. “Come help out, or are you merely a voyeur incapable of a tumble and tuck?”

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“Thank you all for the invitations, however, I have neither the time nor inclination tonight. I shall take my leave now and speak with Mr. Dandridge at a more convenient time.” Cash rushed out the door and down the stairs. He was not class-conscious and had had his share of barmaids and revelries with untitled working folk. Somehow, the scene abovestairs didn’t appeal to him. A meaningless romp simply didn’t interest him any longer. He wanted to care, the way he had those nights with Ram and Faith. He wanted more than his prick involved, he wanted his heart engaged as well. He left his card with the barkeep with a note asking Derry to call on him soon. At least he had accomplished one objective. He now knew Derry would not balk at a ménage with Alise. Trowbridge would be more of a challenge. The man had developed a distinct distaste for Cash’s very presence. He had to seduce him as much as he had to seduce Alise. Romance, Baines had said. Romance it would be. But how? The ride home did not answer the question for him. He handed Vagabond to a stable lad and hurried, as he always had in the absence of his father, to locate Baines for advice. The Steward was reprimanding a kitchen maid for ordering the wrong type of fish for the evening meal. Since Cash never paid much attention to food, he couldn’t see the need for frightening the lass to near hysterics. He called Baines off and led him into the library. “Baines, how does one go about seducing a man?” “Has your poetry so disgusted Lady Alise that her vociferous rejection turned you into a sodomite?” “Of course not. I haven’t yet delivered the poem nor spoken to the lady today.” “Ah, so you came upon this decision on your own and believe me to be an expert? Am I to assume you have suspected me of predilections toward the masculine gender? Is it because I have no wife or mistress?” “Stop it at once. I know how many women you keep on my money. I simply wish to hear some wise council. I shall go out of

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my mind with Faith and Ram away, and I don’t know if any other woman would consent to take Faith’s role in the scene I’ve become addicted to.” “And that relates somehow to seducing a man? Lie down, Milord, and I will fetch a cold cloth to sooth your addled head.” “Ready a costume fit for an evening call at Trowbridge Hall while I explain.” With much mumbling and head shaking, Baines reached into the clothespress and returned to Cash’s side with decorative hose of peacock blue and polished black leather breeches. “I imagine you’ll want to dress prettily if you intend to attract someone to bugger you, or is it you who wishes someone to bugger?” “Neither option appeals to me as you well know. I merely must insinuate myself into the good graces of the man if I am to intrigue him into my way of thinking.” “Into a trio of love as you shared with Ramsey and Lady Faith?” “Exactly that.” “Hadn’t you best convince the lady before rounding up her bed partners?” “Ordinarily, yes. However, Lady Alise is a professed free thinker. She has read The Palace of Pleasure, Fenton’s Tragicall Discourses, and believes women should have freedoms equal to men.” “And does she practice what she reads?” “I will not know until I ask. I shall issue a challenge daring her to live up to that which she professes to believe. The two gentlemen, close and trusted friends of hers, once on to my way of thinking, will do the convincing. So you see, turning Bridges to my side is of utmost concern to me.” “Hmm. Is he a vain gentleman?” Baines went to the clothespress for shirt and doublet. “I believe so.” Cash peeled the morning’s shirt from his body. “He is also very solicitous of Lady Alise. I would leave him out, but I fear he is too much entrenched in her affairs to fool for very

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long.” He sat on a stool to unhook stockings from his breeches and to roll them down. Baines tugged at his boots. “Falconry might be the answer. Perhaps hawking together would bring you close. The business with the birds would put him at ease around you, and mayhap his tongue would loosen in regards to his feelings for Lady Alise. You might gift him with one of your lesser trained hawks.” “Excellent thought, Baines. I shall do that very thing. I shall call upon him this night and invite him here on the morrow.” He grimaced at the finery Baines pulled from the clothespress but dutifully submitted. Cash climbed into his coach, trying to ignore the footman’s gaping. When his parents were away, which was often, he rarely took the coach and never wore the ruff now making his head appear to be resting on a pristine white platter. One had to suffer to attain one’s desires, and Cash desired the Lady Alise in a tryst she would never forget. He tapped the carriage roof for more speed. It wouldn’t do to visit Trowbridge Hall at an unfashionable hour, and it was nigh onto seven by his pocket clock. The Trowbridge butler obviously approved of Cash’s appearance and immediately ushered him into the solar where Bridges strolled among gilt-framed portraits of his ancestors. Cash had heard voices in other rooms as they passed, but he had expressly stated his business was with the young master. Bridges looked a bit peeved and more than taken aback at Cash’s intrusion into his home. “I hope I am not disturbing your solace, Bridges. I came merely to invite you in person to a hawking expedition tomorrow.” At the mention of hawks, Bridges’s eyes showed a spark of interest. “I understand you have a wide and very prized selection of birds. I should enjoy the outing extremely, as I have been limited by expense in the choice for my own coterie.” As he spoke he maneuvered toward the doorway. “We are expecting supper guests, so I hope you won’t mind if my man retrieves your cloak. I assume

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you wore one, since November winds often kick up with a hearty thrust.” Halfway down the long hall, Earl Trowbridge surfaced from one of the noisy rooms. “I see you have a friend, son. Very commendable. My son does not have a wide circle of friends.” Bridges made the necessary introductions. “You will stay for supper, Cassius?” The senior Trowbridge led the way into a parlor where a fire had been lit. “It promises to be a lively evening. Lady Alise Ellington, Rossford’s daughter, and Sir Derry Dandridge are arriving at eight, and we have arranged an ensemble for dancing later in an attempt to keep Lady Alise amused in her father’s absence.” Now Cash realized why Bridges tried to whisk him away so quickly. “Of course I shall be delighted to join the party.” Bridges spat out between stiffened lips, “Surely Milord has other commitments, and we cannot impose on our good fortune in his stopping by.” “I have no other engagements tonight.” Cash sat on a tapestrycovered chair in front of the fireplace, and Bridges slumped onto its twin opposite him. Small ale was served to the men and small talk tided them over until Lady Trowbridge arrived with her daughter, Beth. Cash had met Beth three years ago in her first season and had found her to be a cut above the usual crop of tittering females. That she had not yet wed surprised him. She seemed even-tempered, had a brain and pleasant face and figure. He stood and bowed to Lady Trowbridge, then to Beth. “Milord.” Beth curtsied. “We haven’t met for some time, Cassius. How have you fared?” “Passably well, thank you, and you have grown lovelier with added years. As have you, Lady Trowbridge. The years seem to have not touched you a whit.” “Such a flatterer, just as your father is. How are the Marquis and Lady?”

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“At present they are halfway to the Orient to purchase silk for our textile mills along with Earl Rossford. As I have not heard otherwise, I assume they are well and enjoying themselves.” “Ah, then you are acquainted with our guest, Lady Alise?” “We met recently, and I have attended her discussion group along with your son and Sir Dandridge.” Beth clapped her hands and sat on a tufted stool next to her mother’s. “This will be a delightful evening since we all know each other.” Lord Trowbridge, ignoring his Steward, poured spiced wine from a crystal decanter into Venetian glasses for his daughter and wife. He waved a hand at the steward. “Best go to the hall, Stevens. Guests will be waiting. I heard a carriage moments ago.” In mere seconds, Derry and Alise were shown into the parlor. Alise stopped short as Cash rose in greeting. “Lord Chasten, this is indeed a pleasure. I had not known you were joining us tonight.” “I’m afraid I intruded myself. A pleasure to meet you again, Lady Alise.” Cash smiled at her amazed expression, yet it did not surpass his own upon seeing her. Once again, in public she was trussed up like a Christmas goose, hair bound tightly at the back of her head, tawny gown of no distinction, buttoned to the neck. For a minute, as greetings and libations were pursued, he wondered why he thought to want her in his bed. Then she spoke, and he knew. “My, the ride here was pleasurable, the sky clear as window pane and stars ablaze. Orion’s belt seemed polished for battle and Cassiopeia appeared dressed for a court ballroom.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and she licked her lips often. Those lush, full lips, how he wanted them pressed to his own or surrounding his cock. Cash didn’t know another young woman who would think of starlight except as a backdrop for a romantic interlude, let alone know the constellations by name. Her passion for knowledge surely must spill over into other areas besides books, the bedroom perchance. He hoped to make use of such passion in a way to benefit them both, as well as her dear friends.

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Bridges brought her a glass of wine as she fluttered her skirts around a tufted stool and sat. Cash could think of nothing else for several moments save Alise’s naked bottom gracing that fortunate seat cover. Would Bridges transport it to his bed chamber and pleasurably abuse himself with scents and dreams of the lovely derriere now upon it? Alise called him back to reality. “Will you honor our little discussion group with your presence this following week, Lord Chasten?” “Wouldn’t miss the opportunity to be in your company again, Milady.” “Shall we decide upon a topic while all are present? Although I’ve assured them it was not so, Derry and Bridges believe I gave you unfair advantage last week since you had such thorough and ready responses.” “I am certainly not above taking unfair advantage, gentlemen, however, I have a disconcerting impediment. I retain clearly, almost word for word, anything I have read. To give back the advantage, I propose the three of you choose a topic not to my knowledge. Thusly, you may prepare, and I may not.” Bridges cleared his throat. “Seems only right, eh, Derry?” “As you wish, Milords.” Derry, pouting, was busy at his ale. “You peers of the realm are better able than I to decide matters of consequence.” “Come, come, Sir, we are all equals here. I am Cash, and this is Bridges, no lordships to obfuscate the atmosphere. If you recall, Lady Alise insisted we not stand on ceremony in her presence.” “Here, here, children. I see my Marshall of Hall in the doorway ready to announce supper. Do finish your quarrels elsewhere.” The senior Trowbridge and his wife swept from the room with Beth in their wake. Derry and Bridges each took a hand to aid Alise in rising, while Cash followed after trailing his fingers along her recently vacated stool. Cash hadn’t remembered it was November 17, Accession Day. Although Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was many years past, the

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Trowbridges celebrated in style with a sumptuous meal. He took sparingly of each dish in the first course, preferring to spend his time observing Alise. She took only a few swallows of the stewed broth and for the most part ignored the cold dishes of capons in lemon and a larded pheasant pasty. She passed on the lettuce salad with oil and sugar but dug heartily into the figs in clotted cream. The lady had a sweet tooth. Derry pointed out a bit of cream on her upper lip, and when she licked it off, Cash felt his cock bulge. How this woman, buttoned up to the chin, could do this to him, he could not fathom. The second hot course brought quail, fresh sturgeon, baked chicken with fritters, lamb pie, peahens, and custard. Alise ate heartily of the fish, eschewed most of the other dishes, and devoured the custard with gusto, licking her bottom lip after every mouthful. And what a luscious mouth it was, full and plump. He envisioned kissing the softness of those lips, biting them to bring her to her knees before him, where they would suck on his cock in the same way she drew custard into them. The seams of Cash’s breeches became uncomfortably tight in the groin area, and he had to shift position. He had to struggle to keep his gaze from straying to Alise every two seconds even while holding a conversation concerning falconry with the elder Trowbridge. The third course brought blancmange, apples with pistachios, pears with caraway, filberts, quince pie, and cheeses. The cupbearer had been kept busy, and no one seemed to refuse any libation he poured. By the time the customary wafers and cordial of spiced wine were served, Cash wished he’d worn looser breeches. Musicians had played during the meal and were now shuffled off, along with the audience, to a large parlor emptied of furniture save two settles, stools, and an occasional table here and there. The adults left the room after the first round of country dance patterns ended, and a volta began. Cash approached the breakfront where Bridges had paused for a tankard of ale after finishing the vigorous dance with Alise. Cash had partnered Beth through the country dances and released her to

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Derry for the challenging steps of the volta. He really didn’t want his hands on the waist of anyone but Alise at this moment in time. Bridges acknowledged Cash’s presence with a nod. “Enjoying the evening, Milord?” “I am indeed. Your parents are most gracious hosts. Beginning with our hawking expedition, you and I must become better friends. I have a matter to discuss with you concerning Alise.” “Alise? Explain yourself.” “Nothing urgent, yet something to please the three of us, Derry included, and her, of course. We shall talk on the morrow, as I see the lady in question heading toward us.” “I am happy to see you have resolved your grievance with Cash, Bridges.” She planted a kiss to his cheek. Bridges beamed and gestured to the cupbearer for a glass of wine, which he handed to Alise. “As a matter of fact, I go to Wentworth Manor on the morrow for hawking.” “How delightful. I would join you one day. I love birds. They have such diverse natures depending on the species, from the scavengers, to the hunters, to the sweet and gentle finches. Some in my herb garden’s shelters will eat from my palm.” “Another day we will invite you, but I wish to prove to Bridges I am no pompous ogre and no rival in any sense.” “Do you mean to say you are not interested in me the way Bridges is? Have you two been gossiping about me?” Cash answered for the befuddled Bridges, who seemed to miss the innuendos flying around. “A lovely topic indeed, but we were discussing not the rewards of having the attention of a beautiful woman but those of jousting.” “Not considering a match, I fervently hope?” Bridges bowed his head to her. “Certainly not, as I realize it would disturb your gentle nature to see us battle.” “Good heavens, Bridgey, I am no meek little wren. In all these years, have I not yet convinced you I do not have a delicate nature? I would adore seeing you at lances.”

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Beth appeared and dragged her brother off to the dance floor, leaving Cash to spar with Alise. “You would see us joust? Do you think Bridges could take three lances from me? Jousting takes three lances to win the match, you know.” “Yes, I have studied the tournaments as recorded in broadsides my father left lying around. A participant must gain three points on his opponent.” Cash trailed a finger from her throat, down her side to her hip. “A contestant receives one point for breaking his lance between his opponent’s neck and waist.” She retaliated by drawing her finger from his chin to his breastbone. “Does one need to do this three times to garner the winning points?” “No, he may amass two points by breaking his lance on the opponent’s helmet.” He ran his fingers across her brow and down to encircle one earlobe. “This is nigh on to impossible, however, since the helmet usually sweeps back and most blows”—he traced around the other ear—“glance off, leaving the lance unbroken.” “Combinations can be much more interesting than doing the same action again and again in the same way.” The huskiness in her voice revealed she was not as unaffected as she pretended to be. “Of course, if truly proficient, the jouster is able to win three points at one pass by bringing the other rider to the ground.” “One lying prostrate would certainly be at a disadvantage. The winning rider must have much strength and agility and a very sturdy lance to accomplish such a feat.” “Yes, and in addition, he must have much experience with said lance along with some knowledge of how his opponent will react to its thrust.” “And have you such knowledge and experience and a remarkable lance, Milord?” “I do, indeed.” Cash gazed into her eyes and found merriment, interest, and expectation. He looked away first. “And Bridges, I assume, is also experienced with a lance.”

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“I wouldn’t know, never having observed his weapon in action. Derry has a prodigious one, which I have seen many times since we were raised together in my father’s house.” The choking cough her statement elicited had everyone glancing Cash’s way. When he recovered, and everyone’s attention was occupied elsewhere, he noted the wry smile she wore. He faced her squarely. “We should, the three of us, compare, and let you judge which has the mightiest, most lethal lance.” “Lethal? I believed some protection from the lance’s sharp point was in order for these tournaments.” “You are quite correct in your belief. The lance tips are covered with coronals to blunt them and cause minimal damage.” “In that case, we should arrange the contest soon, before Papa returns.” “Of course, you realize once we have our lances at the ready, someone may end in the dirt on his back.” “Or on her back.” Alise swept away to join Derry at the other end of the room. The elder Trowbridges returned and requested a more sedate tune. Those on the floor, Bridges with his sister, Derry with Alise, and the Earl and his wife, formed a procession for a pavane. Cash remained stunned and unmoving until Derry and Alise, at the end of the line, stepped back near him during the dance and Alise called out, “I understand the winner of the joust also gains possession of the loser’s horse.” Did he hear her approximate a “neigh” as they turned away? He watched in horror as, side by side, she and Derry took two measured steps forward, then a double. Possession? Did she say possession? Was she expecting more than a romp? A commitment? Marriage? As soon as the pavane ended, he thanked his hosts and made a hasty exit. He relaxed on the coach ride home. If she implied the joust involved possession at its conclusion, she meant by Derry or Bridges. Certainly she did not consider him as a possible suitor. He would be merely a participant, not a contestant in any sense.

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**** By the next day he had convinced himself he had only imagined Alise’s horse imitation. Of course the winner would not be expected to claim the prize of Alise as his bride as a jouster would his opponent’s horse. Only Derry and Bridges vied for the lady’s hand. Cash would merely be the facilitator, conduct the orchestra, so to speak, while partaking of all the goodies the lady would willingly offer. He fully expected she would want every erotic sensation the three of them could provide. At least, it was his fervent wish. Daybreak proved to be windless with overcast clouds, a perfect day for falconry. Bridges had arrived before dawn with his tiercel peregrine on his fist. Since Bridges was known as an avid hawker, Cash was not surprised he was anxious to view the fabled falcons at Wentworth Manor. Faced with this last obstacle to having his desires come to fruition, Cash was uncertain how to proceed. Should he be direct and say the three men of the discussion group should plow the luscious Alise each in his own way until all were sated, all their juices drained? Should he plant erotic seeds in the man’s mind of the many positions, the many ways they could all enjoy themselves on the lady’s body and she on theirs? Should he describe how her breasts and cuny would taste, how she would writhe beneath them as they each plunged into her, how it would feel to have her take them into her mouth, into her arse? He had no doubt of Alise’s compliance after the jousting conversation. She was a free thinker, open to exploration, but could Bridges be convinced? He seemed to believe the woman was made of marzipan, a delicacy to be looked upon but not fondled. Cash believed she was anything but delicate, despite her public persona. He clapped Bridges’s shoulder as they left for the cages where his Master of Mews waited. “Glad you brought a tiercel to capture the partridge my cook requested for tonight’s repast. I shall choose

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a goshawk and hope my dogs will scare up some rabbits or pheasant for them to swoop into their talons.” “Do you have seelings here?” “No, Milord, I disapprove of the practice. My austringer and I have reared all the birds from the nest by hand with loving care. I myself take one or two for exercise each day, and the austringer works them all twice a day.” They spent some time at the mews. Bridges had many questions about each bird while his own peregrine fluttered his feathers in a show of male macho and perhaps jealousy. He quieted the bird with soothing words and stroked his feathers often. Cash imagined him doing the same to Lady Alise and smiled when he saw her in his mind responding much as the bird did, twitching under his ministrations and cooing for more. Yes, they would have a very special ménage a quatre if Bridges could be convinced the lady wanted it as much as they. Finally, they proceeded to the lake, dogs at their heels. The cadger carried the goshawk on his perch. Spaniels flushed out several rabbits, and setters found a partridge. Once the game was bagged, Cash decided to let his hawk survey the lake fowl. The bird, steady as a marksman’s bow hand, hovered over Cash until he was ready to spring. He soared, tucked his wings, and dove, instantly killing a teal as sharp talons dug into the duck’s flesh. The two birds landed on the shore, the hawk preening, the fowl still. “Bridges, do you not think a bird is much like a lady, too much caged, wild once freed, and wishing to please her liberators in thanks?” “My, philosophy at such an early hour. I have never thought of women as caged, but you are quite right. They are reined by fathers, husbands, society. Now I ponder it, I am certain they would indeed seek to please the man that sets them free, husbands I warrant.” “Not necessarily. Lovers may do much more for a lady’s esteem.”

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“Right again, Milord. You do have a brain after all, despite being an Earl.” “Your father is an Earl. Does he not have a brain?” “Hurrumph” “You believe I have intruded on your group and your fondness for Alise. I understand how you must feel. In truth, I think I will help you have her.” “Have her, Milord? In what way?” “Every way. You see, she has confided in me her dilemma in choosing between you and Derry. You both love her, and she loves you equally. I also have a yen for the lady, and I know a way all of us can be satisfied, a way that will help her choose a husband once and for all.” “I do not comprehend your meaning, Milord.” “Let us have some double ale in my chambers, and I shall explain all.”

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Chapter Three Tankard in hand, his third, Bridges paced the length of Cash’s apartments. “Has Derry consented to this madness you propose, this ménage a quatre?” “He is most likely engaging in one such like at this very moment with strangers. With Lady Alise, he will only be ever grateful to us. He will relish the idea to such an extent, he will go mad waiting once he hears of it. Believe me, we cannot reveal it to Derry until all plans are finalized.” “I grow hard thinking of it. To have Lady Alise under me, rutting as much as I…I can hardly think she will agree. She wears much more revealing gowns in her own home, as you noticed the other day. I have viewed most of her teats by standing behind her while she sits. They are glorious, luminous globes of silken honey. My fingers itch for their rosy tips. I cannot tell you how many sheets I have soiled nights after our meetings.” “Seems you have told me. Will you cooperate, then?” “Of course, but I shant be the one to broach the subject. Such must be your duty. And where will we go?” “Wentworth Manor, of course. This is not my first contract of this type.” “You have fucked other women in tandem with other men?” “One lady, a very fine and noble lady, much like Alise, and with one man, my best friend. He was to marry her, however, so I could not fuck her the way he did.” “How did you accomplish that?” “She used her mouth on me as my friend plunged in to deflower her.”

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“And were you allowed her teats? Did you pinch her nipples and suck her teats?” “Indeed, and she promised I could draw on them to extract milk once she is with his child. Oh, yes, I also released my seed into her most accommodating and luscious ass several times during the evening.” Bridges stopped in his tracks. “Her ass? Oh, what pleasure that would bring. I harden to think on it. And you believe Alise will let us so abuse her? I cannot fathom it. Her pleasure lies in books, not in carnal pursuits. Alise would never let us into her ass.” “’Tis not abuse if the lady wishes it. And I have reason to believe Lady Alise wishes to experience all the acts she reads about in books. The lady I referred to earlier loved the feeling of two cocks inside her at once. She asked us to service her that way again and again.” “You put your cock up her bum at the same time as her fiancé had his cock in her cunt? You both fucked her at the same time? It is possible?” “I assure you it is. Takes but a bit of arrangement of pillows and such. And, oh, what a rush of sensations it brings, for her as well as us. You tingle all over. Your dick grows to proportions you never contemplated, your nerve endings scream for response, yet you don’t ever want to pull out. The woman is filled completely, and she begs for you to delay your release as long as you can, to ram in farther and harder. When you all spill your juices, you continue to fondle and suck each other because you want to do it again, reach those heights again. The second time you are able to keep it up longer, and she arches and writhes beneath you for maximum penetration. You pay more attention to caressing her belly, kneading the softness of her breasts, and squeezing her nipples. Your—” “Stop, please, I am in pain inside my breeches and about to spill my seed onto your floor mat. May I use your private garderobe?”

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“Of course. Go through the privy chamber into my dressing chamber, and you will find a closet there.” When Bridges was out of sight, Cash chuckled. The man seemed obsessed with breasts and was easier convinced than Cash thought he would be once he imagined getting his hands on Alise’s bosom. Men were men, after all. The cadger followed Bridges home with one of Cash’s younger goshawks in his cage. Bridges, toting one of the partridges his peregrine had caught, along with several rabbits downed by Cash’s goshawk, departed happy on all accounts. Baines appeared directly after the man was on his way. “You have convinced the man to participate in the love fest, Milord?” “Yes, I amaze myself at how persuasive I can be.” “All of Parliament should be alerted to give proper tribute.” “You gave me the idea of the hawk, I concede. I do not forget that.” “Thank you for the remembrance.” “Now, make the same preparations as before, except many more linens, pillows, and procure a few more tubs since we shall have an extra man.” “Shall I leave food to the cook’s discretion?” “Ask the bakers for more and varied sweets. The lady enjoys tarts and custards and baked fruits.” “Ah, tarts for the tart.” Cash rushed at his most trusted servant and vigorously shook him. “Do not ever malign Lady Alise either in or out of my hearing. She is a model for all women, with brains and sensuality in combination.” “Milord, I meant no disrespect. I do not know the woman. ’Tis but my strange humor, with which you are well acquainted.” In horror, Cash stepped back and brushed his Steward’s shoulders of creases. “God’s teeth, I lost my senses for a moment.” “I had forgotten you have tender feelings for the woman. I apologize, Milord.”

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“Tender feelings? No, merely great esteem for her love of knowledge and willingness to explore the world around her.” “If you say so, Milord.” “I do say so, and I’ll have no more foolish talk of tender feelings from you.” “Of course not, Milord. I will be on my way now to find a runner to search for baths. Have we a date when we need them?” “Not yet. Perhaps soon, very soon. Have the runner go first to Rossford, and ask if Lady Alise will receive guests tonight.” “As you wish, Milord.” Baines bowed from the waist. “Come, come, if you intend to play the chastened servant, I cannot bear it. Stay out of my sight until you are your own irreverent, droll self. I can well attend to my own dress once I have a short rest.” Baines bowed again and scurried from the room. Cash slumped onto a stool and buried his head in his shaking hands. That he had put hands on his beloved Baines, who for all practical purposes had raised him, was unconscionable. Over a woman. No woman ever had affected him the way this one did, and he could not think why. Her face and form were no more pleasant than hundreds of others. Her station matched his, but her dress, at least at public functions, masked her natural assets. Granted her mind stimulated his, but a man’s friends served that purpose. Did they not? After tossing on a daybed without any real sleep, Cash dressed for evening, cursing the whole while. Why had he told Baines he could dress without assistance? Anger, pride, fear? Yes, fear. Baines understood too well, especially after Cash’s outburst, that his feelings for Lady Alise were more than necessary for a simple liaison. Of course he wanted to see her naked. When she appeared so completely covered, it made his imagination work overtime to picture her without those coverings. Naturally, he wanted to fuck her, so much it had become obsession. The problem was he wasn’t certain of himself. This time could he walk away? Fortuitously, Baines entered the chambers as Cash was about to rip the neck scarf he had tried five times to tie, to shreds.

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“Milord, may I help with that? I promise I will not attempt to garrote you.” “Please, do both. I deserve it.” “You do not. It was entirely my fault. I apologize for thinking Lady Alise was merely another conquest. I should have known from our earlier conversations she was not.” “She is slightly more since my father has business interests with hers.” “I see, slightly more. Business interests, of course.” Baines stepped close and executed a fancy knot in the silk. “There, that should do it, Milord.” “Stop with the Milord address, please. God’s teeth, I am sorry I laid hands on you. I humbly beg your pardon.” “Thank you. I shall not sulk forever, just long enough to make you suffer.” He scurried around the room retrieving various clothing items Cash had flung around in his attempt to choose an ensemble. “The runner has brought a note from the lady in question.” “A note from Alise? Where is it? Give it to me.” “This?” Baines held it out of reach. Cash snatched it from his hand with a grunt. “Business interests,” Baines mumbled and received a scathing look for it. “She expects me at eight, the time she uses for reflection after partaking of the evening meal. She is careful to see I do not expect to be fed.” “See to it you are careful with your words when presenting your case. She is the daughter of your father’s associate.” “I will be my most charming and felicitous self.” “As adorable as you are, Milord, the lady ultimately may refuse.”

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Chapter Four Cash chose to ride Vagabond rather than take the coach to Rossford Hall. Astride the hearty steed, he was able to shorten the ride by crossing the shallow lake instead of going around it by road. As he approached Alise’s door, he paused for a calming breath and heard Baines warning him as if he were present. “The lady may ultimately refuse.” Mayhap he would not lay out his plans for the ménage as yet. This eve could be too soon to broach such a delicate subject, although she had hinted at being amenable to it when they spoke at Trowbridge. Tonight should be for becoming acquainted, for finding out more about her past, her feelings, her desires other than carnal. Yes, tonight was for wooing. He banged the knocker with more force than necessary, and the door was quickly opened by the same gentleman who had greeted him the morning of the discussion group. Again, he was shown into the library. Obviously, this must be her favorite room, where she felt most comfortable. Alise stood to greet him, a cup in hand. “I have poured chocolate for myself, but if you prefer, I have ale and wine available.” “Chocolate would be welcome on this chilly eve.” A complete change had come over her from last night at the supper party. Her hair was somewhat loose, with curls framing her face. It was, however, trussed into a roll in back. Was it very long or middling? He did love long tresses on a naked woman. Think of her clothed, not naked, he reminded himself. This night was for forming a trust between them.

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He took in her gown as she handed him the cup she held. As at the reading and discussion group, she once again wore blue. The bodice was stylish with a heart-shaped neckline and revealed pale, bare shoulders and a good deal of décolletage. The skirt and sleeves were belled and embroidered in lavender cross-stitches. A swish of violet underskirt caught his eye as she moved. A gold collar glinted at her neck. She should have pearls, strands and strands of them. He would have his mother obtain some in the Orient before she returned…God’s teeth, what was he thinking? He had no reason to present this woman with expensive jewels and certainly no reason to involve his mother. “Come sit by the fire.” She nestled into a tufted chair and gestured to its mate for him. He accepted the chair. “I hope you don’t mind my calling on such short notice?” “Not at all. I was flattered you wanted to see me again, and I had nothing planned save reading. Friends have kept me busy since my father left. They have a misguided apprehension I may become lonely. I was happy to have a free eve and delighted to spend part of it with you. Also, I would like you to give me some suggestions to aid in healing the breach between you and Bridgey.” “No need. We spent a fine morning together and have become mates.” She clapped. “Well done, very well done. I despise acrimony. To continue with my reasons for receiving you this eve, at first I assumed you to be curious as to the topic for Tuesday’s session.” “No, I wish no advantage of prior knowledge. I only wished to know you better before the next group meeting and chanced you might consent to a brief visit.” “I said, I thought that at first. Then, I read your poem, and I was the curious one. I, too, wished to know more about you before we meet again with the others.” “My poem? You received my poem?” He’d kill Baines when he returned home. Why had he left it out in the open? He should have destroyed it. She must think him a love-sick ass.

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“Yes, it was quite beautiful, really. ‘Love looks with the mind, not the eyes.’ ’Tis also what I believe, and as one of my friends, you should know it is a tenet of mine.” “You do consider me a friend, then?” “I do, indeed.” “May I, then, inquire about some confusing inconsistencies in your manner of dress?” “I have no objection. I am an open book to those I care about and who also care about me. What was it your poem said? ‘’Tis your mind which has me in thrall.’ Correct?” “Yes, it is correct.” God’s teeth, did she believe him to be a suitor? “As to my question, then, I am mystified about the difference between the way you dress for weddings and parties and the way you dress at home.” Alise set her cup on the tapestry-covered stool between them, rested her head on the back of her chair, and closed her eyes. “I didn’t realize others took notice.” “That was too personal. You needn’t answer—” “No, no, I said I would comply, and I am a woman of my word. The short answer is I feel safe at home.” “You did not feel safe at Trowbridge?” She opened her eyes but looked at the far wall, not at him. “I do not feel safe unless I am at home and often not even here unless I am indoors.” Her hands shook a bit as she picked up her cup and sipped. “The reasons are complicated and a rather tedious tale. I am certain you would not like to sit through the telling.” “I would very much like to hear it, if you feel comfortable enough with me.” She met his gaze for several seconds as if reading a book in a foreign tongue. “Though I cannot say why, I believe I do feel more comfortable with you than with anyone save Derry.” With quieter hands now, she set the cup on the stool. “It is a story I have shared with no one else, not my father, not Bridgey.” She rose, paced for a minute, then reached for a crystal decanter on the desk. She poured

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spiced wine into Venetian glasses, handed one to him, and kept one for herself. After sipping she returned to her chair but angled her body to face the fire, not him. “When I was twelve and Derry was thirteen, we had removed our stockings and were sitting by the stream behind Rossford, dangling our toes in the water. I felt a wetness running down my inner thighs and nearly became hysterical. Derry inspected. We had examined each other’s private parts many times by that age. He explained it was my menses and assured me this was a normal consequence of growing into a woman.” Cash slugged back his wine and poured each of them more while Alise paused to compose herself. His collar seemed tight. Had Baines pulled the knot of his cravat too tight again? He wished he hadn’t encouraged Alise to reveal this tale. Mayhap he could halt the telling. “My father informed me your mother died in childbirth. With no mother to care for you, you were undoubtedly frightened. You need not continue, really. It was too forward of me to urge you on.” “Now I have begun, I would conclude. It may be a good catharsis for me.” She inhaled deeply. “Derry told me to wait on the shore and he would search for one of his five sisters to help. I never was any good at obeying.” She rose to stand closer to the fire. “I hated the stickiness between my legs and removed my summer dress and waded into the water wearing only my chemise. I had tucked the hem into the waistband and was washing my thighs when a boy from town happened by to fish. He dropped his fishing gear and ran at me.” Cash paled. Had he been there he’d have drawn and quartered the lad. He would do so now if she revealed his name. “Sweet Alise, please stop. I never meant to drag forth this horrible, bestforgotten event.” “Oh, no, I am so sorry, I led you to surmise the wrong ending. Nothing terribly bad happened. He tore open my chemise to view my breasts, which didn’t alarm me all that much since the look of awe on his face made me laugh. Unfortunately, laughing was the

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wrong thing to do. He thought I mocked him and grew angry all out of proportion to my crime. He slapped and slapped me. Had Derry not returned, I shudder to think what he would have done. Upon seeing Derry and his sister, the boy ran off yelling he would get me and show me who has the last laugh. The threat frightened me well enough, more than the actual assault. Since that time, I have been more circumspect. I cannot put his words out of mind when I dress to go out of doors.” Relief washed over Cash like a shore-cleansing high tide. “I understand, but now you are grown, you travel only with stout companions to guard your well-being.” “You are right. I am a grown woman and have come to be e’en more aware of the baser natures of men. Then, too, I have my principles. I am stubbornly reluctant to be gawked at for whatever feminine charms I may possess. I prefer people to look me in the eye and actually listen to me and not be distracted by my form. I demand to be treated as an equal to any man in brains and logic.” “Can you truly disregard the feminine side of yourself, the sensuality that comes with being a woman?” “No, I cannot and do not wish to do so. I am as open as any man or woman to passions of the flesh. In matters of the bodily pleasures, I also demand to be viewed a man’s equal. I believe I intimated such to you at the Accession dinner party. I thought, after reading your poem, you may have wished to discuss details of a rendezvous this eve.” “You truly wish to have the same freedom of a sexual nature as a man has?” “How many ways must I convey the news to you before you take me at my word?” “You would be open to the jousting match we discussed at Trowbridge? The one where Derry, Bridges and I would vie for your approval with our lances?” “I would be entirely open to such a match, as would my body.” “I have set some things in motion which will not only gratify you and prove your physical desires are equal to a man’s, but may

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also solve your dilemma of choosing whether to wed Derry or Bridges.” Alise returned to her chair. “What do you propose, Milord?” “You must have taken notice that Bridges and Derry and I all lust for your body. Does such knowledge frighten or distress you?” “On the contrary, I find it stimulating, since all three also respect my intellect.” “You must weigh your consent to this plan carefully. What I have in mind involves altering your virginal state.” Alise laughed. “I have not had a maidenhead since I began riding the moors bareback with Derry, shortly after the incident at the stream. Continue, please. Am I to have a chance to try each of you at different times to see who pleases me most in bed? Is that the idea?” “You shall sample each of us on the same night.” He waited while she absorbed the thought. “In return, you will be required to fully satisfy each of us.” “It goes without saying. I would not expect virile men to let me feel their members inside me, then hop off to hear my reaction. Really, I am no silly schoolgirl. I know about sexual intercourse between unmarried, consenting adults.” “I assumed you did. But in such a scenario as I propose, you will be required to make your body available in various ways several times during the session. In reality we may all want you at the same time. Do you understand?” “I’m afraid I do. Oh, my.” She cupped her hands over her breasts. “I didn’t know such things were possible. I shant know what to do.” “You say you no longer possess your maidenhead. Have you not lain with a man?” “I have not been with a man in the way you imply. Thus, I assume I am yet a virgin in a less-strict sense of the word.” “Then we will be your most willing and devoted tutors. We will not ask anything of you which seems repugnant. Your enjoyment is paramount to ours. You have always the right to

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refuse any act you do not wish to perform, provided all of us are sated by night’s end.” “As I said, my body will be open to all of you. I shall be a compliant servant for the night. I cannot think of anything a man would do that I would not.” She stood again and paced. “Derry taught me one procedure long ago. I balked when he first approached me with the idea. It seemed silly when I was young, but he always came up with silly ideas, and mostly they turned out to be fun. I have since come to quite enjoy this particular maneuver over the years. It is a pleasure I have missed since his mother left our employ and Derry is not with me so much. I would like to, if you don’t mind, practice it on you tonight. Perhaps you can inform me how to improve my facility.” “I would never refuse any suggestion you would propose. What is it you’d like to practice?” Kissing those full, ripe lips would be no hardship. She might have to repeat the process many times before he declared her proficient at it. “I have no name for this particular act and no one to ask. May I show you?” “Certainly.” He licked his lips in expectation of her kiss, but she moved not toward his mouth, but to the floor in front of him. Alise, on her knees, slowly untied the laces on his breeches. He tensed in shock and hoped she didn’t notice. Apparently she did not, because she continued to separate the material, and his throbbing cock popped out stiff and ready for the kiss his lips had expected. She tasted him with her tongue, licked around the head of his cock to wet it. She prodded it with gentle fingers as she bent to slurp it into her moist, sumptuous lips. Her lips slid slowly down his shaft, tightened and pulsed before sliding back up to lick the head again. She bobbed her head as she sucked him. Cash could do naught but lean back and close his eyes. His fingers, of their own accord, reached into her bodice and caressed swollen nipples on firm pillows of silken flesh.

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She purred her approval at his fondling of her teats. He drew them out of her gown and kneaded them. Up and down her glorious, clever mouth performed like beautiful music on his cock. The magic of her lapping tongue caressed the underseam of his erection. Her cheeks hollowed as she applied stronger suction each time her mouth slithered along his greedy joint. He was in absolute sybaritic delight as her jaw worked him over, licking and sucking as if his cock was a delicious bowl of cream. He was reaching for his climax when she pulled away, squeezed his balls, and waited for him to cool. He was frantic, in an absolute panic thinking she might not return those lips to his fevered cock. Her mouth surrounded him, and he sighed and pinched her nipples to pay her back for scaring him. She wriggled and sucked harder in thanks. This time he could not hold off, as much as he wanted the delicious sensations to continue forever. Fortunately, the woman had the foresight to produce a man-sized damask cloth before disaster struck the fabric of the chair. She sat back on her heels, and when his eyes opened the sight of her, rumpled with glistening, swollen lips, stirred his groin once again. Curls had fallen over her brow as she swiped a pink tongue over shiny lips, lips dripping with his cum. Her now-exposed breasts showed red marks from his punishing fingers, and her nipples were long and hard. He tied his laces before scooping her up and laying her on the settle in a darkened corner. She did not protest. This time he was the one on his knees. He pushed up the hem of her dress and untied her farthingale, slid it down her body, and pushed it to the floor where it collapsed upon itself. He looked his fill at her. She was luscious and sweet and beautifully formed in thigh and bottom. Her cuny was fleshy and dewy in anticipation. This must have been a part of Derry’s convincing her to do what he wanted her to do to him. Cash had used the same ploy himself. As a boy, Derry must have been in this position as many times as she would let him.

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Cash slid his hands under her buttocks to knead the flesh as his tongue flicked around and into her waiting cuny. He nipped at her and searched with his tongue to find the places to give her pleasure. He could tell by her movements and moans when she wanted more of something. With tongue and some suction, he mouthed her until she stiffened in readiness. As she bucked, her cries were such he feared the servants would interrupt. He stood, wishing they could begin again. She sat up wearing an expression of wonder. “That was—that was extraordinary.” “Yes, it was.” “Derry was never so good at it.” Derry? Did she need to remind him Derry had been there before him? Why should the thought trouble him? Why did he care one whit? “Do you and he do this often?” “Oh, not anymore, not for a long time. I told you that. We had to quit when his mother was pensioned off by father and we had no excuse to spend the day together.” He helped her with her clothes and tried his best to stop pawing her, but her teats were too tempting, and he sucked at them before covering them with her bodice. She studied her reflection in a glass attached to her waist by a ribbon. “Perhaps it is well my father is not at home. I do look a fright.” She never looked so beautiful, in his opinion. “I take it I have my answer? You will attend our soiree, so to speak?” “I would be delighted and quite look forward to it. Three men at once? If it can be done, I would try to please all of you.” They toasted the pact with wine, and he soon took his leave. Still aroused from the great suck Alise had given him and the taste of her cuny, instead of going home he rode to the village inn, anxious to speak with Derry. Curiously, he couldn’t rid himself of the animosity he now felt toward the man after hearing about his intimacies with Alise. He had to be certain of Derry’s agreement, or the whole thing might collapse. Most of the arrangements were being handled by Baines, but dates and times had to be set, rules

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understood by all. They must each vow to bring Alise nothing but pleasure beyond her bookish imaginings, without the slightest tinge of unease. Since Derry was one of the principals under consideration, Cash had to inform him of Alise’s vow to decide upon a marriage partner at the end of their session. The inn was noisy and reeked of stale ale, but Cash shook off revulsion and located Derry in a dimly lit alcove off the main room. A woman sat between Derry and another rough-looking bearded man. Derry had his hand up the woman’s skirt while Mr. Beard fondled her teats. They were both leaning into her and talking and didn’t see Cash approach. Derry’s voice was soft and pleading. “Won’t you come upstairs with us? You will not regret it.” “I don’t know. I never done two men at once,” the woman whined. “Do you not enjoy what my fingers are doing to you beneath the table?” “And what mine are doing to make your nipples hard and me hard?” Mr. Beard lifted her hand and placed it on his crotch. “Oh, yes it is all nice and all, but I’m scared.” “Think how much nicer we can treat you upstairs on a soft mattress,” Derry whispered. Cash cleared his throat and all three looked up with startled expressions. Derry’s countenance turned to annoyance. “Can you not see we are negotiating here and wish not to be interrupted?” “We need to talk.” Cash threw some coins on the table and with a sharp head jerk indicated to Mr. Beard to take the woman and go upstairs. The man picked up the coins and tucked them into the lass’s bodice. “Come on, lovie, I’ll do ye first, and if ye want more, our friend will join us later.” They moved away quickly. Cash slid onto the vacated bench. “I have met with Lady Alise and have arranged a tryst for the three of us, you, me and Bridges.”

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“You mean a meeting besides the normal discussion group meeting?” “Far different from any discussion group, a bout of fucking for the four of us.” Derry burst into uncontrolled laughter. Cash waited silently until he recovered. “Milord, if such a thing were possible with Alise, I should have proposed it long ago.” “It is not only possible, it is reality. I left the lady moments ago, and she is ready. She gave me the best cock sucking I ever had.” “Yes, I taught her when we were kids. She is very good at it now.” He grinned. “We practiced a lot.” Derry rubbed his face. “Mayhap Alise, in her constant struggle to prove women are equal to men, has agreed, but that stiff-arsed Bridges would never go for it. He thinks Alise is innocent of the ways of men, and I have not disabused him of the idea.” “He is most anxious to stick his dick inside the lovely lady’s cuny, and at this point would do anything that would let him look upon her naked body and play with her teats. He has indeed agreed if afterward she will give her answer as to which of you she will marry.” “The hell you say. I know he lusts for her, but he truly will not object to the three of us having her? He would watch her suck and fuck other men?” “He says he can handle it. Can you?” Cash swallowed some bile and sobered. Surely, he could handle it as well as Bridges and Derry. They were in love with her, he was not. He pushed the fleeting doubt from his mind. These two men wished to marry the woman, Cash certainly entertained no such idea. Why should he care whose dick slid in and out of her cunt and brought her to climax? “You’ll have no argument from me. Alise’s passion is free of restraint when she is aroused. She loved to suck cock once she tried it and loved my tonguing her. Her blood runs hot, and she is

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more passionate than you can imagine. When and where will this night of sex play take place?” “Since we have all agreed to the date of the discussion group, I propose we move the location to my manor instead of Rossford. All will be arranged by my man.” “That is mere days away. I am hard and ready simply speaking of it. Excuse me, Milord, I must take care of pressing needs upstairs with my friends. Do you care to join us?” “No, I will leave you to it.” They both stood. Derry held a hand over the bulge in his breeches. “Are you certain? The lass is quite young and flexible and has a most accommodating arse. I’ve had her before, though not in tandem, and she is sweet, with full teats and an agreeable nature. She’ll let me come on her teats or belly or in her mouth and can keep me going all night.” “Enjoy her, then. I will not intrude, but will see you on the appointed date at Wentworth Manor as early in the morn on Tuesday as you can manage. We will want a full day and night, with Alise as the prize.” Unease crept over Cash as he rode home. Had Ram gone through these misgivings and bouts of jealousy when they planned the ménage with Faith? Ram’s doubts must have been all the worse since he loved Faith. Cash had no stake in Lady Alise’s future. He handed Vagabond to a stable lad and quietly stole to his room so as not to alert Baines. He wanted no terse comments from his steward tonight. He merely wanted to savor the memories of Alise’s plump lips on his cock. Why had he worked this hard to arrange a tryst with Alise? Why did he so fiercely want her moaning under the onslaught of his prick? He could have achieved the same result tonight at the inn or with countless other nameless females. A lady presented greater challenge. Nothing worth having came easily, that was why he was working doubly hard to make this ménage a reality. It had nothing to do with his desire for this particular lady. Any one of dozens would have sufficed, would

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have produced the same frantic need in him that Alise did. He went to bed congratulating himself on his not being emotionally involved in this matter at all. In truth, in the back of his mind, he didn’t wish to share her with the hedonistic Derry and the obnoxious Bridges, but if he needed them along to get to fuck her himself, he would bear the jealousy. All night, the blasted woman interfered with his sleep. She lay naked before him, but when he reached for her she laughingly faded away. At other times he was licking her nether lips, and she rolled away, bouncing out of his reach. Most of the night, her mouth surrounded his engorged cock, only removing it to admire it and stroke it with her tongue. “This is the most beautiful cock I have ever had between my lips,” she said before returning to suck him dry and swallow all the seed she deemed the tastiest she’d ever had. By morning, his blood had heated to the brink of disaster to imported silk sheets. The throbbing entity between his legs sorely needed attention. He had a mind to ride to Rossford and inform Lady Alise she required more practice. Naturally, he could not tell her any such thing. She was astonishingly good at sucking cock. Derry must have made her practice vigorously for many years before he had the means to afford the inn’s delights. An inordinately quiet Baines assisted Cash into his doublet. The man nursed a hurt longer than a fat babe at the teat. “Do you fare well this morn, Baines?” “I’ll pull through.” “How are the arrangements going?” “All will be in order according to your wishes.” “Good, good. The extra baths have been located?” “They will arrive for your inspection at noon, unless you care to rely on the less exalted, less worthy opinion of your humble servant.” “Stuff it, Baines. You always make these kinds of decisions for me very competently.”

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“Yes, I most certainly do. So happy you noticed.” While breaking his fast with ale and oat cakes, Cash came upon another idea. Alise had to be advised of the relocation of the study group. He’d ride casually by Rossford and merely ask to speak with her for a moment, give her the information and leave. On the way to Rossford, another thought intruded when he contemplated the naked body of Lady Alise. Had Derry taught her other delights of the bed chamber? She attested to be a virgin, but what else had gone on in the manor while Mrs. Dandridge was too busy cooking to look after her son? Had he taught her to avoid pregnancy by taking his dick up her arse? Had he wheedled and coaxed until she bared her luscious derrière for him to ream? Would she like to practice with Cash in case in the intervening years she had forgotten how it was to be done? God’s teeth, he wanted her, any way he could get her. When he reached Rossford, he went to the stables instead of the door. His fertile mind had conjured up so many images of Alise’s bottom he had to cool off before facing her. Unfortunately, the Master of Horse stopped him from entering the stalls. “Sorry, Milord, you must wait a few moments before caring for your steed. Are you to accompany Lady Alise this morn?” “I simply wish to water and dry Vagabond here before I visit the Lady of the manor.” He no more than uttered the words than she emerged from the stable. “Lord Chasten! I had not expected to see you again so soon.” She appeared startled, and a blush fleetingly pinkened her cheeks. She also appeared damnably appealing as she wore not a woman’s riding costume but a pair of breeches and a man’s shirt. “I am most horrified for you to see me thus. I grew accustomed to boy’s livery when Derry and I were young and roamed free. Without a mother, I was excused from much ladylike behavior for pity’s sake. Now I hide my clothes in the stalls and wear Derry’s cast-offs to ride astride.” “No need to explain. It was rude of me to intrude without invite.”

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“Now you are here, won’t you join me? I never venture far for fear—uh, for fear of being sighted in these clothes.” She mounted a mare with the aid of her Master of Horse. Cash squelched a flash of anger at the man’s hands all over the bottom that was soon to be his—at least for one night. They rode out of the yard in silence, which gave Cash time for reflection. Why had Alise stumbled on the word fear as if she were about to reveal something she did not wish revealed? He actually knew little about her life and her past. A normal liaison with a woman would never prompt him to wonder or care about her past or her future. This time he cared, deeply.

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Chapter Five Cash silently watched for signs of fear on Alise’s face as they rode. She noticed and smiled. “Cash, you must have had a reason for riding out early this morn. Has something occurred to hinder our experiment from coming to fruition?” “I rashly came uninvited because I have news of our evening together.” “Have you hurried the arrangements lest I decide to forego them?” “No, I knew you would keep to your word. I was restless and went on to the inn to speak with Derry before heading homeward last eve.” “And he agreed to your plan? “Readily.” Cash pressed his mount into a vigorous trot, and she kept up without complaint. “And Bridgey? I cannot imagine he’d be easy to convince.” “On the contrary, once I told him you would make up your mind about whom to wed, he insisted upon being included.” “Surprising, I would have thought he’d be horrified at the very idea.” “I don’t say he completely approved, but with what is at stake, I feel certain he will partake with gusto,” “He is a very good man and ready to settle down to wife and children.” “You could do worse than to marry Bridges.”

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“I could be content with him. I could be content with Derry. Yet neither prospect excites me. A bride should feel some excitement, shouldn’t she?” “Indeed, she should. During our tryst, I promise you we will do all in our power to thrill and excite you.” He slowed his horse as they approached a wooded copse. “Are we within the boundaries of Rossford if we continue?” “We are at its northern edge.” She rode ahead. “I’ll lead you to the path through the thickest area.” The view of her bouncing bottom as she rode off so aroused Cash, he soon halted his steed and dismounted. When she noticed, he pretended interest in the foliage. She slid from her rather small mare and joined his inspection. She bent for a closer look at the brush in front of him and in the process afforded him a closer look of her heart-shaped buttocks caressed by snug leather. Her inspection led her to range closer than she would have dared had she been paying attention. Cash put out a hand to keep her from bumping into him and losing her balance. It didn’t help. Instead, she stumbled into his arms. Neither stepped back. After several heartbeats fraught with anticipation, he drew her to him and captured her mouth with his. Her lack of the many layers of clothes women typically wore jolted his cock. He pressed her into the oak directly behind them. She moaned as his hands roamed over the flimsy linen shirt. The cotton undershirt beneath it couldn’t disguise her hardened nipples. He pinched each one as he ground his stiffness into her belly. Instead of shrinking from the onslaught, she arched into it. The heat between them sizzled when his tongue found hers. She broke away only to whisper one word, “More.” He made quick work of the shirt buttons and pushed up the undershirt. “Beautiful, so damn beautiful.” He bent to suck at each breast in turn. To his amazement, she pawed at his crotch, taking hold of his cock through the material. He groaned but let her continue as he distracted himself by unlacing her breeches and

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pushing them down over her boots until she was able to kick them off. No time to make a comfortable bed of brush and leaves. He pinned her to the tree and lifted her to straddle him while he stroked her bottom. His prodding fingers would leave marks on the morrow, but his stiff cock had no conscience. As he thrust into her, she gasped, “Oh, my. Oh, yes.” A fleeting thought that he hadn’t used a sheep bladder sleeve to protect her was whisked away by the sensation of warmth inside her pulsating cuny. He pushed into her even knowing the bark of the tree would scrape her back. When he hit the wall inside her, he maneuvered her body over his cock as he chose. Whimpering noises from deep in her throat did nothing to stop his onslaught since they were accompanied by many whispers of, “Yes, yes, yes.” Pinned to the tree like a butterfly specimen, she was defenseless and completely under his control. His enjoyment of her body was too intense, his growing rapture too far along for him to stop. She contracted around him as he slid in and out of her narrow canal, driving him ever madder. Somewhere in his enflamed mind, he wanted to please her, but the tightness of her cunt, the sweetness of her kisses rendered him witless. With hearty thrusts, he rammed into her—hard and rough—over and over again. To his amazement, she kept up her contractions despite the abuse he was inflicting. When she tensed with a strangled cry of release, he let himself go. He spewed everything he’d stored inside his ball sack since his last fuck into Alise. Exhausted, he dropped his head onto the top of hers, so completely spent he had no strength to speak or move. Fleeting thoughts of fucking her again, of all the other things he’d like to do to her body, were swept away by extreme lethargy. His fogged brain finally registered she was calling his name, no, moaning it, and contracting her inner muscles around his spent joint until it hardened again. She bumped her ass against him until she climaxed without his having to do a thing and shouted his

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name as she came. His ruddy cock did not want to leave its sanctuary and rubbed against the sides of her small opening to stimulate itself into a frenzy for another go at the prize. In and out, in and out it pushed and pulsated, thinking only of the reward at the end of its journey, and when it reached the pinnacle, it spilled its seed inside her once more. She held on to his neck for several seconds then leaned back as much as she could to look into his face. Her teats, jiggling with the movement, aroused him, and he grew hard within her once again. Her eyes widened with the sensation, and she pushed her hips forward. Holding her aloft didn’t faze him. She weighed practically nothing for as tall as was. He bent to her breasts and bit and sucked to his fill as he slid his cock slowly in and out of her. Her cunt adhered to his rod as if custom made for him. She wiggled and with arms wrapped around his neck managed to raise and lower herself a bit to get her fill of him in the spots she wished to have massaged. When she found the right places to give her pleasure, she rewarded him with sweet kisses. The joy on her face elated his spirit, and this time, he concentrated on her and her orgasm before satisfying himself. Still he hadn’t had enough of her, yet he could not in good conscience fuck her again. He’d been too fierce as it was, but putting her down and away from him was like ripping layers of flesh from his body. With any other woman, at this stage he’d want to anxiously escape. Not so with Alise. He wanted to fold her back into his arms and tell her how extraordinary she was and how much he delighted in her company. He wanted to make love to her again and again. He should have assisted her to dress. Instead, as she wriggled into the breeches, he caressed her breasts from behind and bit her neck. “You are insatiable, and truth to tell, I believe I may be the same.” A dreamy expression crossed her face as she laced the breeches. “I was transported into a place where sensations were heightened with every movement. Each time your member slid into

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me, my nerves wanted to shout with joy. E’en when you pressed me into the bark of the tree, the pain only excited me more. I had no thought of preserving my dignity. My body took over my mind and screamed for more. More of you, more of your sword inside me, more pleasure.” “Your sheath was a delicious treat for my sword. Amazing we should do so well together this first time. You do not regret losing your virginal status to me?” “Milord, I kneel at your feet in thanks for so delightful a breaking in.” She executed a courtly bow. Reluctantly, he helped her into a chemise that had been cut off at the waist to fit under her male attire and then into her blouse, but couldn’t resist one last lick of each nipple before buttons hid them. “Do we go on or back to the stables?” Nothing emerged from Alise’s lips but a sort of squeak as she flew back into his arms. A rustling sound to his rear caused Cash to turn, shielding her behind him. Foliage snapped into place, and all was quiet again. When he spun back around, her face had paled, and he had to steady her when her knees buckled. “What is it, sweeting? Did you see something in the bushes?” “No, nothing. I’m all right, but I wish to return to Rossford. We shouldn’t have ridden this far off my property.” “Why, Alise? Is there someone you fear out here? You don’t turn white as a dove and go weak in the knees over nothing. Tell me.” “I–I can’t talk about it. I have no proof. It’s my imagination. Nothing happened. He wouldn’t do anything to me, he never has.” She continued to cling to him while sobbing into his doublet. He eased her onto the ground and rubbed her back until she quieted. She tucked her legs under her and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Now, I insist on knowing what you are afraid of. I want no excuses. You will tell me before we leave this bower.” “I did not tell all the story when I related the incident with Derry at the lake.” Her gaze never left the grass in front of her as

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she spoke. “Before Derry returned, the lad ripped my bodice to expose my breasts. My skirt was already tucked up so I could wash. His hands were everywhere on my body. He stuck his fingers into me, used his teeth on my breasts. At first I was shocked and unable to move, and then I flew into a rage. While pummeling his chest with one hand, I used the other to gouge his left eye until it bled and the flesh sagged. To this day he wears a patch to cover his eye.” “Tell me his name.” “Neither Derry nor I could ever discover it. He knows mine, however, and he comes back to this area from time to time to torture me with doubts. Will he murder me or rape me on one of my morning rides? Will he shoot an arrow into me from the road as I pass in my coach? Will he set fire to my stables, my fields, my house?” “Has he tried any of these things in the intervening years?” “No, but he sends me letters telling me to be vigilant, or else who knows what accident may befall me. He must live in London mostly, because during my coming out year, he sent notes to me at my grandmama’s townhouse each day describing the gown I wore the night before and warning me they made him insanely aroused, and one day he would connive to rip one to my waist and have his way with me as he nearly did at the lake.” “A man wearing a patch over one eye cannot be so difficult to find. How hard did you and Derry try? Did you hire someone?” “I could not engage anyone without alerting my father, and Derry hasn’t the funds.” “Surely your father must be made aware of this. He would want to know.” “He has enough to worry about. He must travel, and could not if he thought his absence would endanger me. No, I shall never tell him.” “In that case, I will have to find the villain for you and put a stop to this nonsense.” He helped her to her feet. “When he is here,

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he must stay somewhere. Has no one at the inn or in the village noticed this man?” “He has not stayed at the inn. Of that we are certain. Presumably, he has relatives in the area, since he once resided near enough to reach my lake that day.” “Derry’s parents and siblings live in the village. Have none of them reported sighting the man?” “Not everyone knows. I don’t want everyone to know. The one sister who was with us that day has moved to Devon and rarely visits. The rest of his family knows nothing.” “If he is visiting anyone for miles around, I will locate the man and set him straight about bothering you. If he has returned to London, I have contacts to pursue him there.” “This is not your problem and not your expense to be borne. Since he has done naught to me for these many years, he most likely never shall.” “No woman I care about is going to worry her head over an imbecile.” Any woman who can fuck and suck like this one should wear a smile from morn to night, he thought. He did not want her depressed and thinking badly of men. He wanted her to think of him as her hero, at least until he’d had her body in every way possible. They mounted and rode carefully back to Rossford’s stables. As he was about to take his leave, he remembered to gain her assent for switching the discussion group to his manor. When he explained he was even now making it ready for their ménage, she smiled, kissed his lips, and agreed. Vagabond had to find the way home on his own, since Cash was too preoccupied with thoughts of Alise’s lavender-scented hair and luscious teats. The stable lads said something to him as he led Vagabond into a stall, but Cash heard nothing. Despite the fact that he’d had her many times this morning, he ached to have his cock ramming into Alise’s sweet, warm, welcoming cuny again. He imagined her with Bridges and Derry and chased away jealousy to see the joy on her face. He wanted nothing more than to

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chase away her fears of being hunted and see her delightfully, blissfully happy, being fucked to her body’s content. Baines followed slowly as Cash bounded up the stairs to his room. He tore off his doublet and called for a bath before Baines reached him. “Milord seems in a good humor. What’s wrong?” “Nothing is wrong my man. How could anything be wrong on such a glorious day? I am the happiest I’ve been since Faith and Ram departed for foreign shores.” “Ah, a new lady to be had. God help us all. T’will be hell on the household if you are in love for the hundredth time in your life.” “I haven’t been in love since I learned how much fun it was to fuck a lady when you didn’t love her and could escape with no entanglements.” “If ’tis not love, what caper are you arranging that makes you so giddy?” He bent to tug off Cash’s boots. “You have a new project. What cataclysm is about to befall us?” “Nothing dire, I assure you. I simply await the ménage a quatre with extreme enthusiasm.” “And nothing happened this morn at Rossford to cause your élan?” “I wouldn’t say nothing happened.” Cash stripped as three brawny servants carried in a brass tub and buckets of hot water. Once they’d left and Cash was soaking, Baines continued his interrogation. “Then the lady acquiesced in the light of your great charm and you seduced her into letting you break her fast, so to speak?” “I didn’t exactly seduce her into giving it up.” “No?” “God’s teeth, she rode out with me dressed in breeches and a silk shirt over a worn linen chemise. Her nipples poked out, and her ass bounced in the saddle.” “And you could no more stop yourself from fucking her than a hound could keep from chasing a hare. Your stiff cock overruled

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all the decency drilled into you by your parents and me for nearly thirty years. ” “Baines, you make it sound as if I raped the woman. After all, in two days time she intends to give herself to two other men in addition to me.” “Men who wish to marry her.” Cash threw the sponge into the water and stood. He dripped over to the bed and donned his robe while still soaking wet. “Damn it all, you have managed to dissipate all my joy. Bring me a brandy from the side shelf.” “My pleasure. God knows I have little enough of it in my life.” He poured the brandy and handed it to Cash. “You do remember the lady’s father is an Earl and an important business partner of your father’s?” “Now I do. Didn’t at the time. You wouldn’t have either if you’d seen how innocently sensual she looked in pants.” “Hmm, innocent and sensual in the same package. Quite deserved to be ravished. Tell me you at least had the decency to sheath yourself.” Cash leaned against the head board and closed his eyes without answering. “Will that be all, Milord?” Cash took a gulp of brandy and winced. Baines had given him the harsh stuff instead of his private stock. “No, that isn’t all. I’ll require three runners to locate a personage.” “Three?” “Yes, three. I want the man found immediately.” “And the name of this personage?” “I don’t have a name. I only have a description.” “Other than the fact that he’s a man?” Baines scurried around the room, mopping water from the floor mats. “Of course. He would be in his late twenties by now.” “Short? Tall? Dark or Fair?”

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“Don’t know, actually. He will be easy to spot, however. He wears a patch over the left eye and has done since around the age of sixteen.” “Does he live in the village?” “If I knew that would I need three runners?” Cash downed another swig of the vicious brandy. “He visits relatives in one of the towns close by but lives in London.” “May I know why you wish him located?” “He assaulted Lady Alise when he was a lad and bedevils her with notes that make her fearful. I would not have the lady ever experience unease again.” “Very good, Milord. I will send out our best snoopers.” When Baines departed, Cash rose and went to his desk in the adjoining sitting room. He used monogrammed linen, not foolscap. My very dear Lady Alise, My hand shakes as I hold this quill. I cannot keep my mind on anything but your lovely body in my arms. The hours until I am with you again will be bleak indeed. Please know I have dispatched runners to find the man bothering you and will soon subdue him. Until we meet again, I remain your fondest servant Cassius Wentworth. He wanted to ask her to ride with him on the morrow, but Baines’s disapproval loomed over him like chimney soot on a sweep. And when not in the throes of passion, he did have a conscience. The lady would be sore after the punishing bouts of fucking he gave her today. Her cuny had been tight, and it had to rest for the stamina to accommodate three men. The thought of the other men sticking their cocks inside her gave him pause where no doubt had been in his mind before. How had Ram dealt with it when the two of them were fucking Faith? He had stipulated that Cash could make use of her rear

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portal and her mouth but not her cunt since it would soon belong solely to him. With Alise, that was not an option, at least not for Cash. He had no designs to marry her or anyone else for a long, long time. He would have to watch other men thrust their steel into her and watch her enjoy it. Alise, a free thinker, would brook no rules as to what she could and could not do e’en had they been betrothed. She had told him as much in that first discussion group. “Before marriage, a man can dally as much as he wants without censure. A woman should have the same right,” she had said. She would follow the dictates of the great literary minds of their time. He called for a valet, not wanting to face Baines’s censure anymore today. Once dressed, he went down to the library to check the books. He trusted Baines with the household expenses but handled estate management himself. After an hour of torturous bookkeeping, he needed fresh air and exercise. Astride Caligula, instead of Vagabond, he let the horse gallop for exercise. When he realized he had ridden halfway to Rossford, he veered for home, ruing the day he met Lady Alise Ellington. His mind never strayed far from the woman since she spoke her first words to him. She was a good fuck and interesting to be around, but that didn’t warrant this obsession. Yet, dammit to hell, she had taken over his whole being. He would surely be rid of this cursed fixation once the ménage was over. She would marry Bridges, or heaven help her, Derry, and Cash could walk away and never see her more. He’d send a wedding present and his regrets, mayhap a silver spoon for the first child, then no more contact whatsoever. What if the babe were his? He’d been in such fervor to put his dick inside her, he couldn’t think of anything else. God’s teeth, he’d never forgotten to sheath himself before. If he had to pay, he could do that. If he had to marry her? The steed had found his way home. Cash threw the reins to a stable lad and entered his manor in a deep depression. Marriage was not in his plans. He wouldn’t think on it.

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**** Alise had spent the better part of an hour at her bath, letting warm water sooth her bones. The ache, however, was as much in her heart as inside her vaginal canal. She had no regrets. She’d wanted his stiffness inside her as much as he wanted to stick it there. The only difference was, he wanted only to play with her body for pleasure’s sake, and she was in love. She could no longer deny it. At first his agile mind and sensuous nature had fascinated her, then she grew to like him, and gradually, even before today’s outing, she’d fallen in love. “Does Milady wish to dress for supper, now?” Alise blinked the fog from her brain. She had forgotten Grace, her lady’s maid, was in the room. “Yes, I suppose so. Derry will be here soon.” She sighed and sat to have her hair brushed. “At least he is the sort who will not overstay his welcome. I wish to retire early.” “I see you have had a strenuous day. You spent all morning with Lord Chasten, most of the afternoon giving instructions to three gardeners for the winter’s preparations, then a lengthy meeting with your father’s factotum. T’would tire anyone.” Grace parted the back of Alise’s hair in thirds and started the braid. “Of course, the early morn ride with Chasten must have been the best part of the day and the most exhausting.” “Do I see a smirk on your face? What do you know about how Cassius and I spent the morning hours?” “Sorry, Milady, but ’twas evident what happened when you soaked for nearly an hour after coming back, and now you repeated the bath.” “I often take two baths when I’ve been active.” “I noticed this morn while you were soaking just how active you’d been with the handsome lord.” Alise swirled around on the stool, pulling the braid out of Grace’s hands. “Whatever do you mean? What could you see? What could you tell?”

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“You have bruises in places where no virginal lady should have bruises. Your swollen lips were not the result of a bee bite, and you were happier than I’ve ever seen you in the two years I’ve been in your employ.” Alise hid her face in her hands. “Oh, dear. Does everyone know?” “I’ve told no one, and no one else has seen you in the nude that I know of.” “Thank you for that. Oh, Grace, what am I to do?” “You need do nothing. If Wentworth is loath to marry you, any future husband can be easily fooled into believing he is the first to have you. I know many who have successfully duped their spouses. The man did use a sleeve of some kind to prevent issue, did he not?” “He did not, and I did not insist.” “Oh, dear. We shall have to wait and see, in that case.” “I have long thought I’d eventually marry either Bridgey or Derry. But now Cash, Lord Chasten, occupies my every waking moment and invades my dreams as well.” “Many marry without affection, and you are quite fond of both Sir Derry and Lord Trowbridge. No harm in either choice. That is the simple answer, unless you find yourself enceinte and Chasten will not do the honorable thing.” “I could never enter into a forced marriage.” “He does not wish to wed? You are not exactly an ogre. Though you are taller than many men, you do not reach the lord’s lofty height. You have a generous dowry and a title of your own as well as your father’s. What’s the matter with the man?” “His parents are quite young and vibrant, and he sees no need to restrict himself to one woman until absolutely necessary.” “He has spoken to you of this?” “We have discussed nearly every topic. We first met at his friend’s wedding and both aired our feelings at the time.” “Do not despair. Every man says he is not ready for marriage just before he is whisked down the aisle. We will think good

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thoughts. You may not be with child, and your desire for the lord may dissolve. Now, let me begin again with your braid.” Alise tried to think good thoughts, but they were all about Cash and the delicious things he did to her body this morning. She had lived in her mind for too long, and now she had met a man who inspired her to venture into wonders she had only read about in books. Soon, she’d know it all. Would she instinctively do the right things? Cash seemed to like all she did with him. “Grace, have you ever been with a man?” “I have been, Milady.” “Was it pleasing to you?” “My first was an employer, and I had no choice. It was not pleasant.” “You mean he raped you?” “Not in the way you mean. The day I was hired, he followed me outside to see me to his coach. He told me not to come back unless I was willing to obey his rules.” “What were his rules?” “I must be ready at all times to attend to his physical needs, as his wife had needs different from his.” “To be his valet as well as lady’s maid to his wife?” “’Tis what I thought at first. Then he climbed into the coach with me and undid my bodice. As he fondled my naked breast, he asked again, ‘Do you agree to do all I require of you whenever I ask?’” “Why did you not run away as fast as you could?” “I would have done, but me mum was yet alive and very ill. I had been seeking a position for months with no luck since I had no real experience. We were out of money. He was not hideous, and I agreed. I could not go home and tell Mum I had been turned down again. He pushed money into my bodice as he re-laced it. I bought the first meat we’d had in a month to restore mum’s strength.” “Did you have to do—uh—everything with him?” “Do you really want to hear this, Milady?”

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“Oh, yes, I do.” Her braid tied around her head with ribbons, Alise stood. “Tell me everything while you attach the farthingale.” Grace held out the form for Alise to step into and fiddled with the laces. “The first few days he played with my teats whenever his wife was not about. Sometimes he lifted my skirts and played with me down there.” Grace took a gown from the wardrobe. “I thought this was not going to be so bad, if that was all he desired of me. Then one evening his wife attended a concert and supper without him. That night, he kept me in his chambers all evening. He stripped me naked, played with me as he’d done before, sticking his fingers up inside me as far as he could. When he realized I was a virgin, he was most surprised and excited. He entered me again and again, ignoring the blood all around us. He took me into a bath with him, washing me and fucking me at the same time. Then he had ale and cakes sent up for me to nibble on between bouts of fucking me. He did me over and over, bathed me and did my backside, too.” “My, you were brave to have stood it all.” “I cried a lot, though he was not rough with me. My tears only spurred him on. He pinched my nipples to make me cry out, but he’d been doing that since the first day, and I’d become accustomed to it. The night seemed to go on forever, but in reality ’twas four hours only before his wife returned.” “Did he leave you alone for a while after that?” “No, he wanted more the next day. Whenever the misses was busy or shopping or with friends, he’d drag me into a dark corner, raise my skirts and stick his thing in me, sometimes in front, sometimes bend me over a chair and have me rear. And always when his wife’s back was turned, he’d pinch my teats. That’s how it went until the next time his wife spent an evening out without him. She seemed to do it once every month.” “And he shut you in his room again?” “Yes, I was in for it whenever the missus left the house, and when she spent the whole night out, I had not a moment’s rest the entire night. He was amazing in being able to keep it up. After

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each time locked in his room, my teats were bruised and my bottom sore.” “How long did you stay in that house?” “Two years, until Mum passed away. I gave notice, then. The lady of the house wrote me a glowing recommendation. Now I think on it, I believe she was grateful to me for keeping her husband happy and off her. I had two more positions before I came here but never was assaulted again.” “My morn with Cash was nothing like your experience. I don’t think I could have borne it e’en for my mother. Since I never knew a mother, I suppose I cannot really say that with conviction. I am sorry for your bad time. Had you never had a better?” “Oh, yes, Milady. I have been married, though he died within a month of our nuptials.” “Doubly sorry, am I. Forgive me for moaning and wailing for having to choose between two good and healthy men.” Alise smoothed her skirt and looked up from under her lashes. “Since you have told your secret, I shall tell you mine.” She peered into the face of her maid. “I shall soon have the most exhilarating experience. Lord Chasten is arranging a night for him and Derry and Bridges to each have me. All three of them together.” Grace stopped doing the buttons on Alise’s bodice. “What mean you?” “I am to take each man into my bed, well, Cash’s bed, and let them do with me what they will. And I will do for them for an entire evening.” Grace paled and plopped onto the stool lately occupied by Alise. “Do you know what servicing three men at once will entail?” “I only know I am quite excited about it and hope I can perform to their expectations.” “They will have you in every way, your cunt, your ass, your mouth. Are you prepared for all of it?” “I desire it, long for it, ache for it.” Alise pulled a stool close to Grace and took her hands. “You don’t understand what my nature

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is like. Derry and I were raised together with very liberal regulations. We have played with each other’s private parts since I was three and he was five. He has never been inside me, I would not allow it, but I have sucked him and he me, many times. Lately, I have missed his ministrations. I need it, and badly.” “Milady, it hurts to have a man’s thick cock up your bum. I know from experience.” “The same is said of the area Cash plundered today, yet it hurt for moments only and then was glorious. E’en the pain was glorious.” “At least the men love you and will use you gently.” “And I love all three in different ways. We shall have a grand time, do not worry.” “I will try not to fret for you, Milady.” Scratching on the door set them scurrying to finish the buttoning and attaching of sleeves. “Enter,” Alise called. A maid curtsied in the doorway. “Sir Derry has arrived and has been offered ale in the drawing room as you directed, Milady.” “Thank you, Beatrice. Inform him I shall be down in moments.” One glance in the crystal looking glass, and Alise left the room for Grace to straighten. Derry looked quite comfortable sipping his ale as she entered the drawing room. He stood to greet her. “You look ravishing as usual, my love.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you, Sir. How hungry are you?” “Famished.” He poured her a mug of sweet wine. “But first let us toast your coming out party, or should I say my going in party?” “Don’t be crude.” She sipped from the proffered cup. “I have ordered all your favorite foods tonight. Artichoke salad, stewed sparrow, game pie, and quince cakes, to mention a few of the treats.” “How skillfully you change the topic. I wish to know anon what your feelings are about Lord Chasten’s night of debauchery.” What could she tell him about this morning? Nothing. Before now, they’d always been honest with each other, but this morn was

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between her and Cash. To share it with Derry would diminish its import. “You of all people must know my body craves attention. It is time I experience the ecstasies I have merely read about.” “And besides, your cuny must be burning with need after the drought since Mum and I moved out. Do you realize it has been near two years since we mouthed and sucked each other to completion?” “I do indeed.” “And shall we rectify that drought tonight?” “No, we shall not.” “Then I must depart rather early for the inn. My cock twitches in your presence, and by eve’s end it will be in sore need of a warm cunt to soothe it.” “In that case, let us proceed to the dining chamber forthwith.” Derry would never change. Marriage would not alter his habits. She had to make peace with that if she were to choose him to wed. “One more query, do you intend to choose a groom on that night?” Derry’s expectant look gave her pause. Would he be truly hurt if she did not choose him? “I have given my word and shall not renege. ’Tis why I refuse to play with you tonight e’en though my father is not home. In fairness to Bridgey, we will wait and see what transpires when together, in one night of passion, are all the men I love.” **** Alise awoke with a start. Something had disturbed the hounds and their barks were yelps of panic instead of curiosity. Light from a candle and whispers outside her chamber door drew her from her bed. She slipped a robe over her chemise and went into the hall to be greeted by an assembly of fretful servants. “What has happened?” She searched the faces before her and found no spark of knowledge in any of them. “I need a lamp to take outdoors.” Someone lit a glass-enclosed lamp and handed it over. The entire group followed her downstairs until she waved

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them back at the front door. Her steward unlatched it for her, and she went out alone. After a short walk down the brick walk, she returned. “The dogs have stopped barking and I see no sign of any disturbance. Please, everyone return to your beds. A new day will dawn soon, and we will inspect the entire estate. Nothing can be done now. The danger, whatever had frightened the animals, is over now.” The crowd dispersed except for her steward. “I ought to survey the grounds near the manor at least.” “No, not tonight. You have a mere hour or two left to rest. Time enough then to explore.” He reluctantly left her in the entryway, and she took a deep breath. The dogs were too quiet. Something was amiss, but she didn’t want anyone else to be endangered. If the one-eyed man had come to scare her, he had accomplished his goal and would be far away by now. But she did want to check on the kennels. She waited until the house was still to venture out again. She found the dogs asleep, all of them. They whimpered when she knelt to pet them, but did not waken. They seemed not to be harmed, merely given something to quiet them. Why? She stood, looked around the enclosure, and could not detect any mischief other than sleeping hounds. She stood, turned, and was met with a filthy rag placed over her nose and mouth. Then, nothingness.

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Chapter Six Cash made good use of the days before the ménage. “Baines, I am nervous as a bridegroom. Is all in perfect order?” “You know it is. You have checked and rechecked every detail yourself.” “We have enough pillows for Lady Alise’s comfort?” “Of course, and they are soft as the down within them. We have an excess of linen and damask squares and seven bathtubs with ten servants to fill, empty and refill them as many times as necessary.” “Pear pasties and iced cakes and bowls of clotted cream?” “God’s nose, Milord, you have ordered enough of every delicacy for a regiment. You know it to be true. You are indeed acting like a bridegroom entering a lady for the first time.” “It is simply because I respect Lady Alise as I do no other woman save my mother. I want all to be lovely for her enjoyment of this night.” “I see, Milord. Do you hope to have many returns of the evening?” “If she chooses Sir Derry as her mate, perhaps he will allow his wife to attend another session or two. Lord Trowbridge, however, would not consent to any more, I am certain.” “I see, Milord. You are hoping she chooses Sir Derry.” “Makes no difference to me one way or the other. Women are much like clouds, sometimes ephemeral and lovely, sometimes exploding with dark rain and claps of thunder. Either type can be amusing for a time, but the sky holds many clouds, and when one drifts away another takes its place.”

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“I see, Milord. You aspire to be a Titan and live in the firmament.” Baines coughed into his hand. “I’m afraid your castle in the air may come with too high a mortgage.” “What do you mean by that? I have plenty of money.” “Money, yes. Brains, I’m not so sure.” “I heard that, too. What is it you are trying to say?” “You have feelings for this lady. Are you not aware of it?” “Of course, I’ve told you I admire her views on freedom and most other things. I can talk to her as if she were a friend, a male friend. I also have great respect for her mind, and yes, for her perfect body. “Oh, perfect, not too tall and thin as you at first proclaimed?” “I had not observed her closely at the time I revealed those thoughts to you.” “I see, Milord.” “Will you stop saying, ‘I see?’” “Yes, I am going to wait at the door to receive your guests. As you requested, all other servants will remain on call out of sight so none will know who visits tonight.” “Good, good, be off, but check with the kitchen help before going to the hall. I want the cream here by the bed as soon as the lady arrives. I desire to lick some from her teats.” “I see, Milord.” Baines rushed away. Cash paced until Lord Trowbridge was shown into the drawing room of his sleeping apartment. “Ah, Bridges, you have come.” “Not yet, but I am ready to. Is Lady Alise present?” “You are the first here.” No sooner than the words left his mouth, than a disheveled Sir Derry was shown into the apartments. “Is she here? Have you seen her?” Bridges and Cash looked at each other in shock. Bridges seemed only able to sputter, “Wha–what?” “Sir Derry, you do look a fright. Has something gone wrong? Has Alise changed her mind? When was the last time you changed clothes?” Cash pulled up a chair for him.

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Derry dropped into it and covered his face with his hands. Bridges continued his “Wha–what?” “Speak, man. Is Alise coming?” Foreboding crept up the back of Cash’s neck. “Can’t find her. Water please.” Baines came forward with a tankard of water, but instead of handing it to the man, he threw it into his face. “Dreadfully sorry, Sir, but would you kindly inform us what has happened to Lady Alise?” Eyes wide, Derry licked his lips. “Gone, she is gone.” Cash and Bridges drew up chairs and leaned toward him. Bridges regained his voice. “Start at the beginning. You went to Rossford to sup a night ago. And…?” “Everything was fine. I left for the inn and expected to see her again when I picked her up today for our, uh, discussion group.” Baines handed him a glass of water. “My apologies, again, Sir.” “It’s all right.” Derry gulped the cool liquid. “Yester eve a sewer from Rossford tracked me down at the inn with a note from the Steward of the Manor. He wrote they needed me post haste. I knew I’d be seeing her this morning, and I had to sleep off my drink of the night before facing her. Thus, I did not hurry.” He downed the rest of the water and handed the tankard back to the hovering Baines. “Another note arrived while I slept, and as soon as I opened my eyes this morn, I read it. This time the note explained they hadn’t seen Lady Alise at Rossford since late the night I supped with her when they’d all been awakened by barking hounds near dawn.” He closed his eyes and vigorously shook his head. “I rushed over without washing or changing clothes and have been searching ever since.” “The man with the patch?” Cash grabbed at Derry’s collar. “So you know about him?” Bridges stood and stomped his foot. “Know what about whom? What patch?”

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Cash quickly explained while Derry went to the tray set for the day’s now aborted events. He downed two quick ales. “Gentlemen, we need to do something.” Cash turned to Baines. “Have our inquiries produced any results?” “I must go downstairs and discover if any messages have been delivered today.” “Go, and call for a bath for Sir Derry and send his coachman to the inn for his clothes—anything he has in black. Also, I will have my highwayman costume and Ram’s for Bridges.” “Highwayman? Wha–what?” “My friend Ramsey Keith and I had to play at being highwaymen for a time to interest his now wife to marry him. I’ll relate the story another time. The clothes are black and more intimidating than our finery.” **** Alise blinked to accustom her sight to the darkened room. A beam of sunlight shone through the draped window. Morning. Like the dogs, he had drugged her to sleep. She never believed he would go this far for revenge. She’d been willing to suffer the harassment, but what had he in mind now? A woman hurried to her bedside. “So, ye be awake at last. I thought he’d killed ye.” “Where am I? What does he want with me?” “Not fer me ta question, nor healthy fer you to be askin’ and ye kin jes worry ’bout where ye be. T’s not me place to say.” “What’s he want? Money?” “Mayhap, money. But most he wants to do ta ye wat he does ta me when he shows up here. He wants to suck on yer nice white teats.” The woman pulled the sheet away and lifted Alise’s breasts from her chemise. “Yep, so pretty. He’ll play with these till they be sore and bruised.” She stepped back. “He’ll fuck ya silly, make ye suck him hard again and again, beat yer bum, and fuck that till ye

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scream. And once he starts on ya, he won’t quit ya fer a long, long time. Yer in fer it, Missy Priss.” “Will he kill me?” “Dunno. Ye got days of fucking and sucking ahead of ye afore he decides. I best go call ’im now.” “Wait, won’t you wait and let me sleep a little more?” “Huh! Ye bin sleepin’ a whole day, then a night, and another whole day and night, and he bin takin’ it out on me. He wouldn’t touch ye until ye be wide awake. Said he wanted ye to feel it all.” She walked to the door and turned back to grab at Alise’s breasts once again. She rubbed the nipples between her fingers. “He likes these nips to be long and hard fer ’im.” On her way back to the door she said over her shoulder, “Oh, and he said he gonna fix yer eye ta match his.” **** The runners had done their job well. Relatives of the man with the patch had been located in the next village, and he had been seen around a ramshackle cottage on his cousin’s property several times during the past week. Dressed in dark clothes, three men rode into the village. Derry and Cash rode their steeds while Bridges came in the coach that would take Alise home. Since they didn’t want to ride up the drive to the house and be shot out in the open before rescuing Alise, they needed information and an entrée. Cash and Derry went into the inn. Bridges scouted around outside. “Dandridge, you go left and work from back up to the front. I’ll begin here and work to the rear.” Derry tipped his cap and faded into the crowd. Cash stopped a barmaid in her tracks. “How ’bout bringing a thirsty man a tankard over to that empty stool?” He gestured with his chin to a space at a crowded long table. “Right away, lovie.” She whisked some empties off and disappeared. Cash examined the rather weather-beaten men seated along the table. Most likely a crew of seamen. He’d get nowhere with them

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by seeming to be inquisitive. After the maid set a tankard before him, he looked around the room as he sipped. An old salt across from him leaned forward. “Yer new around here. Stayin’ some or passin’ through?” “On my way south for a mate’s wedding.” “It be the time fer ’em, November.” “Seems so. You don’t get many new folks hereabout?” “Not many.” “Some must come to visit relatives.” “Some do.” The man furrowed his brow and turned away. Uh, oh, he’d sounded nosy. He turned to his left ready to begin again. Derry came up behind him. He bent to whisper, “Far back right corner. Follow me. I recognized the lass straight away as one I’d tumbled not so long ago. She’s partial to doing gents.” In a dimly lit area at the very back of the room, a buxom barmaid sat on a bench watching the other lass do all the work. Derry plopped down beside her. “See, I told you my friend the Lord was with me. This is Milord Chauncy Bleakhouse.” Cash bent to kiss her hand. “A pleasure, Miss—?” The woman blushed to her obviously henna-dyed roots. “Glynis, Milord.” “Glynis here is tired of running her legs off for a mere pittance, but does need her tip money to care for her sick mum.” Derry glanced at Cash’s pockets. Cash folded some bills into Glynis’s palm. “Only right she should be compensated for sitting with us when she could be earning money.” Cash sat on the empty bench across from them. “Do you live nearby, Glynis?” “Yes, Milord, but I ain’t be takin’ ye there.” “Your father wouldn’t approve?” “Ain’t had a father since I were a tot. Got a cousin shows up ever now and agin. He be there now with his whore and…Sorry, sirs, I talk a bit much sometimes. Would ye like some ale afore we go upstairs?”

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Derry put an arm about her waist and pulled her into a kiss. When he broke it, he said, “And fetch one for yourself as well.” Glynis stood, made an awkward bow, and left. Cash watched her out of sight. “Are you thinking her cousin is eye patch man?” “I am certain of it. Before I brought you back here, she told me she lived in a dump, rent free, because her aunt had a lot of land. She said the old witch wouldn’t let her stay at the main house because the old bat didn’t approve of her making a living here.” “Sounds like the set-up the runner described all right, but if she won’t take us, how do we get in?” “You’ll see. I have a plan. Go along with whatever I say. Here she comes.” Both men stood until the drinks were on the table. Derry sat and drew Glynis onto his lap. “Do be a good lass and give us a look at the wares.” She tugged at her bodice until her teats sprang free. “These are some of the best around here, they say.” She leaned toward Cash. “You can touch ’em, Milord, and feel how nice and silky smooth they be. No pock marks anywheres on me.” He ran a finger around one nipple. “They are indeed lovely.” “Quite delicious to look at, but how do they taste?” Derry drew one into his mouth, sucked a bit, then lifted his head. “My friend Lord Chauncy hates public houses and never rests at them. Too bad your house is taken over by your cousin. Doesn’t seem fair, he can entertain his doxy there, and you cannot use your own home for some fun and profit.” Cash caught on. “Pity, we shall have to leave such glorious fruit untouched.” He tweaked a nipple as Derry licked the other. “Why isn’t your cousin at the big house with your aunt? Is he not her son?” “Yes, he is, but he keeps his whore and the lady away from her.” She downed her ale. “The lady?” Cash’s heart pumped so hard he was sure she could see it jumping inside his doublet.

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“Yeah. He dumped some lady in her cups at me place two days ago, and she’s been sleepin’ it off ever since. I’ve a good mind ta tell his mum ’bout the two whores he forced on me so’s I canna have me own guests.” “You should do it. Only fair.” Derry slipped his hand under her skirt. Cash placed another wad of bills on the table. “I have much more of this to give you. Take us home. We’ll deal with your cousin’s protests, give him some spending money also.” **** Alise saw no sympathy as the woman shut the door, leaving Alise to ponder her fate. She stood on shaky legs while holding on to the bedstead. That horrible woman was going to let this man do unspeakable things to her, and even blind her eye. The tattered draperies would not prevent her from escaping through the window. With the wall as a brace, she made her way to the portal and tossed the curtains aside. Boards had been crudely nailed across the shuttered opening. The shutters were broken and only half in place, but could she pull out the nailed slats in her weakened condition? How long did she have? Was patch man waiting in the next room, or outside? A shadow passed the window and by standing on tip toe, she could see a woman’s form climbing the hill behind her prison. A much larger and much wealthier looking house stood atop the hill. Apparently the man was in that house, not here. She had some time, then. With a deep inhale, she tugged at one of the boards. Nothing moved. She tried the other and felt a little give, at least she thought she did. She pulled to no avail. She tried digging around the nail until her nails broke and her arms ached. Nothing loosened. She needed a tool, something to pry with. Legs steadier now, she scanned the room. Empty except for a small clothespress, which most likely held clothes and nothing more.

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She made her way to it and bent. Hearing her knees creak made her want to sob. How could she be so incapacitated? What had he given her? She remembered waking once, mayhap twice, to use the chamber pot and gulping down some nasty brew thinking it would slake her thirst. All it did was put her back to sleep. She recalled the man yelling at the woman, cursing her, saying she had given Alise too much. No use trying to piece this together now. She had to get away before they returned. She opened the chest. The foul odor of ale and sweat wafted up and set her back onto her tail bone. With great force of will, she reached into the chest and rooted around using both hands. Her fingers touched something metal. A blade? A weapon? She grasped it and pulled it out from under the clothes. A scissors. Strong enough to pry a nail loose? Only one way to find out. Her movements were more stable as she strode to the window. With the blade of the scissors, she dug into the wood around the nail, chipping it bit by bit until voices outside stopped her heart. On her toes, she peeked over the boards. The man with the patch and the woman who’d been guarding her were arguing as they walked down the hill toward her. **** In the coach on the way to her house, Derry played with Glynis’s teats, and Cash pressed bills into her hands to keep them off his cock. Bridges followed a ways back with their horses. They stopped the coach at the entrance to a long dirt path leading to the barmaid’s cottage. The coachman had been forewarned to keep watch while they went onto the property in search of Alise. Cash hopped out. Derry lifted Glynis down to the road. “You should go in first and tell your cousin we’re here to speak to him. We’ll back you up and ask him politely to leave for an hour or two. If he refuses, we’ll see he obeys.” Derry straightened her bodice for her and nudged her forward.

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“Ye’ll be right behind me? He’ll beat me if I stand up to him alone.” “We’ll be there. Does he have a weapon?” Cash no longer felt any twinge of regret about the forthcoming hurt they would inflict on a half-blind man. He deserved everything they meted out, for beating his cousin as well as for capturing Alise. If he had touched her, he would die, and most unpleasantly. “I suppose he has a dagger in his boot, but he beats me with his fists and sometimes a leather whip. His woman has a knife. I ain’t seen no pistol anywhere.” At the door she hesitated, clearly frightened of this man. Derry kneaded her breasts. “Come, we want to show you how gentlemen can pleasure your body.” Glynis took in a gulp of air and threw open the door. Cash took in every detail of the scene in one glance. The kidnappers with their backs to the door didn’t notice, but Alise nodded to show that she did. The man had her up against the wall, holding her wrist and trying to keep the scissors she held from hitting his good eye. The other woman screamed the whole while, “Give it to ’er, give it to ’er.” Her hand dripped blood as she tried to stop the flow with her other hand. Glynis’s gasp of shock alerted the wounded woman. She flew toward Derry, bloody nails curled like talons to gouge him. Derry caught her before she did any damage and threw her to the ground. Cash immediately went to Alise. The man, trying to hold her off, hadn’t yet wrested the scissors from her and couldn’t turn around to see what had caused the commotion. Cash pulled him away from Alise and punched his jaw so hard his head whipped back and forth and he fell onto one knee, momentarily stunned. He recovered and jabbed at Cash without actually hitting him. As patch man teetered toward him with the force of his missed blow, Cash caught him, spun him around and pushed him into a chair. He took leather bands from inside his doublet and, while tying him in place, he glanced up to see Derry on his knees binding the

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screeching woman’s hands and feet. Blessedly, he also stuffed her mouth with a linen square. Derry, hands on hips, laughed uproariously as he rose and came to Cash’s side. “I see he is as poor a fighter now as he was all those years ago.” Derry folded Alise into his arms. Glynis scooted out the door. The woman on the floor thrashed a bit, then gave up and lay still. Cash did not want the woman to bleed to death, so he bandaged her hand before turning back to patch man. “Explain yourself, sir. It best be a good story if you want to live as a man and not a eunuch.” Patch man tried to stand, but Cash pushed him back down. He had no more patience and would welcome an excuse to hit the man again. “One more chance is all you have. Now talk.” “You see my eye? You see it? She did this to me. She deserves to be punished. I were only gonna feel her teats and throw a quick fuck into her and look what she done to me.” “What goes on here?” A voice from the doorway startled all of them into silence. “Robert, what is this? Glynis came for me and told your mum you’d been holding a lady against her will. Madam is gonna disown you. You’ll never get her house now.” The man’s booming, resonant tones stifled everyone else’s tongues. “Cousin John, I didn’t hurt nobody. Don’t let this happen over a worthless chit.” Robert tried again to stand. Cash stared him back onto the stool. “Lady Alise Ellington is the daughter of Earl Rossford. This cad, your cousin, tried to rape her years ago and took advantage of the Earl’s absence to try again.” Alise stomped her foot. “Stop talking about me as if I were not here. Fortunately, sir, your cousin Robert was not bright enough to properly administer whatever drug he gave me, and no serious harm ensued. However, I was kept here for two days, and I am a bit unsettled.” Derry continued to hold her close and stroke her back.

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John bowed to Alise. “My apologies, Milady. My mother will make whatever restitution you demand if you will keep our family name out of the matter.” “I need no money from you, and my demands are few. I would see this beast’s face no more in this corner of England.” “Thank you, Milady. He will be shipped to foreign ports on the next tide.” John turned to his cousin. “’Tis more than you deserve.” Cash was not satisfied. “What assurances do we have that he will permanently stay away or that he will not harass Lady Alise from afar?” “I am signing him on a friend’s ship to the new world. He will be watched by my man. If e’en a whiff of unpleasantness toward Lady Alise reaches my ears, it will result in the blinding of his good eye and cessation of his pension from me. I can afford to be generous as I shall now inherit his half as well as my own. He will receive a share of whatever monies I make from this farm as long as he complies with my orders.” John left with his chastened cousin, Robert Cash stuffed more bills into Glynis’s bodice, and Bridges, who’d come in after all was over, took Alise home in the coach. Although she insisted she was in good health and spirits, Cash worried Alise would not soon forget this ordeal. No one spoke of resuming the new version of the discussion group. **** Cash threw himself onto his silk-draped bed in dramatic fashion, ashamed for pouting like a petulant child but unable to stop. He’d spent more than a month throwing himself into affairs of his father’s by day and lying awake most nights. Baines hovered over him. “Some broth, Milord? Spiced wine? A poisoned dagger?” “The last item seems most appropriate.” Cash sat up abruptly. “I didn’t anticipate this happening. I didn’t keep her safe. I didn’t so much as have a chance to console her afterward or the

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satisfaction of beating the villain to a bloody pulp. Derry held her during the conclusion of our rescue, Bridges saw her home. I stayed to see arrangements were made for the cad’s departure and left with little sense of accomplishment.” “You stopped the horrors she’s been living with for years. Surely she’s grateful beyond mere words?” “Of course, she’s written to tell me as much. Yet no words of encouragement come forth, no request for me to call upon her.” He stood and paced. “I may not see her for weeks more, maybe never. My body aches with need of her. I’d had it primed to love her in all the ways I long to love her.” “And they would be?” “You know very well. The way Ram and I loved Lady Faith.” “You would have her suck you as she fucked another man?” “Yes. No.” “You would fuck her while she licked and swallowed another man’s juices?” “No.” “You would love her by letting her ride your cock while another man’s stiff dick was up her bum?” “We promised her all those things, but it’s not exactly what I feel this discontent over. I want to please her, have her feel all the sensuous raptures possible. I want her to enjoy my cock, yes, but I want her to know all the nuances of physical love, no matter how many other cocks it takes to achieve the maximum joy for her.” “Ah, let me see if I have this right. Like Lord Ramsey, you want your lady not to have missed any of the carnal delights open to her before settling down to marriage.” “Yes, exactly that. You’ve said it so much better than I.” “You admit, then, that she is your lady as Faith was Ram’s? You admit you love her and want her happiness more than your own? You admit you want her in your life forever, as your wife?” “Wife? When did I say wife? Are you mad, Baines? I do not want a wife. I have no need of a wife. Don’t be an ass.”

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“God’s eyes, you are blind as a newborn cat. I shall bring you some broth and lock up all the daggers.” Cash dutifully supped on broth and coarse bread. He wolfed down a venison pasty and a pint of ale. He felt no more satisfied at meal’s end than he had at its beginning. Food was not what his body craved. He should have moved to winter quarters by now. At his London townhouse, he’d have spent the evening gaming at the club or at a bawdy house. In the country, he was at a loss. In the last rays of sunlight, he strolled the topiary garden and tried to imagine improvements to be made to surprise his mother upon her return. Perhaps a bush in the shape of a hawk, or better yet, doves. Perhaps another fountain would delight her, or a pond with white and black swans. He chided himself. His mother was not all that fond of birds. Lady Alise, however, read copiously about them and loved them. Whatever was she doing all these days and nights? Derry brought news now and then of her recovery. Apparently the drug was long in leaving her body, or her mind could not forget the ordeal. He wished he could talk to her, find out where the trouble lay. He strode to his library and called for ale. A server from supper answered the call. “Baines said to tell you we brewed double ale and e’en some double-double two days ago. What is your pleasure, Milord?” “Double-double, if you please. I want all my senses dulled tonight.” Moments later a maid entered with a tray and an announcement. “Forgive the disturbance, Milord, but a party has arrived, and Baines could do nothing to dissuade them from seeing you. I’m afraid they are coming in here.” “Them? How many? Associates of my father? Fortunate I have not begun my bout of drinking yet.” “Three persons, Milord, one a grand lady. I do not know if they deal with your father.”

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Baines entered and sent the maid to the servants’ wing to alert the others not to surface for the rest of the night and not to stir on the morrow unless ordered. Cash rose. “What in the world is going on, Baines?” “The discussion group has assembled, Milord, and they wish to have their, uh, discussion now.”

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Chapter Seven Cash, agape, could not articulate a word as Baines ushered Bridges, Derry and Alise into the library. Alise rushed forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I have slept for days. After crying all the tears in the kingdom, more in relief than fear, I could rest no more. I hope you haven’t made other plans.” Other plans? Was she dotty? He’d been tense as a cobra ready to strike since he left her. “I am amazed at your resilience. Are you certain you wish to have our tryst tonight? Are you truly ready?” “Unless you’d rather postpone.” Cash pulled her into his arms. “Bridges? Derry? Are we all agreed and capable?” “Our blood has been stirred by the waiting. I, for one, am most ready.” Derry turned to Bridges. “I cannot contain myself. After thinking about having my heart’s dream come true and then having it snatched away with no satisfaction, I am devastatingly ready. I ache for her.” “Seems a consensus, then. Let’s drink on it.” Cash waved Baines to ready the room, and when he had gone, poured them each, including Alise, a half tankard of the strong ale. “To the lovely charms and bravery of our Lady Alise.” “Hear, hear,” Derry and Bridges chorused. They downed their drinks, took turns kissing Alise, and divested her of farthingale and sleeves right there in the library. Cash led the way to his sleeping chamber. Derry and Bridges assisted Alise in holding her gown, since it dragged on the stairs

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without the boned frame of the farthingale to hold it into the bell shape of the day. Cash’s sleeping apartment was huge, with three adjoining chambers for his exclusive use. They stopped first in the withdrawing room to divest each other of outer clothing. Slowly, Bridges unlaced Alise’s bodice while Derry untied her skirt and let it fall to the floor. Her chemise was of fine lawn and left little to the imagination. Bridges, showing little restraint, ran his hands along the contours of her breasts. Derry, in his smalls, led Alise into the inner bedroom. “I have anticipated this since the age of ten, no more delay, please.” Bridges, right behind them, nodded in approval at the several tubs of steaming water, mounds of linens, and baskets of sheep’s bladders shaped into miniature penises and tied prettily with coral ribbon. “Seems you have seen to every detail, Cash.” “I hope all meets with your approval. Now, the rules. Lady Alise, you may refuse any act you wish not to perform. If you wish to abort any act, you have only to say stop. We, in turn, shall be as gentle or as rough as you desire. In pleasing you, we shall please ourselves.” He scanned the faces around him. “All in agreement?” Three solemn heads nodded in unison. Alise laughed. “Gentlemen, please take joy in this, or it will never work. You look like a funeral procession.” She lifted her arms to the back of her head and slowly unpinned her hair. It took a while, and the men looked their fill at her body as she let each tress fall. Finally, the whole was down, and she twirled. Her silky mane fell well beyond her waist and covered her lush bottom. While they stood motionless admiring her ass through the sheer cloth, she grasped the hem of her chemise and drew it over her head, leaving her standing astride with white stockings held by plum ribbons and soft kid slippers, nothing else. She turned slowly, hands cupping her breasts, until she squarely faced the speechless gawkers. When she dropped her hands to her side, the three men did not move. Cash’s mouth went dry, and his cock saluted her beauty. The other men wore shocked expressions and stiff rods. Cash finally

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snapped out of it. He scooped her up and gently laid her on the silk sheets. Derry moved to the far side of the bed, Bridges to the near side. Alise, propped on pillows, looked into the eyes of each man. “I’m a bit nervous about trying to please you. I wish to taste all of you and to experience all the delights of the bedroom, but I am afraid I shall not live up to your expectations.” Bridges shook his head as he removed her slippers. “You have already exceeded any expectations we had, dear one, simply by letting us view the perfection of your body.” “You need not fear on such account, Lady Alise. We are here for your pleasure.” Cash rolled down one stocking while Derry pulled off the other with his teeth. He knelt between her legs. “I know how to relax her. I used to do this whenever she was in a panic or temper.” He fingered her until she moaned, then sucked upon her cuny. After a few seconds, she lay languid among the pillows and closed her eyes. Bridges caressed her teats and drew the nipples into his mouth. Cash massaged her feet and munched on her toes. Her orgasm was soft and not long in coming. “Thank you, gentlemen. The sensations were indeed relaxing, yet they have left me craving more. Now, what may I do for you? I wish to try everything.” The custom-made bed was large enough for three. Cash straddled her hips, Derry and Bridges knelt on either side of her. Neither objected to Cash’s being first to have her. He would have done serious damage to them if they had. At any cost, he had to keep her suitors from knowing he had been inside her before this night. Their hands were all over her, and she writhed and giggled in appreciation. Cash licked a trail from sternum to pubis, then parted the lips of her cuny and probed with his fingers to test her readiness. She was wet and became wetter as Derry and Bridges each sucked a nipple. Derry’s little nips seemed to excite her. Cash dressed his dick in a bladder. “May I sheath my sword, madam?”

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“Up to the hilt, please. Do your worst, as I cannot live another moment without its blade.” He rammed into her until he hit bottom, then paused to savor the moment. She was juicy and warm, and all his nerve endings jumped in response to the haven of her cunt. She pulsed around him, and he withdrew in alarm. Any more of that and he’d have ejaculated in seconds. He thrust back inside her, endured her contractions for mere moments before having to pull out to keep from coming. Over and over they teased each other. Then he found her sweet spot and rubbed his cock in and out and side to side within her. She cried out. “Oh, yes, keep doing that, do it again and again.” His cock seemed to swell with her cries, and he kept up the onslaught, trying to hold onto his sanity until she climaxed. With the extra stimulation of seeing and hearing Derry and Bridges nosily sucking her teats, holding off was becoming impossible. Derry bit down on a nipple, and her bottom rose and spilled its liquid honey over his appreciative cock. He let himself go, and they held onto each other until the spasms ceased. Cash backed off the bed to remove the sheath. He watched in amazement as Alise took first Bridges into her mouth, then Derry. She went from one cock to the other, teasing each man to the brink, then leaving to use her lips on the other erection. From one man’s cock to the next she licked and sucked until Derry said, “Enough. I can wait no longer for what I’ve dreamed of so many years.” Without any more preliminary, Derry hopped onto her and shoved into her. “I find I must savor this.” He bent back his head and closed his eyes. “Your cunt is like fine silk tightly wrapped around my cock, yet it infuses my senses with the warmth of wool.” He remained in place, quite still for several moments. “Ride me, then, dear oldest friend, ride me hard. Do not spare my little furry nether lips. Make them throb. Stab them with your mighty dagger.” He pulled out slowly and plunged again, pulled out and plunged until greed overcame his awe. Then he rode her with a

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whoop until he was spent, fell upon her, but was pushed aside by Bridges. “My love, I hope you are not too worn to receive me. Watching Derry delight in fucking you has made me uncommonly hard and giddy with need of your delicious cunt.” “I am ready for you, love. Come here.” She reached down and stroked his rod, and before it could enter her, it went off in her hand. He moaned. “I am mortified.” Cash patted his back. “Do not be. We are all overstimulated and need a cooling draught. You will have more dances, we all will.” He scooped the disappointed Alise into his arms and slid her, toes first, into a warm bath. Bridges rushed to kneel at her side. He washed her with a soft sponge, paying particular attention to her full, lush breasts. When she stood, he lifted her out and set her on his lap, dripping wet. There, on the floor, she impaled herself on his ready cock. Her breasts bounced as she raised her bottom and ground down upon his cock. Cash brought over the bowl of clotted cream his cook had provided and swirled some around each nipple. He licked cream from one teat, and Bridges sucked off the other side. Alise began rhythmic thrusts of cunt on cock, making Bridges moan and call her name over and over until he shook with his release. She pulled off of him and stood. Cash wrapped her in a huge damask square, mentally chiding Bridges for not letting Alise come first. She took the bowl of cream and applied it to his cock, then bent to suck it off him. He came quickly and raised her to her feet and ate cream from her cunt to give her the climax she had missed with Bridges. Derry brought cups of spiced wine. He fed Alise a poached pear. Juice dribbled down her torso, and he licked it off her teats. “Now we each have had her, let us orchestrate a tableau whereby we may all fuck at once.” “Excellent idea.” Bridges flew to the bed and began arranging pillows. Derry gave instructions. “Cash you have been patient while we plundered the lady, therefore you must have another turn

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inside her cunt while I perform the way I prefer most, with the added excitement of having her firm, plump, virgin ass.” Cash held up a hand. “Derry, you are used to your tavern wenches. Alise is far too delicate for you to merely plunge inside her like a rutting bull.” **** Alise shivered in a moment of trepidation, then settled onto a bed of down to study the men around her. She had let each of them into her body with no qualms, because she loved them and they her. Not one of them would see her hurt. Derry had wanted to perform this act upon her since they were teens, but she had always stopped him at the last minute. She would not stop him now. She wanted every sensual sensation possible. She wanted to please each man and be pleased in return. Curious, she leaned close to Cash to see what was in his hand. He held a smooth leather bulb shaped like a small penis about two fingers wide and was slathering it with lotion. He stared into her eyes. “Are you certain you wish this? It may hurt at first until you become accustomed to it.” “I wish to know and try everything. How shall I lay?” Cash gestured to Derry, and he piled some pillows on the bed. “Love, on your hands and knees, lean over the pillows and present your luscious bottom for Cash to insert the dildo.” With deft movements, Cash moistened her rear opening. “You must relax, my dear, or it will not fit.” “I’ll—I’ll try.” She closed her eyes and imagined being in the forest with Cash that first time. A foreign object entered her and she tightened again. “Relax, sweeting, relax.” The object slid in a bit more. It didn’t hurt exactly. Cash moved it around but no further in, until she became used to the sensation. “This is not unpleasant at all.”

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“Good. We shall proceed, then.” Cash removed the pillows and replaced them with himself. Alise climbed atop him as Derry directed. Cash was ready for her and thrust into her cunt. Derry maneuvered her ass as much as he could without dislodging Cash’s dick and took position behind her. “Is everyone ready?” “I am shaking in anticipation, although distracted by the clever cock inside me.” Derry gave more instructions as he removed the dildo from her ass. “Bridges, when I have begun, you kneel by the bed and ready yourself for her mouth. Are you comfortable, darling Alise? “I am delirious but a tad frightened.” Derry dug into a jar of cream with his fingers and applied it. “Feel the coolness around the hole? Now, I will massage inside you with my fingers. Do you feel the pressure?” “Yes, it is rather nice.” Cash groaned. “It is much too nice being inside her with pressure stimulating my cock from both sides. Do hurry and engage yourself, Derry.” “With pleasure.” Derry slid his cock slowly in as she gasped. “I want it all, but the stretching is worrisome. I fear you shall rip me asunder.” She moaned. Her heartbeats had intensified and she doubted she could stand it if he went into her much more. “I am already inside you and you need not worry, it will hurt less as we proceed. Please accept me quietly for a few moments and you will adjust.” She went limp expecting the reprieve of time to adjust, but Derry did not live up to his promise, he rammed his cock all the way in. “Sorry, Alise, I could not wait. Are you all right?” “Yes, yes. This is quite a different sensation. I want to experience all of my men at once. Come here, Bridgey, and join us.” The feeling of having all her orifices full was daunting yet supremely satisfying. Never had she expected to be this fulfilled by the experience.

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Derry rocked and rocked inside her, and she picked up his rhythm to pulse around Cash’s cock. Bridges waited until she opened her lips for him and fucked her mouth as if it were a cunt. All four moaned in ecstasy as they swayed to the beat of tribal drums only they could hear. Alise mewed like a kitten as she sucked on Bridges. Derry shouted encouragements to her. “Good girl, suck him dry. Nice rhythm on Cash’s cock and mine. I am going out again and will plunge with force. Do not worry, the pain is only momentary. I will be done soon. You are too tight for me to last long.” She felt the loss when he left her body and wanted it back again. He thrust and it hurt upon entry, but she reveled in the slight pain. He withdrew and plunged once more with his climax. He pulled out only to harden again, and reentered to give Cash maximum pleasure. Bridges spilled his seed seconds after Derry. He moved away to watch the three of them sway in tandem. Alise smiled at him. She loved them all and wished the night would never end. **** Cash enjoyed the heavy pressure and pushes into her from Derry on the other side. His cock seemed alive. Derry, hands on Alise’s hips, maneuvered her to fit his own delights. He came again and stood back and watched as Alise rode Cash’s cock to completion. The men applauded Alise then set her in a tub of steaming, lavender-scented water, and then each slid into his own bath. They bathed then moved to the dressing room while new tubs were being brought into the bedroom. Toasts to Alise flew about as they fed her sweetmeats and pears and lapped wine from her teats. Cash’s heart tenderly thumped with each of her smiles of delight at their enjoyment of her body.

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Once back in the bedroom, Bridges blushed and went down on both knees to Alise. “If you are not too sore, I’d like to take Derry’s place at your ass, my darling. I have never had that sensation. May I?” “Of course you may.” She bent to kiss him, and he licked at her nipples before she straightened. “And what would you like this time, Derry?” “I have spilled so much seed, I shall need you to suck me to hardness.” Alise turned to Cash. “Do you also need my lips to do your duty?” She knelt before him and slurped his cock into her mouth. He reached down to play with her teats, and it didn’t take long for him to explode in her mouth. She swallowed and licked him dry. “Derry always used to like me to do that when we were kids. Did you find it pleasurable, Milord?” “I find everything about you most entertaining, Milady.” Cash carried her to the bed and played with her body while the other men ate and drank and watched him suck her nipples and stroke her cunt. When he was stiff again, he drew her atop him and impaled her onto his hard bone. She scrambled to her knees, without losing the dick inside her, to allow Bridges access to her ass. She licked her lips to ready them for Derry. He stopped short. “Bridges, prepare her well, lest she comes to dread the act. T’would be a shame with an ass as lovely as hers.” Bridges approached her with a pot of cream and inserted a dab around the rim. With shaky fingers, he inserted more cream inside her. He slid his dripping cock into her rear with a shout guaranteed to scare the banshees away. She screamed. He pulled out. “I am so sorry.” “No, no continue, only go slowly at first and let me adjust a bit at a time. I promise I will give you a hearty ride once I am at ease.” He slid in more gently this time. “Hell’s fires, this is wonderful in here. It’s like a warm, tight skin of sable.” He didn’t last long and was loud in his throes of passion. He collapsed on the floor after he pulled out of her.

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Derry took longer fucking her mouth but caught his fluid in a linen square and removed himself from the bed to let Cash turn Alise onto her back for more control. “Harder please, more forceful thrusts. I need more.” With the invitation, Cash ground into her with gusto. This woman was a wonder to him. How could he have thought her content to live inside the pages of stale tomes? She writhed and arched her back and bit at his shoulders and lips as he pummeled into her again and again, each entry more powerful than the last. She’d be bruised tomorrow, but Cash couldn’t stop. He could not get enough of her cunt, of her breasts, of her mouth. She was lush and delicious and so pliant beneath him. He made it last as long as he could until she shouted her delight, and his mind shattered with the joy of her. The three men finished washing quickly and went to Alise’s side to play with her as she soaked in a warm tub. Bridges teased her nipples into hard peaks. Derry brushed her hair out over the edge of the tub. Cash fingered her cunt until she came into his hand. She rose, and they dried her and laid her back on the bed. Bridges knelt over her. “You have a decision to make, my love. Are you ready to make known your wish in the matter of matrimony?” Alise sat up with her back against the bedstead. She draped her hair over her shoulders to cover her breasts. “The decision becomes more and more difficult as this night commences. When one of you enters me, I am certain he is the one I should choose. Then the other tumbles me, and I love what he does to me also. I am uncertain as yet. I love you both, and I don’t want to disappoint either one. I don’t want to lose either one.” “If you are yet undecided, Derry and I have no choice but to attempt to convince you who is the better man. Perhaps he will leave while I make love to you alone.” He shot Derry a pleading glance. Derry made a scoffing sound in his throat. “Not likely, Milord. We will take turns on her again, but I will not leave for you to have

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her alone. You may go first, and I will assist with bites and caressing where needed.” “No, I would be last. You have her first.” Derry positioned Alise onto his tool as they sat in the bed’s center. “Come, Cash. I believe the lady likes a little spice to spur her on. Am I correct, my love?” “Yes, when you bit at my nipples, it made me come faster, and when you pinch my bottom I am stirred.” She slowly raised and lowered herself on him, but when he twisted her nipples into long, hard peaks, she rode him faster. With her hands on his shoulders she bounced while gazing into his eyes. Cash wanted her himself, and this was lasting too long. He rushed to help. He captured her mouth in deep kisses while running his hands over her teats and backside. Bridges nipped and sucked her toes, and soon she threw back her head and whooped in release. Derry pulled out of her, and Cash was ready to take his place, but Bridges shoved him away. “I need to plead my case with the lady and since you have no stake in this, move off.” Cash wanted to curse the heavens, but he had planned this night to be for the others to settle their lives. His would go on without Alise once she was wed. He walked to the basin and doused his face with cool rosewater. Bridges had already mounted Alise when he returned to the bed. Derry joined the pair. “Suck me, love. He thrust his cock into Alise’s waiting lips, and the sight spurred Bridges to push harder and faster. He was done for in only seconds and withdrew quickly. Alise continued to suck on Derry while he punished her nipples. “Halt.” Cash could stand no more. He lifted Alise from the bed and set her down on a tapestry-covered chair. He knelt before her. “Alise, I know I promised you’d give your answer on this night, but I find I cannot let you do it. This is undoubtedly a surprise coming from me, but marriage is too great a step to decide this way.”

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Alise rose from the chair and stood naked before the three of them. “Derry, I have loved you since my infancy, as you well know, but I cannot see you being a true mate and devoted father to the brood of children I hope to bear. Bridges, you have many women waiting for a glance from you. I do not suspect you will be distraught without me.” She sat again. “There is but one man here I would most humbly adore to be wife to, and he does not want me.” Bridges and Derry grumbled but quickly forgave her. They wanted more fucking. Cash, in shock, bade them all go home and called Baines to see them out. The two men had one more taste of Alise’s body as she dressed and they pawed her. Then Cash was alone. **** Alise kept up a happy chatter on the way to Rossford, kissed her friends at the door, and escaped to her room. She had disgraced herself with her pronouncement. What had made her do it? She never spoke without weighing her words before. She curled on her bed and sobbed. She was pregnant. Although it had been less than a month since the morning ride with Cash, she knew it to be true. Her breasts were tender, her tummy softer, and she had missed a menses, something unprecedented since that first one many years ago. What could she do? She had loved this night of love and had responded to each man. But she couldn’t saddle her two best friends with another man’s child. She spent the next few days in tension and apprehension. Bridges and Derry called upon her, but she sent them away quickly after ale and cakes in the formal parlor. Cash did not call. The week passed. Finally, she sent word for Derry to call upon her. In the library, where she felt most comfortable, she received her friend with trepidation in her heart. He was bound to feel betrayed when he learned she had given Cash her virginity before their session.

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Derry embraced her upon entering the library. “Are you ill?” She pulled him to the settle, and they both sat. “No, I enjoyed our night of love and would do it again, but I do have a problem I feel obligated to reveal to you.” Derry scanned her face. “You are with child.” She nodded. “Did you know the night we were all together?” Derry looked more crestfallen than surprised. “I wasn’t certain, yet I knew. How did you guess?” “I only suspected it. I know the feel of your breasts, and they were different somehow. You know to me it makes no difference whose babe it is. I would have you as my wife under any circumstance.” “I know it, and I also know Bridges would wish it. He must preserve his lineage, and I would never ask him to do otherwise.” “He may be an Earl, but Cash is a cad. How dare he take you before time. And to use you with no protection, it is unspeakable. I will call him out.” “You’ll do nothing of the sort. I shall never tell him. Never would I force marriage on anyone. Nor will I tie you down. I am going away with my grandmamma. I have written to her, and she will take me to France for the birth. Afterward, I shall not return to Rossford. I shall live in London at her townhouse. I shall devise some story about the babe’s father and care not what people suspect.” “You’ll not give Cash a chance to do the right thing?” Derry took her shoulders to force her to look in his eyes. “No. In truth, I love him, but I will not have someone who does not feel the same about me. I want and deserve more than tolerance.” “We may both be wrong in our calculations. You may not be—” The library doors parted, and the steward announced, “Lord Chasten has arrived, Milady. Shall I show him in?” Derry answered for her. “Yes, of course, bring him to us.”

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Alise panicked. “Please, please do not reveal a word of what I have told you. Promise me.” He nodded with an expression of consternation on his face. Cash burst through the doors. “My man, Baines, who always seems to know all that goes on in the world, heard you had planned the discussion group again. I hope I am still a member, though I have neglected all of you while I had business in London.” Alise managed a chuckle. “Your man is wrong. Only Derry is here. You are welcome in any case. Do come in.” “Ah, so you have been away, Milord?” Derry glared at him and Alise poked him for it. “Derry, Derry my friend, when did I become your lord? You never addressed me so before. Did I interrupt something?” “No, of course not. You surprised us is all.” Alise took a deep breath. She could get through this, she could. “Be seated, and let’s hear news from London.” Cash pulled a chair from hearth side and dragged it nearer the settle. “Did you see the queen?” Alise hoped to keep him talking long enough to compose herself but doubted she could approach calmness in his presence. “Unfortunately, no, since she had taken to her bed. I understand she has caught an ague or some ailment.” “A pity. I hope it proves not to be severe and she recovers soon. England cannot afford to lose her now a new century has commenced.” She sounded an idiot e’en to her own ears. He must think her a dolt. Derry rose and ambled to the door. “I will return later. I need some air and will be in the courtyard.” Alise, at a loss without her friend to bolster her, went to the bell pull to call for refreshments. Cash stopped her before she reached it. “Alise, your parting words the night of our tryst have haunted me every moment since you uttered them. It is the reason I spent this time in London.”

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“You had no business there?” This was it. He would now tell her he was moving to town to escape her clutches. She could not bear it. “Come sit with me.” He led her to the settle, helped her sit but did not join her there. “I had planned to drink and wench and live a hedonistic dream in London. Drink, I did, but nothing else appealed to me. Women friends were bores, men friends seemed childish. Political topics would have been stimulating if only I could have discussed them with you.” He went down on one knee. “Can you truly see yourself wed to a man who has been blind to his love for you for far too long?” “You–you love me?” “With all my heart. Will you have me as husband?” She tumbled on top of him with kisses she could no longer contain. Sometime later Derry found them entwined there, half clothed and very satisfied. **** Three weeks later, they awaited the return of their parents. Banns had been posted, and all was ready for a grand wedding feast. Cash’s mother had been ecstatic and his father surprised, but they arranged to take the next ship home to be in on the celebrations. Alise’s father agreed and boarded with them. Bridges and Derry wanted one more ménage before having to give Alise up to her husband. Neither Bridges nor Cash were yet told about the baby, although now Alise was certain, having missed two menses. They met at Wentworth Manor as they had before. Alise wore no gown. She covered a night rail with a cloak for the coach ride. In the bedroom, she let the cloak swirl to the floor and stood in full flower before them in transparent silk. Three men assisted in taking down her hair. They stripped the gown from her, pawing her chest and buttocks as they did. They fed her milk, letting it drip down her chest so they might lick it off her nipples. The men

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wanted to be somewhat spent before fucking her lest they come too fast. She sat on a stool to receive each cock into her mouth to begin the session. She did Bridges first, since he was always quickest. He played with her nipples as she worked on him and he ejaculated in seconds. Cash was next. She teased him with her tongue before slurping him into her mouth. The suction she used on him drew her cheeks inward as she sucked, and when he spilled his seed he held her head in place and bade her swallow and lick him clean. She laughingly complied. Derry was last to give her his cock and took too long. Bridges became impatient and gave Derry his cock to lick while Cash helped out by fingering Derry’s ass. He didn’t last long once the men started on him. By this time, Alise was more than ready. “I am in sore need of a cock inside me. Someone lie on the bed.” Bridges charged, and she mounted him slowly, sliding down his damp rod. He closed his hands over her breasts and squeezed. She went down on all fours to present her ass for Derry, and Bridges was able to suckle her teats like a hungry babe. As Derry moistened her rear portal with lotion, she wriggled, and Bridges moaned in delight. Derry plunged into her, and Bridges called out to every deity ever imagined by man. “Oh, my, this is good. Bounce on me, my love. I can feel Derry doing it to you.” Cash, now rock hard and ready to pop, went to her, pushed Bridges off her teats, and sucked a nipple. “Give me your manhood as a good husband should do for his wife.” He knelt on the side of the groaning Bridges and rubbed his cock over her breasts before feeding it to her. She sucked it greedily. Derry gave her a jolt from behind, and she slid along Bridges member, contracting her muscles to make him achieve orgasm more quickly. Cash spewed into a linen square, Bridges spewed

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into the sheath covering him, Derry continued to rock her from behind until he too yelped in victory. They all rolled from the bed into warm tubs of scented water. The men hurried to finish before Alise. Bridges reached her first. “I love to play with you in the bath.” “I love it, too. I do believe my bottom needs attention.” He knelt and reached into the water to finger her cuny. She lay against the high-backed tub and arched into his hand. Derry came to the other side and eased his cock between her lips. Cash knelt behind her and caressed her nipples until she gained her release. She stood, and they dried her. “Thank you, gentlemen.” They adjourned to the dressing room for cakes and ale. Alise asked for milk. Cash called her over to his chair. “Come sit on my lap, my darling girl.” She complied and fed him a fig as she slid onto his cock. He laughed as she rode him with Bridges behind her, teasing her nipples. Derry called for her next. He bent her forward over a stool and rammed into her rear. “If you are hungry, Bridges, you may have my arse. You will not be the first up my bum.” Derry positioned himself to receive the cock without losing his place inside Alise. Bridges was tentative at first then burrowed himself into Derry with gusto. “It is no different than being inside a woman, though it was easier getting in. Aye, aye, this feels good. You know how to work those muscles sir. You do me good.” When both men had spilled, they washed while Cash took Alise to bed. He mouthed her cuny until she screamed in release. At her request, they each took one more turn on Alise before Cash declared the night ended. Alise would have gone on, but he insisted she’d pleased all of them enough for one night. Their parents were due to arrive home any day, and she needed to rest up for vigorous wedding festivities. She was wrapped into her cloak and accompanied home in her coach by Bridges and Derry. To surprise them, she slid onto Bridges’s cock and let him play with her teats on the way home. He came quickly with the surprise

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of having no barrier between them and the rolling motion of the carriage as added stimulation. She told him then about the baby just before slipping to her knees to say farewell to Derry by sucking on him the rest of the way home. When he came at the last moment, she caught it in her cloak. He gave her his and kept hers for a souvenir. They kissed and petted her all the way to her door. “Don’t look so sad. We will have at each other again. Cash has agreed to it as many times as I wish, and I will wish a lot.”

THE END WWW.TISHDOMENICK.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tish Domenick is first generation Italian-American. She has earned two University degrees, a BS (no, not that BS, Bachelor of Science—really) and an MA, and has many years experience in the health care field. Give her a bowl of pasta, a good red wine, a romantic novel, and life is good. She lives in Florida with her husband, who cooks the pasta and pours the wine and wonders how she researched those erotic scenes. She’ll never tell.

Also by Tish Domenick Ménage and More: The Lady Dares Ménage and More: The Lady’s Adventure

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com