The Needs of a Lady by Sophia Poe

Author:Sophia Poe [Poe, Sophia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tuscumbia Hill Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Four

SIMON

Once they had woken up, Simon handed Esme her chemise and, while she put it back on, he dressed himself. They had slept for a bit and had woken feeling ravenous. Esme called down the stairs to Mabel, who replied that yes, the evening meal was ready.

Simon and Esme went down to the lower floor, holding hands, where they found Mabel waiting with plates of hot food and goblets of cool wine. They sat around the small table, greedily feasting on the tender capon breast and honeyed carrots. Simon ripped off pieces of cottage loaf, liberally smeared them with butter, and quickly ate them down. When he raised his eyes, he saw both Esme and Mabel staring at him quizzically.

“I expended a lot of energy earlier,” he remarked casually, reaching for his goblet.

Even Mabel smiled at his words, and she moved to clear his empty plate. “There is a fine plum tartlet, my lord, if you’re still hungry.”

“Mabel, my love, I would slay dragons for a slice of plum tartlet.”

When she placed a bowl holding the dessert in front of him, he licked his lips and dug in with relish. Esme watched, a smile on her face, until he was through. After wiping his mouth with a linen napkin, he held out his hand. Esme took it without hesitation, and he led her to the settle in front of the snapping fire.

“Now, my lady, we must talk. Mabel, join us, please,” Simon instructed. Once the women had seated themselves, he stood before the fire and began. “Mabel, you are a clever woman. You know what transpired between Esme and myself upstairs.”

“Yes, my lord. Even if I did not know, I would have heard it,” she responded.

Simon could not help but smile. “While I know you do not approve, let me assure you that I mean no ill will toward Esme. I intend to marry her, you see. As farfetched as it may sound, Mabel, I lost my heart to her when I heard her singing.”

“Simon,” Esme interrupted, shaking her head. “I told you I was not a virgin, and that is something you know now to be true. How can you possibly want me?”

He dropped to his knees before her, capturing her hands in his. “Esme, it does not matter. Truly, it does not. I do not care about the men before me. I only care that I am the only man to have you from now on.” His words held sincerity from the depths of his heart. “I can see you are troubled, though, so tell me all about it.”

Esme looked at Mabel, who nodded. With a shaky sigh, Esme began her tale. “It is a sickness, my lord. I know no other way to describe it. I have these urges, these uncontrollable urges to be with a man. To touch a man, be touched by him. Most often, I can soothe the ache myself.” Her cheeks flamed red, but she continued. “But there are times when I simply cannot.

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