A Necessary Killing by Paul Walker

Author:Paul Walker [Walker, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Published: 2019-10-23T04:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

It is a warm night and I throw off all the bed linens save one. I am restless, sweating freely and may have been too generous with my pouring of wine after the lady left our table. My thoughts swing in confused manner from my attack in the wooded valley, Charles and the killing, the trial, arrival of Wynter and my consultations with Hawkins and Gilbert. It is a wonder how all those events led to this place and supper with Lady Fitzmaurice. I rise to relieve myself in the piss pot, then step to an open window searching for a cooling breeze. At last, I am calmed and heavy perspiring has lessened. I lie in the bed, close my eyes and summon images of Helen. I will be with you soon, my sweet.

A dream.

A movement.

Helen is here.

She slides under the flimsy sheet… soft and slow… playful… teasing.

I shiver at her touch… a gentle press of naked flesh… she toys with my hardness…

Naked breasts brush my skin as she climbs me…

A kiss.

Her scent… is…

Ah! This is no dream…

Not Helen.

She is on me… mounted.

I am… inside her.

Cannot stop… her urging… moaning... it is… her…

Forgive me… I must…

Finally, I am spent. Her swaying subsides; she gasps and flops beside me.

Our breathing is loud in the still grey of the night. What should I do? Surely she will slip away without comment. I will be requested to leave in the morning and without further meeting. I have failed my mission here. This interval is too long – too quiet.

‘My Lady, that was - unexpected.’

‘You must call me Katherine, William. We have enjoyed each other and should be familiar in these private moments.’

Our voices are cushioned in the heavy air between us – so different from our clacking in the dining chamber. I can find no words and stare into the canopy above. There is movement. I sense she levers on an elbow and cups her chin. I dare not return her gaze.

‘What is the true reason for your visit here, William?’

‘It is… the token from your son, Maurice.’

‘You are not sly enough to lie with conviction, even when darkness hides the twitching on your face.’

There is only a small hesitation before I say, ‘I am here to enquire into the intentions of Thomas Stukley and Nicholas Sanders, who I understand have dealings with your husband.’

‘Hah, so Walsingham is behind this. Now that I could believe if you were here some months ago, but you must know Stukley is now dead.’

‘There is an opinion that news of his death was a lie to cover up his present activities.’

She lays her head on my chest. My arm has a mind of its own and folds around her naked back.

‘Stukley is indeed dead. It is certain.’

‘What is the basis for your certainty - Katherine?’

‘Mmm, your discomfort eases, William. There can be no shame in our coupling. No one will know of our small delight unless you choose to tell Helen.’

My belly lurches at mention of her name.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.