ARABELLA by Anonymous

Author:Anonymous
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Traveller's Companion
Published: 2008-01-26T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER eleven

Elaine was all of a flutter at the news of a mysterious visit we were to make. Thankfully, perhaps, I could tell her nothing of it. Had Pearl confided in me more I might have let her wheedle it out of me.

“Don't ask Pearl too much or she will be put out—she intends it to be a surprise for us,” I said.

“Oh, very well, but I like to know what is happening.”

“Sometimes it is best not to—surely there is much more fun in that,” I replied, and knew the truth of it even as I spoke. Until now I had been able in great part to anticipate events. Now it was as if I were about to open doors beyond which lay mysteries. The thought made my veins tingle. Adorning ourselves in white waist corsets and white silk stockings with rosetted garters—“For purity,” as Pearl said—we made ourselves ready. Neither chemises nor drawers were required. Our gowns being of velvet, we felt the soft comforting of them.

My uncle did not accompany us nor did he ask anything about our venture. Perhaps Pearl had primed him, perhaps not. He would enjoy himself, I had no doubt, with some midinette in our absence. A leather case containing two bottles of champagne accompanied us in our carriage. The corks were popped before we had reached the outskirts of Paris. Pearl insisted upon our quaffing all.

“Oh, I shall want to pee soon,” Elaine declared, for the jogging of carriages frequently made one want to do that in any event.

“Then you must hold it and wait until we arrive,” Pearl said. I wondered not a little at that, for it was ever easy enough to slip out of a carriage in the dark and relieve oneself within its shelter in the dark. Elaine wriggled exceedingly, for our supper had been a light one.

“Please, Pearl, I must!” she begged, but the lady was adamant and afforded me a sly smile in the dark. I, too, tingled and burned to pee and fancied not having to ask our unknown hostess for the means to do so the very minute we arrived. When we did it was with rather puffed faces and tightened bottoms.

“Ask as soon as we get in,” Elaine blathered, receiving the crisp reply that we would be seen to. I quivered and read some meaning in Pearl's reply, as well I might have done. Alighting from the carriage with our feet crunching upon the gravel, we viewed before us the dark shadow of a chateau no less large than that of the Comte. Endeavouring to walk daintily, I yet wriggled—as did Elaine—while we mounted the steps and entered a grand hall, there to be met by a lady of calm demeanour who immediately beckoned us forward along to what I imagined just to be a drawing room.

In that I was wrong, for it proved to be a large chamber of most curious aspect. The walls were covered in blue velvet all about. Chandeliers glittered upon cushioned divans much as those we had pleasured ourselves on at the Comte's.

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