“MY... MY LORD?”He looked up. “Yes, Adalene?”“Can... can I seat near you? So I will not have to... shout when I talk to you?” She cringed after she asked, almost sure that he was not going to be pleased.But to her surprise, he smiled. “I would like that, too.” Then he called the maidservants and ordered them to bring her plates and cutleries to a seat to his right. He stood up and helped her up, then escorted her the length of the table to her new seat.She felt relieved sitting on her seat with him just a reach away. They could talk.And they talked.She was hesitant at first, but when he started the conversation by asking her a few questions about life on the farm and how the farmers were, they were soon talking well. The subject, at least, was something she knew. She was surprised to find out he knew of more details about how farmers do their trade before the produce even went to the borders than she expected. He answered her questions when she got more intrigued after he talked

“DO YOU KNOW how to dance?” he asked unexpectedly when they finished coffee, which wasn’t anything like she had had at home, more bitter than she was used to. She also ate a few of these little sweets that were crunchy at the outside and soft in the inside, made of egg whites, sugar and almonds, was how he explained it. The taste and texture just delighted her so much it surprised her out of her daze. He said it was called priests’ bellybuttons because of the shape when she quizzed him more about it. She got into a kind of daze as he answered her questions like he really wanted to and enjoyed doing so. She was finding out how much she loved receiving his attention. It was still a wonder how she could have been in this place right now with him. She still couldn’t believe it, but he was there. And for the moment, that was what was important.From there, their conversation turned to gatherings she used to go to.“I sometimes dance in the village dances,” she told him. “But I am only allo

“MY MARRIAGE,” Adalene started before she loses her nerve. “I don’t... I don’t know how I can do it. Louis Didier does not seem to be a man who will be easy to please. And I’m not sure I can make someone like him h-happy.”They were in the parlour, resting on a comfortable couch after they settled down.“It is not about you making him happy...” he said after a moment. “He is a miserable old man and should not be fit marrying a young woman. He would end up making you miserable. It is a most disastrous arrangement.”“I know the money will help our farm tremendously.” She told him about the harshness of the last two winters, essentially explaining why her father was forced to do what he did. “I was to be arranged, anyway. For a while, I knew that. I was ready, in fact, as I did not want to lose another of my nieces and nephews. I try to avoid thinking about it, as hard as it is because it already happened. When my father informed about the arrangement, I was actually very relieved... eve

ADALENE SMILED and she leaned down and kissed him chastely on his chest.He grinned, and then laughed when she scowled at him.“That’s just the start,” she said defensively.“That’s not how you start this, ma bichette,” he said, laughing softly before he lunged at her with a playful growl.She shrieked and tried to get away although she really didn’t want to do that, and he caught her, of course. They laughed together, but she was soon moaning as his lips landed on her neck and slid down to where her breasts met, kissing her oh so differently from her chaste kiss on him.Then he raised his head, and he kissed her mouth... hungrily, while his body pinned her to the mattress, and she could feel every inch of him plastered to her softness, his cock large and rock-hard against her stomach. Being pinned like that, feeling his weight on her, gave her an incredible feeling that satisfied her so much, and confusing her the next.It felt real, and right, in a way that was very familiar, even

FABIAN LEFT HER for a while and when he came back, he had a soft cloth in his hand that he soaked with the water on the pitcher. He used this to wipe both of them clean. She closed her eyes as his touch, even at this time, could still produce that melting sensation inside her. She trembled inside and out. And she doubted if she would receive the same care from Louis Didier when he...She gulped as her heart thudded at the thought. Now that she knew what involved a husband and a wife on the marriage bed, she could not measure the revulsion that she suddenly felt, and she suddenly recoiled from Fabian’s hands.“What? What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” he asked.“N-No... no, it’s not you. I...” She looked up at his worried face and she suddenly felt her eyes getting warmer and warmer.“What is it?” he said, neglecting the wet cloth and gathering her in his arms.She went to him, trembling. “How can I do this with Louis without being ra-r*ped?” she asked in a rush.He tensed, and then his arm