Lady Peasant

by Golden Angel

  Lady Peasant

  By G. Angel

  Text copyright © 2012

  All rights reserved

  If you’re reading this, then this book is dedicated to you.

  Also, to my husband, who is my own sweet Prince.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 1

  Lady Gwendolyn sighed as she looked out her window. The fair girl was a lovely brunette, 18 years old and still unwed with hair that hung past her waist in silky ripples when she wore it down. Every morning her maid Brandy would put braid it into 2 long braids and wrap it around her head, braided loops making it even wavier in the evenings when she brushed it out. Ample bosom heaving as she sighed wistfully, pretty amber colored eyes looked out over the fields and acres of her father's land… all those beautiful fields and forests and she was never able to leave the grounds of the keep where she lived. Noble ladies weren't allowed to do anything interesting, she thought. Making a face, she retreated back inside and called for her maid. At the very least she could go out into the keep's garden and pretend that she was out wandering in the real forest.

  Twenty minutes later there was a frown on her pretty brow… Brandy was nowhere to be found. Thinking that her maid might be in the laundry getting new clothes for the next day, she headed into the bowels of the keep to where the clothes were cleaned. There was no one there. About to leave, a pile of clothing that the female servants wore caught her eyes and she froze with a sudden thought… did she dare? Looking around to be absolutely sure she was unobserved, Lady Gwendolyn of Pennybrooke Keep picked up a complete maid's outfit and hugged it as she snuck back up to her rooms. Stuffing the clothes into one of her personal boxes that she kept stationary, pens, and other things in, she marveled at her own naughtiness. Well, she didn't have the courage to try the plan that was turning over in her head yet… but she might later. At any rate, now she had what she needed if she did decide to do it.

  Giggling at her deliciously naughty secret the pretty young noble tucked the box under her bed and went off into the keep as the chapel bells chimed the dinner hour.

  *************************

  A few days later she was sufficiently bored that her courage was gathering, and there seemed to be the perfect opportunity as Brandy was feeling rather ill. Pretending that she felt ill herself, she assured her maid that she would be perfectly fine as the sickly blonde tucked her into bed. Her heart was pounding and she was sweating a little, enough to convince her ill maid that she was genuinely feeling unwell. With her best "Lady of the House" voice she told her father's manservant that she would be in bed that afternoon and did not want to be disturbed at all so that she may rest. Ever since the death of her mother when she was ten her father had spoiled her outrageously. There would be no question of anyone disturbing Lady Gwendolyn's rest, his head would be on a platter and served to her by her own father if anyone were to do anything against his dear daughter's will. Especially when she was feeling unwell.

  Heart pounding madly in her chest, she waited until there was total silence in her rooms, her wing of the keep emptied out of everyone but her and her sick maid. She knew that Brandy would be sleeping soundly because of the sleeping potion she'd drunk before putting her Lady to bed. Creeping out from beneath the coverlets she pulled the box with her secret in it from the bed. Laying the simple white cotton blouse with the tan skirt on the bed, she smoothed some of the wrinkles from the pieces of clothing. Dressing quickly, she pulled the pins from her braids so that they hung down her back, two simple peasant girl braids. She wrapped her head in a blue scarf that she'd found in Brandy's room and snuck out by the back stair.

  No one even really glanced at her as she moved quickly along the walls, heading for the closest gate into the meadow. Filled with triumph and happiness at her newfound freedom. Laughing gaily she skipped through the meadow and began to wander along the edge of the forest, picking flowers as she went. Finally free, finally able to do whatever she wanted. Her heart felt really light for the first time in her life.

  Dashing madly, she laughed and skipped, singing nonsense words at the top of her voice and making random music as she twirled and pirouetted… and then came to a sudden stop as she felt someone's eyes watching her. Looking curiously around, she was quite startled when a tall handsome man in dark peasant's garb seemed to materialize out of the woods. Heart pounding, mouth dry with the sudden fright, she realized that his clothing had allowed him to blend in with the woods.

  "Hello," he said, smiling gently, hands held out so that she could see he held nothing.

  "Hello," she replied softly, clutching at the bouquet of flowers she had picked, pressing it tightly against her stomach where butterflies were still fluttering.

  "I'm sorry," he said, still smiling, his deep brown eyes looking into her amber ones, running one hand though his longish dark brown hair. "I didn't mean to startle you, you just looked so pretty and happy running around. I couldn't help but watch you."

  A delicate flush infused Gwendolyn's cheeks as he complimented her, she was used to the courtly compliments paid by visiting knights and Lords, but this was different. He really meant it otherwise he wouldn't have said it.

  "It's just such a beautiful day," she said shyly. "And I was enjoying it greatly."

  Laughing gently he teased her. "I hope you're still enjoying it."

  "Oh yes!" she exclaimed, as she realized her words could have been taken as an insult, the pink in her cheeks getting a little brighter. "I didn't mean that I wasn't anymore."

  "Don't worry I don't take insult," he put his hands in his pockets as he smiled at her, "My name is Al."

  "Hello," said Gwendolyn, thinking fast - obviously she couldn't give her real name. "I'm Gwen."

  "Gwen," he repeated. "Pretty name for a pretty girl."

  The pink in her cheeks deepened to a color closer to red.

  "Do you come here often?" she asked hastily, trying to ignore the heat in her face.

  "No, but I may start to if you’ll be here," he said, his brown eyes traveling over her face as she shyly looked away. "Here, let me help you pick some more flowers."

  Startled, she looked up at him and their eyes locked again. "You pick flowers?" The surprise was obvious in her voice.

  "Well, I will be now." He had a very charming and handsome smile, and she felt her heart melt a little.

  Shy at first, he slowly opened her up as they chatted about harmless things. When he asked about her family she said that they worked in the keep, the lie tripping easily off her tongue. Questioning him she found that his family was in the next town and that he'd just wanted to get away for some time to himself and had walked along the woods until he'd come to this field. Commenting that it was a very long walk she got nothing more from him than a nod, but she didn't press it. Perhaps he was really from one of the very poor families in the village and didn't want to admit it. And she didn't really want too many questions about her own person anyway, so she kept the talk to the weather and what was happening in each of their respective keeps.

  As they talked she became convinced that he really was from the village outside the King's castle, he knew much of the comings and goings of the royal court. Although her father's keep was very close to the castle, only an hour’s ride by carriage and less by horse, she didn't always get to hear that much of the court. It made for interesting gossip as he told her about all the visitors that came and went from the castle there, and described to her the way the castle looked from the outside. She'd never act
ually seen it, or been to court. Her father kept his beloved daughter well-sheltered.

  As they talked she began to really relax and enjoy his company. He was just as interesting - if not more so - than the men who came to her father's keep, and was genuinely interested in her rather than just talking to her for show. It was a wholly different experience and the afternoon hours wiled by pleasantly, as she laughed at his jokes and even made a few of her own.

  Hands reached for the same pretty red flower and their fingertips touched. Startled she straightened at the same time as he did and suddenly found that they were standing very, very close together. In fact their faces were only inches apart, and her head was tilted up towards him, his brown eyes piercing her amber ones and it felt like the world had frozen around them. Her breath caught in her throat as they gazed into each other's eyes, and she could feel his fingers entangled with hers. His hand began to slowly pull her closely towards him as her heart pounded.

  And in the village the chapel bells began to ring.

  Gasping, she pulled away from him. "I have to go! The bells, I must go, I'm sorry…"

  "It's all right." He pressed the flowers that he had gathered towards her, and brought the soft hand that had been intertwined with his up towards his mouth. Kissing the back of her hand gently, he gazed at her with an intense look in her eye, one that she didn’t recognize but which set her heart pounding again. "I'll be here the day after tomorrow in the afternoon again if you think you can get away."

  Numbly, unable to speak, she nodded, and then reluctantly pulled away to run across the meadow. As she looked back he was still watching her while she went through the gate into the keep's walls, looking so handsome and relaxed.

  Rushing to her room, she looked down at the meadow where they had spent the afternoon… but there was no sign of him at all. Quickly, she changed into her nightdress, shoving her maid outfit back into the box and pushing it under the bed. Sliding beneath her violet coverlet she nestled down into the bed and waited. Soon the bells struck again, ringing out the dinner hour and Brandy came bustling into the room.

  "My Lady? Are you feeling well enough to go to dinner?"

  Gwendolyn yawned as if she had just woken up. "Yes Brandy, I'm feeling much better." And she was… her whole body felt energized and awake.

  As her maid dressed her and pressed her out the door for dinner Gwendolyn couldn't help but give one last wistful glance back out her window at the empty meadow.

  Chapter 2

  The next day seemed to go by achingly slow as Lady Gwendolyn waited impatiently for the afternoon when she could go to the meadow and meet Al again. Not only was he charming and handsome, but he was exciting... something new that she had never experienced before. Her life had been incredibly boring, just day after day of the same things, now she had something to look forward. Freedom from the keep and all its repetitions would have been enough to entice her, but having the excitement that had coursed through her at the end of their last meeting just made it all the more thrilling.

  Preparing for another afternoon of "illness," last night at dinner she pretended to be feeling a little sickly and to only pick at her food. Really though she ate plenty to fill her stomach it was just tidbits and nibbles eaten over a long period of time. In the morning she "tried" to feel better by going out in the garden with Brandy, walking through the sweet-scented flowers and elaborately pruned bushes. Artfully, she sat on a bench every time she came to one, pretending some weariness. It all paid off, by the afternoon her pretty blonde maid was insisting that her Lady take some rest, she would make her excuses to the household.

  Hiding her eagerness Gwendolyn got into bed, and told Brandy that she would take her sleeping potion and just rest for the afternoon... her maid was free to go out. Happily, the bouncy buxom blonde scampered out the door, intent on hunting down the stable boy she had been charming. Once her quick steps faded from earshot, Gwendolyn hurriedly changed her clothing and snuck out of the keep. Really, everything was so much easier in these clothes! With her hair covered and in simple cotton clothes she really looked no different from any number of young girls who lived within the keep and the surrounding village. It was quite easy to walk freely down the street to the gate where she could meet Al in the meadow. What she hadn't been expecting were some of the frank gazes and crude suggestions that were made to her occasionally by passing young men, admiring her fit figure in the simple cloth. Any of them would have died of shock and fear upon learning her true identity, but Gwendolyn didn't know that so her cheeks just flushed prettily as her steps minced her closer to her much-anticipated meeting.

  Running out into the field she spotted Al waving to her at the far end and she ran laughing to him, actually plunging past him into the forest. Calling after her and laughing he chased her, and they ran happily through the trees and brush, playfully yelling teasing insults at each other. Gwendolyn hadn't had so much fun since she was a child playing tag. Eventually, breathless, she allowed him to catch her, shrieking merrily as he appeared in front of her from around a large tree. His arms flying about her waist, he pulled her to the ground with him, both of them giggling madly.

  "I've caught you at last you saucy wench!" he said cheekily, his handsome face only inches away from her own.

  "I am no wench," she protested, mockingly insulted, amber eyes sparkling as she was filled with giddiness. Never had she had a man so close to her, and here he was halfway atop her! She certainly felt like a wench... but that was not the game.

  "No," he said, his voice lower, softer, with a more gentle quality. "No, you shall be the Lady of my Heart and I your noble and adoring knight. What is my Lady Gwen's pleasure?" The unexpected heat in his brown eyes as he gazed at her made her feel lightheaded, excitement running through her innocent body.

  "Well Good Sir Knight Al," she said playfully, trying to hide these new and intense feelings that were assaulting her behind a façade of mockery. "First you could allow me to stand and stop crushing me!"

  He laughed at her audacity and immediately stood, reaching out his hand to help her up. "Ah... but my Lady scolds me so tenderly, it is enough to make my heart weep."

  Deftly, as he lifted her up, he pulled her body close to his; with their hands still together he wrapped that arm around her waist so that one of her arms was around her own back, fingers intertwined with his. Her other hand pressed up against his hard chest, as her breath caught in her throat and he pressed two fingers under her chin to lift her eyes to him. They made a pretty picture, peasant maid and lad, both with sun burnished brown hair and sparkling eyes, cheeks flushed with exertion and excitement, framed enchantingly by sunlight and trees... Gwendolyn could feel her heart pulsing madly with the heat of the moment.

  Looking deep into her amber colored eyes, he lowered his mouth to hers, and her eyes closed as his lips caught hers in a kiss. Softly he pressed his lips on hers, fingers still tucked under her chin, and she trembled at his touch, her soft body arched sweetly against his own.

  Pulling his mouth away from her quivering body, he smiled and laughed, breaking the intense spell that they had been other.

  "I am rewarded with my lady's sweet lips... now I can die of happiness..." And he let her go, falling upon the soft mat of leaves on the ground as she laughed at him, relieved and disappointed that the spell had been broken.

  "You brute," she laughed, hands on her hips. "You would kiss and die? What kind of honorable knight are you?"

  "The kind that worships my lady's every movement." His hand caught hers again, bringing it to his lips as he pulled himself up. "The kind that is completely undone by the sweet taste of her skin, the heady perfume of her hair," she gasped as his arm caught her round the waist again and he pulled her close, murmuring as her lowered his head again, "and the intoxicating kisses she gives."

  Their lips had barely touched again when the chapel bells chimed. Gwendolyn cursed inside her head even as she was relieved. She had never played a game like this, and she needed some
time to think, but oh those cursed bells! The sweet sensations running through her body were too new for her to bear even as she craved them.

  "I must go," she said, reluctantly, disentangling herself from his clasping embrace. "I cannot make it back here for another afternoon... it will be too hard to get away again."

  "In the evening perhaps?" his voice and face were wistful. "Two evenings hence?"

  Hesitating she made her decision. There had to be a way. "Yes... two evenings hence. I'll be here."

  Daringly she pressed forward and let her lips lightly touch his own.

  As he let go her hand he called after her, "I'll be waiting, sweet Lady of my Heart!"

  She giggled at his silliness as she ran back to the keep.

  ********

  That night she watched the stars from her window, excited about meeting him again and yet uncertain as to whether she should continue to do so. As a noble lady she absolutely could not lose her maiden head before marriage, but she could take care of that by telling him that her father was trying to lower her dowry for when she was married. Upper class peasants did that sometimes, following the fashions of the nobility. But her body ached sweetly as she pressed her fingertips to her pink lips in memory of those kisses. Before now her life had held little excitement, and the brunette was loathe to give up this new activity. Being naughty and sneaking away would have probably paled after awhile... but with company - and such fun company!... it was going to be a long wait for that evening.

  Tucked into her bed, the pretty young maiden sighed and hugged her pillow, remembering her first feel of a man's body pressed against her lithe figure, the way his hard chest had flattened her soft breasts and the way his lips had teased her own, sending tingles through her body. Hazy dreams of a sunny field and a handsome brown haired man made the pretty girl sigh happily in her sleep.