by Jada Turner
He offered Diana a hand and pulled her to her feet.
She rearranged her clothing including her ripped pantaloons.
They looked at each other. He kissed her on the forehead, then the cheek and then on the lips.
“Til we meet again,” he said.
“When… where?”
“When destiny brings us together again.”
“Buggar destiny. I want to see you again.”
He laughed, and with that he vaulted the gate and disappeared into the woods leaving Diana flushed and wondering how the hell had she allowed him to take advantage of her.
Chapter 3
“And how is young Charlie today,” said Diana to the fat women at the orphanage side entrance.
“He’s doing well.”
“Has the doctor seen him?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
Diana noticed how the woman’s attitude towards her had changed considerably with the knowledge that her job depended on it.
Diana found Charlie lying on his bed in the dormitory. His leg had a proper splint professionally fitted, and a little colour had come back to cheeks that yesterday were deathly pale.
“How are you Charlie?” she said.
“Hello Miss. I’m good thanks. Did he tell you?”
“Oh, you mean the man who put the splint on you?”
“That’s right Miss.”
“Yes, he did. I don’t seem to recall his name though, remind me.”
“He hasn’t got a name Miss.”
“That’s silly. Everyone has a name.”
“Well, I didn’t mean he actually had no name, it’s just that nobody other than his old comrades use it. I don’t know why.”
“Old comrades?”
“Yes Miss. He was in Wellington’s army.”
“Why such a mystery?”
“Dunno Miss… but yer don’t ask questions when someone don’t want to be known.”
“Interesting! Do you know where he lives?”
“He don’t live nowhere, Miss. I mean, like, he stays in different places most of the time in case the Revenue are after ‘im. He does spend a lot of time at the theatre though.”
“The theatre? Is he friendly with an actress there?” Diana felt her cheeks flush with jealousy.
“No Miss. He likes the theatre. Don’t say I told you Miss, but he has customers there.”
“Customers? What sort of customers?”
“Can’t say Miss. Won’t say Miss if you’ll beg my pardon.”
“Interesting. It seems this man is something of a scoundrel.”
“No Miss. He’s a good ‘un. Everyone says so.”
“Maybe so Charlie… maybe so.”
“Look Miss, I haven’t got anything to give you but this.” He reached under his pillow and pulled out a piece of wood carved beautifully into a small bird.
“Where did you get this Charlie, it’s beautiful.”
“I made it Miss.”
“Really? It’s so good you could get money for it rather than give it to me.”
“I would like you to have it Miss, as a thank you.”
Diana choked back a tear. This young boy had nothing but his talent, and he wanted to give her something in return for her kindness. She knew she should accept it and kissed him on the forehead.
She smiled to herself as she rode home. The stranger without a name. She must discover his secret. It made her smile even more to realize that her fantasy, where she was taken advantage of by a Captain in Wellington's army in a hay field, had come true. The tiny detail of it being straw instead of hay did not matter one jot. And he probably wasn’t a Captain but those were just details.
***
Diana sat at her dressing table brushing her long blond hair thinking about the day’s events and the stranger. The carved bird had pride of place next to her jewel box.
“Excuse me Ma’am,” said Jane, Diana’s lady’s maid, bobbing a curtsey in her long black skirt, white apron and white hat. “I took the washing down to the laundry room and couldn’t help noticing your pantaloons are ripped at the… at the crotch. Would you like me have them repaired or discarded?”
Diana thought for a moment. “Jane, I think they are too tight and restrictive. Have them sewn but leave a gap, so they don’t restrict me if I ride my horse other than side saddle. I understand that in the old days that is how women wore their underwear to assist when they had to go to… well you know.”
She caught Jane’s look of surprise and then her knowing smile.
“Yes, Ma’am. Would you like your other pantaloons the same?”
“I think not Jane. The one pair should suffice.”
***
Diana rode into the gypsy encampment, side saddle scattering three mangy dogs and a flock of chickens. She found the ancient Carlotta sitting on the steps of her green caravan with its garish paintings of roses all around the lower part. The old woman picked the leaves off a herb or plant of some description that Diana didn’t recognize.
“May I have a word,” said Diana.
Carlotta stood up and beckoned Diana to enter the caravan.
Inside the smell was of lavender. As always it was spotlessly clean with highly polished brass and copper all around.
“Have you come for more of the potion?”
“No, I still have enough for several weeks.”
“He’s not that active then is he?”
“Not with me.”
“Then how can I help you?”
“It’s about the potion. When I take it, if I had already conceived, would it harm the child?”
“You won’t conceive if you take the potion.”
“Yes, I know that. But please, would it harm the baby if I were already pregnant when I took it.
“No. It stops you getting pregnant, but it won’t stop you from being pregnant if you already are. Does that help?”
“Yes. And when I first came here, you said it was active for up to twelve hours. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. That’s what it does.”
“So if I had… if I…”
“If you did it after twelve hours you may or may not get pregnant. It depends on the usual cycle for a woman. Does that help?”
“It does. Thank you.”
Chapter 4
“How was Mariah?” said Sir Reginald at dinner on Monday evening. Diana found him in a jovial mood.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to visit her. We came across an orphan boy with a broken leg and had to take him to the orphanage.”
“You shouldn’t go bothering with people like that. Let them look after their own.”
“He was an orphan Reginald.”
“Maybe so but I suggest you don’t get involved. They will take advantage of you.”
Diana couldn’t wait for the stranger to take advantage of her again, causing a smile to cross her lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing Reginald. Nothing.”
“Harumph.” Reginald slurped his claret.
“I see there’s a Sheridan on at the Theatre in Tunbridge, Reginald. The Rivals.”
“When?”
“Next Saturday… are you here or in London?”
“I’ll be in London. Royal Society business again, unfortunately. You go if you like. See if Mariah will go with you.”
***
Diana came into the stables’ tack room where Miller was lifting her side saddle from its hooks on the whitewashed wall.
“I’ll use the other saddle today I think, not the sidesaddle.”
Miller gave her a curious look.
“It’s fine. I would like to practice some jumping, and it is so much easier on the ordinary saddle.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Miller hoisted the sidesaddle back to its place and turned his attention to another. He lifted that one down. Diana followed him out to the stable where her horse stood already with its reins and blanket in place. Miller coaxed the animal out and took her into
the stable yard where he fixed the saddle.
He returned to the stable to fetch the mounting block.
Diana climbed on her horse and sat astride without the need for help from the mounting block. “Thanks, that won’t be necessary.” She waved and cantered her horse over the cobbles of the yard and out into the lane.
She followed the lane for half a mile and then turned into the fields through a five-barred gate that she opened from the back of the horse.
Closing it behind her she kicked the horse and slapped her with her crop. Off they went at a gallop.
Diana could see the orphanage and the straw bales in the fields. Disappointment crossed her face when she didn’t see the stranger. She knew the chances of him being there were few but still she had hoped.
She circled her horse, pulled on the reins and at a charge cleared the gate into the next field.
Instead of going to the orphanage she rode around the outside, still in hope. It wasn’t in vain. A cart loaded with straw bales, and being pulled by a shire horse, held two men. One was driving and the other reclining on top of one of the bales. The recliner was the stranger. It looked like they had just come out of a small barn, closed on three sides but open at the front and holding the detritus of broken straw bales.
Diana came up alongside. She looked carefully at the bales and caught a glimpse of a barrel underneath.
“”Good Day,” said the stranger touching his forelock in an exaggerated display of subservient manners.
The driver, a red-faced man in his fifties, glared at her.
The stranger climbed down from the cart. “I’ll catch you up later,” he called to the driver.
They watched as the cart trundled away.
“What brings you here today?” he said.
“I was coming to visit Charlie when I saw you. I just thought I’d say hello.”
“Hello,” he said.
“Hello.” Diana found herself in a bit of a quandary. Should she get off her horse? Should she make a move? Should she wait for him to make a move? Suppose he didn’t?
She answered her question when she found herself climbing down.
“Looks like rain,” she said.
“Yes, I felt a few drops earlier.”
Diana could see that her presence was having an effect on the stranger. A bulge in his trousers grew larger. It gave her a tingle inside.
“Where are you taking that?” she said pointing to the disappearing cart.
He shrugged and pointed to her nose. She laughed.
Diana took a couple of steps towards the small barn as a few drops of rain fell on the dry ground.
“I fear the rain is almost upon us,” she said.
“Indeed,” said the stranger.
Diana strolled, as nonchalantly as her beating heart would allow, into the barn.
He followed, much to her relief.
Once inside, he looked into her eyes and she knew she was lost again.
He eased her up against the back wall and undid her jacket. Then he undid the buttons on her shirt before slipping his hand inside and felt first one nipple and then the other.
She reached down to his belt and unfastened the buckle, her hands trembling with excitement. The buttons she had ripped off on their last encounter had not been replaced, his manhood fell out into her hand. She squeezed and felt him tense.
The stranger’s hand ran down the side of her riding skirt and up her boot, over the silk stockings and to the bottom of her pantaloons that came to just above her knee.
His continued its quest until his hand arrived between her legs. He gave a little chuckle when he found the gap in the crotch of her pantaloons.
With her back against the wall, she felt him push in his erection. She needed no more foreplay than this to be ready. He was several inches taller than she so every time he thrusted up, slowly and with much force, she lifted off her feet impaled on his hard penis. Diana had never experienced anything like it.
Her hands went inside his shirt and clawed at his back with unbridled passion. Harder and harder he drove; she thought she would die from the sheer pleasure.
All inhibitions abandoned, she signalled him to stop by putting her hands on his shoulders and shaking her head. He looked at her puzzled and stopped.
Roughly, she extricated herself, took him by the shoulders and shoved him down on his back on the straw. Then she stood over him, lifted her skirt high, and straddled him. She came to him with such force that, as he entered the waiting wetness, he gripped her buttocks tight to steady her from falling sideways . She writhed up and down, up and down. Shockwaves shot through her whole body. She could feel he was near, so was she. Quicker and quicker she slid up and down on him until she felt him climax inside her; she reached it too at the same time.
She collapsed forward onto him. He kissed her forehead.
After a few minutes, she stood up and rearranged her mussed up clothes. He stood up and buckled his belt.
“We must make arrangements so that we can meet again not by chance,” she said.
“Why?”
She looked at him. “Don’t tell me you can’t feel it too. Some invisible bond that has brought us together and will keep us together.”
He kissed her tenderly on the lips. Diana had never been kissed like this before. There was love in this kiss without doubt. She had found someone whom she could love and would love her back even if their social positions were a problem. They could love in secret. And the sex wasn’t bad either, she thought.
“I understand you visit the theatre often.”
“How do you know that?” he said.
“I have my ways of finding things out,” she said.
“Yes, I do some work there sometimes.”
“So I understand. I’m going on Friday, to see ‘The Rivals’. I doubt we can be together but just knowing you are near is something I would treasure.”
He gave her another tender kiss and then leaned back and looked into her eyes. “I don’t want hurt you or cause you distress or problems. I’m not the sort of man you should fall in love with.”
“But I have. I know how silly that sounds after such a short time, but I have.”
“Only a fool would not be in love with you. And I’m no fool. I’ll try to catch a glimpse of you on Friday.”
Chapter 5
Miller pulled the barouche up at the entrance to Morton House in Tunbridge Wells. Diana liked the house. It wasn’t as big as Eylebourn Hall. The façade was white with two pillars either side of steps up to the heavy oak front door.
He handed Diana down from the barouche. Then he helped Jane, the maid, out too.
Mariah’s butler, Gittens, opened the door and took Diana’s parasol. Miller struggled with Diana’s overnight large bag while Jane carried a smaller one.
Gittens showed Diana into the drawing room where Mariah was receiving a gentleman caller.
“Oh, I do apologize Mariah; I didn’t realize…
“Not at all Diana. Please, I would like you to meet Algernon Fitzgerald of the Cork Fitzgeralds.
Fitzgerald bowed; Diana bobbed a curtsey and offered her hand. He took it and looked into her eyes and smiled.
He stood a good six feet tall with strong shoulders, firm jaw and wore the regulation morning suit for this time of the day it being before five o’clock.
“Enchanted,” he said.
Diana smiled.
“If you don’t mind, Algernon will escort us to the theatre tonight,” said Mariah.
“Splendid. Thank you.”
“Until later then, ladies,” said Fitzgerald bowing to both of them before backing a few steps, turning and leaving Diana to look inquisitively at her friend.
“Well?” said Diana.
“He is rather dashing, don’t you think?”
“Yes, he certainly is. Is there anything…?”
“I hope so. I do hope so. You know what it is like; catching a man whom one actually likes is no mean feat for people like us.”<
br />
Mariah saw the look of sadness on Diana’s face.
“Oh, I’m so sorry Diana. I didn’t mean…”
“That’s all right Mariah. No offence taken.”
“So Reginald is up in town again on business?”
“Indeed he is Mariah. I think we both know what kind of business it is too.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“No need to be sorry for me Mariah. I am not unhappy. I have wealth and position.”
“Indeed you have.”
“I know you can keep a secret. I hope you won’t think bad of me but…”
“Oh, do tell Diana. Have you at last got a… hmpff… you know?”
“Yes I have.”
“Really! Wonderful! Do I know him?”
“I doubt it.”
“Oh, he doesn’t live in the county then?”
“Indeed he does.”
“And I don’t know him… Diana, what are you saying? You haven’t got yourself involved with someone who is… who is…?
“Who is not one of us? Yes, I have Mariah. Does that shock you?
“Shock me? My dear Diana it does not shock me… it thrills me. Tell me more.”
A cough at the door stopped the conversation going forward.
“Excuse me Miss; a message from your parents, they will not be returning tonight due to your mother feeling slightly unwell. They are staying in Winchester.”
“Thank you Gittens.”
“Would Lady Diana care for her toilette to be arranged by her lady’s maid, Miss?” said Gittens.
Mariah looked at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. Four o’clock. They would have to leave at six.
“Tell me about it later. You’d better get ready,” said Mariah.
***
Diana luxuriated in a warm bath with fragrant oils given to her by Mariah. Jane wrapped a thick towel around her as she climbed out. Then she handed her a silk dressing gown with a Chinese pattern.
For the theatre, Diana had brought her satin low-necked dress with short sleeves and a high Empire line coming to just under her full breasts. Jane laid it out on the double bed.
“What are you wearing underneath it Ma’am? Shall I get the silk drawers or the pantaloons, the special ones,” said Jane desperately trying to hold back a giggle.
