“It was at the ball,” she sighed. “James had the supper dance. But instead of taking me in to the supper room, he took me to another smaller room in the back of the Seton-Mowbray mansion.” She looked at Harriet. “And he locked the door.”
“Oh. Goodness…” She couldn’t help her eyebrows rising. “And then…”
“Yes. Then,” whispered Letitia. “He touched me, Harriet. With his hands and…and his mouth…and his tongue…” one hand drifted absently to her breast. “Everywhere.”
“Oh God,” blurted Harriet. “Was it…”
“It was wonderful,” sighed Letitia. “The most amazing sensations, and so much more than I could have anticipated.” She looked at Harriet. “You have no idea how different one’s release can be when it’s a man’s hand doing the releasing.”
Harriet frowned and shook her head. “What?”
It was Letitia’s turn to stare at her friend and blink. “You know. Achieving your release.”
Harriet shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“Good Lord.” Letitia jumped up and hurried to her desk. “You are so damned intelligent, Harriet. Your wit and your brain and everything…how on earth have you lived this long without knowing how to satisfy your physical needs?” She rummaged through sheaves of paper. “Here.” Pulling a small book from beneath three other ones, she strode to Harriet and held it out toward her.
Harriet eyed it with the same dubious concern she would have given a small rodent in the outstretched hand. “What is it?”
“It is—” Letitia considered her words. “An instructional pamphlet. Take it to your own room. Read it several times. Then try it yourself.”
“I’m not sure this is for me…” she tentatively reached out to accept it.
Letitia snorted. “My dear girl, it’s for every woman. It’s something we should all know about before marriage. And something your husband should definitely know about because if he doesn’t, then you can teach him.”
“Oh no,” said Harriet, horrified. “I couldn’t…”
“Yes you could.” Letitia paused. “Well, all right, it might probably be a difficult conversation. But if you are committed to a happy life with your future husband, whoever that might be, then communication is the key. Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t plan on having a husband.”
Letitia opened her mouth—then closed it again. She merely shrugged.
“You see? We are alike, Letitia. Neither of us wants to risk loving a man.”
“I suppose so.”
Harriet looked at the book, handling it as if it were likely to explode any moment. “Did James need you to tell him what to do?”
A fascinating colour spread over Letitia’s cheeks. “Well, no.”
“Ah. A man educated in the ways of women, would you say?”
“Well, yes.” The blush deepened.
“So he assisted you in achieving this…this release sensation?” She waved the book in the air.
“Yes he did.”
“And it was pleasurable?”
“Dear God, Harriet. Yes. Yes, it was astounding.” Letitia groaned and came to the side of the bed. Then she threw herself onto the quilt face down. “It was incredible.”
“I can’t hear you, dear. Your mouth is in the pillow.”
Letitia raised her head and laughed at Harriet, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks bright red. “It was, not to put too fine a point on it,fucking awesome.”
“I see,” grinned Harriet. “Well then. I’d better go and see what all this fuss is about.” She gathered the book and her shawl and left Letitia’s room, closing the door firmly behind her.
