“This puts a different face on the matter,” she continued, eyeing his hands again. “The lady might be small and delicate, however, she is still a woman, and we women have more strength and endurance than you men give us credit for. Mayhap your touch would not hurt her at all.”
“I do not care to cause her pain to find out.”
“Then show me. I think I can fairly judge what a woman can withstand.”
At his doubtful look, she smiled to encourage him, though looking at the size of his hands, she wished she had kept her mouth shut. ’Twas a risk, too, that he might not stop once he started. But how else could she ease his concern? That he had this concern was a wonder, and for the lady never to know the pleasure of his caress would be a shame.
“I do not mean to entice you, my lord. Never that. ’Tis no more than a test, and only to determine the strength of your touch—no more than that.”
“I understand that,” he grunted. “But you are in nowise my lady’s small size.”
She had to grin. “A breast is a breast. Big or small, it feels the same pain or pleasure. Touch mine as is your custom, and I can—” He did before she finished, and she could not help flinching. “I see what you mean, my lord. You do have a strong grip,” she was forced to admit, then dared to add what she had told many a knight. “But a breast is not a sword hilt. It will not fall from your hand do you hold it light…oh, God, your lady!”
“What?”
He turned to see his wife framed in the open doorway, her basket of medicinal potions in her hand. But no sooner did he see her than she was gone.
“You must go after her and explain!” Red Alma cried.
“What for? Do I go after her, I am like to tumble her in the woods again, and she does not like that very much.”
Red Alma stared at him aghast, distracted for a moment by that piece of news. “But she will think—”
“Do not be silly, woman,” he cut her off. “I told you she would have no reason to think that. She does not deny me even if she does not like it, so what need have I of other women?”
Alma did not tell him that most men would go to another woman for better sport if their wives so disliked coupling with them. But then, too, those particular wives sent their husbands off with their blessings. And his total lack of concern did ease her fears. Mayhap the Lady Reina would be grateful to her. And if she was not, Alma could see to it that she was—indirectly.
“My lord, I fear I have gone about this in the wrong way. You asked how you might pleasure your lady without hurting her, and there is a way, something I have overlooked. Mayhap if you begin slowly. Do not touch her with your hands at first. Use your lips and tongue instead.”
“’Twould not be the same.”
“Why not? You can touch her with your mouth anywhere you would touch her with your hands.”
“Anywhere?”
“Aye.”
“Anywhere?”
Red Alma chuckled, gleaning his thoughts. “Aye, there too. I know most men do not think of that, but those few that do find their own pleasure in it. Of course she is like to protest, thinking it strange. But do you insist, she will not only like it, she can be brought to her full pleasure that way.”
“How is that possible?”
Red Alma blushed, for the first time in many a long year. “You will have to trust me, my lord, that it can happen. And in this way, there is no hurry in learning what caresses will please her and how gentle you needs be. There will be time and plenty for that as you come to know her better.”
He did not question her further, leaving a silver coin on the table that was more money than she had ever seen, with the promise it would be doubled had she spoken true. Whether she had spoken true depended on the lady. Some women would object violently to what she had suggested, and a man was not likely to insist very long in that case. But the new lord did not seem a man to give up easily. Far from it. He was determined to see his lady pleasured whether she liked it or not. What Alma would not give to be a flea in their bed tonight.
Chapter Twenty-nine
“But why now, my lady?”
“Because now is the perfect time, Aylmer.”While the bastard is steeped in guilt from his infidelity, Reina added to herself. “He will say aye to anything I ask today.”
“I was afraid of that,” the boy mumbled.
Reina frowned at him. “I thought you wanted the care of Lady Ella?”
“I do. But I did not think I would have to meet the lord to have it.”
