––––––––

MILDRED WANTED ANOTHER look at the room of debauchery. She had not seen Lady Katherine lock the room after showing it to her upon the first day, and when she tried the doors, she found they indeed opened.

She closed the door behind her and, using her own candle, lit a candelabra. She took in a long breath as she gazed about the room a second time. Sauntering to the wall of paintings, she eyed each one again, feeling her body warm with the naughty images. Beneath the one of a woman taking the member of her lover into her mouth was a sideboard. The end of a ribbon poked out from one of the drawers. Opening it, she beheld several satin masks, the sort used to block out light during sleep. Curious as to what the other drawers held, she opened another. The second drawer held jewelry. Many appeared to be earrings, but the tops of them differed. Some had merely string. Others possessed clasps that she recognized but appeared to be fixed at the wrong angles, making the face of the jewelry sit away from the viewer at some 90 degrees. One set of earrings were simply tassels.

The third and final drawer made her gasp.

Nestled atop silk lining were several phalluses of varying size. She picked up one made of glass and admired its smooth finish. The craftsmanship was rather impressive, for the crafter had shaped the top to resemble the flare at the tip of a man’s member. Laying down the glass phallus, she picked up a smaller wooden one with ridges. She wondered that such a hard object could render pleasure. The third and final one was made of a material resembling India rubber. It was quite large both in length and girth. She shuddered to think of taking such a large object. Nevertheless, she picked it up to marvel at its size and instinctively licked her lips. She remembered how delicious Alastair had once tasted.

Looking at the painting above and noticing that the man’s shaft was quite wide, she wondered if she could wrap her mouth about this monstrosity she held. Feeling mischievous, she put it to her mouth. She licked its tip, then pushed it between her lips. She took in two inches and felt her lips stretch over the circumference. Desire swirled in her groin.

“Now that is a sight worth four thousand pounds.”

In her haste to pull the phallus out, she bobbled it several times before dropping it altogether. She felt herself flushing to the roots of her hair. But was somewhat relieved to see it was Alastair at the threshold. How long had he been standing there? Despite the late hour, he still wore his clothes but had his banyan instead of his coat.

“I wondered if Katherine had told you of this room,” he said.

She bent down to pick up the dildo. After brushing it off with her robe, she intended to return it to the drawer.

“Not yet,” he bid as he walked into the room. “I interrupted your feasting.”

Her blushed deepened. “I was merely...it is of such a ridiculous width, I merely wondered...”

“How much of it you could swallow?” He stood in front of her and cupped the hand that held the dildo. “Let us find out.”

Her heart drummed in her ears as she allowed his hands to guide the dildo back to her mouth. She parted her lips and relaxed her tongue to permit the behemoth entry. She could take no more than three inches before gagging.

“A little more,” he encouraged.

Wanting to please him of a sudden, she did her best to take in more. Her mouth was stretched to capacity, and though she took in air through her nose, breathing felt awkward whilst her mouth was stuffed by the false member. She gazed up at him and the molten lust in his eyes made her throb between the legs. She would stand with her mouth stuffed for hours, mesmerized by the expression of desire in his countenance. It satisfied her to know that he was not immune to her.

“You may release it,” he said, drawing the hand with the dildo back down.

She licked her lips and waited to see what he would do next. Did she dare hope he would stay? Releasing her hands, he took a step back. He would now advise her to return to her chambers, she predicted with disappointment. It would be of no use. She could not sleep, not after seeing all that she had, not after he had witnessed her partaking of a phallus into her mouth. Her hands still felt warm from his touch.

“It is hard to imagine her ladyship making use of such implements,” she said when she could no longer bear the silence. “Or do you think they are merely for show?”

“My aunt and I do not discuss the particulars of what she and Richard did behind closed doors.”

Mildred nodded. Perhaps it was best not to imagine her ladyship engaged in wicked wantonness. She put the large phallus back in its place. Realizing that Alastair would be familiar with the possessions in the room, she steadied the flutters inside of her and asked, “Would you indulge my curiosity?”

He crossed his arms. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I am not inclined.”

“Really, Alastair! You can be quite selfish.”

“Only ‘quite’ selfish? I must be softening in my old age.”

Her lower lip dropped for a moment, but then she saw a small glimmer in his eyes and resolved that she would not permit him to rile her.

“At the gaming hall, you had threatened to shower me with praises for my generosity,” he reminded her.

“Yes, and I did write you several letters to that effect. You responded to none of them.”

“I grew weary of receiving them.”

“You could have put an end to them if you but acquiesced to my request.”

By saying nothing, he seemed to acknowledge her point.

“I merely wondered as to the purpose of a few items,” she explained, opening the second drawer once more. She picked up a set of silver earrings with teardrop sapphires dangling from the bottoms. “These earrings, for instance. They are peculiar.”

“Katherine encourages your pursuit in such matters. Why do you not ask her?”

“Because she is asleep. And you are...here.”

In the dim and flickering light, she thought she saw a corner of his lips turn upward. “I will answer one question.”

“You refused a far more significant request of mine.”

“And because of that I am to grant all other requests of yours?”

“Why do you persist in being difficult? Does it amuse you to trifle with me?”

“The answer to your latter question is yes. As to the former, I will not encourage your prurience.”

“Encourage my—” she gasped. “You had me take that—that ridiculously large shaft into my mouth!”

His smile reached both corners of his lips this time.

“How is that not encouraging my prurience?” she threw at him.

“I am at ease with my hypocrisy. If it unsettles you—”

She scowled. “You deserve to be turned over the knee and walloped.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“Very well,” she said with a sigh, putting the earrings back, “but I shall divine the uses of these curious objects, if not from Katherine, then...”

He drew a step closer, and all humor had left his tone. “Then what?”

“Perhaps another visit to the Château Follet will—”

He grasped her arm and turned her to him. “You are not returning to the château.”

His pronouncement nettled her. “Why not?”

“You have been there already.”

“That is no answer at all. There is no reason I should not return there if I wish. And I would favor another visit.”

“No reason? You would risk your honor, your family?”

“We have had this discussion before, Alastair.”

She attempted to withdraw her arm, but he did not let her go.

“And even if I am ruined,” she continued, “I still have a dowry of four thousand pounds for an incentive.”

“The sort of man willing to take a compromised woman for four thousand pounds is not the sort of man you wish to marry.”

“In truth, I have no wish to marry at all, but you and my parents have thrust the matter upon me.”

“I will not accompany you to Château Follet.”

“I did not expect you would. I certainly would not ask you to.”

This seemed to startle him. “Then how—did Katherine offer to take you there?”

“No, she need not, but if I wrote to Madame Follet, I do not think she would deny me an invitation.”

“And who would serve as your partner?”

“If you recall, a partner is not required. I can find someone there. And had you not intervened the last time, I might have found myself with the Viscount Devon.”

She saw the vein at his temple throb and wondered if she ought not have mentioned Devon.

“You are bloody lucky you escaped his clutches,” Alastair growled, his grip on her arm tightening. “I’ll be damned if you let my prior efforts go to waste with that bleeder.”

“Then satisfy my curiosity! Really, Alastair. I wonder at your sense sometimes.”

A muscle along his jaw rippled, but he let her go. “One question, Millie. The hour is late.”

She rolled her eyes, which she saw raised his ire. She watched him grab the earrings.

“These,” he said, opening his hand, “are adornments. Not for the ears but for the nipples.”

Her mouth fell open. That explained the angle of the clasps. She wondered how it would feel to have such things affixed to her body. A familiar ache grew between her legs.

“If I am in a decent mood tomorrow, you may ask a second question,” Alastair said before turning to put the earrings—nipple rings, rather—back.

“But that was not my question,” she protested. “If I am allotted but one question tonight, it would be this...will you take me?”