Avalon Revamped (15 page)

He pushed me down, and I tried to resist, but he was stronger than this young chambermaid was. He pushed down on my shoulders until I was on my knees, then released himself.

“No,” I said, pushing against hips.

“It’s all right. This is what people in love do, after all. This is a proper courtship, dear.”

I tried to turn my head, but he held it straight and pushed himself into my mouth.

I wept.

“Shhhh. It’s all right. I’ll be gentle. Oh, yes. Oh! Oh! Oh!”

Enough proof. Since I didn’t have a poppet ready for him, there wasn’t too much I could do without it being too quick, and this one deserved a long punishment as well, so I endured. I pushed him away with all of Claire’s might, which was just enough to get off my knees, since he was drunk.

“I don’t like that, sir.”

“I’m so close. You can’t leave until I’ve finished. It’s only fair, after all. If you leave me like this, I shall be right sick tomorrow. You know a man needs to finish? You do know that, right? Didn’t your mum teach you anything about the ways of the world, child? Everyone else knows this. I thought you were wiser than this. Perhaps you really are a silly girl after all. Everyone knows if a man doesn’t finish once a woman has gotten him all bothered that he will get sick. Really sick. You don’t want that, do you?”

“Well, no, sir. I don’t want you ill, sir.” This man was even more disgusting than I had thought.

“I’d be no good to you dead, now would I? How will we marry if I’m dead?”

“No, sir. I don’t want you dead, sir. But I don’ like that, sir.”

“All right. All right. Not in your mouth and I did promise to leave you a maid, and a gentleman keeps his word! Yes, indeed! Come. Lay back down.”

I reached for the doorknob again, but he flattened his hand against the door, making it clear I wasn’t going to leave. I turned away and cowered in the corner, crying.

“Shhhhh. It’s all right. It’s all right, sweet girl. You don’t have to do anything. All right? I shan’t even lift your skirts. All right? And look, I’ll put him away.” He shoved his penis back into his trousers. “See? He’s gone now.” Up until this moment, he had been stroking it while he pleaded with me. “Will you feel safer that way? It will be over soon. I’m so close. So so so close.”

I nodded, and he led me back to bed.

“You’ll keep your trousers on?”

“I will.”

“And you won’t put it back in my mouth?”

“No. I won’t. I won’t even take him back out, all right?”

“Well, all right. Will it hurt?”

“No, you silly girl. Just lay back.” I did and crossed my legs, keeping my arms tucked in close over my breasts. To my horror, he started writhing against me, rubbing his erection against my hip bone, saying, “Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!” over and over again until his face made the most comical, twisted expression and his eyes rolled up into his head.

He collapsed next to me and slept.

“Doctor Nesbitt?” I nudged him. “Doctor? I don’t even know your name, sir.”

“Hm?! Oh. Nimrod. But you can call me Rod, sweetheart. That was lovely. Splendid. Yes, indeed,” he mumbled.

“Can we still meet in London, sir? For a proper courtship, sir?”

“Of course. Yes, my dear. Of course. But don’t approach me on the ship tomorrow, remember.” He forced his eyes open to see that I understood. “We must keep this secret for now.”

“What if we don’t get the chance to talk again, sir? How will I find you once in London, sir?”

With his closing, he slurred, “Boxing Day, behind St. Saviour’s in Southwark. Tea time. All right? Satisfied? Can I sleep now?”

With that, he was out and there was no waking him.

Boxing Day? Looks like I’ll be making a new poppet or two.

This would be a Merry Christmas indeed. Yes, indeed.

ARTHUR

I must’ve wandered around for hours, weighing options and thinking about what the Captain had said, for when I looked again over the side of the ship, I could see Sacre Coeur in the distance. Paris at last.

This would be one lonely Christmas Eve.

“Balderdash!” I straightened up and smoothed down my labels. “I wanted to be done with her anyway. Bored. Truly. Chastity is my love. She’s my true love. I can feel it,” I said into the night, convincing myself.

The Captain was right. The love of a good woman was rare, indeed, but Avalon was the past now. Too much work to fix that. No doubt. Why not just start anew. Chastity. Yes. My sweet, perfect love. She would make me happy and fulfilled like no one ever had, and she would love me as Avalon did. Better. As Catherine did. True love, this time. For how could she not?

With a skip in my step, I danced around the top deck with Paris at my feet. Chastity and I would explore the city together, and I shouldn’t have to worry about Avalon at all! She said she would stay out of sight. All the better. No need to cause more distress in our community. No need to ruin others’ Christmas Eve. No. That would be quite rude, indeed. She should stay hidden away. She never quite belonged anyways, did she? I belonged here. This was my community, after all. I brought her into it, but it just wasn’t meant to be. So Emily and her husband might not speak to me at the gala tonight, but they knew what was truly important in society. Before long, no one would remember this indiscretion anyway.

It wasn’t even an indiscretion because it was love. Yes. Just a technicality that I hadn’t broken things off with Avalon, yet. She was to blame, really. Not me. Never. She was cold and withdrawn. She was overemotional. Clingy and rather mad, too. Yes, perhaps the prospect of immortality weighed too heavy on her frail mind. That must’ve been it.

Besides. Even if the Bainbridges never spoke to me again. Well. Worse things had happened.

It would indeed be a splendid day!

Let’s just hope for a cloudy one.

§

At breakfast, all those seated at tables murmured when I entered the room, but I walked in with my head held in pride. I joined the McNairys and the Ablesons, and the chattering stopped immediately. After shaking out the napkin and lying it on my lap, I signaled the waiter for a cup of tea.

“Good morning, M’Lord,” he said.

“Earl Grey.”

“Of course, M’Lord. And you’ve a choice of eggs, sausage, and tomatoes or an array of pastries.”

“I’ll have both.”

“Very good, M’Lord.”

“Exciting night, don’t you find?” I had found so often in my existence that if one just pretended there was nothing amiss, most would join in the pretense, and these lovely folks did not disappoint. In fact, they didn’t say a word. Although, Lady NcNairy pursed her lips tightly together and looked down into her lap. “I particularly enjoyed the stargazing.” The second option was to be very obvious indeed, making everyone else so uncomfortable they didn’t know what to say. “Did any of you go on the ship tour or gaze at the stars?”

All four stayed silent for quite some time.

Lady McNairy finally spoke. “Where is the lovely Miss Bainbridge this morning, Lork York? Shan’t she be joining you for breakfast?”

“I think not, Lady McNairy. No, but with some luck, Mrs. Rosengarten will be joining me for breakfast and for a lovely stroll in Paris. Did you see Montmartre this morning? It is rather lovely sitting on that hill in all its majesty. Don’t you find?”

“Preposterous,” Lord McNairy said. “Come, my dear, let’s prepare for the day.”

“Yes, let’s. I do feel rather full at the moment. Positively unable to take any more.”

“Indeed!” I said as the old couple hobbled away from the table.

Lord and Lady Ableson remained.

“That was rather rude of them,” Lady Ableson whispered with a scandalous lilt. “What do you plan to see today in Paris, Lord York?”

“Oh, the usual sights, I suppose. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been here. Must get a baguette, of course. What is Paris without a fresh baguette? Perhaps even some decadent pastry. Yes. By the by, have you heard of the weather? Will there be rain or sunshine?”

“I do believe they’re predicting a beautiful sunny day!”

“That’s a shame. Perhaps I shall stay in, then.”

“Why on earth would you do that? There shan’t be much to do on the ship, Arthur.”

“I didn’t sleep well last night, what with all the scandal and such, so I thought perhaps I’d have a kip.” Plus, my manly parasol was locked in my former cabin with Avalon. I truly should find a way to get my clothes out of there and procure new lodgings. It would be scandalous to wear the same waistcoat to the gala tonight.

“Well, suit yourself. I, for one, wouldn’t miss Paris on Christmas Eve!”

Lord Ableson cleared his throat and dabbed each side of his mouth with a napkin. Blood rushed up into his face, which meant he was either very angry or very embarrassed.

Lady Ableson said, “Oh, my.”

All right. Shocked.

“Good morning, Lord York. Lovely day, no?” Chastity’s voice sounded as sweet as the music of the spheres.

“Good morning! What a lovely surprise. Won’t you join us?”

“I would be delighted,” she said, leaning over and breathing the words into my ear.

Lord Ableson huffed and Lady Ableson gasped.

Chastity wore a sharp blue walking dress with a lovely bustle. The bright color complemented her auburn locks. A flower among all these dreary people. As she sat down, she kissed me on the cheek, and my lips spread out in a wide smile. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was a vision. The Ableson’s said something about leaving, but I didn’t notice, really, until they were already gone.

“Was it something I said?” Chastity asked, with as much admiration in her eyes as I felt for her.

“Not at all, my love. It’s so much better for us to be alone anyway. I’ve had enough gossip for one cruise.”

“I’m so sorry about last night, Arthur. That must’ve been quite difficult for you.”

“It was rather uncomfortable. Avalon can be so unreasonable.”

“You poor thing. How have you put up with her for so long?”

“Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. Too nice, I suppose. She has been so clingy and smothering for so long, and I just didn’t have the heart to break it off with her. She would be devastated, you see, and I couldn’t bring myself to do that to her. I was only thinking of her.”

“Such a selfless man. You deserve a partner who will be your equal. One who will allow you your freedom and breathing room.”

“Yes, indeed.” Her lips were a breath away from mine, and I so wanted to taste them again and to finish what we started last night. Blood rushed downward as I thought about being buried in her warmth again. “I’m so excited about this courtship, Chastity. I think I’ve finally found what I’ve been looking for for so long. So, so long. You have no idea.”

“Courtship? So you think of me as more than just a quick poke, do you?”

“Heavens! Yes! Oh, my love. I think we have something real here, don’t you?”

“I would love to find out.”

Just as I was about to close those last few inches and slide my tongue across her bottom lip, a rather rude person stood just behind us and cleared her throat in a thunderous manner.

Emily Bainbridge.

“Have you no shame, Arthur? Are you even concerned about my niece and how she must be feeling right now? You scoundrel! And YOU!” she said, turning to Chastity.

“Why, Emily,” I interrupted. “Don’t you look fetching today! Ready for a day in Paris with all its romance and grace? You shall fit right in. I have no doubt with your style you will be mistaken for a Parisian at every turn.”

“Really?” Softening. “You think so? This is from the latest Parisian fashion. I got it specifically for this trip. Do you really like it?” She spun around, seeming to have forgotten all about her feigned offense on Avalon’s behalf. She cared nothing for her niece. She’d made that clear time and again. In fact, I would wager she found great delight in the rumors, especially since it involved her niece, she would be getting far more attention than usual. So, of course, she had to put on a show, at least for now.

“I have never seen you look more beautiful, Emily. Honestly, you get more lovely with each passing day.”

It was, of course, the most hideous thing I’d seen since her last ensemble. Her hat was at least three times the width of her head, yet her puffy shoulders extended past even that. It served to make her cinched waist look ever so tiny. I’d give her that. And the bustle! Well, I did love large bustles, but this thing looked like the backend of a horse, which, come to think of it, was quite apropos for Emily Bainbridge.

“Thank you, Arthur!” As some others passed by, she regained her cross composure and shook her finger at me. “You watch yourself, Arthur York. I am not done with you.”

With that, she was quite thankfully gone.

“Paris today, my love?” Chastity asked me, dragging the back of her hand down my cheek. Such a loving gesture. Ah, yes. How wonderful to feel adored again.

“Alas, I heard it was to be sunny, and I have a rather serious, albeit rare, allergy to the sun. It burns my skin on impact, so I must stay inside, I’m afraid.”

“As fortune would have it, sir.” Her finger traced my jawline, then over my lips. “I have a really large parasol, and I’m quite certain it would protect us both. There are lots of dark corners in the alleyways of Paris, my dear. Plenty of places for naughtiness.”

On second thought, a day in the city was exactly what I needed.