“I suggest you regard your primary role as bringing pleasure to Miss Evans.”
“Yes, thatiswhat I regard as my primary role. I just don’t know how to do it.” He refrained from rolling his eyes but only just. Here he’d thought Archie was so worldly, so wise. Effie had expected to be in receipt of actionable advice.
“The mechanical act, conducted in a merely cursory fashion, will very likely not achieve your aim,” Archie said.
“All right,” Effie said, no longer bothering to conceal his frustration. “What will, then?”
“A woman has a . . . bud.”
“A woman has a bud?”
“Perhaps it’s better thought of as a button.”
“A button! As on a shirt?”
“No, not that kind of button.”
“A larger button as on a boot?”
“No, no. Bud. Bud is better.”
“Like a flower?”
“Not exactly.”
Oh, for heaven’s sake! “Will you speak plainly?” Effie turned and shot a quelling look at Simon, who was snickering.
“It is a nub of flesh,” Archie finally said. “It is very sensitive.” He explained how to find it, and Effie wondered if he ought to have brought a quill and paper, for it was sounding as if a map might be indicated. After a detour to warn against the dangers of getting a lady with child if one—or one’s lady—had no desire to do so, Archie went on to explain how a man was meant to stimulate the nub in order to bring pleasure.
“This is the part where I suggest you speak to Miss Evans. Different ladies will have different preferences as to how much, and what kind, of pressure they prefer.”
“And what about for how long?”
“How do you mean?”
“How long am I meant to . . . apply pressure.”
“Oh, until the lady finds her release.”
“What do you mean?”
“Effie, the night we arrived, you explained to us that you generally didn’t feel desire.”
“Oh, I do now, though.” That was understating the matter entirely.
“Right. Well, had you, previously, ever . . .”
Effie knew what he meant. “Yes, of course. I’m not completely daft. I just never had the desire to do so in the company of another person before now.”
“It is the same for ladies. Well, not precisely the same, but analogous.” Archie went on to explain the mechanics of the female release.
Effie was dumbfounded. “Why did no one ever tell me about this?” He turned to Simon, who had been watching the exchange with poorly concealed amusement. “Did you know about this?”
“I did.”
“Doeseveryoneknow about this?”
“I think not,” Archie said. “Not all gentlemen, anyway. Or if they do, they don’t care to concern themselves with it.”
