Page 15 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

This particular afternoon was even more frustrating than any before. She had reached a passage in the book where the text described a series of sexual acts, both directly of the body, and using additional objects. It was quite complex, and just reading it, even without having the proper words, had left her feeling flushed, aching at the juncture of her thighs, and with her breasts feeling somehow more sensitive than usual within the confines of her gown. She could not help but imagine what such acts might feel like, if done to her own body.

There was no compass for dealing with this, in what was a normal aristocratic young lady’s education. And she was also beginning to see that the few stolen kisses she had experienced were no guide to this territory – rather, what she was reading had simply convinced her that most young men of the ton were as uneducated on the subtleties of such matters as she was.

She needed words.

And the only way that she could see to get those words was Dash. As a man, she was quite certain that he would know the words which she needed, especially given his collection. But to ask him would require that she read him the translated parts, and that she describe to him the function of the things she did not know the name of… which would be incredibly embarrassing…

She was going to have to do so. There was no other way forward. She set down her pen, and capped the inkwell, squaring her shoulders in determination.

“Selina, do you know if Dash is here at present?”

She asked, because Dash seemed to disappear for long periods of time, to somewhere unknown.

“I believe that he is. I think that I heard him in the foyer, talking to Chalmers, only a few minutes ago – while you were staring intently at the page, chewing your lip, and oblivious to anything else. Why?”

“Because I am going to need his help. And this is going to be difficult – he’ll probably be even more embarrassed than I am going to be.”

“Embarrassed? Why? You are not so easy to embarrass, in my experience.”

“Because… I need words. English words for things that are mentioned repeatedly in this book. Things like certain body parts, and sexual actions, and… objects which are used for sexual pleasure. I can work out what, from the context, mostly – but I have no words to describe it in the translation…”

Selina burst into laughter.

“Oh dear! I see your problem rather clearly. I think you’re likely right – he will find this difficult – but he badly wants this translation done, so he’ll just have to cope, won’t he? And… I might be able to help you with some words – I have been… learning rather a lot, since my marriage.”

Mariel breathed a sigh of hopeful relief.

“Then, please come and sit beside me, and I’ll show you some of the passages that I am struggling with.”

Selina came to her, and Mariel turned to the first troubling passage in her translation, and the relevant page in the original book, laying them out side by side on the desk. As she showed it to Selina, Selina’s cheeks heated a little too. Half an hour later, they looked at each other, and simultaneously shook their heads.

“You’re going to have to ask Dash, Mariel. I just don’t know enough words to help. But my, this is educational – it makes me feel inclined to rush home to Alex…”

Mariel sighed.

“Don’t be cruel, Selina! I would like to explore some of this too, but I don’t have a husband to explore with….”

Selina laughed, shaking her head.

“We’ll have to find you one soon, then – one with a very open mind and an interest in erotica, preferably.”

“And just where am I likely to find someone like that, who is also a reasonable person that I can come to care for?”

As the last of those words left her mouth, Dash entered the room, almost as if summoned. Selina looked at Mariel, then at Dash, then back to Mariel with a raised eyebrow. Was Selina implying…?

“Good afternoon ladies. How is the translation progressing?”

Mariel took a very deep breath, as Selina vacated the chair beside her. Determined, she met Dash’s rich amber eyes. He waited, a half smile on his face, as if wondering why she hesitated.

“It is progressing… quite well… but…”

Bother! How was she to say this? One did not just come out and ask a man to name his bodily parts, in detail!

“But?”

Mariel indicated the seat beside her.

Perhaps it would be easier to say, if he wasn’t looming over her, while she sat. He gave a tiny bow, and came around the desk, dropping onto the chair with an enviable loose-limbed grace. She twisted in her seat to face him.