Free Temporary Mistress by Susan Johnson

saturated her dreams, not only just moments earlier but through the night past, and she found herself wanting him with a fevered indiscretion that overlooked all but her urgent desires. Desires she'd not known existed a mere day before. "I almost feel as though I should thank Uncle Herbert and Harold for their villainy in driving me here."
    "Such uncomplicated thinking will serve you well."
    "Exactly. I'll have my fortune
and
some very fine memories once I leave. Am I not fortunate?"
    "Your frankness is disarming."
    "You must teach me
everything
," Isabella said with an expansive wave of her arm, "and I shall see that Bathurst has a memorable time."
    Molly's brow quirked. "Is this a contest?"
    "Do you mind if it is?"
    Molly laughed. "He's well ahead of you."
    "But not of you, I expect."
    "Perhaps… although I offer no guarantees. I've not spent time in India."
    "There are Hindu love books. I know there are because a captain brought some back once and Grandpapa quickly put them away. Let's have Mr. Martin find them for us."
    Her excitement was a delight. "You wish to send Bathurst over the moon?"
    "I wish to arouse him to the most sublime colossal pitch." Isabella's downy brows lifted faintly. "Am I terribly wicked?"
    "Wonderfully wicked, I'd say. Why don't I see to some books?"
     
    The first frontispiece they looked at portrayed a handsome young footman, partially undressed, servicing a pretty lady in her boudoir. The caption beneath the picture brought a smile to Isabella's lips:
Being in service requires dedication, obedience, and a willingness to learn
. "The lady seems to be enjoying herself. Although I doubt all employees are so handsome."
    "They are if your husband allows," Molly sardonically replied. "This book is rumored to have been written by several noblewomen of the highest rank."
    "Then ladies are allowed their vices as well? I never realized…"
    "Their vices require a deal more discretion, but, yes, there are ladies who enjoy themselves with equal gusto. For instance, take note of the next illustrations."
    In a sequence of five etchings, the tale of a shopping expedition in Bond Street was depicted. The young shop men were dazzlingly handsome and well formed, and from the looks of the various illustrations, bent on offering any particular service a lady desired.
    "I always thought the shop men were delightfully handsome, but I never realized
why
they were so good-looking. Is everyone but me aware of their sexual availability?"
    "Those who are interested are aware. However, discretion is ever the watchword."
    "My education has been sadly lacking," Isabella playfully bemoaned. "Heavens," she exclaimed, gazing at the next illustration, "don't tell me every handsome groom I see in Hyde Park is making love to his mistress."
    "I would say, generally," Molly explained, "if one sees a good-looking groom and a lady who takes undue interest in her equine skills, a high degree of suspicion is called for."
    "My life has been dreadfully dull. All I ever did was sell shipments brought to London on our vessels."
    "Keep in mind, all the pleasures you see depicted are generally reserved for married women. Virginity is still the gold standard for a suitable marriage."
    "Well, since I have no immediate plans for marriage and have yet to see a man who would even interest me in that regard—"
    Molly's eyebrows rose.
    "Surely not. I know what you're thinking, but Bathurst would no more marry me than he would cook your dinner. So I shall be ever so grateful to you for showing me—well, what I've been missing. And allowing me an education in certain pleasures that may interest me in the future—whether I'm married or not."
    "You have a fearless air, my dear."
    "And why should I not? Would it help in my present situation to be fearful? Would I better survive if I were? I think not. My relatives showed me most viciously what would have become of me if I were docile." She shrugged. "So I shan't be if ever I was anyway," she added,