understand.â
Ally smiled a devilish smile. âCome to my chamber after breakfast, and I shall show you.â
Sophieâs cheeks heated. âCanât you just answer my questions, Ally? Iâm not comfortable reading this type ofâ¦literature.â
âIâm certainly happy to do what I can. What questions do you have?â
âWell, Iâm not exactly sure how to ask thisâ¦â Lord, she wanted to disappear.
âGo right ahead, dear. I used to write for an erotic magazine, remember? Chances are I will have the answers you seek.â
Her sister was no doubt right. Sophie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. âSomething happened to meâsomething that is very difficult to explain. Iâ¦felt like I was flying. Yet I felt one with the earth as well. A contradictory feeling, but an intense pleasure thatâ¦I canât adequately describe.â
Ally clasped her hand to her mouth and gasped. âSophie, are you saying you had a climax?â
âIs that the word for it? Iâm afraid I just donât know what happened.â
âIt certainly sounds like a climax to me. How did it happen? Did you just stumble upon the right spot while you wereâ¦touching yourself?â
Sophie wilted, unable to speak. She was going to die an untimely death right here in the breakfast room.
âWas it with a man?â Ally smiled.
Sophie closed her eyes, still unable to force words from her throat.
âDonât tell me it was with a woman, although your maid is quite pretty.â
Sophieâs eyes flew open, and she inhaled a loud gasp. âOf course not with a woman. How could you even think such a thing?â
âThere are some people who prefer the company of those of their own gender.â
âI will assure you I am not one of those people.â Though the thought was intriguing. Women were beautiful, and she appreciated their beauty⦠Goodness, she could not let that thought continue.
âWell, you obviously havenât been with a man, so I can only infer that you were touching yourself.â
âOh, my, no! Why, Monsieur Becklardâs book says that can lead to all sorts of dangerous diseases.â
âSophie, dear, did I not just tell you that book is pure refuse?â
âYes, but you must understand. Itâs all that Iâve read, other than a book on the marriage bed.â
âThat drivel by Lady Margaret Mead? She thinks all men are perverted creatures who constantly have sexual acts on the brain.â
Sophie squirmed. âDonât they?â
Ally let out a guffaw, clutching her belly. âWell, yes, they do.â
Sophie couldnât help smiling. The male was fascinating. Especially one as handsome, talented, and interesting as Mr. NewlandâZach.
âTell me now, how did you come about to have your climax?
Sophie dropped her gaze to the napkin in her lap. âThis is absolutely embarrassingâ¦â
âSophie, weâre sisters, the closest two people can be other than husband and wife. You have nothing to be embarrassed about in front of me. After all, we survived a horribly abusive childhood together. Nothing could be worse than that. Especially not something that feels so good.â
Ally did have a point. Still, Sophie had to will the words out of her mouth. âIâve never been one to allow liberties, but Mr. Newlandâ¦erâ¦Zachâ¦accompanied me on a walk yesterday afternoon. We came to the secluded alcove where I enjoy reading or just relaxing, and thenâ¦â
Ally smiled impishly. âAnd then what?â
Sophie let out a breath of air that she hadnât realized sheâd been holding. âHe kissed me. And it was not our first kiss.â
âWhat?â Allyâs eyes turned into saucers. âYou had kissed him before?â
âYes, after my audition. Iâm not quite sure how it happened, Ally, but it