fringe.
“You do not know the extremes of poverty to which many are reduced. When faced
with starvation, they often agree to commit actions they would otherwise disdain.
Many wealthy, idle persons use this desperation to indulge their own sins.”
Libbetty frowned, more confused than ever. She tried to
picture what sort of sins to which her mother was referring. Pride. Yes, the
Coltons certainly had their share of pride. What came next? Envy. Certainly
not. How could they envy anybody? They had more wealth and position than
almost everyone. Gluttony. No, persons suffering from the sin of gluttony
would probably be fat, and no one could say that of the Coltons. Lust… .
She almost missed what her mother said next, coming to
attention at the words “talk about men and women.”
“What, Mama?”
“I wish to protect you. You should know aristocrats such as
the Coltons marry within their own class. I fear associating with them may
awake expectations in you that are doomed to disappointment and heartbreak.”
Libbetty said, “But Mrs. Hogwood has urged Edwina on. She
is convinced Lord Cauldreigh will offer for her.”
“Miss Hogwood at least has a fortune that makes her less
ineligible. However, I believe the Hogwoods’ hopes are destined to come to
nothing. I think Mrs. Hogwood very foolish to encourage her daughter’s
pursuance of that goal.”
Deep red spread across her cheeks. “Something more I must
say. I’m sure you’ve noticed, when men and women marry, they have a baby soon
after—that is, within a year or so.”
“Er, yes?” Libbetty watched in fascination as the fringe in
her mother’s shawl unraveled.
“Yes. When a man and woman marry, certain…intimacies happen
between them that result in a baby growing.”
That babies grew inside women’s bodies, Libbetty had seen
evidence of during her mother’s last pregnancies, four and seven years before.
This information did not enlighten her about the process. Squirming in her
chair, she stared at her mother, waiting for some key to clear up the mystery.
In a rush, Mrs. Bishop went on, “The thing is, Elizabeth,
you must be careful of your dealings with young men. For an unmarried woman to
have a baby is a most disastrous event.”
Libbetty’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, Mama?”
Her mother glanced up quickly before she went back to her
inspection of her shawl. “You must never allow such intimacies to occur before
you are married.”
Cold pooled in Libbetty’s stomach as she pictured the kisses
she had shared with Wat. “What…intimacies, Mama?”
Her mother swallowed, and seemed to be struggling to find
words. “Women have a secret place in their bodies—and men, that is, when they
embrace in an intimate fashion—men go very close to that secret place. That is
enough for you to know right now. I’m sure I can trust your good judgment.”
Libbetty inhaled deeply. Mama must not mean kisses. Lips
were not secret—they were right there on a person’s face.
Mrs. Bishop stood up. “Elizabeth, when a woman finds the
right man to marry, the closeness between them brings great joy. Your papa and
I have been very happy.”
Afterward, Libbetty went up to her bedchamber. Her sisters
were still in the nursery, so she had the room to herself. Would she truly
have anything to fear from Lord Cauldreigh? She could not believe such a
puppyish, friendly young man would ever set out to ruin a woman. No matter
what her mother had said, she could not be in any danger from Lord Cauldreigh.
Lord Neil—now, it was easy to picture him as the ruin of
many a woman. Even she, who had seen the violent side he usually hid beneath
his ironic manner, was affected by a strange attraction to him. However,
knowing his true nature, she was armed against his appeal. She must persuade
her father to free her from his strictures, so she could unmask Lord Neil for
the villain he was.
*
Neil handed his card to the stout, middle-aged woman who
answered the
“You do not know the extremes of poverty to which many are reduced. When faced
with starvation, they often agree to commit actions they would otherwise disdain.
Many wealthy, idle persons use this desperation to indulge their own sins.”
Libbetty frowned, more confused than ever. She tried to
picture what sort of sins to which her mother was referring. Pride. Yes, the
Coltons certainly had their share of pride. What came next? Envy. Certainly
not. How could they envy anybody? They had more wealth and position than
almost everyone. Gluttony. No, persons suffering from the sin of gluttony
would probably be fat, and no one could say that of the Coltons. Lust… .
She almost missed what her mother said next, coming to
attention at the words “talk about men and women.”
“What, Mama?”
“I wish to protect you. You should know aristocrats such as
the Coltons marry within their own class. I fear associating with them may
awake expectations in you that are doomed to disappointment and heartbreak.”
Libbetty said, “But Mrs. Hogwood has urged Edwina on. She
is convinced Lord Cauldreigh will offer for her.”
“Miss Hogwood at least has a fortune that makes her less
ineligible. However, I believe the Hogwoods’ hopes are destined to come to
nothing. I think Mrs. Hogwood very foolish to encourage her daughter’s
pursuance of that goal.”
Deep red spread across her cheeks. “Something more I must
say. I’m sure you’ve noticed, when men and women marry, they have a baby soon
after—that is, within a year or so.”
“Er, yes?” Libbetty watched in fascination as the fringe in
her mother’s shawl unraveled.
“Yes. When a man and woman marry, certain…intimacies happen
between them that result in a baby growing.”
That babies grew inside women’s bodies, Libbetty had seen
evidence of during her mother’s last pregnancies, four and seven years before.
This information did not enlighten her about the process. Squirming in her
chair, she stared at her mother, waiting for some key to clear up the mystery.
In a rush, Mrs. Bishop went on, “The thing is, Elizabeth,
you must be careful of your dealings with young men. For an unmarried woman to
have a baby is a most disastrous event.”
Libbetty’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, Mama?”
Her mother glanced up quickly before she went back to her
inspection of her shawl. “You must never allow such intimacies to occur before
you are married.”
Cold pooled in Libbetty’s stomach as she pictured the kisses
she had shared with Wat. “What…intimacies, Mama?”
Her mother swallowed, and seemed to be struggling to find
words. “Women have a secret place in their bodies—and men, that is, when they
embrace in an intimate fashion—men go very close to that secret place. That is
enough for you to know right now. I’m sure I can trust your good judgment.”
Libbetty inhaled deeply. Mama must not mean kisses. Lips
were not secret—they were right there on a person’s face.
Mrs. Bishop stood up. “Elizabeth, when a woman finds the
right man to marry, the closeness between them brings great joy. Your papa and
I have been very happy.”
Afterward, Libbetty went up to her bedchamber. Her sisters
were still in the nursery, so she had the room to herself. Would she truly
have anything to fear from Lord Cauldreigh? She could not believe such a
puppyish, friendly young man would ever set out to ruin a woman. No matter
what her mother had said, she could not be in any danger from Lord Cauldreigh.
Lord Neil—now, it was easy to picture him as the ruin of
many a woman. Even she, who had seen the violent side he usually hid beneath
his ironic manner, was affected by a strange attraction to him. However,
knowing his true nature, she was armed against his appeal. She must persuade
her father to free her from his strictures, so she could unmask Lord Neil for
the villain he was.
*
Neil handed his card to the stout, middle-aged woman who
answered the
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