that?” Bella couldn’t help being intrigued by the mysteries of the marriage bed.
Josette’s eyes sparkled. “He seems to be very, ah, well equipped. Such a man would greatly satisfy his woman.”
Bella’s eyes widened. “Josette! Do you mean what I think you are saying?”
Josette leaned forward with a shrug to pour their tea. “You can tell his assets from those breeches.”
Bella’s body tingled. “Does that make a difference for a woman?”
Josette’s eyes sparkled with devilment. “ Mais oui. It is a magnificent feeling to be filled so fully.” She handed Bella her tea. “You should not deny yourself. You are his wife. Why not enjoy the marriage bed?”
“He lied to me, Josette.” Her throat tightened. “He abandoned me for six years. He only wants me in his bed now because my appearance pleases him. If I were homely, he would cast me aside again.”
“ Trésor , all men want to bed beautiful women.” Josette bit into a biscuit. “Underneath their courtly manners, they are all beasts. They cannot help it. C’est la vie .”
“What of his lies and his abandonment? What sort of man marries a child? I was certainly in no position to consent to such a thing,” she said bitterly. “You would have me forgive him everything and go meekly to the marriage bed?”
“Surely, you are not so naive as to blame him for the alliance.” Josette sipped her tea. “Your fathers arranged the match. He was practically a child himself. What did he know?”
Bella put down her tea with an unladylike clink . “He knew enough to send me away while he lived here in high style.”
“It is the way of the world. Men command us and we are obliged to obey,” Josette said with a shrug. “We must make the best of it.”
“He already controls everything else in my life.” Pushing to her feet, she paced away from Josette. “How can I allow him complete reign over my person? It is the last thing that is still truly mine.”
“So dramatique ,” Josette said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Your beauty is a weapon. Use your charms to make him do your bidding.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed. “You make bedding my husband sound like a battle stratagem.”
“It would be no hardship to bed Monsieur Sebastian. Use him for your purposes and your pleasure.” Josette came to her feet. “Then we shall see who surrenders to whom.”
The idea of Sebastian’s powerful form pressing up against her bare skin made her flush all over. “He does make my body feel things that are a little frightening.”
“That is desire, ma cheri . It is good to have with one’s husband.” Wandering to the mirror, Josette reached for a swath of violet silk and held it up against her body. She caught Bella’s eye in the reflection. “If a man is happy in the bedchamber, he will give his wife whatever she desires outside of it.”
“He does seem predisposed to be generous.” She eyed the expensive fabrics and trims strewn about the room with little interest. “Perhaps he hopes the fripperies will distract me from estate matters.”
“How you do go on.” Josette looked wistfully at the violet silk. “A gown in this fabric will be exquisite for you.”
“I agree. And you shall have one as well. We’ll tell Madame to take your measurements.”
Josette shook her head. “ Non , my husband left me comfortable, but I cannot overspend.”
“Nonsense.” Bella moved to the bell to ring for Madame. “It is my treat. I’m certain Sebastian won’t mind. We’ll order you a ball gown in that delicious shade of pink as well.”
After completing their business with the modiste, they went from shop to shop, ordering shoes, fans, hats, everything Bella would need for a complete wardrobe. She relied heavily on Josette’s advice. When they completed their shopping, they stopped in at Gunter’s for a shaved ice. Neither woman had ever been before and both were keen to try the lemony treat. They’d just been served when Orford
Josette’s eyes sparkled. “He seems to be very, ah, well equipped. Such a man would greatly satisfy his woman.”
Bella’s eyes widened. “Josette! Do you mean what I think you are saying?”
Josette leaned forward with a shrug to pour their tea. “You can tell his assets from those breeches.”
Bella’s body tingled. “Does that make a difference for a woman?”
Josette’s eyes sparkled with devilment. “ Mais oui. It is a magnificent feeling to be filled so fully.” She handed Bella her tea. “You should not deny yourself. You are his wife. Why not enjoy the marriage bed?”
“He lied to me, Josette.” Her throat tightened. “He abandoned me for six years. He only wants me in his bed now because my appearance pleases him. If I were homely, he would cast me aside again.”
“ Trésor , all men want to bed beautiful women.” Josette bit into a biscuit. “Underneath their courtly manners, they are all beasts. They cannot help it. C’est la vie .”
“What of his lies and his abandonment? What sort of man marries a child? I was certainly in no position to consent to such a thing,” she said bitterly. “You would have me forgive him everything and go meekly to the marriage bed?”
“Surely, you are not so naive as to blame him for the alliance.” Josette sipped her tea. “Your fathers arranged the match. He was practically a child himself. What did he know?”
Bella put down her tea with an unladylike clink . “He knew enough to send me away while he lived here in high style.”
“It is the way of the world. Men command us and we are obliged to obey,” Josette said with a shrug. “We must make the best of it.”
“He already controls everything else in my life.” Pushing to her feet, she paced away from Josette. “How can I allow him complete reign over my person? It is the last thing that is still truly mine.”
“So dramatique ,” Josette said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Your beauty is a weapon. Use your charms to make him do your bidding.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed. “You make bedding my husband sound like a battle stratagem.”
“It would be no hardship to bed Monsieur Sebastian. Use him for your purposes and your pleasure.” Josette came to her feet. “Then we shall see who surrenders to whom.”
The idea of Sebastian’s powerful form pressing up against her bare skin made her flush all over. “He does make my body feel things that are a little frightening.”
“That is desire, ma cheri . It is good to have with one’s husband.” Wandering to the mirror, Josette reached for a swath of violet silk and held it up against her body. She caught Bella’s eye in the reflection. “If a man is happy in the bedchamber, he will give his wife whatever she desires outside of it.”
“He does seem predisposed to be generous.” She eyed the expensive fabrics and trims strewn about the room with little interest. “Perhaps he hopes the fripperies will distract me from estate matters.”
“How you do go on.” Josette looked wistfully at the violet silk. “A gown in this fabric will be exquisite for you.”
“I agree. And you shall have one as well. We’ll tell Madame to take your measurements.”
Josette shook her head. “ Non , my husband left me comfortable, but I cannot overspend.”
“Nonsense.” Bella moved to the bell to ring for Madame. “It is my treat. I’m certain Sebastian won’t mind. We’ll order you a ball gown in that delicious shade of pink as well.”
After completing their business with the modiste, they went from shop to shop, ordering shoes, fans, hats, everything Bella would need for a complete wardrobe. She relied heavily on Josette’s advice. When they completed their shopping, they stopped in at Gunter’s for a shaved ice. Neither woman had ever been before and both were keen to try the lemony treat. They’d just been served when Orford
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