The Twins secret

Ch 5-Male Love

Lily

 I was stunned, my thought a shamble as the clacking heels echoed on the marble floors and the sound of my heart pounded in my ears. Stumbling through the dim hallways as I fled, desperately trying to recall my way back, desperately trying to forget what I had just witnessed, what I had just felt.

I knew I was starting to unravel when my thoughts focused, not on inconceivable event I had just witnessed, instead on the feeling of lips against mine. I had never been kissed in such a manner. The only kisses I had received had always been within the bounds set by proper etiquette and familiarity. A kiss on the hand from a gentleman, on the cheek from female friends or family when greeting or farewelling, the forehead or crown when close male relatives showed their affection, mainly my father as my uncles and other male family members ceased such displays when I left childhood behind.

Now here I was, two weeks before I was to be wed and my first kiss. The one I was meant to have at the alter with my husband, was stolen. Stolen by whom I wondered as i once again took a wrong turn and ended up in a part of the museum I did not recognise.

My chest heaving as I took deep draughts of air into my starved lung, I looked around trying to see some sign or marking directing me to my destination. All I saw was a sign for the Ladies room.  I cast a furtive glance around, no signs of her?…. Him?…… them? My mind couldn’t decide. Either way there was no one. Whilst I fled, I had heard no signs that chase was given. No sound of shoes or bare feet slapping on the marble, no calls for me to halt, no laboured breathing.

Deciding it was safe to halt for a moment I followed the sign directions to find the Ladies room. Turning the next corner, I found two doors on opposite sides of a narrow hallway. They both were made of solid wood about twice my height with a plaque of a shiny mental, the type indistinguishable in the gloom. The one closest, had the word Ladies engraved on it, I could only assume the one opposite had Gentlemen.

Entering I was greeting by complete darkness.  With no one expected to enter this part of the building no candle or lanterns were lit to chase off the darkness. I stumbled inside using my hand as a guide, following the wall until my shin bumped something, as it moved it made a high screeching sound of wood dragging across the floor. Ah Ha I thought in triumph this was what I was looking for. Reaching down blindly my hands found a plush velvet surface. Picking up the stool I retraced my steps trying hard not to collide with the wall as both hands were occupied and I could no longer feel for obstacles.

Reaching the door, I set down the stool and pulled the heavy wood open, pushing the stool against it to keep it so. The doors weight proved to much, the door began to inch closed. The screeching of wood against marble once again pervading the silence. When the door had moved a good few inches the sound ceased. The foot of the stool had caught on a blemish in the marbles joining.

I hurried back to the counter where I had found the stool. The light from the hallway was filtering in, it was just barely enough to see by. On the counter I spied an oil lantern and a box of matches. Striking one I quickly lit the wick and replaced the glass covering before twisting the small knob that would increase the wick length and therefore the light.

The gloom was chased away from my immediate vicinity, though most of the room still lay in darkness. I found myself shivering, from cold possibly but I thought it more likely the shadows and isolation were playing havoc with my nerves.

The counter had scented candles, perfume and an array of hand lotions neatly arranged in front of each of the four powder stations followed by four basins with soap and handtowels neatly placed alongside.

I lit the four candles to give myself extra light, hopefully it will help settle my jittery nerves. Taking one of the handtowels I ran it under the water from the faucet. How I loved the indoor plumbing one could find in hotels and large establishments like the museum. We did not have such conveniences installed in our home despite my continued effort. My father still believed a washstand was good enough, but as more and more wealthy families were getting them installed, I was slowly whittling away at my father’s reluctance. He would give in any day now.

Turning off the faucet I rang the towel, using it to cleanse my décolletage and forehead of sweat before discarding it. Once done I inspected the powder stations, sniffing the lotions and perfumes. When I found a satisfactory scent at the third station I tried, I moisturised my hands before un-corking the glass bottle of perfume, dabbing it behind my ears, the inside of my wrists and between my breasts.

Satisfied I now looked…. And smelled more fit for polite company I left, blowing out the candles and lantern along the way, before pushing the stool back inside, letting the door swing closed under its own mighty weight.

Looking around again with steadier eyes and less nerves I started to recognise the exhibits around me. More confident now I started striding back to the gala.

Once I arrived, I waited for the guard to be occupied elsewhere, sneaking past the ropes, I lifted a glass of champagne from the nearest tray and struck up a polite conversation with the four gentlemen and two ladies whom were standing close by speaking of the upcoming Race day.

Keeping an eye on my father I waited until he glanced in my direction before motioning to him, I would be but a moment. Excusing myself I made my way back over to him. I apologised for anything I missed and lied saying that I had been waylaid by parties interested in my upcoming nuptials and felt rude to brush them.

When there was finally a pause in Lord Bersbe’s incessant complaining I took the opportunity to ask father about Mr Winter’s whereabouts.

“I believe he took a stroll in the topiary my flower. Why do you not go fetch him now that you have returned.”  With the information I was given I went hunting my future husband.

Strolling through the topiaries and hedges of the museums private garden I decided to take my time, there was no rush. If Mr. Winter’s found his way back inside before I located him it would be easily believed that I simply missed him in my search, the gardens were large and winding, somewhat like a maze after all.

I knew these gardens very well. I had explored them dozens of times as a youth, chasing my siblings through the maze of hedges, in later years I was taken on strolls through these very same gardens by suitors.

I aimed for my favourite part of the garden; a hidden alcove that had small creatures shaped from the hedges. A rabbit here, a squirrel there.  Lattices adorned with flowers surrounded a stone bench. It was quite and peaceful, my escape whenever I had had enough of my boisterous younger siblings. Moving though the maze, past the fountain centrepiece, around the statue of Aphrodite and past the giant Giraffe a smile on my face as I turned the last bend before entering my alcove.

Blinking once, twice, a dozen more times I stared in horror and fascination at the sight before me.

The horror came from bearing witness to an act better kept to the bedroom, my fascination from the thoughts running through my head.

“so that’s why he never tried to steal a kiss like all my other suiters, here I was simply believing him a proper gentleman”

“does this mean there will be no consummation on our wedding night”

“why here in the open where he can be caught?”

“surely he knows the punishment for such an act”

I stood stock still just watching, I don’t know why I still watched instead of fleeing, maybe I had simply fled enough for one night?

A thought suddenly occurred to me, I had been so tempted to sneak a peek at Lord Orion’s manhood earlier simply because I had never seen one before and was curious, I could no longer say that. In front of me was Mr. Edward Winters my future husband, seated on the bench, MY bench his legs splayed out to either side. His head thrown back; eyes closed as he grunted softly whilst pressing down on the head of a figure knelt between his thighs.

I had a clear view of what the man between Edwards thighs was doing, why he was doing them I could not yet fathom.

Out of his open britches stood Edwards manhood, the unknown waiter licking and sucking on it like it was the most delectable treat he had ever tasted.

I did not know how long I stood there; I did not want to flee, nor did I want to move further towards them. When the begging began, I decided I did not wish to see any more than I already had. Spinning on my heels I faced away, giving them some much needed privacy. I stood stock still cursing tonight, how everything went wrong, leaving me spinning, not knowing up from down. First the twins, now this.