She was getting bigger now and despite her resolve not to let it inhibit her, she was more reserved about boys seeing her naked. The other women at Mrs Atkinson’s were for the most part young and pretty, and she feared the comparison, even though Lydia insisted that Guinevere was as pretty as any of them, and that there was no shortage of boys who would “love to get into her knickers”, as she put it. Even so, Guinevere decided to give herself a break as the time for the baby drew near. Her earlier sharp lust had reduced somewhat; she was content to masturbate every now and again, and think about the future, of her marriage, of her life. What she wanted was to be a good mother, and as good a wife to Gerald as it was possible for her to be, given the circumstances. Perhaps he had done her a
