Chapter Text
“I n my good conscience I must tell her,” Kitty told Nora, the pair stood by the fire. Her blue eyes were focused on the lovely Eloise who was still quite unaware of how a child is brought into the world. Teddy had changed the subject nearly immediately after regaining the ability to speak. Sophie chimed in, allowing for conversation to flow away from it.
“I’ve seen you ignore that good conscience many times Kathleen,” Nora reached for the ladle stirring the contents to keep her nervous hands occupied. It was not the topic of conversation that Kitty intended to pursue that was causing the jitters within her. It was her boy, who usually when asked, would stutter and blush and deny, but he had strong feelings for her. And his continued relationship with her was testament to those. He had been cautioned since he was a small boy of those in the upper echelons of society. When she saw Kitty turn to move back towards the table, Nora grabbed her right hand tightly, “I think Theo has true affection for her. We cannot embarrass him-
“Since when?” Kitty retorted, “look at that girl. Her brothers surely know and she is what to remain ignorant until her marriage bed? Could you fathom? Not being kissed to all of that and the bedding in but a night?”
“It is not right but-
“She deserves to know,”
***
“The Viscount is going to murder me,” John said to the assembled group who had been ordered to gather firewood. He had removed his wig revealing thick dark hair. He looked odd with the wig and odd without it, “he is going to dismantle me limb by limb and then use me for kindling. Or just utilize me for kindling,”
Nicolás paused, “will you be alive or dead when you go into the flames?”
“Does that matter?” Sophie queried.
“Absolutely. For if you’re dead, then the Viscount showed you mercy. If not, then he is truly a beastly man and I fear for your life Teddy courting his sister,”
Theo was resisting the urge to take one of the heavier logs and bash it into those blonde locks. Nicolás never thought about his words. It was his right, he said, going along with his identity as a bastard. Instead of violence he settled on, “do you ever cease your blathering?”
“I am told it’s most charming,”
“By who?”
“By all of the ladies I’ve taken to my bed,” Nicolás wiggled his eyebrows. Sophie wacked him on the shoulder with a smaller one than Theo would have used, “and dammit it you wench. That’s my painting arm,”
John who had been trailing behind them all caught up suddenly then. He clasped Theo on the shoulder and drew him back from the twins who did not seem to notice.
“Do you think your Mum and Aunt would give a thorough description or say a generic one?”
Cringing and remembering his own introductory conversation on the topic, Theo grimly informed that it would probably fall within the category of thorough. Kitty Beckett and Nora Sharpe were all efforts in or none at all. They had been factual and blunt but still that conversation along with the anatomical drawings they’d shown him were burned into the deep recess of his mind, now coming forth in great swells. Oh good god, were they showing Eloise the book? He would never be able to look her in the face again.
***
Mama and Papa. Daphne and Simon. The Queen. Lady Danburry. The Featheringtons . The names kept swirling around in her head. They all did this act? All of them? She dared a glance once more at the anatomical sketches. A physician’s book, Kitty told her, outdated though still mostly accurate. Her fingers she found were shaking, barely able to turn the page. Would she want to turn a page?
“Anyone who has a child has done this coupling,” Nora whispered gently. At Eloise’s look, she chuckled lightly and confirmed, “yes, me too it’s how Theo came into this world, and me, and you,”
“My mama and Papa did this eight times?”
“More than eight, most likely,” Kitty chortled, taking a large sip of sherry. She was the one that brought the book much to Nora’s indignation. When Eloise heard that Theo had been educated using it she insisted. A picture was not going to scare her just because of her gender. Part of her regretted it.
More than eight times? Why would they do that?
“You said it hurts the girl,” Eloise accused, “why would my mother want to endure it if she were not to bear children?”
“Pleasure,” Kitty shot back, now finishing her glass.
Nora gave her a deadly look but more gently said, “the coupling act does tend to be painful for women at first. Though not for all. And it generally does get more pleasurable the more practice you have and especially so if you’re comfortable with your partner and they know you well,”
Eloise could not help but to stare at her own lap. The thought of it was making her both revulsed and strangely excited? Anxious? She could not quite name the emotion. Her confusion must have been displayed on her face for Nora reached over and patted her hand.
“You can ask us anything,”
“Do the people er participating? Do they just lift their skirts and trousers-...,” Her cheeks grew warm when her words were caught off by boisterous bubbling laughter being emitted from Kitty. What had she said now? She already felt wholly foolish, ignorant and stupid.
“That is a personal choice. They can just remove the needed clothing or they can be naked,”
The question and answer session ceased when a loud knocking began at the door. It was Theo who announced very loudly that they were returning and had gathered enough firewood to last them a month. Eloise buried her hands in her lap. She did not think she could look him in the eye after the discussion that had just happened.
“I-I think I need some air,” Eloise announced and did not wait for anyone else to interject or object.
She had known about kissing and embracing and caressing. Her parents had been loving in that way and her siblings with their spouses too. But to think behind closed doors they were doing this? Six hours is short for newlyweds . Was that what Daphne was referring to? Kate and Anthony were doing the coupling for six hours? Wouldn't her sister-in-law be terribly sore? She played pall mall with as much vigor as always.
“Are you alright?” She had not heard his footsteps but Theo was standing beside the cottage. Half of his face is illuminated by the near full moon, the other in shadow. He stepped into the lighted part and she found that her eyes went from his face, to his chest, and then to an area she had never really dared to focus her eyes upon. Worst of all, he noticed immediately. His face reddening to such a degree it was noticeable in the moonlight.
“I-I-I am sorry!” Eloise jerked around, “I-my head is spinning,”
“I do not blame you. Mine was also spinning when they told me,” Theo’s voice is thick and strained as though he’s forcing it out of himself, “it’s alright you know to be curious,”