“A Bath? M’lord. T’is not healthy!” I bit my tongue as soon as the words spilled out, even though everyone knew bathing made you ill. He glared down at me. I blushed in my embarrassment, curtsying, “I’m sorry m’lord, I’ve forgotten my place.”
Aline, the maid, who I found was a distant cousin of Tilde, tried her best to make me feel comfortable.
“Bathing here isn’t the same as it is in the village. Warm water, in very warm room, with scents in your bath to make you smell fresh as the dawn. I will be with you until he comes to you, so do not be afraid, Child. It will not be long.” And a mutter under her breath as she led me into the bathing room, “it never is.”
Ignoring that cryptic comment, I started to loosen the ties on my dress. She helped me to pull it over my head, stopping a moment to look at the work. “You and your mother do very fine work. You should be proud. It is a lovely dress.”
I nodded and smiled, but felt odd to be standing in my shift before a stranger. My face must have heated up, for she took a sonsy tone, “Don’t worry about it, child. T’is common, and nothing I have not seen before.”
Slowly, shyly, I pulled my shift over my head then stepped cautiously into the tub. The water felt like nothing I’d been in before. Sweet herbs and steam teased my nose as I slowly slid into the full tub. I felt myself relax in the warmth until I nearly forgot what was about to occur. It was much too soon when I stood to be rinsed, and was rubbed dry.
“Put this on, dear.” This was a beautiful night shift of fine linen, finer in fact than anything I had ever seen.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t! T’is far too fine for me.”
“Tosh! Take it Child, it’s the only thing of any value you’ll take home from tonight. As though he could replace what he will be taking, but he gives one of these to each bride that comes.” With a nod and a shrug, I pulled it over my head. She pulled the torch of rushes off the wall, before climbing stairs.
The room itself was fairly dark. The logs in the fireplace and the rush torch were the only light in the room. A large bed was silhouetted by the light, making it seem larger and more imposing. I fell back, and brushed against Aline. “T’is only the light that makes it fearful. Go in, and I will get you settled.”
I crossed the chilled room, and clambered up into the high bed. So soft! I couldn’t imagine how many winter fowl had died to make such a comfortable bed. The bedclothes were heavy and warm.
It was then I determined not to be swayed by such richness. T’would be easy to do. This is not here for me, but for M’lord, to whom I’m about to become a chore. My Ian loves me, and I would rather be in our little home, on a heather mattress than here surrounded by all these riches about to be sacrificed in the name of some Lord. I’ll do my duty, but I don’t have to enjoy it.
Aline tucked me in, then withdrew with the promise that she would be back after Lord Farrington left.
I heard him enter before I saw him, He was without his wig, and I could see his hair was thin for the firelight reflected off his scalp. He shucked of his clothing and moved across the bed. The bedclothes were removed from my body, and he pulled up my nightdress. I felt his substantial weight over me, and felt him press against me. I forced myself to relax, somehow knowing it would be worse if I were tense. This seems so wrong! I wanted to cry out, but knew t’would be no matter. He pressed into me, feeling my maidenhead. I could feel the pressure, the dull ache. He began to hum and mumble some bawdy tune from court, and I gasped. He thrust through it and though I wanted to scream, I would not give him the pleasure. He continued to hum, thrusting in and out of my limp body in rhythm to the song. Such an odd habit.
The blood made it easier to endure. Not that it was really much to endure; shortly after, he trembled mightily, then fell to the side of me, removing himself from my body. A few moments more and he gathered his clothing and left.
Praise the Saints!
It didn’t take Aline long to show up.
“If ever there was a time when I would be grateful for one of those baths, Mistress Aline, I believe it t’would be now.” I murmured.
“Of course, Child, come with me. Do you feel you can stand?”
“I am stronger than I look.” Stronger than that man, that much is for certain.
We made our way back down the stairs to the bathing room. The tub was already filled.
“You knew?” I was astonished.
“T’is common to feel the need to rid your body of an unwanted touch. I would have been more surprised if you had NOT asked.”
I nodded mutely, anxious to be in the bath. My body slipped in and I let the warmth remove the feeling of his clammy skin and foul breath.
“Mistress Aline, may I ask a bold question?”
“Of course.”
“Is it always like that?” It couldn’t be. Ian loved me. But I had to know if that is what I had to look toward to.
“Goodness no Child. The lord has no love of you, nor quite frankly, love of the deed. Your true wedding night will be much different, and I daresay much better.”
I nodded in response, thankful at least that my feelings were right.
I don’t know how long I was in it, but Aline helped me out. Once again I dried off, and pulled on the nightshift. This time she led me to a different room.
“You can sleep in peace here, child.” The room was small, with a common bed. I gained comfort from those things that were known to me. It took me very little time to fall asleep surrounded by the scent of heather.
The next morning, Aline once again helped me to dress. I hugged her, appreciating all she had done for me. One of the lord’s men held me gently in front of them. He went slowly, and I can only guess he was considering my comfort. I whispered a thank you for his kindness.
The trip seemed shorter this time, perhaps because it was something I was looking forward to.
The wedding party was still there, since the first Prima Nocte, the village would continue the party to keep the groom occupied and in reasonable cheer. I rushed down, turning only a moment to thank the lord’s man for his attention. Then I rushed to my Ian.
He only looked better to me. I reached for him, hoping he would not hold what was done against me. I looked in his eyes, and saw the relief as he rushed toward me and swept me up into his arms.
“Annsachd, I will love you always,” he said as his lips, warm and full met mine.
The village party quickly began singing, leading us to our new home. We would be left there to celebrate our wedding properly. Gifts of food would be left at the doorstep for the first few days, a tradition I’m told is particular to our village. Ian lifted me up and carried me into our new home, his strength making me feel delicate. Then, the door was shut and we were alone.
“Did he hurt you?” he whispered.
“No more than should be expected.”
His voice grew quieter as he sat on the edge of our bed, “Will you miss him?”
“Oh, Annsachd!” I kissed him gently as I settled into his lap, “He may be Lord, and he may have fine things, but he has no fine manners. And all I could consider was this, even surrounded by that finery, I would rather be here, with you, even in our poor home. He had no love for me, and I’m not even entirely certain he knew my name.” My hands ranged his muscled shoulders and arms. “I missed you. And I did not make love with him. It was no different than setting a prize boar on a sow. He did his rutting with no spare thought for me, good or ill, and left. He did what he was required to do, as did I.”
I pulled away enough to look him in the eye. “Would you help me forget that?”
His lips fell quickly onto my own, his hands tugging at my ties. My own hands fell to his clothing, and I could not wait to see what sort of prize I had won when I married him.
We were quick and clumsy and we fell into bed beside each other. Hands moved over fevered skin, and I felt my own heart race. I looked into his face, and his eyes sparkled in the half light. The look seemed to change him, and he dawdled. His fingers drew fanciful designs upon my skin, causing me to moan in frustration; of what I knew not.
“Ian, Annsachd, please….”
He smiled, “Oh, I will please you, I will please you and myself as well.” His tongue flicked over my breasts and I gasped at such a touch. His fingers slowly crept toward my center, until they were there, exploring my tenderness.
I moved against him, desperate. My body knew, yet I did not. His lips trailed kisses down my stomach and then…
I went fuzzy. Hot breath and warm gentleness. I could feel my innards curl in waves, like the wind across the fields of barley. Finally, I could stand the tension no longer, and I cried out to God.
Ian quickly came back up to me, kissing my face, my eyes, my nose, my cheeks before settling back on my mouth. A different taste was on his lips, but t’was not foul. I felt his hardness press me, and almost against my will, I tensed. Then I forced myself to relax. This t’will be different, Mistress Aline said so.
A fullness I could not imagine filled my core. Slowly, so slowly, Ian pressed into me. I opened my eyes to see him watching my face closely, looking for signs of my discomfort. I smiled warmly at him, at this man I truly loved, and pressed back into him. I had been selfish, and wanted this to be as beautiful for him as for me.
I raised my hand up and around his neck, pulling him to me. I sought purchase to press myself farther against his shaft. I felt the waves begin again, and I sighed into the kiss we were sharing. I felt him shaking, and thought that it t’was nearly over.
“Shhh, Annsachd, I want to make this good for you. Do not rush me or we will be over before we’ve begun,” he said in a tortured whisper. And then I understood the shaking was his lapsing control. I tried to still my body, I did. But he felt so wonderful inside me, his warm skin against mine, and I could not help myself. I bucked against him and heard him moan. Such a sweet sound. I bucked again, and he growled. His hands moved to my hips to still me, but I was in a lust. I could not be stopped, and the waves crested. I screamed this time, my body releasing its tension wave after wave.
He looked down in amazement, his own breath coming in gasps. “You are beautiful, Annsachd, So beautiful.” And then he began to thrust wildly, pulling my hips against him. I continued to moan in that half sense caused by bliss. My body relaxed, so relaxed.
Ian, my Annsachd, my beloved, let out a mighty roar, and I could see the same tension course through his body. I pulled him down to me, tight against me.
It was then I heard it, “Huzzah! Huzzah!” and music began to play. I was certain if I went to the door now, there would be food upon the step, and the villagers would be celebrating our true union.
I chose to stay where I was, curled up against Ian and listen to his heartbeat. It would not be long before my humours came upon me. And then we could start working on our family in earnest.
Copyright Dryad (gbbjg@yahoo.com) 2003
Author’s Notes:
I don’t usually do quite this much research for a story, but I thought I would share what I learned.
Prima Nocte, First Night, or Droit de Signeur is a right that lords had where they could sleep with the subject brides on their wedding night. Most of my research states that this was not usual, more pockets than a universally followed right. It was used more as a literary tool. It first appears in the mid eighteenth century.
Powdered wigs also came into popularity during the mid eighteenth century. It made its way north from France, where Louis XIV brought it into style when he began losing his own hair. It was common for men to shave their heads to make the wig easier to wear. They were out of style as a fashion statement around the 1820’s in Europe.
Annsachd is Scot’s Gaelic for “beloved”.
Even in the eighteenth century, peasant houses were usually mud and wattle (woven branches). Wood, especially in the highlands of Scotland, would be a rare commodity. Stones were often used, but took much more work and knowledge so they were usually reserved for community buildings.
