“Oh Dolly,” I used her pet name.
“He assured me mother would be safe if I afforded him the small pleasure, and you were nowhere,” she exclaimed.
“And then?” I asked.
“He wanted me entirely bare, I shook with shame John,” she said tremulously, “I did in truth, he made me disrobe with Phyllis the maid present as witness I did it willingly, but t’was not willingly, and then he explored every inch of me kissing and probing.”
My heart sank. “Oh Dolly,” I said quietly.
“Then when he came again he dis-robed also and made me kiss and caress him also.” she admitted.
“Dolly, did you resist?” I asked.
“No, it was exciting John, I was carried along, and I was doing it for Mama.” she said, and I sensed she wanted to tell me more.
“He seduced you?” I suggested.
“Yes,” she agreed, “And then he produced his snake, and made me touch it and kiss it and.”
“Were you bare?” I asked.
“John!” she exclaimed, “It matters not, but I had to feel and kiss and handle and,”
“It exploded no doubt,” I added.
“When I suckled upon it, yes.” she admitted.
“He forced you?” I asked. she shook her head, “Oh Dolly, and was this the limit of the indignity?”
“No,” she shook her head, “he locked the door as always, you see Mama knew and approved my actions,”
“She knew!” I railed.
“Yes,” she nodded, “She reassured me that if I obliged him entirely he would become so besotted that he could not but offer marriage.”
“That stupid selfish woman!” I exclaimed, “And how obliging were you?” I asked and her eyes said it all.
“I obliged him entirely,” she admitted, “We lay together John, and he placed his snake within me.”
I had one last despairing hope, “Wherein did he place himself sister,” I asked, “To the front or?”
“To the front and he did such every afternoon,” she smiled at the thought.
“You encouraged him?” I asked.
“Yes, he made me feel loved John, after the discomfort of the initial time, I believed he loved me and showed his love with his snake and his seed,” she said and she smiled shyly among her tears.
“And why did he spurn you?” I asked.
“I bled and he demanded he might,” she paused.
“Sodomy?” I suggested.
She nodded, “I could not allow it John, I could not.”
“And he spurned you?” I asked.
“He dressed and made me stay bared and made me suckle his snake and when he was excited he withdrew and he sprayed my face and bosoms with his seed. all in my hair and everywhere, and then he closed his breeches and was gone.
“And that was the end of the matter?” I asked, and she sobbed again.
“No, he demanded,” she said in anguish, “That as I had not sufficed and acquiesced to his demands that poor Harriet, should serve instead.
Oh my, my poor golden haired little sister, “Oh no, Dolly, where is she.”
“Marchington Hall, she was gone but a week when Cousin Rose arrived yesterday demanding we remove ourselves.
“John, Dorothy where are you?” Mother cried.
“Here!” I replied and as Dorothy dried her tears so we went to the sitting room where Rose and Mother glared at each other.
“It will not do John.” Rose announced, “Your mother’s pleas or your sisters throwing themselves at my brother like street whores, it will not do.”
“Three hundred guineas,” I said.
“What!” Rose exclaimed.
“An offer Madam, or should I offer myself to you like a street whore?” I asked sarcastically.
“You truly are pathetic John Harnsworth, pretending you have three hundred guineas, no take your funds and buy your mother a shack or a bothy or a pig stye and have my house available for me at once or sooner if you may.” and Rose said it without an ounce of humour, icily and with not a simple ounce of humanity.
“Ah, then I shall speak to the organ grinder and not his pretty monkey and make my offer to your father.” I exclaimed.
“Pray wash and shave before you see his Lordship!” mother insisted as if I were a fresh faced boy and not a grown man.
“I shall not!” I insisted, “Indeed I shall not,” and I saw no need to remain, “Good day mother, Dolly,” I said and I ignored Rose as I left the room.
I took horse and made haste to Marchington Hall pausing but briefly to take luncheon at the Five Bells the ale house on the edge of the Marchington estate which was in sore need of renovation, with the timbers all faded and in need of pitch while the daub between was in need of white wash and the chimney in sore need of pointing and the whole edifice gave forth an aura of dereliction yet here was nowhere else to dine and so therein I sampled an acceptable meat pie and a tankard of Ale or at least a putrid liquid sold as such.
I sat quietly eating when a rogue approached saying “Ha, well I’ll be, it’s John Harnsworth the gentleman book keeper.”
“Yes ’tis I, come to cook his Lordship’s books.” I confirmed which rather spoiled his next ripost.
“What you come for?” he asked.
“Lunch, and a game of cards perchance?” I suggested, “Or does my reputation precede me?”
“E’s the biggest card cheat ever knowed,” an other even uglier rogue averred.
“Ah my reputation does precede me, will you take an Ale?” I asked.
“Rather drink pigs piss,” the rogue said, “But I’ll take a Cider.” so I ordered Cider for him and his friends and naturally myself and was in return regaled with tales and complaints of Gerald’s incompetence and mean-ness since he became Lord.
I ordered another tankard of Cider for all and paid my bill and took horse again for the Hall.
Dartlington the Butler confronted me as I went to go in, “And what is your business.”
“John Harnsworth, come to see my sister Harriet” I announced to his consternation as I believe he still thought I should be a fresh faced weakling of a boy and not an unshaven indeed bearded young man.
“I shall consult her ladyship,” he suggested.
It was a poor decision, he left me alone for a moment and in that moment I saw Harriet, my poor golden haired sister being dragged from the kitchen towards the stables, but in a state of almost complete undress.
I wanted to cry out but seeing I was completely out numbered I held my tongue, and even managed a serious but pleasant expression as the Lady Marjorie came to greet me, “Ah Mr Harnsworth, have you come to do our books?” she said with wry amusement.
“No, I have come to make your husband an offer for Matson and indeed to see my dear sister Harriet,” I replied.
“Oh she is enjoying a ride!” Marjory smirked, “And as regards your offer well I am certain it lies far beyond your means, accept your place in society Mr Harnsworth, you were raised a gentleman but without a fortune, pray accept your station and find suitable lodgings for your mother and sister, perhaps a little shop where they my serve.”
“I shall discuss it with your husband Ma’am.” I assured her.
“Then come another day and make an appointment.” she suggested, “Good day.”
I turned on my heel and walked deliberately away, and as I entered the stable yard I could hear a girl screaming in ecstasy, the sound of the brothel, and I recognised the timbre that scream to be that of my sister Harriet.
I joked, “Someone is enjoying themselves,” to the ostler.
“Yes sir, Mr Sebastian is very generous with his cast off whores sir, should you care to indulge ’tis only threepence?” he asked.