Chapter 4

Benjamin was a gracious host and had hot drinks to warm them and blankets for their shoulders. He hustled them inside as it looked like it would rain again. He had hot water and a basin brought to them to wash the mud from their faces. He engaged them in small talk and had dinner brought into the great room. The dinner of beef, potatoes and cabbage warmed them and filled their empty stomachs. He took the two young serving-girls aside who had been waiting at the wall of the great room and spoke to them out of hear-shot of Nora and Anne, then returned to his guests.

"Gentle ladies, I have ordered that your belongings be brought to your rooms and that a hot bath be prepared for you to get some heat back into your bones. I have provided each of you with a handmaiden for your stay. They are under my strict orders to make your stay as pleasant as possible. You must tell me if they do not provide for your every wish. I will have them beaten severely."

They both smiled and thought that they could not imagine Benjamin being cruel to a woman, even a woman servant. As they continue to eat he enthralled them with his small talk and his concern for their well-being. He told tales of the court and told of the foolishness of some of the noblemen. They talked until Anne started to yawn.

"Pardon my stupidity, Lady Anne. I haven't the sense of a donkey. I am sure that you are very tired. Let me have your handmaiden show you to your room. Lady Nora, your room has also been prepared and I hope that your bed is to your liking."

Anne rose and her handmaiden led her out of the great room and to her quarters. A hot bath had been prepared and she striped and climbed into the large copper tub. The hot water brought warmth back into her bones and she started to get drowsy. The handmaiden washed her and then took her hand and helped her out of the tub and dried her off. Anne could hardly fight sleep long enough to climb into bed. She crawled between the covers without putting on her nightclothes and was asleep before the handmaiden left the room.

Nora had held back because Benjamin was still talking to her and she also wanted to give him an opportunity to make his move. He continued to talk to her as a gentleman and she knew that he would have to be prodded a little. She put her hand to her mouth as if to yawn and looked into his eyes.

"Excuse me, Lady Nora. I am being an idiot tonight. I have ignored the fact that you are probably exhausted. Let me have you escorted to your room. Your hot bath is ready and we do not want it to cool. I have instructed that a fire be built in the fireplace in each of your bedrooms to keep you warm during your sleep. Hopefully, the warmth will cause only pleasant dreams tonight."

Nora put a hand on his arm, "Kind sir, would you have a Brandy, a small drop would do. I think that would get my blood flowing again."

He smiled. He had intended to start his seduction of Anne tonight. He knew that it would take some work to get Anne into his bed. Maybe he would bed Nora tonight and work on Anne's seduction tomorrow.

"I have the finest Brandy in the kingdom. I liberated it from the French. They do not know how to properly sip a fine Brandy anyway. They drink it like it is just water. My Brandy is like the sweet lips of a woman. You must take your time and savor the moment and make the experience last as long as possible."

He looked into her eyes as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. She met his gaze and they looked into each other eyes until she looked away demurely. She knew that she had to keep up the appearance of being a lady of fine breeding.

"I long for that hot bath that you have had prepared for me. If you would have the brandy sent to my room, I would sing your praises throughout the kingdom," she said with a wicked smile.

He kissed her hand again, "I will bring the Brandy to your room myself. It is such a fine potion that I would not trust it to the servants."

She put her hand to her mouth and smiled. "Sir, you are a beautiful and gentle man, but slightly wicked I think. I will await the fine Brandy you speak of. I trust that you will give me time to finish my bath and get decent."

She brushed past him, making sure that he felt her breast push against his arm, and followed the handmaiden to her room.

Once in her room, she striped off her clothes and put her hair up to keep it from getting wet. The handmaiden helped her into the large copper tub and washed her. She had the young woman pour more hot water into the tub and then dismissed her and waited for Benjamin. She knew that he would shortly knock on her door. She let the hot water relax her and she closed her eyes and thought of the rugged body of that would soon be against her own body.

When she heard his knock on the door she picked up the sponge and pretended to be washing her breasts. He opened the door and walked in carrying a tray with a bottle of Brandy and two glasses. She quickly put her arms across her breasts and smiled.

"Sir, you are wicked," she said with a smile, "I am not done my bath yet. Please pour me the Brandy and leave me to finish."

Benjamin walked over to her and sat the tray on the floor next to the tub and poured two glasses of the Brandy. He handed one to her and knelt down next to the tub. He took the sponge from her and started to wash her back. She dropped her arms and took a sip of her Brandy. She smiled at him and made no effort to hide her charms. She took another large sip of the Brandy. The Brandy was as fine as he had said it was.

When he had finished washing her back, he moved to the side of the tub and sat down next to it.

She finished her Brandy and held the glass out to him. As he took it, he tilted her face to him and kissed her lips tenderly. She returned his kiss and her hand went to the back of his head and she held him. She made no attempt to hide her breasts from his gaze.

He took her hand and helped her leave the tub. He dried her and put a robe around her. He pulled her to him and kissed her with passion. Her body molded itself to him and she returned his kiss with equal passion. They broke their kiss to breathe and he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. The bed had been turned down and he laid her on the bed. The robe fell open revealing her nakedness and she did not try to cover herself. He pulled his clothes off and lay next to her and pulled the covers over them.

He pulled her to him and kissed her. She molded her body to his and thrilled at the feel of his muscular form. His caresses and kisses to her body were driving her to moan and she wanted him to take her fully. He moved over her and lowered himself to her. She reached for him and guided him into her. As he thrust into her, she rose to meet him and wrapped her legs around his loins.

She lost track of all but the pleasure that he was giving her. He felt his seed rushing up and as he emptied himself into her she reached her peak and screamed as wave after wave of pleasure swept through her body. The two handmaidens, twin sisters, listening outside of the bedroom door looked at each other, put their hands over their mouths and giggled.

She collapsed under him and held him until the waves of her orgasm had subsided. He leaned to her and kissed her. She held him tenderly and returned his kiss gently. They were both too sated to arouse much passion. He was the best lover that she had ever had. She vowed that one day she would be his wife even if she had to kill the old sorcerer.

She fell asleep in his arms. After he was sure that she was sound asleep, he slid away from her and got out of her bed. He dressed and silently left the room. He moved down the hall to the room that Anne slept in. He pushed the door open slowly to avoid making any noise and entered the room. The fire had almost died down so he gently laid a few logs on the bed of coals to keep the fire going until morning. He went over to the bed and looked at the beautiful sixteen-year-old girl. She had thrown the covers back a little and one firm breast was exposed. He vowed that he would have her before she went back to the castle.

Chapter 5