Loretta watched this, got teary-eyed, mumbled an excuse and exited the room. Cristiana later shared why, this being that Loretta had slept with Hans, he hadn’t come back for seconds and she still had a big old crush on him.
Cristiana also took this opportunity to share that Apollo’s men were quite active in the village and amongst the servants so, “Every other maid you’ll pass, dearie, will have known the stroke of an Ulfr soldier’s cock.”
By the way, during my gabs with the girls, I learned that sexual mores here were a lot more lax. This being demonstrated by Cristiana’s words.
And also by the way, knowing this about the boys, I was glad Cristiana was over fifty years old and married, “To the love of my life, the stubborn, useless cuss.” (Her words.) Therefore, she wasn’t in danger of getting laid by one of the guys (I hoped).
I liked these ladies a lot and it was fun making friends again. There was a time when I had friends, but Pol, just being Pol but also doing what he did, scared them all away.
It felt good to gab with the girls, get to know them, and in doing it feel more settled in this world.
The other thing that was good was the dower house.
Outside, it was made of lacy, carved wood that had been weathered to a dark finish that made me think of chalets in the Alps.
Inside, it was what Apollo said it was, warm and welcoming.
But there was nothing rustic about the dower house of Karsvall. Its décor was sumptuous (though not as refined as the house in Fleuridia), yet tasteful.
That said, it seemed lived in and loved. There were beautiful pictures of flowers on the walls and graceful vases or figurines here and there. And there were warm throws and fluffy toss pillows that made cuddling up with a book or having a gab with the girls feel homey and cozy.
It had a formal sitting room and dining room as well as a big kitchen downstairs. There was also a study that doubled as a library (thank God, more books!) and a small sewing room. But the best part of the downstairs was the conservatory at the back, made of glass and filled with plants—on tables, hanging from baskets, the windows dripping with damp.
The upstairs had three bedrooms with the “master bedchamber” having a dressing room, a bathing room and an additional small room (yes, for the chamber pot). It also had a massive fireplace with a cream marble mantel that provided a beautiful contrast against the dark wood paneling of the walls. It was decorated in creams and soft yellows with hints of peach and was quite feminine, the down comforter even tipped with dripping scallops of eyelet.
I’d learned that Apollo’s mother lived there but not much more as Loretta and Cristiana gave each other big eyes and changed the subject practically before it was brought up.
I didn’t push it. I didn’t want to make them feel weird or force them to share anything that might annoy Apollo.
And anyway, I wanted him to tell me himself, in his time.
As for Apollo and me, our days had found a rhythm. This being him getting up way early in the morning, waking me to tell me he was going to eat breakfast with his kids, then he’d touch his mouth to mine and leave.
During the day, he’d mostly be away unless he had some free time. If he did, he’d come visit me, but it was never for long.
Still, it was nice he did that.
And in the evening, he arrived just in time for a late dinner, which was after his kids had gone to have a bath then to bed.
Up next was the best part of any day, when we would go to bed and he’d make love to me. We’d spend some time whispering after we made love, these mostly sweet nothings while we cuddled (the second best part of any day). Then he’d either make love to me again or we’d go to sleep.
Tonight, though, he’d sent Alek with the message he’d be late and that I should eat and, if he was very late, go to bed without him.
This I had been preparing to do when I’d heard him hit the room five minutes ago and call, “Maddie!”
To which I called back, “I’m changing.”
To which I heard nothing but his boots and belt hitting the floor which meant he was getting ready for bed.
We’d also had one other change of circumstance since things settled in. This was Apollo getting me pennyrium, which he’d brought along with Loretta and Meeta.
So all was good on that front and sheaths were no longer necessary.
But it wasn’t lost on me that we hadn’t “explored” the “play” we’d engaged in that night we arrived in Karsvall, deeply or otherwise.
When he made love to me, it was sweet. It was slow. It was taking our time, building it then letting it explode.
It was also awesome.