A Lady or a Cock Whore? Ch. 04

Arya panted, her eyes closed as she stroked herself fervently. She had one hand blurred on her clit, the other twisting her nipples in turn. In her head she replayed her kiss with Eric, remembering with a twinge the way his cock had felt as it pressed against her ass. Her breathing hitched as she felt his hands on her hips and his lips on her neck. She came, imaging that he had bent her over and fucked her.

As she came down from her climax she rested back against her pillows, breathing in the cool night air. After moment she stood and walked to her window, looking out over the bright city. I wonder what he's doing, she thought. I wonder if he thinks of me. She blushed, I wonder if he thinks of me as he touches himself.

She suddenly stilled, a horrifying thought coming into her mind. What if I am one of many? He was so confident, so talented, those were surely not the actions of a virgin. She paled at the realization that he was the first man she had kissed and therefore special, but to him their kiss could mean nothing.

Arya cringed, turning away from the window. I am such a fool! I bet he has bed many women. Oh lord, he must think I am some common slut fishing for a husband! Or perhaps he could tell I am inexperienced... if he thought that I was ignorant enough to become enamored with him because of it, or think that our foolish kiss meant anything he would surely scorn me. , she thought unhappily. I must endeavor, then, to put it behind me and make him see that I am unaffected.

She squared her shoulders, determined. The picnic is only two days away, I must put him out of my mind until then.

When she awoke she realized that in all the excitement she had forgotten to tell her aunt and uncle about the picnic invitation. After she had kissed Eric and run away, she had wandered around the garden panicking. She had eventually calmed down about the kiss, when she had realized she was a wreck and there was no way she could return to the party. She eventually slinked to her carriage and climbed in, surprising the coachman when he returned to his post a half hour later. She told him she felt very ill, and asked him to please fetch her uncle.

He did so with a suspicious glance, but brought her uncle back in only a few minutes.

"Arya, what is the meaning of this?" her uncle had asked as he climbed into the carriage. "I had to make some very hasty and rude excuses to our hosts, and-" He stopped, noticing her appearance.

"What on earth happened, child?" His anger vanished as he gazed at her in shock.

Arya was on the verge of tears as they began to drive away, and stared out at the passing houses to hide her face. "I felt ill so I went out to the balcony for some fresh air. I must have fainted and spilled my wine all over myself, and I was too embarrassed to return to the party." She lied, her wavering voice lending credence to her story.

Her uncle draped his coat over her and put an arm around her. "There, there, everything is alright. You did well in not returning, I can't imagine how they would have reacted to the sight of you," He said with a chuckle. She gave him a watery grin. She began to giggle, her nerves spent and the image of the horror struck faces she would have faced sending her into gales of laughter. Her uncle began to laugh as well, and Arya felt much better as they reached the house.

Her appearance at the front door had caused much speculation and gossip among the servants, but Aunt Agatha was adept at managing them and no harm came of Arya's romp in the gardens. However, over the next few days Arya had been so distracted that she had hardly thought to ask her aunt and uncle about the picnic.

"Aunt Agatha?" Arya asked as she sat down to breakfast. "I was invited to a picnic tomorrow and I wondered if I might go?"

Her aunt looked up, smiling at her. "Of course, my dear. Who invited you?"

"Lord Eric." Arya replied, spreading jam on her toast.

"Huh." Her aunt said, looking at her niece with interest. "And how did you manage to get invited to one of his gatherings?"

Arya glanced up in surprise. "He just asked me. I was sitting with Ladies Isabella and Chantal, so perhaps he didn't want to be rude by excluding me?"

Her aunt smiled in satisfaction. "No, dear, I think they were lucky to have been sitting with you ."

"What do you mean?"

Her aunt paused, thinking. "Well, he is a bit of an odd duck. He is a younger son of a very rich family, everyone thought he would become a distinguished general, or lawyer, or some such like his brothers before him. Instead he spends his days almost entirely in their family's country estate down in Langton, reading or hunting or God knows what. The only time he comes to court is when there is a fresh batch of debutantes his mother wishes to parade in front of him."

Arya took a bite of her toast, munching thoughtfully. She was pleased, more than pleased if she was honest with herself, that she had been right. He isn't like the others. He must hate court as much as I do. She smiled, taking another bite of toast.

"But why is it odd that he invited us to a picnic?"

"Don't chew with your mouth full dear, it's not ladylike." Her aunt said automatically. Arya grimaced and took of sip of coffee.

"Why did you say they were lucky they sat with me?"

Agatha shrugged. "Because he hardly ever invites anyone anywhere. And Isabella has been out one season already, and Chantal three. If he was interested in them he would have made it clear sooner. Unless something happened to change his mind of course," She continued, unaware of Arya's smug smile.

Arya could hardly contain her glee as she thought about how jealous Isabella must have been when she realized this.

"Oh wait, I forgot he didn't come last year, so perhaps it is Isabella he is interested in." Her aunt said absently. She saw Arya's change in expression and said, "Either way, you must do your best to be on good terms with him. He has a good position, a good family and reputation, and I dare say Isabella will be trying her best to catch him. She is prettier than you, that is for sure," She smiled as she saw Arya's face fall further, "but you are her superior in every other way, and if he is a decent sort of fellow at all he will see it."

Arya smiled back, "Thank you Aunt. However, I am not trying to 'win' anyone." She shrugged, "He seems nice enough, but I am far too young to be thinking about falling in love and getting married and all that nonsense."

Her aunt smiled knowingly, and went back to her breakfast.

Arya hardly slept that night. She was nervous to face him again, especially after her aunt raised the possibility of his interest in her. She felt a twinge of jealousy as she imagined him kissing Isabella. You are silly to think that his invitation means he likes you. Or that he likes her. Perhaps he was just bored. She tried to calm her mind, reassuring herself with such logical conclusions, but her thoughts were racing and sleep was a long time in coming.

Eventually the sun rose and Arya with it. She had a few hours before she was to leave (she had received a lovely little note the day before informing her of the location and hour) and every moment was spent being primped by her slew of minions. Her nails were trimmed and filed, her hair done, her makeup done, her clothing chosen and altered to fit her perfectly, etc. etc. She spent most of it yawning and ignoring the flurry around her, remembering fondly the days when she could wake up and stroll down to breakfast without even combing her hair.

At exactly ten o'clock she was arriving at a stately manor surrounding by manicured fields and streams. They had traveled about an hour outside of Veras, the respite from the city making Arya smile with every passing mile.

Her stomach began to churn as she stepped out of the carriage, her soft green dress billowing around her in the breeze. She smoothed it down, inwardly thanking her maid for picking it out. It brought out the green in her eyes, and offset her chestnut hair beautifully. It was full and flared away from her hips, a white sash accentuating her waist. Her breasts were pushed up by her corset, showing a tantalizing amount of creamy skin while still maintaining her modesty.

She smiled as a servant approached, offering to lead her and her aunt to the lawn. They crossed through the manor to an enormous lawn overlooking a small lake. There were trees dotting the grass, and a giant white tent a little ways from the house. She could hear laughter and the sound of music carried on the breeze, and her nervousness grew as they drew closer.

She was both yearning for and dreading seeing Eric, her eyes searching for him as they approached. She was startled out of her surveillance when her aunt stopped, nodding her head graciously to their host. She was a short woman, with a pleasant face and intelligent eyes. "Welcome," She said. "Agatha, it is lovely to see you. It has been too long." Arya was surprised to see her aunt reply with a genuine smile.

"Thank you Sarah. I agree, I miss the days when our boys played together as children." She gazed fondly out over the water. "We had some pleasant days by the lake, did we not?"

Sarah smiled back, her eyes a bit sad. "Yes." She turned with a smile to Arya, "And this is your niece, Arya?"

Agatha turned with a start, the question breaking her out of her thoughts, "Yes, of course. Arya, I am pleased to introduce you to Lady DeSilva. She is Lord Eric's mother."

Arya blushed, unable to keep her mind from imaging how his mother would react if she knew what Arya had done only a few nights prior. "I am honored to meet you," Arya said, lowering into a deep curtsey.

"I met your mother, many years ago." Lady DeSilva said. "She was several years my junior so we were never well acquainted, but she seemed like a gentile young woman."

Arya smiled, replying earnestly, "Yes, ma'am, my mother is a wonderful person, I was blessed with good fortune in my parentage." Lady DeSilva's eyebrows raised a bit, before she controlled her expression.

"It is refreshing to meet a young woman who is respectful of her elders." Lady DeSilva replied. "Ah, here come to Tunstens. I hope you enjoy yourself, Arya, it was nice to meet you."

Arya curtsied again and her aunt led her away. She was immediately accosted by several young women of her acquaintance and they led her away, giggling.

"It was so naughty!" Chantal breathed, basking in the attention of the girls around her.

"It was disgusting," Isabella sniffed, brushing her long hair off her shoulder.

"What?" Arya asked, curious.

The other girls eyed her, then broke into giggles again. Isabella rolled her eyes, "Chantal and I caught some maid and her lover fucking when we went looking for a washroom. They probably thought that with everyone outside they could find some privacy... idiots."

The other girls gasped, then broke out into laughter again at the word "fucking," one of them exclaiming, "Isabella! That is a horrid word, certainly not one a lady would use."

Arya was taken aback by their reaction. Isabella noticed and smirked at her, "Ladies, it seems as though Arya agrees. We must restrain ourselves, I think we are traumatizing the poor, innocent girl."

Arya blushed as the girls laughed. There was no suitable reply she could make so she smiled and shrugged, trying to distract them. "I don't suppose you have ever seen one of us doing something so abhorrent?"

At this fresh peals of laughter erupted, and several older men and women near them turned in disapproval.

"Oh remember that time we caught Franny with that footman? She was so cross at being interrupted she threw her shoe at me!" One girl whispered.

Another replied, "That was nothing compared to this time I saw Anna come home with her skirts bloody from losing her virginity to Lord Tal and get half beaten to death when her father found out."

The stories continued on in this manner as the girls meandered down to the lake. They sat on the grass talking, and Arya was shocked at their stories. "But surely none of you have done anything like that... have you?" She asked.

Immediately their eyes turned towards her, and one girl huffed loudly. "How could you ask something so dreadful?" Chantal demanded. "Of course not! Those girls were obviously not fit for our society- no true lady would act like such a harlot."

"I don't suppose Arya is asking because she has done anything like that herself, though, right?" Isabella asked with a sly look.

The chatter paused, and their eyes once again riveted on poor Arya. "Of course not!" She cried, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Although there was this one time I walked in on a maid doing something incredibly perverted to a servant of ours," She whispered conspiratorially. Isabella leaned back in disappointment, seeing the girls were now distracted. Arya smirked right back at her as she continued with her made up story.

"She was on her hands and knees, and he had his... well, you know... in her mouth !" The girls all gasped and began talking amongst themselves, and Arya breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Isabella, her eyes returning the girl's dislike with equal fervor.

They sat by the water for another hour, and Arya became irritated that she hadn't seen Eric yet. He better not be avoiding me, she thought petulantly. It's not like I came here for any reason except to see him. She winced at the thought. That is a dangerous way to start thinking, Arya, She told herself.

It was not until noon that she finally saw him. He was walking towards the tent in a crisp white outfit, his dark hair falling in silky waves around his face as he smiled and laughed as he spoke with a beautiful young woman next to him. Arya's heart immediately contracted, and she reprimanded herself for feeling jealous of his affectionate gaze.

She lowered her head as they walked by, angry at herself for being disappointed. He noticed her standing alone by a table as she picked at a small meat pie, and smiled. "Arya!" He cried, walking towards her. He kissed the woman on the cheek, and Arya immediately hated the girl for her perfect skin and curvy body.

The girl smiled at him and walked off, and Arya's breathing increased as he began walking towards her. His eyes were intent and he walked confidently towards her, holding out his hand. She took it gingerly, curtsying. He bowed back, lingering as he kissed her hand. His eyes flitted up and he smiled cheekily, releasing her when she blushed.

"How are you enjoying the morning?" He asked amiably, taking a large bite of pie.

"Your home is lovely," She replied, but he waved her comment off.

"Yes, yes, the lake is gorgeous, the house is modern, our footmen are very exact, I have heard it all before. I asked how you are enjoying the morning?" He raised an eyebrow at her, taking another bite.

She smiled despite herself. "I am enjoying being out of Varus, that is for sure. I'm not sure I find the company any different, though."

He smiled at her, his teeth flashing in the sun. "Not many people would admit that there is anything that even compares with our fair city of Veras." He replied, watching to see how she would react. He smiled inwardly as her eyebrows furrowed as she devised a rebuttal. I wonder if she knows how cute that is .

"I know you dislike niceties, so I will not reply with something appropriate." She said cautiously, continuing as he smiled in approval, "but I vastly prefer the outdoors, and I prefer quality, rather than quantity, when it comes to friendship."

He raised a glass in salute, "I can drink to that." She smiled and struck her glass against his and they drank, silent for a moment as they eyed each other over their drinks.

Arya picked at her pie once more as the silence grew tense.

"Arya-"

"Lord Eric," She interrupted, her voice firm but her eyes staring resolutely at her plate. "I may have made a fool of myself once, but I assure you I will not make that mistake again."

Eric watched her, pondering her answer. I wonder how she thinks I feel about our kiss. I suppose it would only be natural for her to be embarrassed, not wanting to seem brazen. Although I don't know why she would be embarrassed when I very clearly enjoyed it. Perhaps she is embarrassed by her own enjoyment... by her attitude one would assume she hadn't enjoyed it, he suppressed a chuckle as he remembered her moans, but it was pretty obvious she enjoyed herself as much as I. So why is she pushing me away?

"The only mistake you could make would be to assume I think less of you for your actions." He replied honestly.

She looked up at him, "Truly?" Her voice was small and he smiled gently.

"Truly." He was pleased by the candor in her voice. She intrigued him; he was unused to women who allowed their feelings to be so plainly written on their face. He could tell that under her feeble attempts at a court façade there lurked a quick wit and an honest spirit. He was eager to know her better.

"Come, walk with me to the lake. I can show you where I was chased by a horde of murderous geese when I was a boy." Arya's body relaxed as she smiled, and he was struck for a moment by the change a smile made to her face. She was pretty, but certainly nothing special, until she smiled. Her face lit up and her eyes sparkled, her lips full and enticing. He admired her as they walked, glad he was the one drawing out her smiles.

He entertained her with little stories as they walked, and she was eager to hear about his childhood. "Was this the main place you grew up?" She asked.

"Unfortunately not. I spent far more time in the city than I would have liked. Many of my Masters were there so I would often stay in Veras during the week and spend weekends here or in our country estate at Kent." Eric's face brightened as he spoke of Kent and Arya felt a connection with him as she realized his passion for the country equaled hers.

"What is Kent like? I've never been" She asked curiously.

"It is a bit south, so warmer than Veras and certainly warmer than Parnage. Our estate is on the border of a large forest, and our money comes from the lumber and products our serfs labor on. We are only a few hours ride from the sea, and I spent some time as a boy sailing in the bay with my brother."

"It sounds lovely," Arya said, with genuine admiration.

"It was. I plan to live there when I take orders next fall."

"Oh, you are to be a clergyman, then?"

Eric stopped by the shore of the lake, looking out at the swans fishing among the reeds. "Yes. It is not a very impressive career choice, but it suits me. I prefer quiet contemplation to war or politics."

He gazed down at her, seeing her repressed mirth. "Do you smile in approval or do you think it silly?" He queried, unsure of her response.

She looked up at him, smiling broadly. "I think it is wonderful." He smiled back and they were silent for a moment, each content to stand in the warm sun and enjoy the moment.

The light breeze blew a strand of hair free from Arya's ornate hairstyle, and Eric reached out a hand and tucked it behind her ear, looking down at her face intently. She blushed under his scrutiny, forcing herself to meet his eyes. His sharp gaze softened, and he removed his hand reluctantly. She released a breath she was unconscious of holding, annoyed at herself for hoping he was about to kiss her. She knew it was ridiculous, people would see! she thought. But she was disappointed he hadn't, just the same.

He was equally wistful after seeing the eagerness in her eyes. Her earlier rebuke was not from a lack of interest, then, he thought with a satisfied grin. She must be trying to protect her modesty, I suppose. His grin became feral as he decided he would make it his goal to break past that modesty and release the passion he knew she tried to hide.