Life and Times of a Priestess : Ch.13 : New Friends In Dumis : Part 2: Communication (Section 3)

Ch.13 : New Friends In Dumis : Part 2 : Communication (Section 3)

    “I have not yet found out much about you Lady Arabella.  But are you married yourself?” she asked, suddenly aware of how little she had yet found out about this obviously intelligent woman.

     “I was once,” the lady admitted with a shrug, as if to apologise for her own failure to set a good example of Vanmarian habits to this outsider.

     “I do not wish to pry but tell me if you will, what happened to your husband?” Danella asked.  I understand that ‘divorce’ is rare here?”

     “I am divorced. I do not accept all of my society’s rules about engagement to the male sex.  Many women would have remained married in my position, even though my marriage became a sham.  You see I do believe that many couples should divorce.  I am considered to be very ‘modern’ by most people.  My husband was away often, he was certainly unfaithful to me.  I was also unfaithful to him, that is not a thing which many women in Vanmar wish to admit to in public, but my friends here all know it.  So my marriage became a marriage in name only, and I insisted on divorce.  He wanted divorce too so I was able to prove his infidelity in the courts without contest.  I will admit that having escaped from marriage once, I am not keen to do so again.”

    “Are you with anyone at the moment,” Danella enquired.

    “Not really,” said the Lady evasively.  Danella sensed that her questioning would not be welcomed if it became too close.  She sensed meaning in the words as Arabella’s gaze flashed over the group.  Danella wondered if Arabella’s gaze had lingered upon Valery just a little longer or perhaps over Philippe.  The thought came to her that perhaps Valery or perhaps Philippe was the man to whom Arabella had been a mistress, she suspected that maybe both of them at one time or another had been consort to this mistress. ‘Not really’ seemed to suggest that Arabella’s man, whoever he might be, could not be said to belong to her.

    Danella’s experience and intuition could not yet tell which man it was who had her now.  Perhaps even it was both.  Or maybe they were boyfriends from the past.

“I see, so you like to be a ‘free spirit’ like Valery and Jeanette.  You think marriage is a good rule for your society but you do not wish it to restrict your life any more?”

     “No, on the contrary” replied Arabella, “I still search for the right man, a single man to marry and to share my life with.  I want a good relationship with someone whom I can trust, a good match who will provide me with the care the passion and the stability I need to live my life in happiness.”

   “Presumably you have been searching for this stability and have been unable to find it.  But you must have found other sources of fulfilment along the way.  You must have had some pleasurable liaisons,” Danella surmised out loud.  She could see that Arabella had become uncomfortable with the questioning. Possibly this was because Valery and Philippe were both here.  The others around the table all seemed enthusiastic to follow Danella’s line of questioning.  But others had been analysed and had revealed something deeper about themselves so why should not Arabella be challenged to reveal a little more.

    “I know you enjoyed Valery,” said Jeanette impishly involving herself, “because he told me how much.” Valery who had remained quiet, smiled in the remembrance, confirming without any doubt their closeness.

     “Ah, so you and Valery have been together.  But he is married.  I thought.” Danella commented.  “Are you still together?  But I knew he and Jeanette are good friends too.”

   “We are still friends, I like to think,” said Valery.  “That is good I think,” said Danella.  “Obviously Valery is an unusual man in Prancir for the number of lovers he has.  I applaud you Valery for your powers of persuasion and your freedom from the senseless rules that so many of your countrymen and women follow.  And I applaud you women for your sense of adventure.”

    “I think you can be frank with Danella, Arabella” said Jeanette, “Everybody else knows, apart from Mireau of course.  There is no need for secrets here.  We are all friends here, Valery and Philippe choose not to bring their wives out, and I suspect Mireau does not bring his.  But between us we share much.  I know Alfred well, as well as Valery, but have not yet had the pleasure of Philippe.  But Arabella and Philippe have certainly had the pleasure of each other on many occasions.  You would have liked to marry Philippe would you not Arabella?”  Arabella and Philippe both looked awkward as their illicit relationship was revealed to the newcomers to the group.  “Philippe would certainly fit my ideal,” admitted Arabella, “but unfortunately he is happily married.”  She exchanged a glance with Philippe full of recognition.

    “But I know you continue to enjoy Valery even while you are in love with Philippe,” Jeanette revealed more perhaps than Arabella was expecting. Philippe looked a little shocked by the news and Arabella looked at him as if in silent apology.  And yet Philippe was not going to give his wife up.  Surely he could accept that Arabella should have at least one other partner.  Danella guessed that Philippe would not object.  And so now Danella understood something of the complex web of relationships between these people, not so complex by the rules of Pirion.  She was encouraged to find such openness and honesty between these people where she had little expected it when she first sat amongst them.  Sitting here she began to foresee greater possibilities for them and for herself and Mireau.  Perhaps it would be possible to encourage more Prancirians to become like the people of Pirion.

   “What do you all say to this idea, shall we go back to Valery’s house and disrobe together, to kiss and massage each other until we are ready to commune with each other.  We could do that now.  There is no reason why we cannot do that right now.  What do you say?” she invited them all looking each in return so they all knew she invited them herself.

   Valery said he would be willing, but the others all declined.  They were not yet ready for such activity. Arabella shook her head quite certainly looking as is she were surprised that she could be asked to such an unusual activity.  Only mad people would do what Danella suggested.

    Mireau was silent, not wishing to commit himself.  She detected as before conflicting motivations.  The one was the very Prancirian desire to keep Danella to himself.  He accepted Ravelleon’s claim but he needed her at all other times he had no wish to share he with others.  Then he would see less of her. And would make love to her far less.  At this time no other woman could supply the skilled lovemaking which she could, and her free and generous spirit entranced him.  The second motivation was the desire for adventure and experimentation.  She had shown him what he called ‘dirty tricks’.  She had induced him to enter her ass on numerous occasions enjoying the tight constriction which kept his penis so erect and brought her to extremes of passion.  She had played the roles of the unwilling slave crying as if in pain and becoming finally aroused against her will, and the obsessed nymph keen to suck and lick him from head to food, feverishly coaxing him to supply his juices deep into her inner recesses.  She had encouraged him to imagine what it would feel like to feel the touch of two or three women on his body, or what it would be like to share her with another man, penetrating her from behind as another man held his hardened penis into her mouth. She had tried to suggest that he may like to experiment with the touch of another man while she coaxed him, but the idea had upset him.  Much stigma was attached to men who touched other men in Vanmar, it seemed.  Nonetheless she had seen the glint in his eye when she mentioned many of the new ideas.  She knew that it was difficult for Mireau to admit to other Prancirians his fantasies and even more difficult to trust them enough to perform in front of them or as a group.  Like most  Prancirians she believed he feared the accusations of his fellow citizens more than anything else, and perhaps their mockery.  These adventures were banned experiences in Vanmar.  No normal citizen could ever admit to such pleasures.

    She recognised it was not yet possible, but she knew that with this group they would do it. She would have to take them one at a time.  The women as well as the men if that were possible.  Then soon she would introduce them to each other afresh in love and communication and eventually they would all learn to make love together. The very suggestion of them could ruin careers and could force a man out of his home.  Supporting a mistress or even more than one was considered acceptable for men in Prancir particularly but if they were men of means, although not usually by their wives. But to indulge in strange sexual practices was almost unknown.  Those who had the imagination to consider such pleasures were too afraid to attempt them.  If it were possible to satisfy Mireau and the others that they were safe among similarly minded friends they would all enjoy some experimentation she knew it.