Captain Jack's Woman Read Free Page A

heartbroken when you left. I did tell you.”
    Kit’s eyes clouded, violet hazed with grey. “I know, but my aunts were very clever.” A short silence fell; Kit broke it with a sigh. “So now I’m finished with London and with men. I can live very happily without either.”
    Amy frowned. “Is it wise to go that far? After all, who knows what delicious gentleman might be lurking around the next bend in your road?”
    “Just as long as he stays out of my road, I’ll be satisfied.”
    “Oh, Kit. Not all men are old dodderers or fops. Some are quite personable. Like George.”
    With a “Humph,” Kit turned on her stomach and propped her chin in her hands. “Enough of my affairs. Tell me about this George of yours.”
    George, it transpired, was the only son of the Smeatons of Smeaton Hall, located some way beyond Gresham Manor. He was twelve years Kit’s senior; she could not recall meeting either him or his parents before.
    “It’s reassuring knowing I’ll not be too far away,” Amy concluded. “We must have you and your grandfather over for dinner and introduce you to George and his parents.”
    Noting the happiness shining in Amy’s face, Kit agreed with what enthusiasm she could. It was obvious to the meanest intelligence that Amy was head over heels in love with George, and that soon Kit would lose her best friend to matrimony. Amy chattered on; eventually, a frown tugging at her brows, Kit broke into her narrative.
    “Amy, why do you want to marry?”
    “Why?” The question stopped Amy in her tracks. Then, realizing Kit meant the question literally, she marshaled her thoughts. “Because I love George and want to be with him for the rest of my life.” She looked hopefully at Kit, willing her to understand.
    Kit stared back, violet eyes intent. “You want to marry him because you love him?” When Amy nodded, she asked: “What’s love feel like?”
    Brow furrowed, Amy considered. “Well,” she began, “you know all about the…the act, don’t you?”
    “Of course I know about that.” They were both country bred—such matters were inescapable facts of country life.
    “But what’s that got to do with love?”
    “Well,” Amy continued, “when you love a man you want to…do that with him.”
    Kit frowned. “Do you really want to do that with your George?”
    Blushing furiously, Amy nodded.
    Kit’s brows rose, then she shrugged. “It seems such a peculiar undertaking—so undignified, if you know what I mean.”
    Amy choked.
    “But how do you know you want to do that with George?” Kit focused on Amy’s face. “You haven’t, have you?”
    “Of course I haven’t!” Amy stiffened.
    “How then?”
    Drawing a deep breath, Amy fixed Kit with a long-suffering look. “You can tell because of what you feel when a man kisses you.”
    Kit frowned.
    “You’ve been kissed by a gentleman, haven’t you? I mean, not one of your relatives. What about your London gentlemen—didn’t they?”
    It was Kit’s turn to blush. “Some of them,” she admitted.
    “Well? What did it feel like?”
    Kit grimaced. “One was like kissing a dead fish, and the others were sort of hot wriggling things. They tried to put their tongues in my mouth.” She shuddered expressively. “It was awful!”
    Amy bit her lips, then drew an unsteady breath. “Yes, all right. That’s probably just as well—that means you don’t want to go to bed with any of them.”
    “Oh.” Kit’s face cleared. “What should it feel like if I do want to…” She gestured. “You know.”
    “Sleep with a man?”
    Kit glared. “Yes, damn it! What does it feel like to want a man to make love to you?” She turned onto her back and, dropping her head into the pillows, stared upward. “Take pity on me, Amy, and tell. If you don’t, I’ll probably die ignorant.”
    Amy chuckled. “Oh no, you won’t. You’re just in the doldrums, what with your aunts’ machinations and all. You’ll come about and meet your man.”
    “But