Diary of a village waif
By Davrom
I was born on January the first 1885 and a much wanted child for my parents. They had been married for 4 years and had almost given up hope when I came into the world a beloved baby girl of 2 pounds and 3 ounces. I was, so I was told a very happy child and when not doing chores would play happily on my own with sticks and stones or with my many friends at school. I was quick to learn and enjoyed reading the books about history, geography mathematics and scientific discovery classics and the bible. Every Sunday in my best clothes I was taken to church. Of course it was compulsory as all the Lord of the manors tenant farmers were instructed to be in church to hear the fire and brimstone preaching of the reverend Andrew D Puller. A white haired man in his late 40s who I was told was the rector of our village church St Andrew's for over 20 years. He was blessed with many children 12 in all age 8 through to 25. He was so absent minded that one day he asked an 11 year old boy “who is your father little chap” He burst into tears and cried “you are” and then ran to his mother.
My mother died in childbirth as my expected brother was still born. I was 4 years old then and my father was distraught beside himself in grief. Since I was born he had tried many times to bring another offspring into the world. He had made my mother pregnant but 1 month before the due date my mother had a fall and it was so severe that the accident caused her demise along with the baby.
A month after my mother died my father took another wife from in the village. She was a widow of a man who had died of Spanish flue and buried a month before my father married her in our local church. She had no children but in a very short time she became pregnant and by the time I was 14 she had given my father 5 offspring and I had 5 half siblings 2 boys and 3 girls. I was the dredge of the family and my stepmother had me carry out all the chores. I can remember having to carry several pitchers of water from the village back to the cottage. At first I had to use both hands to carry it only half full, as it was too heavy for me to carry in one hand. As I got older I had to carry two full pitchers at the same time. At least I did not have to make so many journeys of half a mile to the village pump and another half mile back to the cottage. Although I was the oldest child in the family I had to share a bedroom with my half sisters, and to be their nursemaid and surrogate mother.
6 months before my 16th birthday my stepmother was killed by a runaway horse. My father made certain that my half siblings would share the chores. He did not have my stepmother to boss him around anymore. I think he was relieved that she had died, as she had been a thorn in his side demanding and demanding. I often lay awake to hear her shouting at him. He was a placid man he did not like to argue so she got her own way with him every time. My eldest sibling was Ivy she was just 11 and was like her mother very argumentative, but I would not stand and be lectured to by her. I only smacked her face once so she knew her place. After my show of authority I never had to raise my hand again neither to her or my other siblings. I was now the overseer not the slave as I had been to my stepmother.
My father now aged 37 took another wife this time only 20 years old so she and I got on very well and were the best of friends. However this friendship was only to last 5 months as my father had written to my late mother's brother in Devon where had had moved to purchase his own freehold farm. My uncle wrote back that he would love to have me stay a few months if it was possible, as he had not seen his niece for 5 years. My father dropped a bombshell with such force. I could not but feel shocked. He had arranged for me to marry a man in the village that I hardly knew. He was 60 and I was to be married to him on my 16th birthday January the 1st 1901. He was the grandfather of my new stepmother. The arrangement was that he, Hubert Stone the guardian of my stepmother had agreed to let my father marry his ward. This was on the condition that his eldest daughter should marry him on her 16th birthday. I met and talked with Hubert on two occasions and though he was 44 years my senior I did not feel in awe of him. He promised that after the wedding he would be careful with me.
I was an obedient daughter but knew nothing about sex. I married Hubert on my 16th birthday in the local church. The wedding reception was held in the local village hall where most of the villagers attended. I was grateful for the advice given to me by a few married women as to what to expect. Once in his cottage it was quite late and we retired to his bedroom. I looked at the big double bed covered in many blankets and then Hugh asked me to get fully undressed and get into his bed. He went outside Slowly I removed all my clothing and got into bed quickly as I was feeling quite cold. I had never let any man see my naked body before He did re-appear in a long white shirt. Shortly afterwards. He slipped in beside me and his mouth was on mine and his hands were feeling my virgin body from my upper body and down to my secret place. Soon he was on top of me and I felt his manhood penetrate me. I experienced a little pain to begin with, but then it changed to ecstasy and he was inside of me for several minutes before he groaned out loud and lay back on his side of the bed. In the morning Hugh got up early to milk the cows whilst I lay in bed. I eventually got up and after washing all my body in cold water I dressed as warm as I could and took the sheet off the bed to wash it as it was covered in blood.
The product of his impregnation on our wedding night resulted in the birth of my daughter Molly. This was the only time that Hugh was to seduce me, in fact after that first night on each time he came to bed he would just kiss me and go to sleep. I have to admit I did want more affection but the odd kiss by morning and night was all I was to get. 4 years after we married Hugh contracted the plague but despite my nursing him his temperature kept rising and he was loosing weight he could not eat or drink without regurgitating. I feared the worst and prayed that God would take away the sickness, although I did not love him, I had respect for him as my husband and father of my daughter. My prayer was answered and after 8 days he began to take food and water but was still very weak. He eventually was able to come down stairs but not able to work the land or feed the livestock. We had good neighbours who lent a hand on all the aspects of running the farm. 12 days after the plague Hugh returned to work but was still weak and depended on neighbours to assist him. 4 days after Hugh went back to work and I was teaching Molly how to read my neighbour Harry burst into the room breathless. It was the worst news I could have not expected, Hugh was dead. He was still weak from the plague but had insisted on climbing up the haystack to collect the chicken eggs where a few of the birds laid their eggs. The ladder was not secured properly and gave way throwing Hugh to the ground and as he sailed down to the ground he struck his head on the corner of the plough that penetrated his skull killing him instantly.
As He was no longer alive his son took over the farm so I moved back in with my father. My siblings were now older and my fathers 3rd wife had given him 2 more children so we were overcrowded. A letter from my uncle came soon after my father wrote him telling of the sad circumstances. My uncle once again reiterated that he would love to see his niece. So it was to be.
I took the train to London changed onto another train to Exeter and a further local train to the small town of Newton. A distance from this small market town was the village of Abbott. There were no horse drawn cabs available and my uncle could not be contacted, as it seemed his telephone was out of order so I could not ask him to come and fetch me. I did manage to contact somebody else in the village but they said his house was too far from their house and it would be dark by the time they got close to his cottage and were reluctant to go outside at night. My daughter and I would have to walk the 4 miles to his cottage and it would be dark by the time we reached there. I thought I would wait awhile as my Uncle knew the time of the train at Newton and was probably on his way to meet me in his pony and trap. As I sat down on a bench with Molly sleeping in my arms, I noticed the gentleman in a suit and carrying a case. He walked towards me and extended his hand “My name is Archie Wilson and I too am going to Abbott, I could not but help hearing you on the phone, and I know the gentleman you speak of Henry Sawyer he is my neighbour and I have a carriage coming to pick me up in a few minutes if you care to travel with me.” He suggested. . At first I was reluctant but then he seemed to be a respectable person and I accepted his offer with gratitude.
It was the first time I had ridden in a motorised vehicle. I had seen a few in our village noisy fast smoking machinery I called them which when they came close to me I hid from until I gradually got used to them. Archie helped us into the vehicle. Molly awoke and began to cry but I soothed her fears. Archie told me he was a lawyer and was 40 years old never married but had been friends with a female colleague for a number of years. However she was not able to marry him as her father had already selected a husband for her. She was reluctant to abide to her father's decision but as her father pointed out to her it was his money that sent her to law school, so she owed him to marry the gentleman he had selected for her, a wealthy landowner from the North of England.
Archie was a talkative and attentive individual and eager to know my history I related to him as much as I could remember and he seemed bemused by my tale. Molly had drifted back to sleep, and I could sense that Archie was memorised by all I could tell him. Impressed too by my command of the English language and my ability to understand geography history mathematics and science. He said he found it hard to comprehend my educated manner for somebody raised in a village and tutored in a rural school. He explained that he had met people in his life that had been well educated but did not talk like me or have the knowledge that I possessed. I told him of my love of books and how reading had helped me to be wise and enlightened on many aspects of life.
Bad luck seems to be my companion on so many occasions death taking prominence in my life. Death of my mother my step mother my husband and the stillbirth of my brother. I hope this curse would go. Just as I desired this curse be lifted the motorcar swerved off the road through a field and came to an abrupt halt in the swamp. Archie leaned over to lift the driver’s head off the steering wheel. His head covered in blood a bullet wound in his skull. Somebody somewhere had aimed a gun at the car. It was still light but fading rapidly and mist was drifting in at an alarming rate. Archie carried molly from the car to dry land then came back for me. He was concerned as to who had taken a pot shot at the motorcar and why. He assured me he had no enemies that were alive outside of jail, but he had sent 6 murderers in the last few years to the gallows as the people’s prosecutor.
It was getting darker as we walked towards the village of Abbott, but Archie assured me it was only half a mile from my Uncles cottage. Once we reached the village Archie went to see the local policeman and reported the incident briefly and we continued on our way to my Uncle's home,
My Uncle greeted us and assured me he was going to collect me from the railway station but had confused the date thinking I would arrive at 8 am in the morning of the morrow and not 8pm on this day. It was obvious that my Uncle and Archie were good friends as they exchanged a toast in hard liquor and invited me to partake, but I had never tasted alcohol before and I almost choked after just taking a small sip. I remembered they both laughed and my uncle too it away from me. It was just as well Molly did not see this, as she was fast asleep on a bed upstairs in my Uncle's cottage. Archie bade us both good night as he departed to go to his own home via the local police house.
My uncle and myself spent over 2 hours catching up on news from my village and he telling me about life in Abbott. As we talked we ate a fine meal prepared by my uncle's wife before she went to visit one of her patients in her role as a district nurse. When my aunt came in she was surprised to see me as she too was under the impression I was arriving not today but the morrow. She hugged and was surprised how I had developed in the last few years since she left our village in Suffolk. She stole a glance at Molly but as she was asleep and did not wake her.
In the morning Archie arrived and with a tap on the door entered to see us seated at the breakfast table. “They caught the blighter that took as pot shot at us”, He exclaimed he was hiding in the barn behind Jim Wells house. He turns out he was the brother of a man I sent to the gallows last week. Now he will follow him of that I am certain for the murder of my driver.” Archie stayed for half an hour and had breakfast with us. I really liked him I had never met a man so educated, and the age difference was less than my late Husband. He asked my Uncles consent to invite me to his house for a meal. He gave it and when he asked me if I was free to come that evening I accepted without hesitation.
On entering Archie’s house I was impressed with the décor and for the first time I saw a real telephone and a typewriter. He showed me how to work it and offered me the loan of a book that would teach me how to type as it was called. I remarked he was a good cook as I surveyed the appetising spread on the table. Chicken, roast potatoes, fresh vegetables, an abundance of fresh fruit, bread and butter. His smile and chuckle seemed to indicate he was not responsible for the spread and did admit the Landlords wife at the local tavern did prepare the food.
I was fascinated by his stories of the courts and life in London and could not take my eyes off him. I never felt any feelings of desire for a man until I met Archie, yes if this was the consuming love that I had read about in the romance novels than this was it. My eyes looked deep into his blue eyes and I wanted to experience his lips on mine. I sensed he liked me but did know if he felt the same as I did to let his lips meet mine. I did not want to take the initiative less I caused him to be offended and blow my chances of getting to know him better. I was praying that his lips were on mine. God must have answered my prayer for he moved his face closer to mine “your eyes have me memorised”. He whispered “and your sweet mouth is drawing me to my lips”. Those words were all I needed to bring mouth to his and he responded in a way that had me in a second heaven. I did not want to break from this pleasure and neither did he? We then found ourselves on the sofa embracing holding hands touching each other’s face with our fingers. This was love for sure. I wanted to feel his hands on my naked body but I needed to have patience and respect him as a man who was like me God fearing.
Over the next few days until Archie had to go up to London we saw each other every day with the blessing of my Aunt and Uncle and they were only too pleased to baby-sit my Molly. To the beach we went on a hot sunny afternoon to a location famed for its isolation. I had the opportunity to swim in a way one cannot do in public with just my lower under garments on and he in his underpants. His masculine body made me feel weak at the knees feeling naughty I wanted to see more. Even though married I never saw my late husband totally naked or he me, even though I was naked beneath the sheets once only on our wedding night. There was no light and he never saw me, we only felt each other. I told this to Archie when he suggested I was an experienced woman having been a wife, and with child. He was memorised by my firm breast and I took the initiative to place his hand on my left breast and he laid his other hand on my right chest. I rubbed his inner thigh but did not go higher as I could see a growing bulge in his underpants and the temptation to go beyond what was considered decent was confusing me. Was it right for us to indulge in foreplay out of wedlock? Would our petting go so far we could not resist the enticement to indulge in full intercourse on the beach far from the view of other persons. The cry of an injured baby seagull falling to the ground just a few feet from us interrupted any further indulgence. As we walked backhand in hand after our 4th date together. He stopped just before we climbed the cliff and holding my
Hand in his, bent his knee to the ground and proposed to me “Ruth we have not known each beyond a week yet I have fallen deeply madly in love with you and I want you to be my wife,” he paused and in an anxious tone to his voice continued, “Please say yes”. I did not hesitate I had never been in love before and I felt so happy and content in his company. Hardly an hour was to pass when I did not think of him when we were absent from each other's company I shouted out “yes Archie I want you to be my husband I love you I love you” He kissed me full on the lips after uttering the words and “I love you Ruth more than life itself.”
Archie was away in London for two weeks but true to his promise he phoned me every day. Just hearing his voice got me so excited that my entire body seemed like it was floating on air. After 14 days away, his telephone call to me from London he asked me to meet him at the station with Walter the new driver of his motorcar. Walter was a young man in his late 20's had only just recently married Sally a girl barely out of her teens, she was also Archie's housekeeper, though not living in his cottage, she came every day to dust the furniture sweep the floor undertake the washing of his laundry and when he was in the house she shared the cooking of his meals with Mary the landlady of the Tavern who was also her mother. Both the driver, Walter and Sally lived under the roof of the tavern. Walter was also the gardener and handyman for Archie and I would often go to my lovers house to learn how to use the typewriter and to receive his telephone calls. I often indulged in conversations with Walter and Sally, They became my firm friends, more in particular with Sally who was almost the same age as me, and she taught me a lot about love and how she made Walter happy.
I almost soiled my underwear as I waited anxiously on the station platform for the train to arrive. I saw the steam first drifting along the track and then the engine puffed its way slowly up to the platform and the loud whistling of the brakes as it came to a stop. Archie opened the carriage door and jumped down onto the platform. The soon as he saw me we both rushed into each other’s arms and prolonged a kiss of mighty proportions.
Over the hot sultry summer days before we married ion the 14th day of September, Archie was obliged to make 6 trips to London on behalf of his law firm and their clients. He was not away for more than a few days. We were happy and anxious for the day we could make love with the blessing of our God as man and wife. We often kissed and petted but we respected each other’s lower bodies not daring to go beyond what was considered decent for an engaged couple. I think we were both tempted, but morals were to remain intact with the ultimate desires only to be enjoyed on our wedding night, and beyond into our life of marriage together. Our wedding took place in my home village of Walthorpe in Suffolk not far from the town of Ipswich. It was a well attended social gathering for the reception held in the village hall after we took our vows in the parish church. Of St Andrew’s. Everybody wished us well. This time I was getting married for love not convenience
By Davrom
I was born on January the first 1885 and a much wanted child for my parents. They had been married for 4 years and had almost given up hope when I came into the world a beloved baby girl of 2 pounds and 3 ounces. I was, so I was told a very happy child and when not doing chores would play happily on my own with sticks and stones or with my many friends at school. I was quick to learn and enjoyed reading the books about history, geography mathematics and scientific discovery classics and the bible. Every Sunday in my best clothes I was taken to church. Of course it was compulsory as all the Lord of the manors tenant farmers were instructed to be in church to hear the fire and brimstone preaching of the reverend Andrew D Puller. A white haired man in his late 40s who I was told was the rector of our village church St Andrew's for over 20 years. He was blessed with many children 12 in all age 8 through to 25. He was so absent minded that one day he asked an 11 year old boy “who is your father little chap” He burst into tears and cried “you are” and then ran to his mother.
My mother died in childbirth as my expected brother was still born. I was 4 years old then and my father was distraught beside himself in grief. Since I was born he had tried many times to bring another offspring into the world. He had made my mother pregnant but 1 month before the due date my mother had a fall and it was so severe that the accident caused her demise along with the baby.
A month after my mother died my father took another wife from in the village. She was a widow of a man who had died of Spanish flue and buried a month before my father married her in our local church. She had no children but in a very short time she became pregnant and by the time I was 14 she had given my father 5 offspring and I had 5 half siblings 2 boys and 3 girls. I was the dredge of the family and my stepmother had me carry out all the chores. I can remember having to carry several pitchers of water from the village back to the cottage. At first I had to use both hands to carry it only half full, as it was too heavy for me to carry in one hand. As I got older I had to carry two full pitchers at the same time. At least I did not have to make so many journeys of half a mile to the village pump and another half mile back to the cottage. Although I was the oldest child in the family I had to share a bedroom with my half sisters, and to be their nursemaid and surrogate mother.
6 months before my 16th birthday my stepmother was killed by a runaway horse. My father made certain that my half siblings would share the chores. He did not have my stepmother to boss him around anymore. I think he was relieved that she had died, as she had been a thorn in his side demanding and demanding. I often lay awake to hear her shouting at him. He was a placid man he did not like to argue so she got her own way with him every time. My eldest sibling was Ivy she was just 11 and was like her mother very argumentative, but I would not stand and be lectured to by her. I only smacked her face once so she knew her place. After my show of authority I never had to raise my hand again neither to her or my other siblings. I was now the overseer not the slave as I had been to my stepmother.
My father now aged 37 took another wife this time only 20 years old so she and I got on very well and were the best of friends. However this friendship was only to last 5 months as my father had written to my late mother's brother in Devon where had had moved to purchase his own freehold farm. My uncle wrote back that he would love to have me stay a few months if it was possible, as he had not seen his niece for 5 years. My father dropped a bombshell with such force. I could not but feel shocked. He had arranged for me to marry a man in the village that I hardly knew. He was 60 and I was to be married to him on my 16th birthday January the 1st 1901. He was the grandfather of my new stepmother. The arrangement was that he, Hubert Stone the guardian of my stepmother had agreed to let my father marry his ward. This was on the condition that his eldest daughter should marry him on her 16th birthday. I met and talked with Hubert on two occasions and though he was 44 years my senior I did not feel in awe of him. He promised that after the wedding he would be careful with me.
I was an obedient daughter but knew nothing about sex. I married Hubert on my 16th birthday in the local church. The wedding reception was held in the local village hall where most of the villagers attended. I was grateful for the advice given to me by a few married women as to what to expect. Once in his cottage it was quite late and we retired to his bedroom. I looked at the big double bed covered in many blankets and then Hugh asked me to get fully undressed and get into his bed. He went outside Slowly I removed all my clothing and got into bed quickly as I was feeling quite cold. I had never let any man see my naked body before He did re-appear in a long white shirt. Shortly afterwards. He slipped in beside me and his mouth was on mine and his hands were feeling my virgin body from my upper body and down to my secret place. Soon he was on top of me and I felt his manhood penetrate me. I experienced a little pain to begin with, but then it changed to ecstasy and he was inside of me for several minutes before he groaned out loud and lay back on his side of the bed. In the morning Hugh got up early to milk the cows whilst I lay in bed. I eventually got up and after washing all my body in cold water I dressed as warm as I could and took the sheet off the bed to wash it as it was covered in blood.
The product of his impregnation on our wedding night resulted in the birth of my daughter Molly. This was the only time that Hugh was to seduce me, in fact after that first night on each time he came to bed he would just kiss me and go to sleep. I have to admit I did want more affection but the odd kiss by morning and night was all I was to get. 4 years after we married Hugh contracted the plague but despite my nursing him his temperature kept rising and he was loosing weight he could not eat or drink without regurgitating. I feared the worst and prayed that God would take away the sickness, although I did not love him, I had respect for him as my husband and father of my daughter. My prayer was answered and after 8 days he began to take food and water but was still very weak. He eventually was able to come down stairs but not able to work the land or feed the livestock. We had good neighbours who lent a hand on all the aspects of running the farm. 12 days after the plague Hugh returned to work but was still weak and depended on neighbours to assist him. 4 days after Hugh went back to work and I was teaching Molly how to read my neighbour Harry burst into the room breathless. It was the worst news I could have not expected, Hugh was dead. He was still weak from the plague but had insisted on climbing up the haystack to collect the chicken eggs where a few of the birds laid their eggs. The ladder was not secured properly and gave way throwing Hugh to the ground and as he sailed down to the ground he struck his head on the corner of the plough that penetrated his skull killing him instantly.
As He was no longer alive his son took over the farm so I moved back in with my father. My siblings were now older and my fathers 3rd wife had given him 2 more children so we were overcrowded. A letter from my uncle came soon after my father wrote him telling of the sad circumstances. My uncle once again reiterated that he would love to see his niece. So it was to be.
I took the train to London changed onto another train to Exeter and a further local train to the small town of Newton. A distance from this small market town was the village of Abbott. There were no horse drawn cabs available and my uncle could not be contacted, as it seemed his telephone was out of order so I could not ask him to come and fetch me. I did manage to contact somebody else in the village but they said his house was too far from their house and it would be dark by the time they got close to his cottage and were reluctant to go outside at night. My daughter and I would have to walk the 4 miles to his cottage and it would be dark by the time we reached there. I thought I would wait awhile as my Uncle knew the time of the train at Newton and was probably on his way to meet me in his pony and trap. As I sat down on a bench with Molly sleeping in my arms, I noticed the gentleman in a suit and carrying a case. He walked towards me and extended his hand “My name is Archie Wilson and I too am going to Abbott, I could not but help hearing you on the phone, and I know the gentleman you speak of Henry Sawyer he is my neighbour and I have a carriage coming to pick me up in a few minutes if you care to travel with me.” He suggested. . At first I was reluctant but then he seemed to be a respectable person and I accepted his offer with gratitude.
It was the first time I had ridden in a motorised vehicle. I had seen a few in our village noisy fast smoking machinery I called them which when they came close to me I hid from until I gradually got used to them. Archie helped us into the vehicle. Molly awoke and began to cry but I soothed her fears. Archie told me he was a lawyer and was 40 years old never married but had been friends with a female colleague for a number of years. However she was not able to marry him as her father had already selected a husband for her. She was reluctant to abide to her father's decision but as her father pointed out to her it was his money that sent her to law school, so she owed him to marry the gentleman he had selected for her, a wealthy landowner from the North of England.
Archie was a talkative and attentive individual and eager to know my history I related to him as much as I could remember and he seemed bemused by my tale. Molly had drifted back to sleep, and I could sense that Archie was memorised by all I could tell him. Impressed too by my command of the English language and my ability to understand geography history mathematics and science. He said he found it hard to comprehend my educated manner for somebody raised in a village and tutored in a rural school. He explained that he had met people in his life that had been well educated but did not talk like me or have the knowledge that I possessed. I told him of my love of books and how reading had helped me to be wise and enlightened on many aspects of life.
Bad luck seems to be my companion on so many occasions death taking prominence in my life. Death of my mother my step mother my husband and the stillbirth of my brother. I hope this curse would go. Just as I desired this curse be lifted the motorcar swerved off the road through a field and came to an abrupt halt in the swamp. Archie leaned over to lift the driver’s head off the steering wheel. His head covered in blood a bullet wound in his skull. Somebody somewhere had aimed a gun at the car. It was still light but fading rapidly and mist was drifting in at an alarming rate. Archie carried molly from the car to dry land then came back for me. He was concerned as to who had taken a pot shot at the motorcar and why. He assured me he had no enemies that were alive outside of jail, but he had sent 6 murderers in the last few years to the gallows as the people’s prosecutor.
It was getting darker as we walked towards the village of Abbott, but Archie assured me it was only half a mile from my Uncles cottage. Once we reached the village Archie went to see the local policeman and reported the incident briefly and we continued on our way to my Uncle's home,
My Uncle greeted us and assured me he was going to collect me from the railway station but had confused the date thinking I would arrive at 8 am in the morning of the morrow and not 8pm on this day. It was obvious that my Uncle and Archie were good friends as they exchanged a toast in hard liquor and invited me to partake, but I had never tasted alcohol before and I almost choked after just taking a small sip. I remembered they both laughed and my uncle too it away from me. It was just as well Molly did not see this, as she was fast asleep on a bed upstairs in my Uncle's cottage. Archie bade us both good night as he departed to go to his own home via the local police house.
My uncle and myself spent over 2 hours catching up on news from my village and he telling me about life in Abbott. As we talked we ate a fine meal prepared by my uncle's wife before she went to visit one of her patients in her role as a district nurse. When my aunt came in she was surprised to see me as she too was under the impression I was arriving not today but the morrow. She hugged and was surprised how I had developed in the last few years since she left our village in Suffolk. She stole a glance at Molly but as she was asleep and did not wake her.
In the morning Archie arrived and with a tap on the door entered to see us seated at the breakfast table. “They caught the blighter that took as pot shot at us”, He exclaimed he was hiding in the barn behind Jim Wells house. He turns out he was the brother of a man I sent to the gallows last week. Now he will follow him of that I am certain for the murder of my driver.” Archie stayed for half an hour and had breakfast with us. I really liked him I had never met a man so educated, and the age difference was less than my late Husband. He asked my Uncles consent to invite me to his house for a meal. He gave it and when he asked me if I was free to come that evening I accepted without hesitation.
On entering Archie’s house I was impressed with the décor and for the first time I saw a real telephone and a typewriter. He showed me how to work it and offered me the loan of a book that would teach me how to type as it was called. I remarked he was a good cook as I surveyed the appetising spread on the table. Chicken, roast potatoes, fresh vegetables, an abundance of fresh fruit, bread and butter. His smile and chuckle seemed to indicate he was not responsible for the spread and did admit the Landlords wife at the local tavern did prepare the food.
I was fascinated by his stories of the courts and life in London and could not take my eyes off him. I never felt any feelings of desire for a man until I met Archie, yes if this was the consuming love that I had read about in the romance novels than this was it. My eyes looked deep into his blue eyes and I wanted to experience his lips on mine. I sensed he liked me but did know if he felt the same as I did to let his lips meet mine. I did not want to take the initiative less I caused him to be offended and blow my chances of getting to know him better. I was praying that his lips were on mine. God must have answered my prayer for he moved his face closer to mine “your eyes have me memorised”. He whispered “and your sweet mouth is drawing me to my lips”. Those words were all I needed to bring mouth to his and he responded in a way that had me in a second heaven. I did not want to break from this pleasure and neither did he? We then found ourselves on the sofa embracing holding hands touching each other’s face with our fingers. This was love for sure. I wanted to feel his hands on my naked body but I needed to have patience and respect him as a man who was like me God fearing.
Over the next few days until Archie had to go up to London we saw each other every day with the blessing of my Aunt and Uncle and they were only too pleased to baby-sit my Molly. To the beach we went on a hot sunny afternoon to a location famed for its isolation. I had the opportunity to swim in a way one cannot do in public with just my lower under garments on and he in his underpants. His masculine body made me feel weak at the knees feeling naughty I wanted to see more. Even though married I never saw my late husband totally naked or he me, even though I was naked beneath the sheets once only on our wedding night. There was no light and he never saw me, we only felt each other. I told this to Archie when he suggested I was an experienced woman having been a wife, and with child. He was memorised by my firm breast and I took the initiative to place his hand on my left breast and he laid his other hand on my right chest. I rubbed his inner thigh but did not go higher as I could see a growing bulge in his underpants and the temptation to go beyond what was considered decent was confusing me. Was it right for us to indulge in foreplay out of wedlock? Would our petting go so far we could not resist the enticement to indulge in full intercourse on the beach far from the view of other persons. The cry of an injured baby seagull falling to the ground just a few feet from us interrupted any further indulgence. As we walked backhand in hand after our 4th date together. He stopped just before we climbed the cliff and holding my
Hand in his, bent his knee to the ground and proposed to me “Ruth we have not known each beyond a week yet I have fallen deeply madly in love with you and I want you to be my wife,” he paused and in an anxious tone to his voice continued, “Please say yes”. I did not hesitate I had never been in love before and I felt so happy and content in his company. Hardly an hour was to pass when I did not think of him when we were absent from each other's company I shouted out “yes Archie I want you to be my husband I love you I love you” He kissed me full on the lips after uttering the words and “I love you Ruth more than life itself.”
Archie was away in London for two weeks but true to his promise he phoned me every day. Just hearing his voice got me so excited that my entire body seemed like it was floating on air. After 14 days away, his telephone call to me from London he asked me to meet him at the station with Walter the new driver of his motorcar. Walter was a young man in his late 20's had only just recently married Sally a girl barely out of her teens, she was also Archie's housekeeper, though not living in his cottage, she came every day to dust the furniture sweep the floor undertake the washing of his laundry and when he was in the house she shared the cooking of his meals with Mary the landlady of the Tavern who was also her mother. Both the driver, Walter and Sally lived under the roof of the tavern. Walter was also the gardener and handyman for Archie and I would often go to my lovers house to learn how to use the typewriter and to receive his telephone calls. I often indulged in conversations with Walter and Sally, They became my firm friends, more in particular with Sally who was almost the same age as me, and she taught me a lot about love and how she made Walter happy.
I almost soiled my underwear as I waited anxiously on the station platform for the train to arrive. I saw the steam first drifting along the track and then the engine puffed its way slowly up to the platform and the loud whistling of the brakes as it came to a stop. Archie opened the carriage door and jumped down onto the platform. The soon as he saw me we both rushed into each other’s arms and prolonged a kiss of mighty proportions.
Over the hot sultry summer days before we married ion the 14th day of September, Archie was obliged to make 6 trips to London on behalf of his law firm and their clients. He was not away for more than a few days. We were happy and anxious for the day we could make love with the blessing of our God as man and wife. We often kissed and petted but we respected each other’s lower bodies not daring to go beyond what was considered decent for an engaged couple. I think we were both tempted, but morals were to remain intact with the ultimate desires only to be enjoyed on our wedding night, and beyond into our life of marriage together. Our wedding took place in my home village of Walthorpe in Suffolk not far from the town of Ipswich. It was a well attended social gathering for the reception held in the village hall after we took our vows in the parish church. Of St Andrew’s. Everybody wished us well. This time I was getting married for love not convenience
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