>A Conversation

"You are shivering. You cannot be cold so near the fire. You are not frightened of me?"

"No indeed. I have never been frightened of you. Of you I know only goodness and tenderness and kindness. I am excited is all; and of the pleasures that we look forward to tonight, I have little knowledge"

"My dearest Elizabeth, be not concerned. We neither of us own experience. We will follow the dictates of our own hearts. Like this... But I must admit that for many months now I have daily imagined the joy of holding you close to me like this, kissing you, making love."

"Then we are truly equal, for I too have enjoyed such dreams."

"I am most agreeably surprised. I had been told that ladies had no yearnings in that particular direction, and I am glad to hear it is not so. And tell me, my dearest lady, did I kiss you like this? And this? And maybe like this?"

"Mmmm, yes. And you should take off your cravat .... and yes, your waistcoat .... and pull out your shirt. How well I remember seeing you just so when we first met here in such embarrassment."

"And I remember you with your muddy petticoats and wind blown hair, that first visit to Netherfield. How I longed for you even then! Let me unpin your hair and see it falling about your face and shoulders now."

"Mmmmm..."

And so with the gentle caress of hair and soft cloth, and the touching of warm skin...

the end

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