Rated R: Sexual Content

My Darling Love

Chapter 20 – Wendy, You're a Woman

"How like a queen comes forth the lonely Moon from the slow opening curtains of the clouds walking in beauty to her midnight throne"
-George Croly

Mary left the Darling Residence that Christmas Day and headed out into the dark snow-covered street. She had no idea of where to go, and so she visited the places where she and George had lived together. She walked past the old Darling House, now a law firm. She went to the park where they had first kissed. She wanted to visit their first flat they called home on their wedding night, but knew it had too be torn down for bigger and better things. She ended her journey at her Aunt Millicent's home, a large and grand mansion, sitting dark in the middle of a street where, in other homes, much merriment was taking place.

She used her key and entered. Aunt Millicent had many more rooms the Darling Residence. Formal parlors and sitting rooms filled with expensive sofas and chairs, never sat in. A grand ballroom and dining room off the grander kitchen, never used by anyone, not even Aunt Millicent. There was several washrooms and at the very least ten bedrooms but it felt more like a museum than a home. All the servants of the mansion, and there were twelve, had been dismissed for the holiday, and not a peep could be heard, but Mary's shoes tapping the marble floors as she walked across them. She went upstairs to the room Aunt Millicent kept for her when she stayed there as a young girl.

The bedchamber was untouched through time, with the exception of cleaning, for not a speck of dust was found within. All of Mary's old party dresses; shoes and accessories still hung in the wardrobe and dressers. Mary looked through everything and selected a divine cobalt blue ensemble that had always been her favorite. She had worn that exact dress to the old Darling home for a winter cotillion the year she turned sixteen. It was ruined by punch that night, but cleaned correctly and just as beautiful as the fateful night she had worn it last.

Her father had not lied to his granddaughter. Mary claimed she had absolutely no recollection of what transpired that night, and no memory of being in the Darling House at all before the time of their engagement dinner.

"She's still in shock over the assault," Aunt Millicent whispered to Mrs. Baker after Mary commented, "Is it not odd, Mother, that George has lived practically down the street his whole life and we never met."

Mary put on the matching slippers and fastened the necklace and earrings purchased specially to complete the outfit. Her hair and makeup was already done, and she did a little touching up. She'd brought Grandpa Joe's hair clip with her, and now she set it perfectly in the back of her head. Ready to dance, drink and gossip the night away she departed back home.

Visiting Aunt Millicent's house was the closest she would ever come to imagining herself the bigger fish's wife. In her own home, she could dress and primp herself by spinning around and never taking more than one step to and fro from what she needed. In her bedchamber at Aunt Millicent's she found herself out of breath walking the distance to and fro from vanity to wardrobe back.

Not wanting to walk home, she hailed a cab, and it brought her to her front door. She paid the fare and then strolled through the snow barefoot to the back door, holding up her dress, when she sneaked in.

"Ah Mary, there you are!" a few of her guests greeted her as she entered. And as always, whenever she entered any room, all eyes were on her.

This Christmas party was special; George was up for a very big promotion. For the first time in his career, he was in line for the position of bank manager. George had invited many of his associates, including the bank's president, to the party and all were in attendance. "Feeling better dear?" Mrs. Couch smiled wryly, as she made her way through the throngs of people drinking and enjoying themselves.

"Very much so, thank you. What a lovely dress you have on, is that not the one that hung in the window on First Street? That dress shop is so expensive but all of the gowns within are worth every penny if you ask me, what wonderful taste you have." Mary made conversation with a smile, very adept at small talk.

"Yes dear, as a matter of fact it is," Mrs. Couch leaned into Mary's ear, "cost Edward a fortune, he choked on his soup when I handed him the bill. And I must say, you look ravishing, my dear. Blue is definitely your color."

George was on the other side of the room, sitting alone on the sofa. He was quite nervous and terrible at small talk and witty conversation, especially when uncomfortable.

Mary had told her father how her husband blended in well in Paris with Peter's friends, drinking, cavorting and carry on effortlessly with the other wealthy gentleman. "He was different there, Father. It was as if I left my George in London, and went to Paris with a stranger."

George was in London now, not Paris, and still he was stranger in his own home with his guests mingling about. He sat wringing his hands with his head lowered, stuttering responses to those who addressed him, only embarrassing himself further. "Mary Elizabeth, I think George has died a thousand deaths without you by his side. Happy to see you feeling better," Grandpa Joe whispered to her, adding a peck on her pretty cheek.

George raised his head in time to see Mary in her glory watching him from where she stood. Her beauty made his heart melt. As their eyes met from across the room, it was as if they were the only two present. He got up to meet her and an older man stopped him and shook hands, "Sorry, George, for the delay I know I promised yesterday, but you said you wanted it to be perfect." George took whatever it was in the satin box from the man, the thing that needed to be perfect, and met his wife in the center of the room.

Grandpa Joe, aware of what was coming tinged his glass to gain everyone's attention.

George cleared his throat, and spoke with unaccustomed confidence. "I wanted to thank everyone for coming tonight, and I hope you are having a good time. I have a Christmas present for my wife, Mary, and if you don't mind, I would like to give it to her now." George turned to Mary and held both her hands in his. "Mary, we've been married fourteen years now, and it's taken me this long to save up for a gift that would be equal to your beauty. Even after all this time, I still could not find anything that parallels your elegant grace, style and splendor. I think it would take me longer than forever to save enough to even come close to a gift worthy of you, and wanting to get you something this year, I had to settle for this."

He lifted the large square satin box he had just received from the old man and opened it, showing her its contents. Mary went wide-eyed, put her hand to her head and fainted.

Luckily, the gentleman standing behind her watching caught her, and after the chuckles she was taken to the sofa and rested with George and Grandpa Joe fanning her back to consciousness. "If you don't like it, we could return it and trade it in for something else," George told her as she her eyes opened.

"No, George, this is the most perfect thing I have ever scene in my entire life -- next to our precious babies when they were born." It was necklace of simple gold, lined with carat diamonds, each accented with smaller diamonds around. The jewels ran all the way around from clasp to clasp.

"I wanted to give it to you yesterday, but it was not ready," George said, as he lifted his wife to her feet and traded her costume jewelry for the real thing.

"George, this must have cost you a fortune! Why would you do something like this? I don't deserve a gift such as this." Mary was crying, she had only seen things such as these in the windows of the finest jewelers, where no one but richest and regal entered, or the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels were kept.

"You are worth every cent and much much more." George kissed his wife and held her close. "And you look magnificent tonight."

Mary and George slipped out of the room and into the kitchen, exchanging lengthy apologies, both weeping a bit as they choked out their words. "I'm sorry I played that joke on you, Mary, your father told me I was to give you the real diamonds first and then the carrots after saying something silly such as 'after the necklace I could not afford the matching earrings' or some such nonsense ..."

Mary's was the more detailed regret, "I should have put my foot down and thrown my Aunt Millicent into the street for the way she spoke of you at your own dining table, with the children present! George, how could I do that to you?" Mary felt weak and leaned on George for support to remain standing. "And then my father, I was cruel to him, he told me of the necklace and your promise and I was so angry, George, I told him of Paris, please don't be angry. I don't think he thinks ill of you and he told me he wouldn't speak of it, but please forgive me. I love you George so much, I don't want you to ever think I wish I'd married the other man. He could never give me this life I have, and this life I love."

Their sentiments were completed and George kissed Mary. It was a simple peck on the lips. He stood back and offered her his arm, which she accepted. As they strolled from the kitchen corner they had made their peace in, past the pantry, Mary shoved an unsuspecting George inside. He fell up against the wall, and Mary, reminded of the quickies her husband seemed so fond of in Paris, dropped to her knees and unfastened his dress pants. In moments, his eagerly excited manhood was engulfed in her warm, wet mouth. George could do nothing but shut his eyes tightly and bite his finger to keep from groaning loudly at her skillful tongue. Mary licked her lips when he was completed and casually asked, "Did I muss my makeup George?" She hadn't and he told her and with that all was forgiven. George and Mary returned to their party and danced the night away with one another.

Wendy watched from the top of the stairs. She had gone to bed, but not to sleep. Grandpa Joe had snuck up to the nursery to check on the children a short time before and left the door to the room unlocked when he left, tempting Wendy into escaping once again. As soon as she heard her mother's name called out as she entered, Wendy stood at the top of the stairs and waited. She stayed there all night long and watched the dancing and party going on below. If this is what it meant to be a grown up, for the first time, Wendy was not scared. The bank's president stood in the hall doorway also glancing about at the guests. He did not move one inch all night, he held the same drink and talked with two other men who looked just as important, nodding and sticking out their lower lips. When Mrs. Couch got tipsy and began singing songs by the piano with Grandpa Joe calling loudly for everyone to gather around her and join in, Sir Edward decided it was time to go. He shook George's hand and Mary kissed his cheek. Mr. Couch blushed and smiled. "Fine party, George, see you on Monday. Why don't you stop by my office, say nine o'clock?"

Monday evening, everyone in the Darling Family waited expectantly for George to return home from work. "We should not ask the moment he walks through the door, and no one should congratulate him until he tells us that he did, in fact, get the promotion," Grandpa Joe advised as George approached the house.

He entered and removed his coat and hat. "Good evening, what's for supper?"

Mary didn't have to be told; she already knew by looking at his face, he didn't get the promotion. As they walked to the dinner table she embraced him. "I'm sorry, George." She kissed him and held him tighter when she could see his hard shell that protected his guarded emotions was cracking. George quickly wiped his eyes under his spectacles and escorted his wife to her seat. Not only was he served first, but he also got an extra helping of dessert after his dinner.

"What did he say?" Mary asked as they retired to bed that night. She was sitting at her vanity brushing her hair and he was buttoning his pajama top on the bed.

"He said that he had not yet made any decisions on who would get the manager position, and wanted to thank me for my invitation to the party."

Mary smiled and turned to face George, brush still in hand, "George, I thought he told for sure you didn't get it."

George removed his glasses and lay in bed under the blankets. "If he didn't tell me today then I already know I didn't get it. He prefers John Peters, more personable or so I'm told. Plus the other gentlemen find him likeable -- he always buys the first round of drinks on Friday night after work in the pub."

Mary got up and walked to her side of the bed, "All is not lost, dearest. I do not think Sir Edward frequents the pub on Friday nights. And as far as being personable and likeable, a bank manager should not be best friends of those he is supervising, more so he should be respected and knowledgeable of how to properly balance all the ledgers and accounts when there is error in the totals, like you can. And I'm sure Sir Edward, being a shrewd business man, will hold that in a much higher regard." She kissed his forehead and then waited, staring at him, batting her eyes.

He was looking at his hands still saddened that this was not a night of celebration he imagined.

"George, kiss me."

He leaned over and pecked her lips.

"No George, not like that. Like this." She bent over him and gently brushed her lips to his. She removed them, and dipped in again, this time brushing her tongue over his lips, and then began to explore. He answered her kiss and her tongue. She began to unbutton his pajama top, and when it was open, she moved her hand down into his pajama bottoms. As they continued to kiss, she stroked his member. He moved his mouth from hers to groan his enjoyment of her handiwork while she placed her lips elsewhere kissing and licking his neck, tempting him further.

Mary got up from the bed and removed her robe. She slid the ties of her nightgown down and turned her back to him. She let it slide down slowly, gradually revealing her bare back and buttocks. His eyes grew wide at the unveiling of her loveliness -- so like the paintings in the museums. She walked nude to the bedroom door and locked it. Mary, still mindful of her scars, still held her robe in front of her as she turned back to face him. He watched her make her way back to the bed and sit down, still with her back to him.

George never saw her scars. He watched the way her skin moved on her flawless frame. She seemed to glide across the floor when she moved. He watched and waited; she mounted him little by little never letting her eyes move from his. They met in a kiss as he gripped her hips and began forcing her down on to him at more rapid pace as if to scratch the deep itch she had created by her alluring behavior. She moaned his name and held the headboard; he kept kissing down her neck to her breast. He came faster than he wanted to, and she slid off to lay on her back, only to pull him on top of her, not yet satisfied with their interlude.

George accommodated her request by entering her again, and now it was his turn to make her beg. He resumed his motions at a very leisurely pace. He would stop and only enter the head of his member in short thrusting. All at once he would push in hard as far as he could go, causing his lovely wife to gasp, removing himself completely to begin again. After only moments, she was pleading with him, "Please, George, please." He conceded, he too was lost in the ecstasy and began plunging in over and over again. They kissed; she scratched her nails down his back as he gripped the linens, pulling them from the mattress. She reached her completion as he did. And there they stayed, right where they were, and fell asleep joined together as one.

Wendy was not sure what time it was, but it was still very late at night. The sky was dark and full of stars and the moon was quartered. Her brothers were asleep and the house was quiet.

She had a horrible stomachache and it had become too painful to move. She curled up in a ball and began to cry. In the morning, she had not slept a wink, and when she pulled back the covers to get up and ready for breakfast, she let out a blood-curdling scream, "MOTHER!!"

Nana was up and out the nursery door and down the stairs to the kitchen to get Mary, dragging her to Wendy by her skirt. Grandpa Joe was also charging down the hall and up the stairs to his granddaughter's aid when Mary heard Wendy call, dropping the teapot and George's breakfast on the kitchen floor. Grandpa Joe was already there soothing his granddaughter when Mary entered. "It's her time now, Mary," was all her father said as he nodded to her and George, who had followed his wife to the nursery.

Mary slowly pulled back the blankets Wendy held clutched to her throat to see the bloody sheets and Wendy's stained nightgown. "Mother, I'm dying," Wendy whimpered, as George directed the boys to leave them alone.

"Down to breakfast, your sister will be fine, mother will look after her now." John and Michael were led away grudgingly, and Wendy heard her father, quite exasperated, respond, "No, Michael, Wendy will not be placed under glass until the prince comes..."

Mary looked to her eldest child, her only daughter, and smiled through her tears. "Wendy, you're a woman." Wendy stared at mother, Mary, who held a lovingly adoring gaze and smile at her daughter. "This is the happiest day of my life," Mary softly spoke as she embraced her Wendy and kissed her cheek. "Why are you so happy mother, because I'm dying." Wendy now cried as well.

"No my love, you are not dying...Wendy, you're a woman!" Mary exclaimed again, still hugging Wendy, now more tightly then ever.

Mary wrapped Wendy in John's blanket and took her to the washroom. She ran a warm bath with bubbles and told her to soak. "Just relax, Wendy, and I'll get you some tea," Mary said as she left Wendy submerged in water scented with Mother's perfume.

George waited at the bottom of the stairs with a look of concern on his face. "Is she alright?" he asked, as Mary walked past him into the kitchen.

"She's gotten her first monthly," Mary explained as she served the boys their breakfast. "Would you mind sending the boys off to Aunt Millicent's, Grandpa Joe? I want to keep Wendy home alone with me today."

The boys rolled their eyes and groaned but Grandpa Joe put an end to it with, "I think we'll go to the museum or something instead." The boys liked that idea, especially since it was their winter holiday, and after breakfast, they were off.

George left late for work, wanting to congratulate Wendy on becoming a woman, but thought better of it when he saw the fright still in her face. "Alright, ladies, enjoy your day together," he offered instead, and gave Mary her kiss, bending down a bit to Wendy where he gently pecked her cheek as well.

Mary took Wendy into her room and explained what monthlies were, and why they are important. "When will John and Michael get theirs?" Wendy asked, still not clear on all the details.

"Men don't get monthlies, only women, Wendy. Like I said, women are the ones who have babies and you need to have your monthlies for that to happen." Mary showed her the correct undergarments she would need to wear at that time of the month, and showed her how to mark the calendar, to know when to expect them.

"Mother, do you get monthlies too?"

Mary nodded her head, "Yes, and the stomachaches as well." This was Mary's little white lie to her daughter, since she had not gotten monthlies since before she carried Michael. But just the same, she still kept a calendar as to when they would arrive if she were to have them still. It was the most painful time of the month for her, the week that it never came, reminding her once again that she was to never have another baby. So the stomachache was not a fib, just having to worry after her undergarments. It never bothered George that his wife no longer bled, he felt it a relief to be freed of not only the worry of an unexpected mouth to feed, but the disappointment that came when Mary would respond, "We cannot tonight George, I am having my womanly time." And there were no more times when she had to refuse him "to be safe."

"Men are lucky," Wendy frowned, after Mary explained she would have this to look forward to every month until she was much older.

"Not necessarily. Having a baby is wonderful experience. It's the closet thing to helping God create a miracle that most will ever see. And think of it from the man's point of view as well. Only a woman will ever know what it feels like to have new life inside of her. When the baby moves about and kicks, true, they can rub your belly and feel that one movement, but it is not the same as feeling every single movement. When I carried you, you used to kick me the moment I laid down in bed and I would tell your father that you were wide awake when I wished to sleep. The second he rested his hand on my belly, you stopped, and he never got to feel your tiny little hands and feet jabbing at me from within. Plus Wendy, you must not forget the pain of giving a baby life, that only you will endure..."

Wendy rolled over on her side, filled with misgivings, "That is why it is lucky to be a man, mother. They can sit back and relax drinking their tea and smoking their pipes while women do all the work and suffer the pain."

Mary turned Wendy's head toward her with her hands and kept her face within them, "No, Wendy, it is not like that at all. Your father never drank tea and puffed on a pipe when I was having that pain. He paced the hall and prayed to God that the baby and I would be all right. Do you remember when Michael fell off the swing when he was a toddler in the park and cut his knee?" Wendy nodded. "You cried because Michael was hurting, and he was so small, and there was nothing you could do to help him, or save him, or take away that tiny cut." Wendy again nodded, now staring at her mother, understanding her comparison. "That is the same suffering a man goes through when his wife is to deliver a baby, only many times worse. We mended Michael's cut and he was fine after only a minute. The pain of bringing a baby into this world may last for hours, days sometimes. Your father had to endure all my pain with me, only where mine would subside at times as that pain does, your father's was endless."

"When will I make my first baby?" Wendy queried.

"After you are married. You will meet a man you love, and he will court you and then he will ask for your hand. You will marry, and then when you are ready, a baby will come. Children are magical creatures, they are the perfect combination of two people joined together forever as one. Your father and I made you, John and Michael from our love with God's blessings. You children are our piece of immortality. Even after we are gone, we still will be alive and loved within you." Wendy smiled her first smile of the morning as her mother talked.

"What a wonderful thing it must be!" Wendy cried, "I can't wait for that to happen to me!"

"Oh my dearest, you still have some growing up to do before you get married. But fear not, before you know it you will be a young lady, and all those wonderful things will be moments away. But for now, be happy to be a young girl who is beginning her journey. Enjoy each day, Wendy, for childhood comes only once in a lifetime." Mary kissed Wendy's forehead and put her to bed. "Rest today, no dueling with pirates or having adventures."

In the afternoon Wendy felt better and ventured downstairs where Mary was making cookies and chatting with Grandpa Joe. "Where are John and Michael?" she asked.

"They went for a walk with Nana, be back in a little bit." Grandpa Joe smiled as he walked from the kitchen and patted Wendy on her head. "Wendy, you're a woman, and a very pretty one at that," he added, as he headed to the parlor to puff on his pipe.

Wendy approached her mother, swiftly grabbing her by the arm, "You told Grandpa Joe?" Wendy was still mortified, even though Mary told her there was no reason to be, but still she wanted no one to know.

"Grandpa Joe was married to your grandmother, and she used to get her monthlies too, Wendy, all women do." It didn't ease her mind but she put her worries aside and made her laugh when Mary gave her warm cookie and some milk revealing, "When I first got my monthly, Wendy, your Grandpa Joe fainted at his job and banged his face. He had to see the doctor to get mended after my mother told him. Next time you see your grandfather, look closely at his chin, he has a small scar from that day."

George came home on time and everyone had supper together , then retired to the parlor. Mary played the piano for entertainment, and George sang a song. The children cheered, and John and Michael insisted Wendy tell everyone a story.

Halfway through, without the sword fighting, Aunt Millicent took notice of Wendy. She interrupted Wendy's tale of Cinderella and her two stepsisters who stole her slippers, "Walk this way ,Wendy dear." Wendy abruptly stopped and walked to her Aunt. "Now turn round." So she did, with her brothers chuckling as she went. "Just as I suspected, Wendy possess a young lady's stroll. Have you not noticed, George and Mary?"

Aunt Millicent pulled Wendy into her with her arms and stood, walking around her dissecting every inch of her. "Yes, she also has the posture of a young lady, and her chin, her shoulders, stand up straight dearest. Yes, she is almost a woman."

George and Mary had suspected but were keeping it to themselves. Now confronted by Aunt Millicent, just as they had planned, they played dumb. "But Aunt Millicent, Wendy is only just thirteen," Mary began as she met George, standing behind Wendy, each holding their daughter's shoulders.

"You were once a young lady of thirteen, Mary, my dear. She is not 'just thirteen' as you say. She will be fourteen in April. Now is the time to begin her training. She will need to learn the correct manners and etiquette if you have any hopes of her marrying well," Aunt Millicent assured them. "There are other young ladies that are much further advanced in such lessons at her age, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to break Wendy's bad habits. It is now time for her to grow up."

Where to begin? For poor Wendy, first it was, "Married? I don't want to get married, I just want to have babies like mother." Aunt Millicent was shocked and had to sit down, as were George and Mary, who had stunned faces and open mouths. If that wasn't bad enough her next statement was, "What bad habits?"

Aunt Millicent responded to that one, "Your first statement, Wendy, is a bad habit. Young ladies only speak when spoken to, and never do they say such horrid and offensive things. Women who have babies without being married will never marry anyone of merit and honor." She looked directly at George as she spoke and met Mary's hostile gaze. Wendy was yanked back by her mother.

"That is quite enough, children it is time for bed," Mary instructed, leading them up the stairs but no further.

They went up the stairs and waited in bed, staying awake for almost an hour. Then all three descended the stairs quietly as possible and peeked into the dining room where Aunt Millicent was lecturing George and Mary.

"We have discussed this before. You of course do not want Wendy ending up in the same unfortunate ways you both fell into. This is the way that is correct and you must trust me. We shall start slowly, first now that Wendy has received her monthlies she must have her own room. Grandpa Joe can move in with me, if need be, and she can have his room. Next, everyday after school instead of coming home, she must come to my house and begin her etiquette lessons. I will bring her by for supper. You must keep her away from her brothers; boys are different in what they can get away with. But, George, if I were you, I would have Grandpa Joe talk with them about manly things. He is obviously is more skilled and qualified in those ways, unless you wish them to get a girl in trouble the same as you. And George, you must get the manager's position at the bank. Mary had many options for marriage because her father owned his own business and had servants and such. Mary is now the acting maid, and if you remain a simple clerk, well, that will never do when the true gentlemen come calling."

Aunt Millicent went on and on from there. Michael and John had no idea what she was speaking about, "How did father get a girl in trouble?"

But Wendy, only being a woman for a few hours understood almost all of it, or so she thought. "Apparently father was not who mother wanted to marry, but he got her in trouble, so her punishment was to marry him and be his maid. Remember at Christmas dinner when Aunt Millicent said mother had a previous fiancé that would not marry her because of father?"

Michael and John listened to her explanation of the events leading to where they found themselves now in the nursery. "And you're a lady now and that's why Grandpa Joe has to leave? That's not fair. Father was the one who was bad, he should have to leave."

Wendy nodded her head, "Father got mother in trouble and now I have to grow up."