I didn't need to speak to Penelope that next day. We just saw each other in the hall where our bedrooms lay opposite. We crept out quietly at the shocking time of noon, not very becoming, only to see the other one doing the same.
I saw her little face, her flushed cheeks and her button nose. And then laughed; infact I think she laughed first. Well it doesn't matter, we both ended up in hysterics, giggling insanely at our equal happiness.
My new husband lay asleep in our room, Penelope's doing the very same.
We went downstairs for some breakfast which our maids happily served for us.
"What was it like?" Penelope asked me as she nibbled cutely on a plum. I felt myself instantly blush, memories of the heaven I went to last night flooding back.
"It was…amazing." I said, curling my finger modesty around my golden locks. Penelope, a younger expert, giggled.
"Did it hurt? I remember my first time hurting."
I took a deep breath and took a sip of my honey and pomegranate juice.
"Penelope…" I said quietly, trying to silence her,
"Oh dear. Was it that bad?"
I threw my cup down, the content spilling over the wooden table and dripping onto the floor. Rising to my feet I began to shout.
"Why do you have to ruin everything?" I shouted. The maids, hearing our dispute, turned modestly away trying to avoid hearing our argument. Penelope pushed herself up against the back of the chair.
"I…I don't understand." She stammered. I coughed.
"How could you forget?" I said, my anger turning to bitter tears as I sat down again. Penelope ran to me and put her arm around my shoulders.
"What…what's wrong Helen?" She said, rubbing my arms in comfort.
"Oh Penelope. That wasn't…it wasn't my first time." I said it so quietly that she had to lean right forward to hear. When she did catch my words I felt her shake.
"Oh Helen! I am so sorry. I did completely forget! I am sorry. This must be awful for you!"
I wiped my eyes and shook my head.
"No, it's not awful. Menelaus was nothing like Theseus. Sometimes I don't even believe that what Theseus did to me was sex at all. It is too dissimilar to what Menelaus did. I've been kidding myself that Menelaus was…the first. But I know he wasn't." I started to cry again as I buried my face in my hands.
"Oh...No no no." cooed Penelope. "Menelaus was your first time; your first proper time. Think of it like that." I nodded, trying to forget.
Suddenly we were both interrupted by a low, husky voice.
"Odysseus!" I said smiling.
"Have you been crying Helen?" he asked.
"Um…no…..no I haven't." I muttered.
"Then for goodness sake, apply your make up better - borrow some of Penelope's. She always looks like an angel." Penelope and Odysseus embraced and locked lips. I sighed and mooched away to find my husband.
"Excuse me?" I said as I grabbed a maid's arm. She stopped to look at me.
"Yes Miss?" I giggled.
"Mrs!" I corrected. She smiled at me.
"Of course."
"Could you please tell me where I can find Menelaus?"
"Oh um…yes. I believe he is still in bed Mrs."
"Ah…I see." I nodded and ran off down the hall to my bedroom.
I opened the door. Menelaus was spread out on the bed.
I scrambled onto the bed along side him and shook him gently.
"What a wonderful image to wake up to." He said. I smiled and kissed him. But neither of us moved away, and he rolled on top of me and kissed my nose.
And then he reminded me of the night before.