Just a little note to "Nancy" - guest reviewers can't be replied to via Pm but I did want to thank you for your reviews and comments. So glad you're enjoying this story and any others that you may be reading or have read. Much appreciated. :-)

SIX

"I saw you, Sibella, so don't lie! You kissed him!"

I was surprised to hear how upset Alan was but then I found out why.

"What if I did! You act as if I betrayed you. And keep your voice down." Sibella glanced about. "He's walking around the grounds and might hear us. If you smell cigar smoke…"

"I hope he does hear us! How could you, Sibella, knowing that I want to …you told me you were going to see if he had an interest in me. You lied to me, Sibella! You only want him for yourself."

"Alan, it wouldn't matter if I did want him – he doesn't want me."

"Then he is interested in me? Oh, Sibella, tell me everything!"

"Oh, Alan, it's not that way at all. Trust me, Adam Cartwright is not that way." Sibella was exasperated and pushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. In the light I could see how flushed she was.

"How do you know? Maybe he could be interested in me."

"No, he couldn't and even if he did decide to give you a…,it would only be out of amusement or a moment's pleasure…Oh, Alan, save yourself a broken heart and don't hold out any hope." Sibella held her shirts up slightly and tried to slip around Alan, but he spun and grabbed her arm.

"How do you know, Sibella, that he would have no interest in a relationship with me? Is it that you want him?"

"Oh, Alan! Why do you want me to hurt you? You and I have been friends our whole lives and I would never intentionally hurt you. Please."

"If you're my friend, then tell me the truth. How do you know he would never want me?"

"I know he could never be in 'love' with you because I felt him against me while he was kissing me, and trust me, a man who gets that way… you know…"

"Oh, Sibella, now you become shy?" Alan said. "You always enjoy shocking everyone with blunt language but now that it has to do with him, you turn proper all of a sudden!"

Sibella pursed her lips and after taking a deep breath, leaned into Alan and I barely heard what she said – but I did hear and I had to smile at Sibella's knowledge of rough, crude terms. "Any man who gets that hard when he's holding and kissing a woman, he's not interested in anyone who has a…cock. Trust me, Alan. All he wanted to do was fuck me and it wasn't out of love.

"Please, Alan, take my advice as a friend who truly loves you - go back to town, find Lyle and apologize. Tell him that you were temporarily distracted, dazzled by a handsome, worldly, rogue from Nevada. He'll understand."

Sibella started to go, Alan following her, but he reached for her arm again and they stopped and he smiled. "I thought you were going to have him groveling at your feet, Sibella? You said you would."

"So, I was wrong."

Alan laughed. "Oh, Sibella. Losing your touch? Maybe you should have tugged the shoulders of your dress down or cupped his balls and squeezed a bit. I've told you so many times what men like and I just can't understand why you don't take my advice. If I can't have Adam, you may as well You could have brought him to his knees right in front of you, Sibella, and had him licking your feet, begging for relief."

"Alan, I…he was just so frustrating, laughing at me as if I was a child…"

"Sibella, if you're ever going to be the dominant one in a relationship with a man, not a wishy-washy, docile, slapped-around wife like you fear, or even a used-up mistress, you have to apply what I've told you. And give up your damned cherry, for heaven's sake! He would be the one to do it – just pop, ouch - and your virginity's gone! One less thing to worry about and from then on, it would just be fun and pleasure!"

"Alan!" Sibella was shocked and then, I almost laughed out loud when she added, "Do you really think so?"

"Oh, yes! And then you can tell me all about the exquisite pain of defloration and those arms of his – oh, just to think of him naked and so beautiful, long and hard and dripping - it'll be almost as good as being fucked by him myself!"

"Alan! Really!" Sibella giggled. "What should I do next since he…"

Mrs. Atherton stepped into the solarium. "Sibella! I've been looking for you. And you too, Alan. Time to cut the cake and open the gifts. Everyone's waiting. But I hope you two had a nice walk in the garden – so romantic under that lovely moon. Alan, may I take your other arm?"

"I would be honored."

I watched as Sibella and her mother, one on each side of Alan, entered the house. Sounds came from the revelers inside. At least I knew now where I stood with Sibella. Despite her brash persona, she was still a frightened virgin. I felt a little guilty having the upper hand with my eavesdropping, and decided I wouldn't take advantage of Sibella's obvious vulnerability. But it was pleasurable to think of having my way with her – very pleasurable.

But I had heard enough and as intriguing and attractive as Sibella was, I had no desire to be part of the little game she was playing. But I begrudgingly admitted to myself that Sibella was kinder than I had thought. Perhaps I had judged her too harshly but there was no doubt she was spoilt. But let her conquer all the other men – I wanted a glass of rum. So, I walked through the solarium and followed the noise to the large dining room. I would have to pass through it to make my way to Mr. Atherton's office. But glancing, I saw he stood in front of the well-wishers, right next to his daughter, her mother on her other side. So, I stood and watched and waited. I couldn't very well enter Mr. Atherton's office without his permission.

Sibella stood in the center of clapping well-wishers as it appeared she had just finished blowing out the candles on a multi-tiered cake, smoke still rising. A pile of presents sat at one end of the long table and platters of food sat at the other end. It looked to be quite the party spread. More food sat on other long cloth-covered tables.

I stood against one wall and watched as Sibella first opened the present from her parents, a lengthy string of pearls – obviously expensive. There were "oohs" of appreciation from the crowd and I noticed that a few older couples, friends of the Atherton's, I'm sure, stood on the perimeter of the crowd, nodding to one another and some of the women put their heads together. Mr. Atherton smiled with fatherly pride as Sibella slipped the long rope of pearls around her lovely neck and wound it three times. And as she looked out at the adoring faces of friends, her eyes met mine. I nodded in acknowledgement and her smile dropped for a millisecond, and then she looked elsewhere; her mouth smiled but her eyes no longer did. And surprisingly, I felt a pang of guilt.

Had I been cruel to Sibella, toyed with a defenseless young woman? Despite her plans for me, as revealed by her conversation with Alan, had she really stood a chance? Although she had been educated in France, obviously she had been sheltered even there. It seemed though, that Alan offered her an experienced education in men, how to control one – at least sexually. But it seemed that I was her first unsuccessful conquest as she had, at least according to something her father said earlier that day, won the hearts of and then ended up rejecting many marriage proposals. I don't think it was out of cruelty or a need to conquer and destroy, but out of fear of what her life would be like – the wishy-washy, docile wife. I told myself I would be kinder to her. Yes, kinder. Besides, I was leaving tomorrow anyway.

I left the party and went to my room, pulling my tie loose as I climbed the carpeted stairs—a flowered carpet. The bed had been turned down, the bedside lamp was on and a bottle of rum, a crystal whiskey glass and two cigars with a glass ashtray sat on the nightstand. On the bed was a copy of Thackery's The Book of Snobs. I flipped through it. saw it was a compilation of satirical articles, and read the introduction – they had been written for Punch magazine and skewered the British aristocratic class. It seemed perfect timing - a book about people and their facades. I stripped myself of all the confining clothes of "snobbery" and made myself comfortable between the cool linen sheets, propping myself up with the pillows and had a pleasant evening reading, smoking a good cigar and sipping rum– eventually falling asleep. Until a knock on my bedroom door woke me.

TBC