Chapter 1

Sorcha

"Do you think your husband would want to use his tongue there ?" my sweet, sheltered cousin Effie asked, staring half-intrigued, half-horrified at the scroll in my lap.

My sister Roxanna clicked her tongue. "The description sounds as if ‘tis done for the woman's pleasure, and I have never known a man to want to bring his wife pleasure."

I swatted her, causing her to scowl. "What? You disagree?"

"You are no expert on men, Roxanna Tarbert. I am certain there must be some husbands out there who would be glad to perform the…" Here I paused, li fting the scroll a little higher to read the name under the rough illustration and description. "Perform The Invasion of Brussels ."

"Where is Brussels?" asked Effie, peering down at her own—empty—lap. "Do I have a brussels?"

Roxanna ignored her and poked me in the shoulder. "Aye, some husbands, perhaps. But yours ?"

Ah.

Well, that was the question, was it not?

We would find out soon, I supposed, what this new husband of mine would be like. I could pretend bravery and maintain a jocular attitude about this journey, but my sister knew me well; I had no idea what sort of man Laird MacDonald might be, nor how he would treat me.

And that worried me.

Oh, I would make the best of things, even if my new husband were not the sort of man to—here I peered closer at the description on the scroll— use his tongue and lips and fingers in combination along the woman's nether cleft, paying particular attention to the bud of her pleasure in order to bring her to fulfillment , I would survive.

After all, I had the Guide and my own fingers, and my mother had raised me to know what I was worth. My new husband would not limit me.

"Sorcha." Effie's hand closed around my forearm. "Perhaps ‘tis best not to let Laird MacDonald see the Guide until you are certain of his manner?"

I refrained from snorting and answering sarcastically, but just barely. Mother's lessons— A lady does not roll her eyes and make sounds like a swine —must have stuck.

Instead, I smiled gently and rolled the vellum, caressing my most prized possession. "I would not risk the Guide . It is a treasure to be passed to our daughters and granddaughters," I reminded them with a saucy wink.

This time it was Roxanna who snorted and rolled her eyes.

Our cousin, however, shivered slightly and glanced around the abandoned croft where we were to spend the night. "We'll be at the border of MacDonald territory tomorrow, aye? I hope your groom sends plenty of warriors to escort us. I do not like that your father sent only John and his few men to bring us this far."

She was right.

This place was only a day's ride from Father's keep, and I supposed that was why he'd felt safe sending only his seneschal to ride escort for us. According to John, we would stay here tonight and tomorrow my betrothed's men would take over the duty of escorting us to my new home .

New home .

I shuddered even though the summer night was warm.

I didn't know what awaited me, but I was glad to have the company of my younger sister and cousin. They were coming along as my attendants, with the assumption that Laird MacDonald would help them make future matches, since Father had so many more daughters to worry about at home.

"John could have at least made a fire before he disappeared," Roxanna grumbled, slouching back against the headboard of the simple bed where we all perched, it being the only seat in the abandoned building.

Effie wrapped her arms around her middle. "I am glad he chose not to announce our presence with the smell of the smoke. We are vulnerable here."

Deciding it was my responsibility—as always—to keep our spirits up, I tapped the edge of the scroll against my cousin's knee. "Consider this an adventure, Effie. Perhaps our last for a while, depending on my groom's attitude. Spending the night in a haunted crofter's hut? How delicious!"

Effie's eyes went wide. "Haunted?"

But Roxanna snorted again. "We have enough to worry about. Do not add ghosts to the mix as well."

"What have we to worry about?" If there were blankets still atop the mattress, Effie would've huddled down under them.

Roxanna's grin was positively evil as she leaned closer to our cousin.

"Orcs," she hissed.

Effie gasped.

Forgoing Mother's teachings, I rolled my eyes. "Do not scare her."

"Orcs have not been a worry in these parts for a generation," Effie whispered.

"Aye," drawled Roxanna, settling back against the headboard. "But when they did raid, ‘twas on nights like this." She nodded smugly toward the front door of the croft. "Warm summer nights under a full moon. Everyone knows this sort of night was their preference when it came to sneaking through the veil of the standing stone and stealing our cattle."

"And women," Effie breathed.

Despite my attempts to maintain a brave mien, I had to admit my sister's reminder made me want to peer into the dark corners and hunch fearfully beside Effie. Instead, however, I glared.

"You are being less than helpful. I go off to my fate in the morning, not knowing what to expect—" Here I waved the scroll in emphasis. "And you do your best to make me more concerned?"

Roxanna's expression immediately softened in an apologetic wince. "Och, I am sorry, Sorcha." She cut a glance sideways. "I was merely teasing, Effie. There is naught to be concerned about tonight. John will keep watch and we will be safe until Laird MacDonald's men join us in the morning."

Effie didn't look convinced, so I scooted closer and moved the scroll between us as a distraction. "Have I shown you The Supplicant Swan , Effie? It is the opposite of The Invasion of Brussels ."

"The opposite?" She frowned down at the vellum as I unrolled. "You mean she puts her mouth on— Holy Blessed Virgin !"

Her scandalized gasp caused Roxanna to smile, but luckily my sister hid her laughter.

I tried to keep a straight face as I read my younger—and apparently more innocent—cousin the description. "Upon taking her—or his, as the case may be—lover's cock between her lips, the kneeling woman twirls her tongue around the head, working the shaft, or occasionally the ballocks, with her hand, bringing him to completion."

" Working the shaft," Effie repeated breathlessly. "What do you think that means? "

Roxanna shrugged. "I'm more intrigued by the thought of a man doing this to another man."

Nodding along, I pointed out a few of the other positions which were purposefully vague. "The author must have led quite an interesting life."

Effie reached for the scroll, pulling it into her lap. " A Lady . That's the only information listed about the author. Do you think ‘twas really written by a lady?"

I shrugged, but I doubted my cousin noticed, seeing as how she was bent over the scroll. "I heard about A Harlot's Guide to the Forbidden and Delightful Arts from my mother, and the two of us went through quite a lot of trouble to acquire this copy of the original. ‘Tis said the original was written in the Highlands decades ago, transcribed by a lady who spoke to spirits."

Roxanna crossed her ankles, a faint grin on her lips. "You know, I would not mind the appearance of a ghost or two if they spoke of these sorts of things."

" The Clinging Vine ," read Effie, her fingertip tracing the illustration. "I had no idea the act could be completed with her on top."

This scroll was a collection—names and descriptions—of the sexual positions and acts as the author knew them. I kept my grin hidden as I nodded sagely. "Just wait until you reach the later entries. The Twin Mountains requires three participants. "

As Effie began to skim the descriptions, my sister nodded. "My favorite is The Soldier and the Crucible , but I cannot imagine a man being strong enough to be able to hold his lover in that position for long enough to complete the deed."

"Perhaps ‘tis a quick deed," murmured Effie, still bent over the scroll.

I began to giggle. "I hope not!"

Roxanna met my gaze, her own lips stretched wide. "If ‘tis done properly, you will want it to last forever!"

The pair of us dissolved into chuckles, and I must admit my fears melted away.

Roxanna wasn't my only sister; she wasn't even my next-youngest sister. We had never shared a room or a bed prior to this adventure, but having her with me was a comfort. ‘Twas a comfort to snuggle down in the mattress with her, our arms around one another, allowing the sound of her steady breathing to lull me to sleep.

I tipped my head to see Effie still peering at the scroll in the moonlight which streamed through the open roof beams.

"Keep it safe, cousin," I cautioned around a yawn.

Effie nodded distractedly, still reading.

Smiling, I closed my eyes.

Tomorrow, adventure awaited!