‘If you are to mix in our society, you must have some practical experience of what our ladies expect from a man and indeed what you can expect from a lady. It is normally part of our education, though I am sure it is not part of yours.’
Ximene Trencavel-10th June 1355
Lady Eleanor came to join them. ‘Good. I see you are all relaxed and comfortable. Perhaps we should start the second lesson.’
She hesitated. ‘This cannot possibly be the same as a full transition. There will not be enough time for John and Piers to go through the whole process and teach them how to cope with rejection as well as acceptance. If we proceed there will be no opportunity for you to exercise your right to reject either one of them. So now I must ask you, Pipa and you, Alyse. Are you willing and prepared to proceed? First Pipa then Ximene nodded their agreement. All three burst into uncontrollable laughter.
‘John, you asked me to provide guidance and to tell you everything I know. You have already learned this evening something about the way we live. Now I…’ She hurriedly corrected herself, ‘We, intend to take that a stage further. If you are to mix in our society, you must have some practical experience of what our ladies expect from a man and indeed what you can expect from a lady. It is normally part of our education, though I am sure it is not part of yours. ‘Lady Eleanor paused. ‘So young men what have you learned about how to behave.’ John glanced at Piers and took it upon himself to answer. ‘Men may make a suit for any lady’s hand, but they then must wait until the lady gives her favour and then and only then can arrangements be made for a romantic assignment.’
Lady Eleanor smiled. ‘Good summary, but remember our code says the women are always in charge in these matters. Also, it is preferable for the award of the favour to be given in public so that there can be no doubt of the intentions of either party. What I have just been doing is making sure that these two young ladies are completely happy with what is about to happen. I am witness to the fact that they are. ‘The circumstances tonight may not be to everyone’s taste. Personal preferences for the environment promoting sexual arousal vary enormously. Some need to feel safe, secure, protected and warm. These preferences are associated with being wrapped in down-filled bedding, encased in secure rooms behind substantial doors. Others place more emphasis on feeling desirable, attractive. This often equates to lengthy preparation followed by unconditional admiration from their partner. For those who are more adventurous, lying on luxurious rugs in front of blazing fires might be more to their taste.’
‘Some, however, need excitement, exposure or even risk. With the time available to us we cannot offer all of these different environments tonight. However, most people respond well to a visit to this cavern, surrounded by sculptured walls, the waterfall, the baths and the terrace. That is why I have chosen this location. In real life, however, remember that each partner should identify the preferences of the other and try to provide whatever environment they prefer.’
There was a moment’s silence before Ximene asked, ‘And if their preferences are totally different?’
‘Well Alyse, I believe that is what is called incompatibility and both should proceed with extreme consideration and considerable caution.’
Lady Eleanor’s eyes twinkled. ‘John, initially Pipa will be your partner. She informs me that at Clermont you did express admiration for her and that she responded by giving you her favour.’
John frowned. ‘Oh!’ His brow cleared. ‘Pipa! Your ribbons were so useful. They were so light that they moved in the slightest breeze. I used them to judge the wind. They helped me win the contest.’
Pipa looked at him long and hard and then turned to Lady Eleanor.
‘I am not sure I can continue with this. This man is surely without feeling.’
Lady Eleanor looked extremely serious, but there was still an irrepressible twinkle in her eye. ‘John, you need to reassure Pipa that you do indeed find her attractive. Can you do that?’
John looked at Pipa.
‘I will not find that difficult, I think Pipa is extremely attractive,’
He hesitated. ‘but just to make sure.’
Dear, dear Pipa, you are someone to savour,
How could I possibly forget the award of your favour
Your body flows in gentle curves
No praise would exceed what it deserves.
Please, please, just tell me what to do
And I will, henceforth, be so good to you
I would be most unhappy to suffer rejection
Be assured from now of my continued affection.
Pipa looked at him, narrowing her eyes. She took off her robe and for the second time, that night stood naked in front of him. She held the robe at arm’s length. ‘Here is another favour. Never tell me you did not notice me giving you this one!’
Ximene was startled. More evidence of Pipa focussing John’s attention on herself. She shrugged. There was absolutely nothing she could do about it, but it was something to be taken into account in the future.
Lady Eleanor’s eyes flickered slightly. She led Ximene and Pipa over to two narrow marble-topped tables over which had been spread thick piled towels. She instructed them to lie on her stomachs on the benches and then pulled John by the hand to stand beside Pipa. ‘Now John, caress her back’
Ximene watched through the corner of her eye as John took the first tenuous steps.
‘Do it gently, John,’ Lady Eleanor said. ‘What you are trying to achieve is a gentle massage. Initially use the back of your hand it helps to keep the touch gentle. Every woman is different. Pipa, tell him when it pleases you.’
Ximene watched as John tried to understand, interpret and comply with Pipa’s requests. She asked for several different strokes to different parts of her back, However. her body gave no sign as to the degree of his success.
Lady Eleanor intervened. ‘Pipa, I am disappointed in you. You know that you must give advice if you don’t like what John is doing. Also, you could offer more encouragement. Words of praise and perhaps a wriggle of pleasure would not be inappropriate. The same thing applies to you, John. Tell her again how attractive she is, tell her how much you are enjoying this. You are, aren’t you?
John raised his eyebrows and then smiled. ‘ Pipa, never in my wildest dreams when I first saw you in Clermont, when you first smiled at me, did I envisage anything like this. It is wonderful and so are you Pipa.’
A conversation started about reminisces of that first meeting which gradually extended into John describing how he had witnessed the display of lovemaking between Joan of Kent and the Earl. Pipa started asking him details of Joan’s performance and John told her precisely what he had seen.
Suddenly Pipa shuddered. ‘Would you like to see me made up like that.’
John replied without hesitation. ‘Yes, I would.’
‘Then I must make it happen.’
Pipa then provided more specific guidance. Ximene could see John’s confidence grow.
‘Now, John, try this.’ Lady Eleanor gave him a bottle. ‘This is massage oil. It is specially blended from carrier oil, in this case, wheat grain but it contains ancient aromatic oils, specifically frankincense and myrrh.’
John’s head jerked round to look at Lady Eleanor.
She smiled. ‘Obviously, you have heard of them, but you were never told how they might be used.’
‘…and they originated in Egypt.’
‘You know?’
‘No, not really. I guessed.’
‘Well, this particular concoction does come from further east.’
John poured the oil on his hands and spread it over Pipa’s back. Now, in addition to advice, John was rewarded with the occasional murmur of appreciation. Pipa lifted her head and addressed Lady Eleanor. ‘Can I turn over now?’
Lady Eleanor replied firmly that she could not and redirected John’s attention to the back of Pipa’s legs and in particular to the muscles at the back of her knees and her feet.
Apparently satisfied with John’s progress she switched her attention to Piers. ‘You have seen what John is doing, can you repeat that with Alyse?
At first, Ximene felt cold. She really found it difficult, she wanted to be John’s partner, not Piers. Lady Eleanor admonished her for showing no response, but there was nothing she could do. How she felt was how she felt. She was still watching out of the corner of her eye when Pipa rolled over. John immediately pulled back but Pipa reached up and pulled his hand on to her breast.
At that moment Ximene realised that she was personally experiencing pleasure, from the touch of a total stranger! Emboldened, she started telling Piers what she wanted, he learnt rapidly how to deliver the desired results. Ximene also turned over, smiled and found it impossible to conceal a gentle moan.
She had reached the stage of wriggling with pleasure when Lady Eleanor returned to them.
‘That was the easy part, Piers. Most men, however, find it difficult to accept caresses from a woman. You must now refrain from touching Alyse but allow her to explore your body. As she showed you, it is good etiquette to let her know when she gives you pleasure and to let her know any preferences you may have. Change places with Alyse.’
Piers hesitantly lay on the table. ‘I am not sure I have any preferences.’
Ximene soon showed him some options, which both surprised and delighted him. She applied oil to every part of Piers’s body. Lady Eleanor then suggested they stand and caress each other, stressing that conversation about what was most pleasurable was essential to make the most of the experience.
Ximene could still watch John and Pipa and saw that all inhibitions had vanished. they talked and laughed as they exchanged caresses.
Lady Eleanor eventually decided that they had spent enough time together and asked Ximene and Pipa to swap partners. ‘Remember what I told you, everyone is different, make sure you identify the differences.’
Ximene smiled. Now she would find out what she wanted to know! John applied more oil to her body. She was very specific in describing her preferences. To her delight, John proved to be very responsive. She whispered encouragement as he caressed her with increasing confidence. Suddenly waves of pleasure washed over her.
When it was her turn to massage John, she held nothing back. When he told her about what he had enjoyed with Pipa she responded quickly and attentively.’
Eventually, Lady Eleanor intervened and persuaded them to bathe again. Ximene squeezed herself into John’s bath. She put her arms around his neck.‘Well, did you enjoy that?’
‘Yes, I did. You do not see sexual pleasure as anything unusual or shameful, do you?’
Ximene laughed. ‘Absolutely not. It shows us what the ultimate union with the Good God might be like.’
John considered carefully his response. ‘For me, it’s not so much the pleasure, as the release from shame and fear.’ He grinned. ‘For the rest of my life, I will be able to enjoy the company of women without reserve.’
He pushed her away from him and rubbed his finger gently up and down across her nipples. Ximene shivered with pleasure and smiled. ‘I really like that.’
John sighed. ‘Lady Eleanor has just told me that it takes a hundred experiences of intense sexual pleasure and open discussion of what works and what doesn’t, before a man and a woman can be sure of each others’ needs.’
Ximene smiled.
‘It goes further than that, John. We believe that only through a wide range of partners could anyone, man or woman, know the full range of possibilities for pleasure! There will be other women, John, but you will never forget that this first experience was with me… and Pipa of course.’
John frowned.’ And do you think Ximene would like the things that you have taught me?’
Ximene laughed out loud. ‘Oh! I am absolutely certain she would.’
She was silent for a moment before she asked almost as an afterthought, ‘Did you really enjoy caressing Pipa, Pipa touching you? Would you like to spend more time with her?’
John stared at Ximene. ‘That question alone tells me how much I still have to learn.’
