Mei brightened.“I might do that.My grandmother can be very stubborn about seeing a doctor, especially one we do not know, but a recommendation may help.”
“Dr.Syme is very good,” Lady Astrid assured her.“We use his services as well.”She glanced around.“But that is not what we wanted to talk to Johanna about.We should move to the retiring room for some privacy.”
If anyone thought it odd that the majority of women in the room left at the same time, no one said anything.Johanna did catch a glimpse of Lady Annabelle’s wistful expression as they left before she turned to say something to the Duchess of Grafton.Her heart went out to the other woman… but she also knew she would consider Delilah’s feelings first.
Tiffany came in only a moment after they’d arrived.
“I did not miss anything, did I?”she asked earnestly, patting her chestnut locks and smoothing back some of the flyaway hairs.The cornflower blue gown she was wearing looked particularly well on her, highlighting the very English rose type of beauty she possessed.
“You did not,” Kalina reassured her.“We have barely stepped foot inside.”
“What would she have missed?”Johanna asked, her nervousness starting to creep up again now that she was alone with the other women.None of them seemed unhappy with her, but she still did not know what to expect from them, either.She pressed her hands together in front of her.
The door opened again, and Rose came in, frowning.Her expression lightened when she saw Johanna, but while Johanna was anxious, Rose appeared ready to rush to Johanna’s defense if necessary.She really would take on any members of the nobility if she needed to.Just seeing her helped Johanna feel better.
“We wanted to talk to you about tonight,” Tiffany explained, after glancing at the others.Surprisingly, Lady Astrid seemed content to let the other woman take the lead, and when Johanna realized what Tiffany meant—theweddingnight, which Lady Astrid had not yet experienced—she understood why.
“Oh.”A hot blush flushed her cheeks, impossible to hide with her pale skin.
“We were uncertain if you knew what to expect,” Delilah said, sitting down in one of the chairs.The elaborate black patterns on her watered silk dress of buttercup yellow were quite pretty against the green chair, as though she was a flower in the forest.
“My mother did a particularly poor job of preparing me.”Tiffany made a face, taking a seat on the chaise beside Kalina.
Kalina smiled.“My mother did a better job, but I found it rather difficult to speak withherabout it.I think sometimes it is easier with our peers than with our mothers.”
“I… think I know what to expect,” Johanna said, exchanging a glance with Rose.“My mother and Rose have helped many women when it comes to… ah…” She groped for the correct word.
“Bedroom matters?”Tiffany suggested.
“Lovemaking?”Kalina smiled.
“I believe men call it fucking,” Lady Astrid said, making Delilah choke on a laugh.
“That is a very crude word, but yes,” Tiffany agreed with a sigh.She shook her head, giving Lady Astrid a sidelong glance, but she did not ask how the unmarried woman knew the word.
“Yes,” Johanna said, trying to ignore the heat that was still filling her cheeks.“That.I believe I have the basic idea.”
“It can feel very good for many women, if the gentleman knows what he’s about,” Delilah told her in a reassuring manner, as though she wanted to be sure Johanna knew it was possible.“Matthew has a reputation as a charmer.You should have no problems with him.”
“We did not want you to be afraid,” Tiffany said.There was an expression on her face that made Johanna wonder… she had said her mother did not do a good job of preparing her.Had Tiffany been afraid?
“I am not afraid,” she said quickly.Perhaps too quickly.The speculation in their gazes increased.“Matthew has kissed me, and it was… well…” Her face was getting hotter and hotter.
Kalina laughed.
“Well, if he is as good with his mouth as all that…” She left the words hanging, and Johanna did not quite understand, but she found herself giggling along with the others.
Beside her, Rose had relaxed completely, though she seemed fascinated by the discussion.She was likely soaking up what tidbits the other ladies were willing to drop, just as Johanna was.
“It was a very nice kiss.”Her face was surely about to burst into flame, but she did not want the other ladies to worry about her and Matthew tonight.It was reassuring to know they were willing to talk about such things, in case she had any questions in the future.
“In that case, there’s only one other thing we want to mention—” Before Tiffany could get any further, the door to the retiring room burst open, and Bridget barreled in before coming to an abrupt halt.
“What are you all doing in here?”she asked peevishly.“You have been gone for ages.Lady Stark is very displeased.”
‘Later,’ Tiffany mouthed at Johanna as all the women made their excuses and started trickling out of the room.
As curious as she was, Johanna nodded.Curiosity could wait.Right now, she needed to return to her duties as the Duke of St.Alban’s new duchess.