A Dove's Tale

Chapter 171

It felt so wrong for Theresa to drag me into Chevalier's room with Belle on our heels. Our room, I corrected myself. It was my room now, too. And it was okay for me to spend time with my friends here. Chevalier had all but told me to spend my afternoon with them, settling into his—our room. He didn't mind. And Theresa was my maid, so she would be in here daily, anyway. In the future, we could have our friendly get-togethers elsewhere, but I needed to unpack my luggage now, and—

The negligee. The powdered sugar negligee.

I was already a blushing bundle of nerves before the door closed behind us.

"Belle has some big news," Theresa said, shoving me onto the sofa. "Why are you so red?"

"Because she had lots of fun on her honeymoon, and she knows we want to hear all about it," Belle said, plopping onto the sofa beside me and grinning like Clavis. "So, first night? Second? When did it happen?"

"Th-that's private," I stammered.

Theresa rolled her eyes and sat on my other side. "Not the first night. I told you how freaked out she was. My guess is second, or maybe even third. Right?"

"I..."

"Don't try to say you didn't, because I can tell that you did," Belle chimed in again. "It was all over your face when Chevalier carried you over the threshold." She sat back and sighed. "How romantic!"

How was it all over my face? What sort of face did a woman make after she and her husband had made love for the first time? Why had I never noticed anybody else wearing this face?

"Was it that obvious?" I asked in a small voice.

Theresa laughed. "Yes! You looked so happy! If it hadn't happened, you would have looked upset. And he probably would have looked like he wanted to murder somebody."

"But he looked like he wanted to carry you back here and make mad, passionate love to you the rest of the day," Belle added.

"H-he did not," I protested weakly, knowing much better than either of them he definitely did.

"So, when did it happen? Did you like it the first time, or did it take a few tries to get it right? How was he? Come on, Ivetta, details!" Theresa demanded.

I shook my head. "I'm not telling you all that!"

Belle groaned and grabbed my shoulders. "Well, tell us something!"

"Um..." I bit my lip nervously, looking down at my fingers clenched into my skirt. "The...first night."

High-pitched squeals erupted around me. Theresa pulled back, her green eyes wide with shock, while Belle leaped to her feet and danced around the room.

"I told you!" she sang out.

Theresa seized my arm and fixed me with an intense stare. "Okay, now you have to tell me more. How did he get you from a nervous wreck to a moaning mess?"

"Theresa!" I exclaimed, covering my face in my hands.

"And she liked it!" Belle continued in a sing-song voice.

"How was he? No, wait, not a good question, because you can't compare him to anyone. How about...are there any tricks he did? Anything that made you—"

"N-no!" I interrupted Theresa before she could specify what she meant, although I had a pretty good idea. "I-I mean—yes, but—"

"You can tell us," Belle said, dropping onto the sofa beside me again. "If it makes you feel better, I can go first. See, there's this thing Rio does—"