~Then~
Hermione Wood had been to two previous long weekends at Glade Hall, but she'd been younger then, less sure of what she wanted. She was just two weeks away from her eighteenth birthday and now knew what she wanted. Hermione ached for the touch of William James Maynard, young heir to the Maynard family fortune and likely to be one of the richest men in England, one day. Soon all the young people would go to see the famous Grotto. Everyone knew what went on there during the five minutes of darkness after the candles went out. Nothing to ruin a young woman's reputation, but kisses and touching, as long as it was consensual.
"He was looking at you right through dinner." Said Cecilia.
Hermione felt herself blush and her heart began to race.
"You really think so ?" She asked.
"Oh yes. William only has eyes for you."
Hermione was almost eighteen and she hadn't even kissed a boy properly. Her father was rather over protective and she never seemed to meet anyone nice. There had been a sort of fumble with a boy in the Grotto when she was sixteen, but that had been truly awful. Last year she'd set her herself to win over Teddy Sherrington, but he'd ignored her and kissed some awful shop girl.
One of the servants was hitting a gong.
"Please collect your outdoor clothing, it's still wet out. The tour of the famous Maynard Grotto, will commence in ten minutes."
She was wearing the latest trend in light casual clothing. It was now eighteen twenty, gone were the long heavy dresses and in were light diaphanous evening gowns. Hermione had hitched the side of her dress up slightly, to emphasise the shape of her legs. Yes, she was overdoing it a little, but she desperately wanted to feel a man's touch on her skin, his lips on hers. Her best friend Cecilia was still hovering around with a smirk on her face.
"Keep still in the dark and let him come to you."
"I just hope I don't faint !"
It was alright for Cecilia, she was experienced in such matters and had actually let a boy pull her knickers down to her knees. Hermione had laughed when her friend had told her about her sexual exploits, but she was quite jealous and a little scared. She put on her light evening jacket and followed the other young people outside. William actually winked at her, as he walked through the French windows and out onto the lawn. Hermione tried desperately not to blush, as she smiled back at him. She was going to do it, be his, to do with as he pleased for that wonderful five minutes of darkness.
"The Grotto is about half a mile from the main house." Said the servant. "Please keep close to those carrying lamps."
It had been raining for most of the afternoon and the grass felt wet against her legs. They were all going to return with muddy shoes, but that was part of the adventure. She now ignored the smirking Cecilia and kept close to William, letting her hand touch his as they walked. She had to be careful, her father was Conservative MP George Wood, who represented a constituency in Surrey. Any scandal involving his daughter could well blight his political career. She needed William though, the way a rose needs the rain to grow and flourish. She was too old to have never been kissed.
"Mind the puddles miss." Said a servant.
"Oh yes, thank you."
Daydreaming had caused her to soak her feet, but she still kept next to William, following him into the Grotto entrance. The lamps were exchanged for candles, to see the crystals to their best effect. That was the official reason, but candles are fragile light, that can conveniently go out. There were about a dozen of them, all sons and daughters of the great and the good. Most kept to the upper caves, but William headed for the lower caves, Hermione following him. It would be more private down there, little chance of a wandering hand being noticed by someone indiscrete. Hermione even began to wonder what a boy's erect penis might feel like.
