The Banks of the Nile 1881

An imperfect recollection of an Old English Folk Song much embellished.

...

The crows whirled above the castle ruins, each one endeavouring to impress with their aerobatic prowess. As Nancy lay upon the long deserted grassy slope that would have once kept the crumbling bastions safe, she recalled half misty stories of a time when Corfe Castle was impenetrable.

Her employer's grandmother was related to the noble family who owned all of the lands for miles hereabouts before Englishmen had taken up arms against Englishmen in the Civil War. Nancy wondered what sort of lunacy could make friends, brothers and neighbours do a thing like that?

The victors had destroyed the castle in a fit of retribution. Parliament had struggled with the King for the right to rule. They had killed him and put one of their own in his place. After eleven years, England realised that having a King wasn't such a bad thing after all.

Nancy couldn't help thinking of all the lives that were lost, not to mention castles, when compromise would have worked just as well.

Now, compromise reigns. Parliament decides who the Government is, the Government gives the orders and only then does Queen Victoria give command. England sends her Army overseas to fight against people who we don't know for reasons that we don't need to know about. They are protecting our interests.

Six days ago Anne, which is Nancy's christian name (somehow hardly anyone is actually known by the name they are given), wouldn't have cared much about these cruel foreign wars but now she was in love with a soldier.

Willy (not the name he was given in church) was a private infantryman in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. They were called the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot when William rather foolishly took the Queen's Shilling but they had recently been merged with some Cornish regiment.

Nancy had never been in the Fox Inn, although she had lived in the Village of Corfe Castle for her whole life. The village was named after the castle and the Inn was named after a fox, or as it was called hereabouts a vox. As she passed by the pub one day, Willy had fallen out of the door and into her arms. He had assaulted her senses with a combination of his red jacket, the smell of ale and the way in which he clung to her bodice to stop himself tumbling over. It was love at first grope.

It is mightily strange what attracts a woman to a man or a man to a woman.

He was followed instantly by Tommy Pepper. Nancy used to go to Sunday School with Thomas (as he was known then). He was slightly less inebriated than Willy but still wore the same red uniform with white facings. Tommy had never held any attraction for Nancy, even when he didn't stink of drink.

"Arh Nance! Help me get Will back to Ganny's, he's a bit tired," slurred Tommy.

"Bloody cheek!" exclaimed Nancy. Nevertheless, she put one of Willy's arms over her shoulder in an attempt to keep him upright.

Tommy's grandmother looked at Nancy as if she alone had got the two soldiers drunk.

"You'd best help me get 'em into bed then," said Widow Pepper, "they'm no use in my kitchen in that state."

She manhandled Tommy through to the back bedroom while Nancy half carried, half dragged Willy. Each man was thrown on to one of the two single beds. Mrs Pepper started to unbutton her grandson's tunic.

"Come on girl, don't be shy. Em can't sleep in their scarlet, them'lll be ruined," she ordered Nancy.

"But I am shy," replied Nancy, "I only helped Tommy because we were at Sunday School together."

"Oh, I thought I recognised thee. I know that you'm from a good family and not one of those girls that hangs around anyone who will buy them a drink, like Tommy's late mother. May God not judge my daughter too harshly. I'm sorry that I misjudged thee.

"In that case you'd better undress Tom and I will see to Will."

Nancy couldn't really see how that made the situation any better but she did as she was told. Undoing the wide white belt and shiny buttons wasn't a problem but pulling the scarlet coat off was. Tommy sort of helped but it still wasn't easy.

"Boots and trousers next! Them can sleep in thay's shirts," instructed Mrs Pepper.

Nancy had often helped her late father remove his boots but never his trousers. Placing the glistening black leather footwear in the corner, she turned to watch how Mrs Pepper went about undoing Willy's bracers and fly buttons. It was more complicated than she had imagined; not that she would ever admit to imagining it.

"Lift up Tommy," she said. He shifted slightly as she pulled on the red stripe that ran down his black trouser leg. He rolled to one side just enough for Nancy to drag the trousers off.

"Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed, "he's not wearing any underthings!" Nancy turned her face away only to see Mrs Pepper getting the better of Willy's trousers too.

Horrified, Nancy said, "Neither of them are!"

"Silly girl, of course not. Only well off men do, working chaps just tuck they long shirt tails between their legs. You have led a sheltered life," laughed the older woman.

Nancy coloured a bright red to match their tunics, she had instantly gone from never having seen a man's penis to seeing two. She had rather thought that they would all be the same; but they weren't. Nancy wasn't sure if the difference would bring any advantage but, if it did, William had that advantage.

"Don't stand there glowing Maidy, the quicker we gets they into bed the quicker thay's pizzles can be got out of sight, if 'em bothers thee so."

...

It was two days before the couple's paths crossed again.

"Ah Nancy! I so wanted to thank you before we go back to Bodmin," Willy nearly frightened her to death as he spoke to her, unseen, from behind.

"Bodmin? Why Bodmin?" she enquired, turning around.

"Victoria Barracks in Bodmin, that's where The Duke of Cornwall's Regiment of Foot is based. It's our regiment," he said, pointing at the badge on his uniform.

"Thank me for what?"

"Helping me home and putting me to bed."

"I didn't put you to bed Widow Pepper did, and don't you go saying otherwise."

"Anyway, I just wanted to say that I don't usually get that drunk. It was just that it was our first day of leave and Tommy kept plying me."

"And you've forgotten the English word for no, have you?"

"Yes, I mean no. I'm sure he was giving me more than he was drinking," Willy tried to explain.

"Oh, that's alright then," said Nancy, sarcastically. She did understand really but the young woman in her wasn't going to admit it.

Completely missing the sarcasm, Willy said, "Good, I knew you'd understand.

"Would you care to go for a walk with me?"

"What makes you think that I have free time to go off walking? I have to earn my living, you know."

"Of course, yes. Maybe on your afternoon off. You do get an afternoon off, I hope."

"I do, a few actually."

"When is the next one?" asked the soldier, hopefully.

"Now," laughed Nancy.

...

As the couple made their slow way up to the castle ruins they talked.

"So how do you earn a living?" he asked.

"I'm a lady's companion to Miss Drax."

William racked his brain for a moment before giving up, "I don't think I've heard of one of those. What is it?"

"I live in Miss Drax's house and I do whatever Miss Drax wants me to do."

"What, like a servant?"

"No, definitely not like a servant. Miss Drax has a cook and a maid of all works. What I do is keep her company, we play cards or Chess, I read to her or write letters for her."

"Well, I never heard of that. How did you come-by such a position?"

"Miss Drax was a friend of my Grandmother, when my parents died she kindly took me in."

"Sorry to hear that," said Willy.

"What, that she took me in?" said Nancy.

"Oh no, that your parents died."

She wanted to release him from his discomfort so she said, "And what do you do to earn your living?"

"I'm in the..."

They both laughed.

She went on, "Yes, I know but what do you actually do?"

"Well, there are two battalions in the regiment. When ours, the 2nd Battalion, is in England we defend the country, well that's the theory. Mostly, we just keep our kit clean and we march. The 1st Battalion is stationed overseas protecting this country's interests. Then after a few years they come home and we go overseas to protect our interests, but mostly we just keep our kit clean and we march," he explained.

"So you don't actually fight anyone?"

"Not usually but we could have to at any stage; if the Government thinks that their interests are threatened. Some men look forward to fighting and killing but I'm not one of them," answered Willy, with a little sadness.

Trying to lighten the mood, Nancy asked, "How much more leave do you have?"

"Me and Tommy go back to Bodmin tomorrow."

"Oh!" she said softly, with a sadness of her own. She'd never been to the town but something made her dislike Bodmin intensely.

...

She may have been an old lady but Miss Drax could still spot checkmate in two moves.

"Oh, I didn't see that coming," said Nancy.

"I am not in the slightest bit surprised, you seem a little distracted. Something in scarlet, maybe?" the older woman asked, sweetly.

"I didn't see that coming either. How did you know?

Miss Drax laughed, declining to give anything away, she said, "I will give you some good advice which I am sure you will disregard; goodness knows I did.

"A red coat can only bring you heartache and tears.

"I beg you to please take care."

There was a few minutes of silence before she continued, with a wry smile, "Perhaps, if you are not playing at your best today, we could forgo Chess and revisit the work of Miss Austen. I do like to hear you read from 'Sense and Sensibility'."

...

"Why do you not visit your own family when you are on leave?"

It had been five weeks since they had seen each other. Nancy was glad that he had come back to Corfe but she didn't want to make it obvious.

"Because I don't have any. I'm an orphan. I've always been an orphan. I was found outside the Orphanage in Totnes.

"I suppose that I had a mother, at least, but I can't remember her," said Willy, with no hint of bitterness.

He went on, "When I first enlisted, I would just hang around town. When I got friendly with Tommy he brought me here once. After that Mrs Pepper said I should stay with her when I was on leave, even if Tommy wasn't.

"If I had had a mother, I hope that she would have been just like Mrs Pepper."

Both Nancy's parents had died but she knew that she wasn't an orphan in that way. She could have shown more sympathy but she thought it better to change the subject.

"What do you care to read?"

"I don't," said William, with a nervous laugh.

"What! You don't care to read."

"No, I don't read because I can't read."

"Oh! Have you never been taught?" uttered Nancy, a little insensitively.

"God knows, they tried to teach me but the letters and words just swirl about before my eyes. My teachers all agreed that I'm not stupid, I can do sums and remember facts, I can even make up stories from my head, I just can't write them down or read them."

Nancy was genuinely sorrowful, "That must be terrible for you, I can't imagine my life without books."

"It used to pain me but now I just work around things. I think that is why I joined up. The army doesn't much care if you can read and write as long as you can march and fight," laughed Willy, amused by his inadvertent rhyming.

It was obvious that he had had more than his fair share of troubles in his life but Nancy liked the way that he just shrugged them off as if they were of no consequence. As they walked back towards the village she slipped her hand in his. He squeezed it gently and didn't release her until they sighted someone coming towards them.

...

Very few of the comings and goings in a small village go unnoticed. Before, Nancy had never paid much heed to the chatter when shopping. Now, she kept one ear cocked for any mention of the return of a grandson or his friend. She kept one eye cocked for any flash of red. She made frequent visits to take Widow Pepper little kindnesses; a bunch of flowers, a pot of jam perhaps.

The old lady never knew when either of the two military men would return but when they did Nancy contrived to be there. Each time she was, they were both glad to see her. She was glad to see Willy.

...

"I has had a letter from Tom, which is strange because I knows he can't hardly write. I'm supposing that he has had the forethought to pay someone to write it for he.

"Shame it is that he didn't remember that I can't read much, so his forethought is wasted," said Mrs Pepper.

"Oh!" exclaimed Nancy, although it wasn't clear which piece of the communication had surprised her.

Gathering herself, she went on, "If you don't mind, I could read it to you." She declined to enquire how Mrs Pepper knew it was from her grandson.

"Gawd! You are a surprising maid," mumbled the old lady as she handed her the torn open envelope with its prominent lilac stamp.

Nancy slipped out the two sheets of paper and unfolded them. Her eye was instantly drawn to the word 'TOM' scrawled at the bottom of the first page.

She read aloud, "Dearest Grandmother."

"Now I know he dun't write it," laughed Tommy's granny.

"I hope that my letter finds you well and in good spirits. Just a note to let you know that things have moved on in the world. Rather than us relieving the 1st Battalion, in Gibraltar, next year we are to be sent to Egypt in five weeks.

"In a fortnight Willy and me will have a couple of week's leave and then we shall be sent to Portsmouth for embarkation. I'm sure that you will put us up.

"Your loving grandson.

"TOM."

Mrs Pepper laughed at the somewhat flowery complimentary close before she took in the implications of the missive.

"Oh dear, Egypt," she said.

Nancy went on, "There is a postscript.

"Would you please give this other letter to Nance, only after you have told her about Egypt?"

Not quite sure what was the proper thing to do in these circumstances, Nancy handed both pages to the Widow who immediately handed her back the second sheet.

As the young woman scanned the letter her face blanched. She handed it back to the older lady to read. She promptly returned it with a look of puzzlement.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Will has asked me to marry him."

"Well, I'm stumped, I knew he were fond of thee but that is swift."

"He says that he doesn't want to go overseas without making me his wife. If I agree, I am to have the banns read at St. Edward's and he will do the same in Bodmin. By the third week we shall be wed here in Corfe."

"How do ee feel on it?"

"I don't know, I just don't know," concluded Nancy.

...

Out of breath, Nancy threw herself onto the tussocky grass below what was left of the castle walls. She lay there panting, the exertion had blotted out all thoughts but now they slowly returned.

"Cawk!" cried a crow high above her, aggrieved at the intrusion into its foraging ground.

Another echoed its mate's sentiment.

"You wouldn't say that if I was carrion, would you," shouted Nancy at them. She had to stop herself from wishing that she was. No no, things weren't that bad, were they? She loved Willy, she had no doubt. She would be lying if she said that she didn't.

It would also be untrue if she told the world that she hadn't wondered if he might suggest marriage some day, one day, some abstract day far off when he'd finished soldiering. But she wasn't ready for this, was she?

Was she ready to be the wife of a private infantry man who was about to be sent off to Africa. To go through each day wondering if he were alive or if his beautiful body was just food for scavenging lions.

But, what if she never slept beside him and he still got killed in some dry and sandy desert. Would she spend the rest of her life in regret?

Then the obvious crept up and hit her between the eyes, as the obvious is prone to do.

Miss Drax. Miss Drax would know what to do. She was a spinster but she was a wise spinster. She had occasionally alluded to a past love for a soldier. Did she have regrets? Would she have done things differently or did she choose the right course?

Nancy wondered why she hadn't thought of it before she climbed this damned hill.

...

Rather than broach the subject head on, Nancy danced around it and asked about Egypt instead.

"Ah yes, I have been reading about that. It would appear that they owe Britain and France a lot of money. To ensure that they don't default, the two countries have rather foolishly taken over control of Egypt.

"Some Egyptians aren't happy about it and are threatening to resist by force. I believe that we are sending troops. It will surely end in bloodshed. Quite why empires have never realised that they can't hold a people against their will for very long," explained Miss Drax.

She went on, "Why this sudden interest in Egypt?"

"Because Will and Tom Pepper are to be sent there," Nancy said, tearfully.

"Oh, I understand now, I'm sorry you must be worried about him... them but there is little that you can do about it, is there?

"That is unless you are thinking of risking your good name before they march away," suggested the astute old lady.

Nancy said, "Well, Will has asked me to marry him and I am not sure if I should do it if I could lose him so soon afterwards."

Miss Drax said nothing.

Then she confided, "I will tell you something that I have never divulged to a living soul before, I know that I can trust you.

"When I was young, I fell in love with a dashing young Cavalry Officer a few days before he was to go overseas. There was no time for us to wed so I risked shame and disgrace and spent two days and one night with him.

"Like so many handsome men before him, he was lost to some cruel foreign war and still lies in a far off land.

"For the last fifty years there hasn't been a single day when I would have traded the memory of those two days and one night for all the wealth of the British Empire. Do you love William?"

Nancy replied, "Yes, I believe I do."

"Then he has given you the opportunity to have a few weeks of the sort of joy that Jane Austen could never have written about, with no risk to your reputation. I say grasp it, marry him and have him tupp you as if each time we're the last time. If that is all you have then so be it but st least you won't spend your life in regret," extolled Miss Drax, with passion.

Stunned by her frankness as much as by her language, Nancy said softly, "You are right."

...

As soon as the Banns had their first reading, Nancy belonged to the whole village.

There were offers of help with the wedding from all quarters; some of it material, some simply supportive.

The ever practical Miss Drax told Nancy that the couple had a home with her in the short-term. By the time that William returned, one of the many village cottages that she owned would have been renovated. They could have it for a peppercorn rent.

Practical in a different way, Mrs Pepper sat the young woman down in her parlour and asked, "Yume not worried about your first time, are 'ee, Maidy?"

"Well, just a little," replied Nancy.

"Well don't 'ee be, there is a lot of stuff and nonsense talked on it.

"You are a fit and active young thing. The way thee has been clambering up and down those castle slopes since 'ee were a chit, anything that needs to be broke was surely done long ago," laughed the older woman.

"Don't be afeared, take pleasure en et. Just remember to raise yer knees while 'e is about his work," she added with a chuckle.

The village seamstress, whom Miss Drax used, had a bolt of Cotton Sateen Chinz in a cream and pink floral pattern that she had been keeping for a special occasion. She would be willing to make a dress that was ideal for the wedding but could still be used for best afterwards. If Miss Drax agreed, she could add it to her account. Miss Drax did agree.

The landlord of the Fox offered one of his back rooms for the wedding breakfast, at a small fee, which Miss Drax gladly paid. She also gave him a half sovereign to cover the cost of ale for any guests. A multitude of village ladies pledged to make food at no cost whatsoever.

...

A week before the big day, Will and Tom arrived.

They had taken the train to Wareham and then hired a post-chaise from there to Mrs Pepper's. There was talk of the railway being extended to Corfe and Swanage someday soon. The old lady hugged her grandson and then embraced Will, showering him with kisses.

After a lunch consisting of a hunk of ham, a hunk of cheese, a hunk of crusty bread and huge pickled onion, the two military men stepped out to survey the village. Neither spoke of it but each had his own destination in mind.

It was awfully slow going, every man that they met wanted to slap Willy on the back, shake his hand and tell him what a lucky dog he was. Every woman wrapped her arms around him, kissed his cheek and light-heartedly enquired why he hadn't asked them to marry him.

Tommy Pepper was somewhat bemused, he had lived his whole life in Corfe and yet not one man had ever slapped him in the back. Not one lady had embraced and kissed him in the street. The most he had ever received was a clip around the ear and a telling off for doing what he was doing or a clip around the ear and a telling off for not doing what he wasn't doing.

At the door of The Fox Tommy turned sharply left. "You sure you won't take just one?" he asked.

"No, I am charged with a special assignment and not even you can keep me from it," replied Willy, with a determined countenance.

"Then march on, Private, march on!"

Standing before the door of Miss Drax's house, Willy smoothed down his hair and brushed off his epaulettes.

His knock was soon answered by the maid, Tilly. "Step in William, you are expected," she giggled, as she pecked him on the cheek.

As soon as he entered the withdrawing room, Nancy crashed into his arms and showered him with kisses. "Oh Will, I thought that this day would never come!" she exclaimed.

Only when she finally released him did Miss Drax hug him and plant a kiss on his forehead..

"Now," explained Nancy's employer, "I have to visit a friend at the other end of the village. I will be gone for exactly four hours. Yes, exactly four hours.

"Coincidentally, Cook will be going to see her sister and she will be gone for exactly four hours too, as will Tilly. Although she is to see her mother. She will be gone for at least four hours.

"I am sure that you two young people have much to talk about."

Nancy thought that Tilly didn't get on with her mother and she didn't even know that Mrs Billows had a sister but she realised exactly what Miss Drax expected to take place and it thrilled her.

...

Taking Willy by the hand, she guided him upstairs towards her bedroom.

"I thought that you would wish to wait until our wedding night," he said.

Nancy laughed, "No, what I wish is to grasp every minute that we have before you march away. But if you have reservations then I won't force you against your will."

"I have no reservations and you have no need of force."

Nancy closed the bedroom door behind them. "Stand to attention like a good soldier while I undress," she instructed.

Willy stood ramrod straight, his brass buttons gleaming against his scarlet tunic.

Nancy let down her straw blond hair and removed her peach coloured bodice which she placed on the dresser. She did the same to the overskirt, pocket and underskirt.

When Nancy took off the corset cover, Willy started to move towards her.

"No, wait!" she scolded gently.

The infantryman resumed his sentry-like pose as Nancy's petticoat was discarded. She kicked off her dainty shoes and untied the garters from each stocking in turn and removed the silk hoes. How Willy controlled his passion he didn't know. He had desired her so much for so long.

Next, Nancy untied the corset string and unfastened each of the dozen hooks on the front of the garment. She allowed it to drop. Reaching under the chemise her split drawers were dropped too.

Finally, the beautiful young woman pulled the chemise over her head to stand without a stitch before her lover.

Nancy said, softly, "Stay as you are."

She came towards him, stretched up and placed her arms around his neck. "For so long I have dreamed of pressing my naked body against this scarlet jacket."

Willy allowed her to indulge herself for several minutes before he responded, "And for so long I have dreamed of getting closer than that."

"You'd best get out of that uniform then," Nancy laughed, as she took three steps backwards."

She stood almost brazenly watching as Willy removed his white belt and started on the brass collar button.

As he worked his way downwards, Nancy laughed, "As I recall, the last time that I saw scarlet tunic being removed, Mrs Pepper had to drag it off you."

"And as I recall, you were undressing another man at the time," chortled Will, keeping eye contact with her; well trying anyway.

He laid his jacket on the floor and sat on a chair to remove his black shiny boots.

Standing again, the soldier slipped off his bracers and unbuttoned the black trousers. Try as he may, removing them was ungainly. Nancy nearly offered to help but she didn't want to give the impression that she was now adept at the art, having done it once before.

Will stood in just his white cotton shirt. The shirt-tails dropped well below his knees.

The young man stretched out his right hand towards her. As a concession, Nancy took two paces forward and undid the cuff button. Now this was something that she had done hundreds of times before. Willy had no difficulty in unfastening the left one himself.

Before he could grasp her, Nancy retreated.

Starting at the collar band, Will worked his way down the placket, slipping each button through its hole.

The shirt fell open.

She had seen it before, but not quite like this. In its dormant state it had looked quite friendly. Alert and ready for action, Williams penis appeared more menacing. The thought must have been apparent on Nancy's face because he said, "No need to be afraid, my love. It won't hurt you, I will never let it. I promise."

"No, I'm not afraid of the 'stuff and nonsense'. Mrs Pepper had prepared me and I know that you will be gentle."

Leaving his shirt in place he stepped forward as she stepped forward. They embraced, skin to skin for the first time, breasts to chest, penis to stomach. They kissed deeply. She lifted her hands under the shirt to his firm back, he dropped his to her hips and then onto her soft buttocks. The couple pulled each other closer.

Finally, William dropped to his knees, kissed her breasts, first left and then right. Something primeval led him to place his lips over Nancy's right nipple. At first he did no more than enclose it, then he began to suck gently. Very very gently.

Nancy closed her eyes and tilted her pretty blond head downwards, savouring this strange new sensation. It only multiplied the strange new sensation in her most intimate place.

He stood again and they kissed again.

This time Nancy fell to her knees. "I want to look at it," she sighed.

"It is splendid. How did it go from what I saw in Mrs Pepper's back room to something so rigid and firm?" Nancy asked as she placed her fingers around the phallus. Obviously, she knew how animals mated but she hadn't given much thought to the mechanics before.

Willy smiled, "Well, the thought of you forces blood into it and it grows hard."

The naive young lady instantly released her grip. "Oh! I'm sorry, does it hurt?"

Suppressing a laugh, he answered, "Not in the slightest. Quite the opposite; especially under your touch."

Nancy brushed the tip of one figure from the head of Willy's penis to the parting of his testicles. "So you don't mind me doing this to it then?"

"No, it's quite the nicest thing."

"It rather makes me wish that I had one," surmised Nancy.

"You can have mine whenever you like.

"Besides that, you have something just as wonderful of your own. Have you never given yourself pleasure by touching yourself down there? enquired William.

"If I have, and I'm not saying that I have, I wouldn't tell you about it. I was rather banking on you showing me just how to do that".

Willy eased Nancy to her feet, scooped her up in his arms and laid her softly on the double bed. He removed his shirt and stretched out beside her. Placing his right hand between her knees he gently encouraged the object of his affection to part her legs

With a back and forth motion he made his way slowly up her inner thigh.

"Just relax and breathe slowly. As I said, I will never harm you."

As she breathed, his fingertips made contact with her outer petals and stopped motionless. Nancy gave a little sigh, half of expectation, half of impatience.

After several minutes, Willy gently parted her labia and allowed his finger to enter. Very slowly, he pushed and pulled in and out. Each time going just a little deeper. It was far more pleasant than she imagined it would be. Nancy could feel the excitement build within her. Then suddenly he stopped.

"Are you ready, my love?" he asked.

"I believe that I am, yes."

Carefully, William climbed over her leg and, keeping his arms outstretched to avoid pressing down on her, he moved upwards. They both felt the head of his penis against her vulva. There would be no turning back now. With a little gentle force, the knob of Willy's erection found Nancy' vagina.

She was surprised, although there was a little discomfort there was no pain. Her lover's foreplay had eased his passage.

Without specifically asking a question, he halted when he had only half intruded, to give her time to object if she found it too much. No objection came. William pressed on with assertive tenderness. As he sensed his testicles gently brush against her, he stopped again. Nancy sighed.

He withdrew slowly and then thrust forward once more with care. Mrs Pepper was right, there was a lot of 'stuff and nonsense' talked about it, Nancy was enjoying it far more than she could ever have imagined. The old lady's words came back to her and she raised her knees as Willy went on with his work. The increased depth only added to her pleasure.

The excitement built and built until it reached a sort of plateau of joy that she could have happily lived on forever.

Nancy hoped that Willy was getting as much enjoyment from it as she was. Her concern was that although his face showed every indication that he was there was a worrying look of concentration on it too. Like he didn't want to give in entirely to his own needs.

Before she had time to ponder this thought, a crisis of pleasure washed over her. It started low down in her femininity and rippled outwards, engulfing her very being.

With relief, William ceased his concentration and gave in to his own crisis. She felt his ripples inside her.

As they lay in each other's arms, Nancy asked, "Will it always be like that?"

"I pray so," he replied.

By the time that Miss Dax and the servants came home, the engaged couple were seated in the withdrawing room drinking tea.

...

The following week flew by. Each morning, Nancy put the finishing touches to the wedding preparations. In the afternoon the couple would walk and talk and make love amongst the castle ruins, except for the one occasion when Miss Drax and her domestic staff had to make another unexpected social visit.

Every evening, Will and Tom went to the Fox Inn to throw a few arrows and take a pot or three. Between games and pints, Tommy pursued his great passion; the landlord's wife.

Like so many Dorset Pub Landladies, Abigail Grant was stunningly attractive and, if you believe local gossip, had been known to have taken a number of lovers with her husband's consent but, at this date Tommy Pepper was not among that number.

...

The interior of the Church of St Edward, King and Martyr is extremely picturesque. It is dedicated to the memory of the teenage king, who was stabbed to death at Corfe Castle in 978 AD on the orders of his stepmother Queen Ælfthryth (allegedly). His sainthood came about after a blind woman, who allowed his body to be hidden in her hut before being taken to Wareham, regained her sight. Just like the sainted king, the church was later ill-treated. During the Civil War, the Roundheads stabled their horses in the naive while they besieged the castle. The church and its records were badly damaged at that time. It is miraculous that such injustices can be perpetrated in the name of justice.

Decorated with blooms this Sunday, the restored church looked at its very best. Possibly drawn by the romantic scenario of a well respected local young woman's marriage to a soldier about to go off the fight in a foreign land, the place of worship was nearly full.

William stood nervously with Tom by his side. As her father was deceased, Nancy made her way down the aisle alone. When the young lovers turned to face each other the congregation fell silent.

The Reverend Hugh Maxwell based his 'Opening Exhortation' on Romans 12:10 'Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.'

Vows were exchanged and a golden ring was placed upon Nancy's finger. Finally, they were pronounced 'man and wife together' in the time honoured fashion. Willy spontaneously kissed his new bride and many female tears were shed.

It had been raining earlier that day but the newly wedded couple emerged from the church porch into bright sunlight, which was generally acknowledged as an auspicious omen.

At this point the church of St Edward, King and Martyr revealed its optimum advantage as the choice for a wedding; it is but a few yards from the front door of the Fox Inn.

In the back room of the inn, the dozen or so invited guests enjoyed a brief wedding breakfast. Proceedings then spilled out into the rest of the building. Possibly drawn by the romantic scenario of a well respected local young woman's marriage to a soldier about to go off the fight in a foreign land, or maybe by the prospect of gratis food and drink, the hostelry was nearly full.

Soon, three or four villagers of a musical bent struck up a stirring tune ideal for dancing. The bride and groom danced. Nearly everyone else danced too. A good-time was had all round.

As the revellers slowly drifted off home they each wished the young people good luck.

The couple spend their first night together in Nancy's room at Miss Drax's. They couldn't have been happier.

...

Nancy lay in Willy's arms as they sheltered from the fresh breeze behind a broken down castle wall. The warmth of the sun had made them both feel a little sleepy, or it could have simply been the tiredness from just having made love. What came so easily and naturally when they were both naked involved some ingenuity when they were fully clothed. Simply having her skirts lifted while Willy climbed on top was somewhat cumbersome, the layers of underskirt rucked up and were constantly in the way.

At first Willy had Nancy bend over some piece of the ruins while he lifted her skirt and underskirt high over her back. He could then part her drawers and enter her from behind. Nancy found this quite exciting and she told Willy so. What she didn't tell him, and would never tell him, was that the excitement came from the animalistic nature of it.

Nevertheless, Nancy missed the intimacy of looking into his eyes. Latterly, at her suggestion, Willy would lay on his back with his trousers undone. That way Nancy could simply step over him and squat down onto his penis with her skirts spread all around her. She preferred this method because it gave her more control over proceedings and they were able to see each other's expression when they reached a crisis.

Miss Drax had insisted that she didn't require Nancy to keep her company for the whole of the week so they had spent their days like this. At night they explored each other's body in more intimate detail.

"I don't want you to go tomorrow," said Nancy quietly.

Willy replied, "Neither do I wish to go but I am bound to go."

"Can you not just abscond?"

"I could but they would hunt me to the ends of the earth. They take a dim view of deserters, does the Army.

"No, we common men cannot vote but when England beats her drum we must answer her call. It has always been so."

"Ah," replied Nancy, "I cannot vote either so why can't I answer her call and join your regiment."

Willy nearly laughed but controlled himself, "Women will never be allowed to join the army and I doubt that they will ever be allowed to vote either."

"I could tie up my yellow hair and hide it under a cap. If I don a uniform like yours, I could sneak onboard ship and sail with you."

"But, my love, you are too small and pretty to be taken for a private soldier."

"How about a drummer boy. As long as we had our own cabin nobody would notice," said Nancy, becoming more and more desperate to find some way for them not to be parted.

Shaking his head, Willy said, "We always sleep in the hold of the ship crammed together like cattle. On shore it is little better, often we are just on the ground outside.

"It takes a weary week or more to reach Gibraltar and more again to get to Egypt. You would be sure to be found out and then even I could not save you from a ship full of lusty men.

"No, my darling one, I must just march off to Portsmouth tomorrow and you must await my return here. I will send you letters when I can."

...

Nancy waited.

By day she read, embroidered or spoke with Miss Drax, the thoughtful old lady never asked her to play Chess; there was no point. On her days off, Nancy walked around the castle ruins and remembered their two weeks of love. At night she did the same but more intimately.

"Mrs Pepper is here to see you, Miss, I mean Madam," announced Tilly the maid. In the seven or so weeks since Nancy's marriage, the pretty girl hadn't quite mastered the change in her status.

"Well, show her in then Tilly," commanded Miss Drax. She knew that the widow wouldn't disturb them without good cause.

As the old woman entered the withdrawing room, she said, "Begging your pardon Miss Drax but I has had a letter from Tommy. Could Nancy, Mrs Totnes as she is, read en for I?"

Although she had no intention of leaving, Miss Drax offered, "Would you like me to vacate the room while she does so."

"No, gawd love ee, I has no secrets," said the widow, as she handed over the letter.

Not quite sure why she hadn't received anything in the post and fearful of the answer, Nancy began to read aloud, "Dearest Grandmother."

Mrs Pepper huffed slightly.

"I hope that this letter finds you well. I am well, myself. We have landed in Alexandria safely. The food is not very good.

"I have seen a camel but have not ridden one.

"Things are tense but there has been no fighting yet, long may it continue.

"Your loving grandson.

"TOM.

"PS Could you give Will's letter to Nancy. We put them in together to save the postal cost."

Nancy handed the letter to Mrs Pepper who went through the formality of handing her back the second sheet.

She scanned the page quickly and spotted the large letter W at the foot of it.

"You had better take it to your room to read it," suggested Miss Drax, "you can give us the synopsis later."

"Yes do," said Mrs Pepper, rather disappointed that it wasn't to read aloud, "though I don't think there was one of them Egyptian knobsis things in the 'vlope."

Once alone Nancy read Willy's words and was instantly glad that Mrs Pepper was unable to read. After conveying more or less what Tommy's letter had done, there followed the most obscene details of exactly what Willy was going to do to her when he returned.

While he was undoubtedly a virile man, Nancy had rarely known Willy to use such coarse language before. Many of the things he had planned for her she had never ever heard of before.

Shocked, she fell back onto her bed. The words went around and around in her head. Suddenly, Nancy scrambled to pull up her skirt and underskirt. Her hand found its way inside her split drawers and forcibly spread her labia. She lifted her knees and repeatedly thrust two of her fingers deep inside herself until a crisis of pleasure took hold of her whole body and she shook violently.

...

She had had her suspicions for a while but finally she went to see the doctor and he confirmed that she was with child.

"Oh my darling girl! How absolutely wonderful!" exclaimed Miss Drax, when Nancy informed her.

Nancy confided, "I am so glad that you counselled me to marry. There is a world of difference between being the pregnant wife of a soldier recently posted overseas and an abandoned woman."

"Quite so," said the wise old lady, "I am sure that William will be delighted when he hears."

"I pray so. I have written to him but the Postmistress tells me that the letter will probably reach Alexandria within a month or so, quite quickly really, but after that it is in the lap of the gods. If his battalion is moving around a lot it could take weeks to catch up with him. That is if it doesn't get lost completely," said Nancy, rather despondently.

Ever practical, Miss Drax suggested, "Well, the best thing to do would be to write to him once a week. Sooner or later one letter will find him. I will pay for the postage."

"You are such an angel, where would my life have been without you," said Nancy, with tears in her eyes.

"At the risk of appearing sentimental, you are the closest thing to a daughter that I shall ever have and I couldn't wish for a better one," replied Miss Drax, passing a finger under her eye.

...

As is the way of secrets passed between women, within a day both Cook and Tilly knew her news; within a week the whole village knew it too.

Everyone she knew congratulated Nancy when she met them in the street. Matronly women commented with a smile on how well Willy had done to hit the target so quickly. Young women were more concerned about the impending changes to her body. Nancy took it all with a good heart.

As she started to show slightly, every person asked the same question, "How do you feel?" Generally, she didn't feel too bad. Obviously, every week brought a new symptom.

After about three months, Mrs Pepper banged loudly on Miss Drax's and entered without waiting for it to be answered.

"I has had 'nother letter!" she exclaimed.

"Not bad news?" uttered Miss Drax.

"Blasted if I knows, can anybody read it to I?" She thrust the paper into Nancy's hand.

She read it quickly. "No, not bad news. Tommy says that they have matched about a lot but that there has not been any fighting yet.

"He is well and misses Corfe. He hopes that his dear grandmother is well too.

"He says that there is a letter for me," concluded Nancy. Without the usual courtesy she started to read the second sheet of paper.

Along with the same information that Tommy had conveyed there was a diatribe of the sexual acts that Willy intended to treat Nancy to when he returned. She coloured slightly before pulling herself together.

"It says that he has received two letters from me but he strangely makes no reference to the baby. He says that he loves and misses me and can't wait until he returns." She handed back Tommy's letter to Mrs Pepper but stuffed hers into her pocket before anyone else asked to read it.

"Still, I suppose it is good that it is not bad news," stated Miss Drax.

Mrs Pepper concurred, "Aye, as e says, not bad news."

Nancy wasn't so sure. How did Willy feel about fatherhood? She asked to be excused while she went upstairs to read the letter again in detail.

...

She didn't know how other pregnancies went but hers didn't go too badly. Miss Drax's doctor was excellent and so was the midwife. Nancy was delivered of a pretty daughter.

Overall, there had been five letters from Willy, none of them mentioned the baby. What they did mention was the bizarre things that he intended to do to Nance the minute he returned. She reread each one of them frequently. Nancy missed his physical presence so much and as she read she would stroke her feminine parts until the ecstasy overwhelmed her.

Miss Drax arranged for a nursemaid to help Nancy with baby Constance. In her weekly letter she had told Willy that she would be known as Connie. She sent it with the hope that he would accept and love the child as she did. Nancy believed that she knew her husband well but she couldn't comprehend why he acted so coldly towards his new daughter.

So time went on very slowly.

As Constance passed her first birthday, Tilly entered the morning room. Nancy was alone sewing a nightdress for the little girl. "There is a soldier at the door asking for you, Madam," the maid announced.

"Will?" asked Nancy, getting to her feet.

"No, an old stout man," said Tilly.

Nancy went white. "Ask him to come in... please," she murmured.

A burly moustachioed man walked smartly into the room, black peaked cap tucked beneath his arm, with three chevrons proudly displayed on his scarlet tunic.

Nancy's voice trembled as she asked, "Is William dead, Sergeant?"

"No, Ma'am, he is very much alive but it is a delicate matter that I am here on," answered the Sergeant, as he turned his gaze towards Tilly.

Nancy instructed the maid not to eavesdrop by saying, "That will be all Tilly, please go back to the scullery."

"Now Sergeant, please tell me what has occurred."

"I am instructed by Private Totnes to give you this letter."

Nancy reached for her paper knife and slit open the envelope. Removing and unfolding the single sheet she immediately saw the family capital W at the foot of the page.

The letter read, "My Dearest Nancy.

"I am in serious trouble. I foolishly assaulted this Sergeant causing him grievous injury. I am to face a Court Martial where I am certain to be found guilty. For committing such a heinous crime I will be sentenced to at least ten years of hard labour.

"The Sergeant is a reasonable chap so we have agreed that if you allow him to fuck you, he will drop all the charges against me.

"Only you can save me, my love, so please do not have any reservations regarding this. It is truly what I want you to do.

"I will be forever grateful to you so do not have any second thoughts.

"Your loving husband."

Nancy stood with her mouth wide open. She mumbled, "I can't do this."

"It is your choice," replied the Sergeant, "I have given him a way out but if you want him to be incarcerated for a long time, so be it.

"I am staying at the Greyhound Inn, there is an alley running behind it. Come there at 9 o'clock this evening and lift that pretty skirt while I fuck you from behind. If you don't, I will go back to Bodmin and tell your husband that you have abandoned him."

He turned and left Nancy there, shaking.

...

You are an intelligent person and a sensitive soul, I am sure, so you can imagine the mental twists and turns that Nancy went through. Should she break her marriage vows to save the man she loves? Could she not?

Her husband had urged her to, so there was no blame involved, yet she still had her reservations. Normally, Nancy would have consulted Miss Drax but in this case how could she? Not for the first time in her life, she was faced with a conundrum which tossed and spun in her brain.

Nancy laid out the arguments both for and against, rather as an accountant would lay out a balance sheet; both sides were even. The one thing that wasn't on either side. The one thing that she would never admit as a consideration, even to herself. The final straw that tipped the scales was the fact that she hadn't felt the touch of a man for nearly two years and she missed it so much.

...

With much trepidation and shaking knees, Nancy made her way towards the Greyhound Inn. She had told the nursemaid that she would be gone for less than an hour.

The nervous young wife had to pass the front of the Fox Inn in order to reach the Greyhound and the alleyway that ran behind it. As she approached the front door a scarlet tunic tumbled out, nearly knocking her over. She had a feeling of déjà vu. Her first thought was that it must be the Sergeant but the body was too slight. Could it be Willy?

"Ah, Nance. I was just coming to see you but I thought I'd grab a quick pint first," said Tommy Pepper.

"Are you with the Sergeant?" she asked, accusingly.

"What Sergeant?"

"The one who brought the letter from Will."

"What letter? What did he look like?" asked Tommy, confused.

"A big man with a moustache. He had a uniform like yours but grander. His accent is a bit like the Devon one that Willy has but somehow stranger."

Tommy took Nancy by the shoulders and said, "Now, calm down and tell me exactly what is going on and about this letter."

Nancy calmed herself, she said, "A Sergeant from your regiment came to Miss Drax's with a letter from Will saying that he was in deep trouble because he had assaulted this Sergeant. You must know about it."

"That's not right. That sounds like Sergeant Trenowden, he's the Cornishman what reads, writes and dispatches our letters for us, at a high price. He has always taken a disliking to Will, I think that he is jealous because Willy has you, and now he has had Will's leave cancelled. That's why I had to catch the train alone. I walked from Wareham to save the cash.

"What did the letter say?"

"Will admitted that he had assaulted the Sergeant and that they would send him to prison for at least ten years. He said that I was to let the Sergeant, you know, and he would drop the charges."

"Let him do what?"

"Don't make me say it, Tommy."

"Oh! My goodness.! The Blackguard, that sounds just like Sergeant Trenowden.

"Although we pay him, we are never sure that he writes exactly what we say or reads just what is written. Or, if he even sends off the letters!

"Granny told me that you have had Willy's child, I wondered why you haven't told him about it."

Nancy was indignant, "I wrote to him and told him every week. He never mentioned Connie in his letters, I thought that he wasn't happy about being a father."

"No, never say that. In the quiet times of dusk, we often speak of our hopes and dreams as soldiers do. Will always says that he wants to start a small business, when he leaves the army next year, and that he longs to have a family with you."

Touched by Tommy's words, Nancy asked, "And what about you Tom, what do you hope for?"

"Well, I always say that my only hope is to tupp Dick Grant's wife bent over the bar of the Fox," laughed Tom, "but secretly I just want to find a girl as sweet as you to marry.

"Anyhow, that is not solving the issue at hand. Where is the Sergeant planning to perform his dastardly deed?"

"He is staying at the Greyhound, I am to meet him at nine in the back alley like a common whore."

"Yes, he must be skulking in an upper room, You can access the alley via the back stairs.

"Nancy, go home. I will come and see you tomorrow. Leave Sergeant Trenowden to me."

"Don't put yourself in any danger, please, not in my account."

"I am not the one in danger," concluded Tommy.

Nancy spent a restless night. Her mind constantly went over what Tommy had said. It became clear to her that much of what was written in William's letters may not have been composed by him. She rebuked herself for finding the obscenity quite so exciting, she resolved to burn the letters at her earliest opportunity.

Surely, Will would get leave soon. She was so relieved to know that had returned unscathed and was now in Bodmin. Her opinion of that lovely little town had improved immeasurably.

...

Much relieved in spirit, the next morning Nancy was in the garden cutting some lavender to put in her room. Tilly came scuttling down the crazy paving red flushed and flustered.

"Begging your pardon Ma'am, but Tommy Pepper, I mean Thomas Pepper is here. He says that you are expecting him."

"Show him into the garden, it's such a pleasant day I will speak with him on the Arbour Seat."

Beside the convivial nature of this choice, the main advantage of the Arbour Seat was that it could be clearly seen from the house but the conversation would be out of earshot.

Nancy sat but Tommy remained standing.

"The Sergeant kept your liaison and was rather surprised to find the Burdock brothers waiting for him. They persuaded him to accompany them to Swanage," he laughed at his meiosis, "he was encouraged to change his clothes and board a boat bound for Jersey. Unfortunately for him, they made sure that he had no money to pay for the return journey."

Nancy gasped, "Won't you be implicated?"

"Not me. I was in the Fox all evening talking dirty to Mrs Grant and I have a dozen witnesses to prove it.

"When I return to Bodmin, I shall casually mention that I bumped into Sergeant Trenowden and that he expressed his revulsion for military life and his wish to run away from it. The Army will find him sooner or later."

Nancy jumped to her feet and kissed him fondly, before saying, "Oh Tommy Pepper, you are wonderful, I can see why Tilly is so enamoured with you."

Tommy blinked and exclaimed slowly, "Is she? She has never said so!"

"Of course she hasn't, you mummet, but it's obvious to everyone else but you."

"But what would such a beautiful young thing see in a reprobate like me?"

"It is strange what attracts a woman to a man or a man to a woman," concluded Nancy, with a laugh.