"Emily certainly has fallen for Charlie." Rebecca smiled, pouring them both another cup of coffee.
"Yes, she has, has she not? It is amazing to watch Charlie play 'papa'. I personally expected him to have apoplexy over the mashed squash and cereal."
The blonde smiled. "Secretly I think he loves it, even if he is a little unsure of it all. Last night while we were having tea after dinner, he kept talking of Emily. I think he is just as smitten."
"It is startling how much she resembles him." Elizabeth detected a note of something not quite right or comfortable in Rebecca's tone.
"Yes," she agreed before sipping her coffee. "Charlie could certainly pass for her father. They even have the same chin." She leaned back in her chair and played with her napkin. "Charlie would make a wonderful father."
"And you, my dear friend, would make a truly wonderful mother."
"You are very kind, but I am not sure about that. Not that I would not love to try, but you have seen the affinity the child has for Charlie. It is astounding. She certainly does not light up like that when I walk into the room. And given the choice, she would much prefer Charlie's lap over my own." Rebecca sighed. "But she does have her mother near."
"Rebecca, think on this for a minute. That child's affinity for Charlie is for one reason and only one reason. He looks like her daddy. And she misses her daddy more than she can express at her age." Elizabeth thought for a moment. "You know, you resemble her mother somewhat. If her mother had gone away when she was eleven months old and then you appeared in her life and were gentle and loving, she would adore you the way she adores him. You would be the mother she misses returned to her."
"I suppose that is true." She smiled at her friend. "But whatever the reason, that child is totally in love with our Charlie. He manages to charm the ladies, no matter what the age." She drew a deep breath. "Elizabeth, I have a question and I do not know who else to turn to for the answer. Do you mind?"
Elizabeth looked at Rebecca closely. She appeared concerned, confused and embarrassed all at once. Ah. Another round of lessons from the unconventional doctor. Well, this should be interesting. "Of course not, Rebecca. I told you that you could ask me anything and I would do my best to give you an honest answer."
Rebecca moved from her seat to the one occupied by Colonel Polk over breakfast, the one closest to Elizabeth. "Uh... I must admit I am not sure how to put this. It is about…… intimate matters."
Elizabeth bowed her head and patted her lips with her napkin, because that is what proper ladies did when they wanted to hide a terrible smirk. Introductory same gender sex. This should be interesting indeed. "Yes? I will certainly help if I can. After all, is that not what doctors are for?"
"Oh Lord," Rebecca ran her hand over her face trying to remove the blush. "You see, marital duties with my husband were just that…… duties. I never actually enjoyed my interludes with him." She took another drink of her coffee waiting to see what that admission would bring from her friend.
Elizabeth's professional face was firmly in place, kind, accepting, understanding, and non-judgmental. "I know that is true for many women, unfortunately. Their husbands fail to take the time or effort to teach them intimacy can, and should, be an expression of deep love for both partners."
"I am sure it would have helped if we had loved each other." That was out before Rebecca thought about it. She shook her head. "I am sorry, I am getting off course here. Obviously, I want to ask you about something else. You see, Charlie and I have agreed to take things slow. And since then, at night we have been cuddling and sharing small kisses……" She looked to the doctor trying to hide her smile. "I have discovered I rather like that."
"I would imagine so. Charlie can be very gentle and very tender. So what is it about this that bothers you?"
"Oh, that does not bother me!" She was quick to defend. "I really do enjoy it and Charlie is very patient, but I am afraid I may be hurting Charlie."
Elizabeth had a very clear picture in her mind of a rather excited Charlie trying very hard to be gentle and to restrain himself. She suspected under that very controlled surface lay an extraordinarily passionate soul, one for whom tender kisses and sisterly embraces would be little solace indeed. "Hurting him how, dear lady?"
"Umm," She blushed deeper red. "He is never going to forgive me for knowing this. Night before last, I retired before Charlie as he had paperwork to do. He came up sometime later and came to bed. He thought I was asleep, but I was not. He smelled of cigars and brandy." She bit her lip and looked to her friend.
"Well, perhaps he stopped to have a drink and chat with one of his officers. I understand gentlemen often do such things." Where was this going? Just because Charlie had a brandy with one of his men did not indicate he was hurting in any way. In fact, I know he often reaches out, a man or two at a time, to build more solid relationships with his staff. "I do not see how that leads you to believe he may be hurting."
"Well, you see, when he came to bed he was naked." She looked directly at the table and waited.
Elizabeth waited patiently for Rebecca to continue. Clearly, a little goading was going to be necessary. "Was that a problem for you, dear?"
"No. Actually, I found Charlie," she leaned over and whispered so no one save them would hear. "In all her glory quite enchanting." She sat back up and continued at a semi-normal level. "He got into bed and laid next to me. I let him think I was asleep but I watched him, while he umm……well……"
"While he?" Oh, this is prime. Charlie, Charlie. What have you gotten yourself into?
"While he," Rebecca was sure she was going to die of embarrassment. "He pleasured himself."
Elizabeth’s nose twitched. She bit her lower lip. Laughing in the face of Rebecca’s obvious discomfort would clearly not do. So. Charlie had a bad night, had a couple of drinks with one of the other gentlemen, went to bed to lie beside a beautiful woman who is sleeping peacefully and who Charlie desires to the core of his soul, and had to do something to relieve the pressure a little. "How do you think this is hurtful to Charlie, my dear?"
"Oh dear, I must be doing something wrong……if he needs……I do not know……" She blushed and hid her face behind her hand. "He called my name."
"Then perhaps, dear Rebecca, you are doing something very right. Has it occurred to you that Charlie desires you deeply and respects you enough to keep his passion at bay until you are ready?"
"But, umm, is that normal?"
"Is what normal? Needing to relieve a little of the pressure of a deep, persistent desire, or being willing to wait patiently until you are ready to both accept and return his passion?"
Rebecca really liked Elizabeth, but the woman's refusal to answer a simple question was maddening. She laughed, now the situation was getting too silly for words. "Do that……you know……what Charlie did."
"I assume that Charlie masturbated. And further, that as he reached release, he called out your name. If I were you, I would be very flattered." Elizabeth smiled. "All it means is that he wants you, desires you and is doing what he needs to do to wait for you to feel the same for him."
"So I should not be worried?" She chewed on her lip. "I have just never been subject to such a thing. I thought something was wrong."
Elizabeth looked at her friend with some concern. "Dear woman, have you never felt the joy that desire, that a loving touch can bring? Have you never explored your own sensuality? That is all Charlie was doing. I suspect he either wanted to touch you, caress you, and bring you intense pleasure or he was fantasizing about your doing that to him. What made you think something was wrong?"