Read Online The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Tags: Ages 12 & Up
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bothering to modulate my tone now, as though the women weren't even there, as though no one could hear us and we existed in a universe of two.
"They are trying to ascertain," Will said, speaking clearly, "whether or not we have sufficient funds to obtain their services for the evening. You know, so we could bed them."
I was shocked. Will sounded so sure of himself. Had he bedded a woman before? And under similar circumstances? Then it hit me. Was this the sort of thing I would be expected to have knowledge of at school? And here I'd been amazed by
cows!
"Haven't you ever been with a woman before, lad?" mine asked me. Not waiting for an answer, she thrust her hand between my legs and gave a hard squeeze. It was only later on that I realized that what she'd felt was the soft wadded-up ball of stocking I'd shoved down there. "No," she said, looking puzzled as her hand groped further, "I guess not."
"What are you
doing?
" I cried, abruptly rising from my seat and causing the woman to be dumped on the floor.
Will laughed uproariously at the sight.
"I'm sorry," he said to the women between gasping laughs, "I'm afraid we won't be needing your services this evening." Then he reached into his pocket and held out some coins to them with a good-natured shrug.
The one who'd been dumped on the floor looked angry at first, but then her friend started to laugh and finally she did too.
"At least we made some money," Will's said, helping her friend up, "and we didn't even have to do anything for it."
"What was that all about?" I asked Will once they were gone. "And what was that one woman expecting to find when she ...
grabbed
me like that? I thought the stocking would be enough to fool anybody."
"Oh, Bet." Will shook his head at me, smiling a smile that was equal parts happy and sad. "I am worried about you."
"And why is that?"
"Because you really have no idea what you're getting yourself into, no idea how dangerous this game of yours might turn out to be."
"Dangerous?"
"I'm with you tonight, but after tomorrow morning I won't be. Anything could happen, and no one back home would even know where you were. Why, if the boys at school ever realize you're a girl, they'll eat you alive."
His words scared me. I can't say they didn't. But I'd already come so far.
"I'll take my chances," I said, then added, "Now order us another round."
***
A few hours later we stumbled our way back to the inn, arms flung around each other's shoulders. (The next day, as I continued my carriage ride alone, I would dimly recall that Will had taught me a song on the walk back, some strange song about a sailor.)
We further stumbled our way up the narrow flight of stairs and into our shared room, then collapsed onto our respective beds, still wearing our clothes. "You know, Bet," Will said drunkenly from his makeshift bed on the hard floor, "I've always regarded you as the sister I never had."
I was so stunned by this admission that it took me a long time to respond. I was unused to having someone express open affection for me in such a manner, and I wanted to return the favor, but it was awkward.
At last, I whispered, "I feel the same, Will. That is to say, I think of you as a brother, not a sister."
But by then it was too late, and my words were answered only with loud snores.
Chapter five
"Well, I am off to join the military," Will said brightly.
I squinched one eye open just wide enough to see him heft his bag. I'd been required to bring a large trunk to hold all the things I'd need at school, while Will had brought only a bag, since he said he wouldn't need very much where he was going. Even the single lamp he had lit gave off too much illumination, causing me to shut the eye again as quickly as I could. Thank God it was still too early for the morning sun.
"I am going to join the military," Will said again, more brightly yet.
"Yes, I heard you the first time," I murmured. "Before you go, do you think you might tell those people on the
"They are trying to ascertain," Will said, speaking clearly, "whether or not we have sufficient funds to obtain their services for the evening. You know, so we could bed them."
I was shocked. Will sounded so sure of himself. Had he bedded a woman before? And under similar circumstances? Then it hit me. Was this the sort of thing I would be expected to have knowledge of at school? And here I'd been amazed by
cows!
"Haven't you ever been with a woman before, lad?" mine asked me. Not waiting for an answer, she thrust her hand between my legs and gave a hard squeeze. It was only later on that I realized that what she'd felt was the soft wadded-up ball of stocking I'd shoved down there. "No," she said, looking puzzled as her hand groped further, "I guess not."
"What are you
doing?
" I cried, abruptly rising from my seat and causing the woman to be dumped on the floor.
Will laughed uproariously at the sight.
"I'm sorry," he said to the women between gasping laughs, "I'm afraid we won't be needing your services this evening." Then he reached into his pocket and held out some coins to them with a good-natured shrug.
The one who'd been dumped on the floor looked angry at first, but then her friend started to laugh and finally she did too.
"At least we made some money," Will's said, helping her friend up, "and we didn't even have to do anything for it."
"What was that all about?" I asked Will once they were gone. "And what was that one woman expecting to find when she ...
grabbed
me like that? I thought the stocking would be enough to fool anybody."
"Oh, Bet." Will shook his head at me, smiling a smile that was equal parts happy and sad. "I am worried about you."
"And why is that?"
"Because you really have no idea what you're getting yourself into, no idea how dangerous this game of yours might turn out to be."
"Dangerous?"
"I'm with you tonight, but after tomorrow morning I won't be. Anything could happen, and no one back home would even know where you were. Why, if the boys at school ever realize you're a girl, they'll eat you alive."
His words scared me. I can't say they didn't. But I'd already come so far.
"I'll take my chances," I said, then added, "Now order us another round."
***
A few hours later we stumbled our way back to the inn, arms flung around each other's shoulders. (The next day, as I continued my carriage ride alone, I would dimly recall that Will had taught me a song on the walk back, some strange song about a sailor.)
We further stumbled our way up the narrow flight of stairs and into our shared room, then collapsed onto our respective beds, still wearing our clothes. "You know, Bet," Will said drunkenly from his makeshift bed on the hard floor, "I've always regarded you as the sister I never had."
I was so stunned by this admission that it took me a long time to respond. I was unused to having someone express open affection for me in such a manner, and I wanted to return the favor, but it was awkward.
At last, I whispered, "I feel the same, Will. That is to say, I think of you as a brother, not a sister."
But by then it was too late, and my words were answered only with loud snores.
Chapter five
"Well, I am off to join the military," Will said brightly.
I squinched one eye open just wide enough to see him heft his bag. I'd been required to bring a large trunk to hold all the things I'd need at school, while Will had brought only a bag, since he said he wouldn't need very much where he was going. Even the single lamp he had lit gave off too much illumination, causing me to shut the eye again as quickly as I could. Thank God it was still too early for the morning sun.
"I am going to join the military," Will said again, more brightly yet.
"Yes, I heard you the first time," I murmured. "Before you go, do you think you might tell those people on the
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