His Little Courtesan (2 page)

"Because you are small, you have the opportunity
to practice positions that most couples are unable to. That is, if Philip is
endowed sufficiently."

"I assure you, he is more than sufficiently
endowed. Help me!"

"No, you can unravel yourself without my
help," Usha said with a grin, squatting on the ground and watching Jane
with amplified amusement.

Jane made a face, rolled backwards on the lush grass,
and disentangled her legs. "When is this going to be fun?" she asked,
panting for breath as she looked up at the brilliant, blue sky.

"When? I am thoroughly enjoying myself right now,"
Usha laughed. "Stand up and remove your clothes."

"Right here? But there are people throughout the
grounds!"

"Being comfortable with your body is vital to the
freedom in a sexual relationship. You are to spend the entire next day
unclothed, and pay attention to your senses and how they speak to you."

"What! I cannot do that! Philip…"

"Philip has agreed that I teach you what is
necessary. You have already witnessed the means in which I achieve obedience.
Will it be necessary for me to gather another switch?"

Jane shook her head, the vision of Lynette's bottom
still quite fresh in her mind. Layer by layer, her clothing fell upon the thick
grass at her feet until she stood, completely naked, in the open garden.

"Before your countrymen came here, many of us
were not permitted to cover our breasts," Usha said, walking around Jane's
naked form. "We had no shame, for it was part of our culture. Lift your
chin and thrust out your breasts. More," she ordered, using her hands to
adjust the arch of Jane's body. "Modesty and the covering of one's body
differ from state to state in our country. North and south take different views
of what is considered decent and proper. I am not concerned about either of our
cultures right now. I am only interested in you, and your happiness with your
husband-to-be."

"This is very uncomfortable for me, Usha. At the
baths, the exposure was brief, and I could submerge below the water.
Here," Jane gestured, "there is no water to hide in."

"Until sunset tomorrow, you are to conduct all
your activities without clothing. That includes joining us at the table for
meals."

"What?" Jane was appalled. "I cannot be
seen like this before Uncle Rama!"

"He is family to you, and nothing more. In his
eyes, you are but a child. This is your first lesson, Jane. Go about your day
in peace."

Jane blinked dumbly as Usha walked away. Once the
woman was out of sight, she scurried behind trees and bushes on her way back to
the guest chambers. Philip was lounging on the couch, reading a book, as she
barged inside.

"Jane?"

"This is not my doing!" she proclaimed,
snatching the coverlet off the bed and quickly wrapping it around her body.
"Usha is trying to make me remain naked until tomorrow night. She even
said I had to attend meals without clothing!"

"Then why are you covering yourself?"

"I beg your pardon? Did you just hear what I told
you?"

"I did. Drop the blanket, Jane." Philip put
his book down and slowly stood, his hand stretched out to receive the item from
her hand. With a pout, Jane handed him the blanket, and then lifted her hands
to hide her breasts from his view.

"Put your hands down. I don't want to see you
hiding your body from me. Good girl," Philip praised. "This lesson is
as difficult for me as it is for you, baby. You are to stay naked, and I am
supposedly forbidden to touch you."

"You are?"

"Yes. Rama said that my eyes need to drink in
your beauty so that my mind may enhance what my body desires. That is not
something a man my age wants to hear when a beautiful, naked woman stands
before him. Let's take a walk and distract ourselves from our plight."

"Philip, please! I am
naked
!" Jane crossed her arms, frowning at his attempt at
humor.

"My dear," Philip snickered, "you are
the apple of my eye and the delight of my soul. Are you going to deny me the
pleasure of walking beside such a radiant beauty?"

"Will you kindly dispense with the flowery words
of the Kama Sutra and consider my discomfort for just one minute?"

"I could certainly consider your discomfort.
Would you like to walk with your bottom glowing red? I would be very happy to
assist with turning it so."

"You are despicable at times, Philip de
Courtier!" Jane grumbled, rolling her eyes as he laughed.

Jane was grateful that the only person they encountered
in the garden was an old woman picking herbs. She offered a toothless smile as
they approached, bowed her greeting to the couple, and handed Jane a vibrant
blue flower with pink-tipped petals and a yellow center. It was so large that
she had to hold it cradled in both hands.

"H-have we met?" Jane stuttered, staring at
the woman in disbelief.

The woman touched Jane's cheek and hurried away,
disappearing behind the hedges.

"It appears as though she just blessed your
lessons, little one," Philip chuckled, as Jane stared between the
magnificent flower in her hands and the empty spot where the old woman had
stood.

"Philip? She looks exactly like the woman I met
back in Epsom. The one who gave me the white lotus. She even touched my face in
the same way. How can that be?"

"There are many old, toothless women in the
world, and the gesture is common among the elderly. I am certain it's just a
coincidence."

"If you say so," Jane said doubtfully.
"What did you mean when you said she blessed me? And does a blue lotus
mean anything like the white one?"

"When someone offers you a flower, they bless
you. We will have to ask Rama about the meaning of the blue flower."

"Why a lotus?"

"I don't know much, except that the Hindus
believe the goddess
Saraswathi sits upon a lotus blossom. She is the
muse of learning, and will help bring you to new heights of understanding. Like
you, my love, this flower," he gently touched the soft petal,
"blossoms slowly, one petal at a time, and does not fully bloom until the
sun's rays kiss the very center. It is like when I make love to you with my
mouth."

"It
is?"

Philip cupped
her cheek and said, in Tamil, "Passion allows your beauty to unfold in the
light of my love, and opens to the fullest when I press kisses to the center of
your bud."

Jane stared at
Philip, captivated by the hypnotic tone of his voice and the words he was
speaking in the ancient, musical language of love. Gone was the stiff,
controlling and ever-so-proper Marquis de Courtier and, in his place, stood a
seductive, hungry tiger, who sought to devour her innocence and bring her to
places untold. Her heart swelled with love, and she lifted her chin as she had
done in the days when she attended the baths. Only this time, the feigned
confidence while exposing her Blessing Ring was replaced by honest poise and
self-assurance. Her ring, and her body, was meant to be admired as a work of
art—a work of art made for Philip's enjoyment.

The evening
meal was one of further surprises. Rama's wives, sans children, were all in
attendance—and all naked. Lynette greeted Jane with a hug, and bowed
before Philip respectfully.

"We
thought you would be more comfortable if we all joined you in your
lesson," she explained, taking Jane's hand and offering her a pillow seat
at the low table,
while Philip went to seat
himself next to his friend.

"Thank you! This gesture means a lot to me."

"That lotus is beautiful," Lynette said,
touching the flower that Jane had tucked into her hair. "Where in the
world did you find it?"

"The old woman in the garden gave it to me."

"Old woman?"

"She was collecting herbs for the kitchen. She
just came over and handed it to me."

"We don't have an old woman who works in the
kitchens. Nor do we have blue lotus flowers in our gardens," Lynette said.

"These are very rare," Usha said, touching
the petals gently. "This flower represents victory of the spirit over the
senses, and intelligence and wisdom of knowledge. See how it is not yet opened?
This is the embodiment of the perfection of wisdom, the knowledge that
enlightenment comes with learning."

"This is the strangest coincidence. Back in
Epsom, a woman who looked exactly the same as the one in the garden touched my
face and handed me a white lotus flower. That was the night that Philip
returned from India and proclaimed his love for me. This woman touched me in
the same way. I also found a red lotus flower sitting on my windowsill on the
night of the ball, but never saw who put it there."

"I believe you were touched by the goddess, my
Little Monkey," Rama said, overhearing the conversation. "She saw
your fear and your beauty, and wanted to help you succeed in your quest, and
encourage you to continue to open the purity in your heart to learn."

"Learn what? The Kama Sutra?"

"Knowledge touches the mind and the body. Your
eyes open to the world and take in its beauty with learning. Likewise, when a
paste is made of various roots, powders, and the petals of a blue lotus, and
applied to the
yoni
of the young
bride, her body will expand for her partner to invite him deeper."

"Yoni?"

"The sacred feminine place."

Jane blushed as Lynnette whispered, "Pussy,"
into her ear. She cleared her throat and gently pushed the giggling Lynette
from her. "Uncle Rama, there has got to be a logical explanation for this.
Goddesses just don't appear in gardens and give out flowers."

"Who said there had to be a logical explanation?
And a goddess can appear anywhere she desires, and give out whatever flower she
chooses. Blessings and miracles are not intended to be understood, my dear Little
Monkey. They are merely to be embraced and accepted. Ah! Food! Please,
eat."

Jane pondered his words through the night. Why
couldn't she just accept the mystery at face value? She sat in silence,
observing the interaction between Rama and the other wives. It was relaxed,
pleasurable and even amusing; clearly they enjoyed being together. Even
Lynette, who perched on her knees upon the floor cushions, engaged comfortably
with Usha without showing contempt for the earlier switching that had left her
bottom speckled with little purple bruises.

"What are you thinking about so seriously,
Janie?" Philip whispered in her ear.

"Rana Usha said that I would learn to read the
need of others by watching. I only feel the need within me to have what I see.
To be like them."

"The first lesson has already touched her spirit,
Most Loved. I mean you no embarrassment for pointing out this
accomplishment," Rama said to Usha, who humbly lowered her face.
"Lynette?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Would you honor me with a dance?"

"Really?" Lynette brightened.

"Yes. She has a natural talent that pleases me
greatly," Rama explained. "Her sisters have taught her how to move
her body in the ancient form of temple dances. To do so naked shows the grace
of the human spirit like none else. Dharma, my sweet, gather your sitar. Girls!
Sing!"

Jane's mouth hung open as she watched Lynette's limbs
undulate as though made of water. Her body was snake-like as she slowly moved
her hips and torso in rippling waves to the plaintive tune of the music. It was
sensual, seductive, alluring, and arousing. Jane felt her abdominal muscles
involuntarily rolling along with Lynette as she studied the beautiful artistry
of her dance.

"That was breathtaking," Jane gasped when it
was over. "Can you teach me?"

"Music and dance will be part of your education,
Little Monkey," Rama announced. "I do have a question for you. Did
you notice her nakedness once the dance began?"

"No, sir, Uncle Rama. It seemed natural."

"Excellent. Lynette? To my chambers. I will
reward you tonight." Rama stood, ending the intimate dinner party.
"Philip? Are we still going into the city tomorrow?"

"Yes. Jane has her lessons in the morning."

"Then let us sleep. Come to me, child," Rama
ordered Jane. She approached him timidly. He kissed the center of her forehead
and thumbed her chin. "You are a good friend to Lynette. She will continue
lessons with you."

"Thank you, Uncle Rama," Jane said, suddenly
throwing her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. He laughed, patted
her bottom, and then departed, with his other three wives behind him.

Philip offered Jane his arm and walked with her
towards the guest quarters, their path lit by the full moon as it cast a pale
yellow sheen upon the ground. He paused next to a sparkling pond and pulled her
into his arms, crushing his mouth to hers, and roaming his hands over her
nakedness.

"I want you," he said hoarsely.

"You cannot have me," Jane answered
mischievously, pulling away. "Those are the rules, remember? You are to
drink of my beauty with your eyes, or something of the sort. What do you think
you are doing?"