7 comments/ 19617 views/ 3 favorites Becoming a Countess By: Egmont Grigor NOTE: Set in the UK - so spellings etc are UK. CHAPTER 1 Autumn leaves, at least the more upright ones, ran across the terrace outside the family room like retreating soldiers on invisible legs, disarmed and their commander-in-chief being the unseen ruthless wind. No leaf would be spared the rout unless caught in an entanglement and what fate was that? Looking at those leaves reflectively and aware her fate at worst might be banishment rather than execution, Tessa Tom – known to her parents as Teresa – waited for her recently arrived-home parents to come down after changing into their 'at home' clothes to find they still had one daughter at home and she had some disturbing news. Her mother Agnes swept in first, bra holding her up much too high for her natural physique, but nevertheless looking rather deliciously pointed in her soft top for a woman of her age. Below the hem-swinging pleated brown skirt were sensible black stockings and lambs wool slippers, great for early winter. "The fire, the fire darling. Why didn't you turn it on with one click of the thingy? It is gas and you don't have to mess around with paper, kindling and matches." "Sorry." "Oh dear. Not upbeat on this dreary late afternoon are we?" "No." Her father Avery came into the room, smart in his tight black tracksuit advertising some brewery and wearing thick socks, no slippers. "Oh hi TT (Teresa Tom). Ball-breaking gin for your mother, best larger for me and for you?' "Mineral water thanks." "Darling, are you all right?" asked Agnes, who really played rather well at being mother when she was not drunk, not shagging someone else's husband or one of the gardeners and was actually in the house. Holding together. Tessa said, "Mineral water please dad." Husband and wife exchanged glances highlighted by raised eyebrows. "Darling may I be of assistance? God I hate the English winter. We should be in our resort house in Fiji." "Wait till we have our drinks mother. I have something to tell you both." "Oh god, you're not going off to America to chase after that university guy?" "His name is Professor Tony Saunders mother, as well you remember but disliked because he was interested in your youngest daughter rather than you and that was his duty considering I'd brought him home." "You can be such a bitch at times TT. Where's my gin Avery?" "Here darling, keep your knickers on. No doubt they are your winter woollies." He was ignored. "So you're giving up your ambition to run our estate after my commitment to put you through that expensive agricultural degree course?" "No daddy. I love the farm and results under my stewardship will improve once I obtain and apply the new knowledge." "Lady Tom, may I serve the cheeses and biscuits." "Yes thank you Jenna. I imagine it's warm in the kitchen this evening?" "Yes, lovely indeed." "So I guess stuck in the warmth there you had no thought about our comfort and did not turn on the heating in this room at 3:00 as requested?" "Oh ma'am, I'm dreadfully sorry. I shall run for more heaters." "No, leave the tray and get out, closing the door beyond you. Consider yourself reprimanded." "Yes ma'am." The dark panelled room with the gas fire looking incongruous in the huge walk-in wall fireplace had its silence broken when Agnes, wife of the wealthy wine merchant Sir Avery Tom, said, "Are you ready to emote Teresa?" "Yes," said the 18-year-old. "I'm pregnant." "Fuck," said Agnes and her husband told her to watch her mouth. "I'm sorry darling," he said to his daughter. "What now?" Tessa appeared rather bewildered. "I thought you'd answer that." Agnes and Avery looked at each other and shrugged. "Well, we treat this exactly the same as a business transaction," Avery said. "We'll call in a business consultant to assess the pros and cons of keeping on the existing course or changing direction." "But your father doesn't see the possibility of sending you to Ireland to be placed under the care of nuns, do you dear?" "No, of course not. The first thing is to establish whether there is a baby." "There is. My pregnancy test kit confirmed." "That's cheap crap darling. Tell her Avery." "I'm having you tested by the appropriate medical specialist." Tessa sniffed, her mind still reeling with the enormity of the situation in which she now found herself. "Our vet lives closer." Avery looked thoughtful but was influenced by his wife's horrified look. "The medical specialist please Tessa." "The next step is to crucify the bastard who did this to you and then, if he survives, to make him marry you." "Mother, you can't savage a guy just because one of his robust sperm thingys got through. It isn't fair." "I'll be the judge of that. Whose baby is it?" "Mum, this is embarrassing. Do I have to tell you in front of daddy?" "Christ, you don't mean..." "Mum, keep calm. Of course it's not daddy." Avery coughed as if to check his manhood. "Your mother is such a loose canon baby you best tell her in my presence." "Only if you don't censor me. In fact I want no comment at all." When her parents nodded, Tessa said, "I was in this bus coming back to Kinkton and we became fog-bound. I being the volunteer tea lady was the only female on board so we found a way to occupy ourselves. I think most of them wore rubbers but not the manager, the bus driver and a few of the lads, rather a few possibly because some came back the second or third time." "Oh shit," said her mother who gulped down most of her gin. "It's not as bad as it sounds daddy because it was not a team of fifteen members plus reserves and all support personnel but rather a seven-aside team of seven members, two reserves and three officials." "That's a relief darling, not a complete coach load of randy men." Tessa lost her cool. "You guys are treating this matter without sufficient dignity. If you two can't talk to me and work this out, just the three of us, I'm calling in granddad to conducting proceedings to secure family unification." Grandfather was The Lord Rainston of Heath, a former judge of the Court of Appeal. "My father has no right to be involved in this matter Teresa and I'll not have him in my house, er your father's house, in respect of this matter." "If I ask granddad to come he'll come 'cos I'm his grandchild and this will be his first great-grandchild," Tessa said defiantly. Either you two help me sort this out in a helpful manner or else..." With a smile radiating from her like a halo, Agnes said, "Now, now darling. Please do not upset yourself over this. This birth, if it proceeds, will make the old coot, er your grandfather, very happy so we should keep the surprise from him till the right moment. Oh that would make me a grandmother. Have you thought about abortion?" "The baby within me stays mother, so get used to it. The way in which your other three daughters and your son rut it's likely babies will be harvested in numbers before too long." "Woe is me, an imminent grandmother," Agnes sighed, finishing her gin and holding out her empty glass. "Ladies, we have forgotten something. Although it sounds like fifteen perhaps fewer guys were on that bus anyone of them could claim parentage and make a claim on our assets for his baby, claiming fatherhood and asking for it to be confirmed by blood test." "Thank you for that daddy but I would prefer not to have a part-time footballer who is a drunkard to be the father of my baby. I thought I might look around for a lower-level peer and invite him to assume the responsibility of fatherhood and marry me" "The peerage you say?" said Agnes. "A major elevation within our family could bring us closer to the Queen." "No, not that high. I don't want royal watch magazines reporting every time I go to the loo and attempting to figure out my baby's line of ascendancy to the throne." "Oooh, but I would darling because I'd be widely recognized as the mother. What about ten thousand pounds as an incentive?" "Daddy, don't allow mummy to spend your money like that." "Agnes, I forbid you to spend my money like that." "Fuck." "And I forbid you to swear like that, even when frustrated." "Give her another gin daddy. All this tension is making her sober." "Look ladies, as I see it we must welcome this baby into the manor house from this moment with love and affection, to help it to grow and to ensure when it decides to arrive that it has a blemish-free transition into this world, with mother prospering." "Mummy, do you have your stance on this issue?" "Yes, I accept what your father has just said. Bring the kid on." "That Teresa is actually pregnant has still to be confirmed dear." "Oh yes, and then nine months' wait is a long time," Agnes pondered. "You'd think by now gynaecology would be able to fast-track the delivery of a perfect baby." "This is a baby I'm carrying mother, not a supermarket product." They agreed to continue talking over dinner. * * * Tessa heard cars arriving and looking out her bedroom window realized what was going on. She had been medically confirmed as being pregnant so her mother was calling a family conference and she hadn't been invited. Well she had expected that from her mother and went down into the now empty kitchen and opened the serving hatch slowly and quietly and could hear her mother saying that Teresa was pregnant as the resulted of being fucked by a busload of footballers. Yes, her mother used the F-word and it produced shocked gasps, and that would have been her intention. Tessa thought her mother was far better at having affairs than she was at attempting to control family business. She couldn't even persuade their father to attend this meeting of the long knife wielders and that rather pleased Tessa who knew father was more dependable than her mother and exercised his brain more and undoubtedly had more to work with. Now she couldn't believe what she was hearing – Carol, Katherine and Robyn complaining about Tessa being the first to become pregnant when she should have been the last because she was rarely seen with a guy. "Well she makes up for lost time by taking them on by the busload doesn't she?" Peter said spitefully, making Tessa wonder yet again was he gay. Robyn and Katherine were married but until now probably had attempted to remain in the workforce rather than become pregnant. But no matter how intensely they fucked to conceived it was unlikely any child would born before Tessa's, very unlikely. Carol had been fucking anyone, anywhere on Friday and Saturday nights for years without being on anti-contraceptives and so far without being impregnated. It was a class act, she lied about not being protected or she was unable to have children. Who knows? Who really cared when they gang up on her like this, Tessa thought. Nothing was said over breakfast about this meeting until Tessa brought it up. "What did the family say about my misdeeds?" "Your misdeeds?" her father asked and turning to scowl at his wife who turned brick red. "Er just an informal gathering dear, just to let the girls and Peter know." "Why have the meeting when you knew I'd be at the pig breeder's annual dinner and why wasn't Tessa not the one to deliver the news?" "Um, I thought it would upset her too much." "Who, Tessa? She'd got more backbone than the lot of you put together, especially you." Agnes began crying and ran from the room. "Gutless wonder. For the life of me I don't know how she has the guts to commit adultery." Tessa thought of saying cock addiction, carnal greed or perhaps it runs on the female side of the family, but instead said, "Yes dad." He smiled appreciatively and said she always had been a wonderful listener and an expert communicator. As they finished he said, "Right, let's get you into the warmest sunniest room after ours and plan for the nursery in the next room." "The best room is the guest room but please allow mother in on the decision making; I don't want to get offside with her." "I agree. Get offside with her and you're fucking dead." "Daddy, there goes the F-word." "Oh really. I apologize my darling. You know your mother debases the English language and I'm afraid it's quite catching." "If you fucked her more often daddy perhaps she wouldn't stray so often." "Give me contact phone number for your football team darling." They laughed and laughed again when Avery pointed to the closed door of his wife's bedroom and said, "She's probably planning her next assignation right now to get back at me." "Assignation? I thought she'd prefer a seduction daddy." They laughed their way along the passage to the stairs. * * * Tessa commenced her first year at the agricultural college as planned before her bus escapade to study for a degree to qualify her in her best practice farm management. She decided to continue for as long as she could and then to make up what she missed in perhaps the three weeks she'd be away for the birthing if all went well. He father had agreed to provide Tessa with a day nurse as soon as it was fit to leave the baby in her care. When the baby was fifteen months old he or she qualified to go into childcare at the university. Believing it wise to be open, Tessa had written a note that she was pregnant when enrolling. She was invited to a meeting at the university she and her father met the university's medical officer of health and the meeting proceeded smoothly. She was advised to stay well away from birthing ewes and lambs and stay at a distance when cows were being herded and milked. The MoH said, "I am pleased to say I find you're a level-headed and calm young woman. You are not banned from doing anything within reason or going anywhere. These are just sensible precautions against the possibility of harming your unborn baby. Your personal rule Tessa is to take reasonable care at all times and that includes riding on farm vehicles. We do have very high safety standards here so I'm not unduly concerned about your welfare now I've had this opportunity to assess your character. I shall get one of my assistants to send you helpful reading material." "Well dad, I'm a free woman on campus. I was worried they might stop me going near animals altogether. I've done lambing for years and we don't milk cows so anything I miss from not being close up won't affect us." "But don't forget information-gathering needed for examinations." "Oh damn. Well I better ensure I maintain a close watch on my no-go areas. Dr Chivers said my file would be endorsed accordingly and lecturers were unlikely to allow me into unsafe areas. The lecturers may be kind enough to give me résumés of what I didn't see." * * * At the opening lecture, Tessa was rather taken aback by the male students built like bricks and the five females also had ruddy complexions and thick necks. Not thick heads she hoped. She presumed these were the product of countless generations of farming people, adapted by their environment. There were also some 'country estate' people who looked as if they'd arrived direct from London. She looked around for the best looking guy who was not toffee-nosed – a guy with short sandy hair, a great tan and an awesome body and she almost blushed when she saw him lick his lips as she approached him. "Hi, I'm Tessa Tom from 80 miles southeast of here. Are you taking BSc Agriculture?" "Yes, hi. I'm Davis Masters and I'm from just less than 50 miles south of here. Pleased to meet you. Are you wanting to be my study buddy?" "I haven't thought about it. Could we talk about it later; there is something I must tell you?" "Yeah, right. They are about to talk on the nuts and bolts stuff." After the inaugural lecture, Tessa and Davis sat drinking tea. "What was it you wished to talk to me about?" "Um Davis, I'm pregnant." "Is that all? I thought you must be dying and wouldn't complete so wouldn't be a great study partner." "Are you sure you don't mind?" "Of course not, even if it's your father's" "Christ Davis." "Oh hell, sorry. How stupid and unsympathetic." "Thank you. Well it's not. I was caught up in a groupie, voluntarily, and one of the guys sank me. I just slipped up." "Bad luck, so you don't know which guy it was?" "No and I don't want to know and don't want them to know." "If it's any consolation they are unlikely to know or even guess, even if they see you filled out in front. Guys tend to have short-term memory loss over past deeds." "Really? My doctor didn't tell me that." "Was booze involved?" "Very much so." "Well I've been there, done that. Your baby's daddy will remain anonymous unless you raise a rumpus." "I won't be doing that. You weren't on that bus were you?" Davis grinned and said, "I'm going to like having you around. What does daddy do?" "He's a big-time wine merchant. I'll fetch some samples if you'd like that. I'm off booze for the sake of my baby." "Oh yes of course. Samples would be appreciated – reds, French. "Done. What does daddy do?" "We have three farms and he owns businesses." "Good for him. If you do come home with me I should point out my father is a lowly knight for services rendered to trade and industry while her ladyship sees herself elevated above him. Sorry but it's the way some women go. 'Risen above her station' as authors used to write in bygone eras. "Dad must be like your father; he keeps his head down." "Does he also have a knighthood?" "Quite a lot higher I'm afraid Tessa, a marquess." "Oh god." "And it gets worse, with me being the elder son." "Oh god, an earl." "Yes and keep this under your hat. I'm the Earl of Magellan, using one of my father's titles." "I promise I won't tell mother. She'll lick your boots. No, you mustn't come." "I must. We need to decide which farm to use as our joint study – your folk's farm or one of ours." "Oh shit. Then you better come home this weekend if it suits. Let's get it over with." "Right, I'll call mother to get my weekend leave pass. What are your sleeping arrangements?" "I have temporary accommodation. I think the draw and allocation is this afternoon." "Yes it is, but what I mean was do you wish to sleep with me?" "You're forgetting Davis, I told you I'm pregnant." "So?" "You still would like to sleep with me...um to have sex?" "I was thinking rooming with you but if sex is on offer I answer yes enthusiastically. Do you have money?" "Yes, no problem. Daddy is generous." "There's a neat flat in a American lecturer's home just down from here. She calls it an apartment and is flash so is expensive and not taken. Want to take a look with me? She wanted the occupants to take a lease but what say we ask to take if for a month and then if we are getting along fine take the lease?" "Okay but I suggest we take it on a monthly rental. My baby is due in summer and I have an arrangement to go into a flat where there is provision for a day nanny. My father went to a great deal of trouble to organize that so I'll want it to stick. There could be room for you there if you're that desperate." "Sure, if we are getting along well why not?" Tessa smiled and said, "Dear Davis. You haven't a clue what a woman goes through in the late stages of pregnancy and the early period following birth. I'm rather vague myself." Davis said she didn't know what she was talking about. He had three married sisters who lived on the family estates and with little to do at least one of them was pregnant at any given time. "Is that bullshit Davis? I'll wrench your nuts if it is, working me up like this." "It's the truth – here, use my phone and call mom." "I don't know what to call her." "Try Clara in a plumy voice. She'll think you are one of us. If you are nervous, however, Lady Oakland is fine." Becoming a Countess "No, I'll not call. I'll believe you." Davis gave her a cheesy grin. "Fine, my honour remains intact." The America woman answered the door and said to Davis unenthusiastically, "Oh it's you again." "Yes, but this time I have a buddy to share the rent." "This woman? God you over-sexed farm students team up faster than flies on cat's poo." Davis and Tessa laughed nervously. They looked around and Tessa whispered yes to Davis. "Well a monthly term with renewals, I really don't know. I suspect you want to see if you can live a month together?" "Yes, the approach behind that is called applied intelligence." The woman looked approvingly at Tessa and turning to Davis asked, "Okay, show me some ID." The woman said, "Christ, a real earl. You've the first person above common knights and ladies I've met. You look and speak no differently to this young woman." "Who is the daughter of a knight." "Oh goodness, please sign and move in. I would like to invite you two when I entertain some of my girlfriends who work with me in research at the university." "For entertainment value, yes of course," said Davis. "But we stop short at giving top hat and cane routines." "I think I know what you mean," said the academic vaguely. * * * Davis whistled and said, "God, what a glorious cunt." Almost dying with embarrassment Tessa said feebly, "Davis." "Oh I'm sorry. Apologies. We've only just met, haven't we? It's as if I've known you for a long time rather than just today. So much has happened to us and in talking since mid morning. Believe me, Tessa, I've been up close and personal with a number of women and speak with some authority when I say this is a magnificent peach." "Talking about it in that manner is making it leak." "So be it. You take my cock in your mouth and I'll suck the leaking peach." Tessa would long remember that evening, the first time she was properly fucked. Although Davis was only nineteen he played her like a violin and when she asked how could that be so, he sent her into body-throbbing orgasm when he said straight-faced his mother had been a very willing tutor. Tessa said he was lying and he nodded but there was something about his smile that left her unsure about his response. Perhaps he'd had nannies. Then once he entered her and she tightened up on him she really did feel the violin thing. There was no impatience, no roughness about him, just calm stroking that she knew without doubt would take them somewhere close to perfect climatic joy, and so that came to be. Afterwards when she unwisely stood to reach for the towel instead of asking him to pass it, an incredible amount of liquid flowed from her and she knew by her really drained feeling a lot of that was the result of her climax. She'd loved it and told him so and he seemed so pleased. To her astonishment they spent the next half hour before falling asleep considering baby names. Davis seemed to be affected quite profoundly by her fertility. Next morning he awoke and asked where he'd feel the baby when it had grown sufficiently to feel its first kicks. That left her quite scary about his motives. What was he thinking? The next afternoon Tessa arrived home at the apartment alone. Davis remained behind to find out what clubs he'd like to join besides rugby football. Tessa answered the door and a tall woman with beautiful bearing and about her mother's age smiled at her. It was his mother; she could see similarities. God, what should she do, bow and scrape, fall over or just say come in Mrs Masters. No, she'd ask Davis when walking between lectures that morning what was his mother's title and he'd said, The Marchioness of Oakland." "Please come in Lady Oakland." "Oh my word. You are very quick. I'd asked Davis not to say I would be visiting." "He didn't – it's the eyes and across your forehead." "Oh, been in very close study of my son, have you?" "Yes milady." "Our family name is Masters. Just Mrs Masters will be fine dear." "Thank you. Tea Mrs Masters?" "Earl Grey if you have it." "We do, freshly stocked up. You are here to assess me no doubt?" "There could be some doubt about that supposition. That's not the real reason why I've dropped by although I must admit to being curious. You see, although young my son has dated numerous females and none have stuck much past the first date, if you know what I mean. And here you are, you two meet for the first time mid-morning and are living together that evening. That is, to put it mildly, quite electrifying." "Well I must have what it takes, but I'm not sure what it is." "Oh, don't under-estimate yourself dear. You are practically fearless, or so it would appear. You are confident, upfront and are not at all upset that I may be here to check you out." "I have an expectation good mothers would want to keep an eye on their sons even aged nineteen." The marchioness smiled. "There you go; see what I mean? Elegant to the nth." Tessa smiled warmly and poured the tea. "My real reason for being here is my son asked me to talk to you in private." Tessa just smiled. "Oh darling could you please make this easier for me; I feel I am invading your private space. You must be aware of that." "Yes of course. Now that I have been invited to assist may I ask believing that you already know, "Are you aware that I am pregnant to a person unknown to me and that I have no wish to find who he is?" "Yes I do and thank you and I hope it goes well for you. Davis thought you should hear it from the horse's month. In the days when I was a filly I conceived out of wedlock as the result of being involved with three gentlemen at the one time and then along comes my one and only husband who marries me, knowing I was pregnant, and this secret has remained between the three of us but now extended to you as the fourth person at Davis's request. The marquess, registered as the father when the birth occurred several months after our marriage." "He asked you to tell me that, but why?" "It's quite simple my dear, nothing at all sinister or romantic for that matter. He couldn't accept you would believe him if he told you..." "He didn't want me thinking he was a liar, out to become closer to me because we shared a peculiar kind of secret." Lady Oakland smiled. "There you go again and you are totally correct. And you do check out very well. When Davis said he wanted to bring you home to begin a farm appraisal for study purposes I admit to being a little anxious, wondering how a farm girl would survive the banter of my rather snooty daughters. I now have no such fear." "So you were also here to check up on me." "Ah, a statement rather than a question. You beautifully packaged Tessa in so many ways. I now understand the impact you've had on my impressionable son." "Impressionable? Yes, Davis is rather and I'll not attempt to change him. I like the way he's packaged Lady Oakland. More tea?" "Thank you." "I am aware I have become privy to very confidential information. It will remain confidential with me." "Thank you dear. I would like to meet your mother sometime. I already know you father vaguely because we are a major client of his company and occasionally go to special introductions of new labels or to meet leading figures in winemaking in Europe." Davis arrived home and Tessa said, "Don't skulk. It went very well but in future I expect to have advance warning about anything like that." "Then you are not mad at me?" "No, I can understand your concern and that disclosure brings us closer. It explains why you bonded with me despite hearing about my pregnancy. Some guys being told that would have told me to piss off." CHAPTER 2 As Tessa and Davis approached her family home named after the nearby town as Kinkton Hall, Davis said, "This is fine farmland around here." "I was born here and still think it's magnificent countryside, some of the finest in England. "You didn't add 'I daresay.' "Daresay is not a word I find necessary to use." "I daresay I can agree with that." They laughed and swept through the huge gateway in Tessa's peppy small Japanese SUV. "Hi mom, this is the guy I told you about, Davis." "Hello Davis, welcome. And that's all Teresa said and that you wanted to assess the farm with here as a prospective case study. Why is that?" "Good afternoon or should I say early evening Lady Toms. The reason is we have to decide which farm to study, this one or one on my parent's estate...um..." Davis threw an apologetic glance at Tessa a split second before her mother struck. "Estate...multiple farms. Just who are you young man?" Tessa groaned. "Oh mother, Davis is the Earl of Magellan, elder son of the Marquess of Oakland." "Ohmigod, I must summon the family." "Mother, do that and Davis and I are out of here and will stay in one of the derelict farm cottages," Tessa grated. "Davis usually prefers Davis unless he's at ceremonial occasions or at gatherings of people like you and right now he prefers Davis." "Is that correct My Lord?" "It is ma'am and I'd be obliged if you would follow protocol as laid down by Tessa." "Tessa, what does she know about the peerage?" "There's not a lot to know about it ma'am apart from history and precedence and some outstanding personalities." "Where's daddy?" "Delayed by traffic I'd think. He so much wanted to be here when you arrived. Why you are his favourite I have no idea." "Because unlike others in his family I am direct with an unforced personality and can be relied upon and those are aspects of character you cannot seem to comprehend mother." "Er ladies, tea?" "Ohmigod, tea. Yes er Davis. Please enter our humble home. Teresa will attend to the luggage." Through the drawing room window Davis saw a green Jaguar sweep up at speed and brake hard, sending gravel flying. A slender dark-suited man jumped out and the young woman went flying into his arms and they did a few fake dance spins before breaking off and looking at each other, laughing. More confirmation of who was daddy's girl. That night in bed Tessa reached for Davis' erection and said, "What do we have here?" "My succession of nannies called it my pee-pee." "Oh dear, how unromantic. Did your nannies teach you about sex?" "Yes, from earlier days about taking pride in my 'dickie' to actual engagement. People have this impression of doddery old nannies. In my early teens some of my nannies were young farm girls not going on to higher education." "Ohmigod, you two would stay in bed all day doing it?" "Actually a quickie after my evening bath was the custom." Tessa gurgled with delightful thoughts and she took her big boy's 'dickie' into her mouth. Later when Davis split her legs apart and they watched as he pushed 'dickie' in he said, "If it had not been for your father's firm intervention, we would have been sleeping in different accommodation wings tonight." "Yes, mother will take some time getting used to the idea I'm being shafted by an earl." In the morning the elderly farm manager arrived in his veteran Land Rover. John kissed Tessa like a father would and greeted the visitor who was introduced to him as Davis. They toured the property for three hours, examining almost every aspect. On Saturday night at the family dinner attended by Tessa's three married sisters and their husbands and her brother appeared for the first time with his male companion, their mother hit the wine and finally could contain herself no longer. "Davis is actually the Earl of Magellan," Agnes said grandly. The conversations halted briefly and all eyes were on Davis momentarily. "He seems all right," Robyn said condescendingly. Katherine told her mother not to fuss and Carol who was married to a plumber said, "You're doing all right for yourself Tessa." They then began conversing again, leaving their mother speechless. "Dad, pour more wine for mother," said his only son Peter. "She appears disappointed in her family. Tessa called to warn us." Davis dug his fingers into Tessa's thigh appreciatively and she dragged the hand to between her legs. The next weekend the couple went to Davis' home. His mother was beautiful to Tessa, his father was indifferent and his sisters were plain bitchy. His brother was in Scotland. "What do you think? Davis asked as they drove home. "It was okay. I expected your sisters to set out not to like me." "No, I mean which farm?" "The easy one – ours. It's more intensely farmed with more variety of livestock and cropping but I guess if we took your three farms together..." "But they are not contiguous as there's a village between two of them and the third is three miles away from the second. The format of the study says..." "Contiguous. Right. So what do you think?" "Your farm." Tessa grinned. "That's in spite of my mother?" "We have to study a farm and project it's future in association with it's past and market trends." "God, my mother wouldn't understand that." 'Then she's going to lose interest in our project, isn't she?" The farm manager John Landers was of tremendous assistance to the two students with their project. His father had been farm manager before him and had immaculate records about stocking rates, types of stock and production output since his father's first year as manager when appointed in 1932. Davis began entering data on his laptop for processing into graphs while Tessa concentrated on adding to the family's historic records of their land holdings with greater depth of study in local archives and those held farther afield. They had Friday's off for five weeks to work on their research, which they continued on Saturdays. A week before the ending of their first term (semester) the results of the studies were announced and Davis and Tessa's study was awarded second place. Tessa's father highly praised them and gave Davis three cases of middle red wine to establish a cellar at the apartment and a selection of six reds that left Davis boggling because there were highly prized wines. Tessa's mother took no interest until she heard Avery being asked if the two classes totalling forty-eight students and tutors could visit and walk some of the farm for two hours. Agnes said grandly, "We'll have a big marquee erected on the lawn and will invite some local dignitaries, my daughters and of course the local media." The local media covered the event and Agnes sent a copy of the newspaper to Davis' parents and was ever so pleased to receive a thank you card from Lady Oakland. The marchioness all wrote to the two students, addressing the letter to Tessa on her official letterhead but simply signing the very informal and warm letter as Penelope. Then quite unexpectedly Tessa had a miscarriage at six weeks. She was devastated and Davis comforted her and friends called but Tessa found she wanted to be left alone. Davis was granted compassionate leave for both of them and, with Tessa's agreement, took her home to his mother. The decision was not difficult to make because Lady Oakland had called Tessa three times for a quiet chat whereas Tessa's mother had expressed her sympathy adding, "Now you are free to get on with your life." That was the last she heard from her mother but that next morning her father arrived and sat with her for four hours and with his charm hauled her out of her threatening depression. Davis proved also to be charming and a comfort on the drive to Walton Estates and his mom came running as soon as she heard the tires crunching on the gravel. She was lovely. She smiled and helped Tessa from the vehicle and said, "You are in safe hands now darling. I have made up a day bed for you one of the sofas in the living room. I don't want you out of sight and sound in a bedroom. That is if this arrangement pleases you." As Lady Oakland settled Tessa she said, "Pour us some sparkling wine Davis or you have a beer if you prefer." "Yes, I'd like a glass of wine," Tessa said. "I've missed it, not having sipped any alcohol for the past six weeks." "You have the makings of a fine mother darling. Please call me Penny." Two of Davis' sisters arrived together, Lady Claire Mason and Lady Helen Curtis. They ignored their mother and brother, going straight to Tessa and being very sympathetic. They both revealed they'd had a miscarriage. The sisters had one drink and left, saying they would see Tessa tomorrow as they had been invited for lunch with her. Lord Oakland arrived home from France where he'd been at a business board meeting. David was all over his son. He greeted Tessa politely. "I hear you've had a bad time. I was sorry to learn about that. Well, I must get ready for dinner. Enjoy your stay." After that Penny's cold husband virtually ignored Tessa and never once referred to her by name. She thought he'd be an excellent match for her mother and her father would really love Penny. It was a pity good pairings were uncommon. Over dinner Lord Oakland (he was too full of himself for Tessa to think of him as David) said to Davis, "Since you are home you'd better come with us on the charter up to Scotland. We fly off at 8:00. I'll wake you." After dinner when Tessa's head was in Davis' lap and he was stroking her hair she said, "You behaved rather passively when asked to go to Scotland." "Yeah, but I did ask would you mind if it went as I'd only be away one night." "Yes you did. What will you do up there?" "It's a hunting party. Shooting and gluttony with some wenching on the side." "What part do you like best?" "The great food." "Oh, and what do you shoot?" "Deer, but I only shoot above their heads. I think the so-called sport is barbaric." "And the women?" "I shoot into condoms." "Good for you." And that was the end of that. Well thought Tessa. Just because she didn't feel like sex it didn't mean he had to go without. * * * Over a leisurely late breakfast Penny told her: "David has taken Davis because he'd very keen for Davis to become engaged to the daughter of a great friend, The Lady Elizabeth Holt." "And will this strategy work; I guess she and her mother will have gone to Scotland?" "They are living on Lord Holt's Scottish estate at the moment. That's where everyone is gathering. Davis will be thrown into the company of Elizabeth but you needn't worry; Davis loves you and that's why I have no problem telling you this." "What!" "Well not real love yet but you are a marked woman. Haven't you noticed?" "W-well I've noticed he appears fond of me." "Ah yes, fond. Well be prepared to have that word substituted in due course. Darling, Elizabeth has the butt and the face of a horse and weighs 170lbs." "God, I hope she doesn't go on top!" Penny spilt coffee over the table when laughing unrestrained. "Oh darling, the repulsiveness of such a scene hit my mind and it was either to laugh or to vomit. I chose the more ladylike option of the two." This time Tessa spat coffee over the table as she roared into laughter. "Oh you are so funny," she said and glimpsed tenderness in the eyes of her hostess she'd first noticed on her arrival. Ohmigod, she wants me for her daughter, Tessa marvelled. Mid-morning Penny and Tessa went off in muddy SUV to drive over the three farms. Tessa had only received a cursory tour on her previous visit. "Well, what do you think?" "Farmed well although this is not the best time of the year to be viewing farms, going into winter. That surprised me the shooting party at this time of year." "Big roaring fires, the deer easier to track in snow and slowing down in drifts." "Oh, the poor darlings." "I was meaning what do you really think?" "I'm a guest." "Please don't disappoint me darling." Becoming a Countess Tessa sighed. "All three properties are being farmed traditionally instead of being farmed for profitability with flexibility to change to changing market conditions. Cows on the dairy farms are high butterfat producers. Is that what people are demanding these days? And I wonder about sheep when the most in demand meats are chicken and beef, not that I would think of converting to poultry." "I see. Would Davis think like you?" "Haven't you asked him?" Wrapped warmly in a rug Tessa grinned when she saw the blush. "His father is so dominating about farm management policy you never considered Davis might have an independent mind about it, do you?" "No," Penny all but whispered. "David has never studied farming technology, systems and marketing. He learned from his father who learned from his father and today David only glances at farming publication that arrive unsolicited in the mail and never looks at farming educational pages on the Internet. But I did do something. When Davis expressed an interest in going on to study agriculture to degree qualification I jumped on the wagon and pushed him all the way. He was so pleased because of his father's indifference." "Good for you. I suggest when Davis graduates you pressure for him to be given control of the lowest producing farm and sit back and see what happens. Because the properties are not contiguous that ought not cause any upset apart to current managers. I guess the farms are currently managed by your sons?" "Yes, but that can be arranged. They are on management contracts. If the worst comes to the worst I can always buy him his own farm. I'm the one with the money. That is a marvellous suggestion of yours darling. I'll talk to Davis when the time comes." * * * When the party returned for lunch after a two-hour shoot, Davis called Tessa. "Hi, I'm with your mother in the village having lunch. I'm feeling much better. How is it in Scotland?" "Fucking cold. It's not snowing and everyone is in a bad mood because the deer are flighty. We only shot one and the seven of us stalkers have guns." "Did you mind?" "What, missing out?" "No, seeing a poor deer killed?" "No because it wasn't senseless killing. It was carried back to the road to bring back to Cargill Mansion and cut up for meat." "I'm so pleased you are having a great time." Davis said sourly, "Well if you call being wet, cold and bored with mist all around us having a great time, then so be it." Tessa laughed. She wanted Davis to hear she was back to laughing again. "Get you pecker warm for a great night tonight darling. Bye." The huge two-century old mansion the Holt's called their hunting lodge had roaring fires kept stoked by house staff (no longer called servants). Two more red deer had been shot that afternoon but everyone was talking about Davis, known to have never shot anything during his twelve years of deer stalking. It had happened when the gamekeeper called for quiet and took a bead on a wild dog and missed and cursed as it ran off, Davis swapped guns with his father and dropped to his knee, took aim and at about 250 yards out – some claimed it was more like 300 – the marauding dog dropped and lay still. The gamekeeper's assistant Jackie ran out and came back with the news, "Dead, shot in the head." Davis had handed the centre-fire rifle back to his father who said casually, "Good shot" but the look he gave his son made Davis's toes curl. He couldn't remember his father looking so pleased, not even at his daughters' weddings. Dinner wasn't served until 9:00 so after late afternoon drinks (it was already dark) many of the guests went upstairs for a nap or whatever. Davis found the room he shared with his father was locked and smiled. He was returning downstairs when a bathroom door opened and Lady Trent, the young wife of Lord Trent came out and without a word grabbed Davis' arm and dragged him back into the bathroom and locked the door. Davis blurted, "I-I'm not carrying condoms." "I have plenty in my toilet bag," Jill said gleefully. The thirty-something reached between Davis's legs and said, "What have we here? Oh god!" Davis gave Lady Trent time to get clear and returned to his shared room to try the door. It was still locked but it opened and Lady Holt, the hostess, stood there, her breasts still swollen and she smelt of sex. "Good boy, perfect timing," said the fifty-something, dragging him into the room and saying his father was asleep. "Let's see how you compare," she said. "Do you butt fuck – I have condoms." After midnight Elizabeth Holt spat at Davis, "You feeble jerk, not able to present an erection to me! Fuck off." Miraculously though, minutes later when Davis went to the huge kitchen for a glass of warm milk the night hostess ran a finger down his chest while the milk was warming on the stove. Her finger went down over Davis's belt and hit something that was hardening. "Oooh," she said, pulling up her black skirt as she sank back over the kitchen table. While ploughing her Davis leaned back and pulled the warmed milk off the stove, thinking no use allowing his nightcap to spoil. * * * The men arrived home looking exhausted. Obviously deer stalking in Scotland was really hard work. "Oh you look much better," Davis said. Tessa thought it would be unkind to say he looked much worse than when he'd left. "Yes, very much better," she said. "I expect to feel like sex again soon. Did you find Elizabeth bouncy enough for you?" Davis looked at her cagily. "It's okay, you mother told me." Looking relieved Davis said, "To tell you the truth when she smacked me across my dick it lay down and refused to cooperate." "Oh poor boy." "No, much relieved. She weighs 170 lbs. I would have run but she cornered me but this is the truth: she looked at my sulking cock and told me to fuck off." "Oh poor boy. I wonder why I'm so pleased." Davis crossed his fingers. No, she didn't ask did he have sex with anyone else. He liked Tessa so much he'd lie to her although he knew not saying he'd fucked other women technically was a lie in itself. CHAPTER 3 On their return to university, Davis and Tessa signed a lease for the remainder of their 3-year degree course. When Davis had suggested it, she'd said, "Are you sure you want to be with me for that length of time?" "Yeah, of course. There is nobody else better than you." "What does that mean?" "It means what it says it means." Tessa said, "You can be so exasperating. Well I suppose it doesn't matter as our agreement is we each pay half of our living costs each week." "Yes, exactly. The arrangement leaves us less than secure but also less than committed." Tessa smiled. "That's rather sensible." Davis thought it was a brilliant working arrangement, tailored by intellectuals. Tessa laughed and said he had quite a way with words. "I'm back on contraceptive pills." "Good but you know how to get into dad's good books. Get one in the oven from me, have it confirmed as a boy and call him and he'll call you his princess." "What a jerk. He and mom should really be paired off." Davis remained quiet. "What, I hope I haven't offended you?" "No, it's fine. I never said this but I've often thought my mother and your father seem absolutely made for one another." "Hmmm. Out to play cupid are you?" "No, if it was meant to have happened it would have happened. Mom has her daughters and the hope that one of them will produce a male heir to succeed me." "Well, if you get a romantic notion about presenting your father with a grandson just ask me to come off the pill." "Would you do that?" "For you father, no. For you and your mother, yes." "You are a most unusual woman Tessa Tom." Tessa thought their parents hadn't met and perhaps they should. All her friends knew she and Davis were going steady. She knew it had to happen but wasn't aware it had. She asked Davis was he aware they were going steady?" "Not really. When we chose to live together it was a commitment of sorts but yet without a commitment because we left all options open. I just found I did not want to go out with other women." "That's exactly how I see it," Tessa said. "I just accepted you as my lover. I now formerly ask you to be my lover and remain at my side." "Okay, good," Davis smiled. "Want to get engaged?" "Do you think that's necessary?" "No. It will only have your mother running around like a headless chook over you acquiring a title." "She is Lady Tom so what's the big deal?" "You will become the Countess of Magellan." "Ohmigod...Ohmigod." "What, are you pleased?" "I'm thinking of my mother, screaming around telling everyone her daughter is to become a countess. Actually I really think I'm a little too basic to become a countess." "Let's leave the subject to rest. If only you know just how basic some in the peerage are." Near the end of the term ending for the break for Christmas, Tessa thought they should put on a luncheon for their parents. Davis agreed and it was arranged. The day before the luncheon he and Tessa were shopping and with Tessa looking at a display of watches in a jeweller's store Davis dropped to his knee and taking the startled Tessa's hand said, "Darling, will you marry me on graduation but in the meantime become engaged to me?" "I-l well yes. Oooh yes. Yes let's do it. God I need a pee." They got through the light trauma eventually and they both loved the ring and decided to make the announcement over lunch. Acting wisely, Tessa gave her parents an arrival time half and hour ahead of Davis' parents, the idea being to give her mother time to settle in and have a drink before the arrival of the marquess and his wife. Davis and Avery were having a beer and almost burst out laughing when they heard Tessa working on her mother in the kitchen. "Mother, it's no big deal. Lord Oakland is a real stiff but Penny is a real delight." "Penny? You call the Marchioness of Oakland Penny?" "Yes mother because she invited me to do so. Up-himself Arthur hasn't become informal with me. In fact he's only used my name once so I now don't all him anything. Please don't put on a Hollywood when they arrive – here, have another gin to settle down. Remember they go to the toilet just like you and me." "Oh my child, how can you debase the peerage in such a disrespectful manner." Lady Oakland entered first and kissed Tessa on both cheeks. "Penny, this is my mother Agnes." "Oh Agnes, I am so pleased to meet you at last. Please call me Penny." "Penny? Are you sure?" Agnes asked, looking a little unnerved. "Well Penelope if you insist but it's a rather stuffy name. Penny is my preference." "Oh hello boy," Lord Oakland said, thumping Davis on the back. And hello...um..." "This is Tessa dad or Teresa if you prefer." "Oh Tessa, yes of course. Lovely name." "Dad, this is Tessa mom Lady Tom but I think she'd like you to call her Agnes." "Well Agnes, the pleasure is all mine." "T-thank you Lord Oakland." "Don't worry about the title my dear. Just call me Oakland." "Oakland?" "Yes Agnes." "I-um-um." "Do you really? Tell me what's in it and I'll fetch one for you. I'm not aware of a drink called Yum-Yum." "I'll fetch the drinks dad. You tell Agnes about meeting the Prince Royal in the Galeries Lafayette in France. She'll like that story to tell her friends." Before he could move Avery arrived with beer for Lord Oakland and a brandy, lime and soda for Penny. "Oh hi Avery," said Lord Oakland, taking the beer before Avery had time to serve Penny first. "Greetings Arthur. Pick up any good labels in France?" "Y-you two know one another?" Agnes asked. Avery scratched his head. "It must be nine years isn't it Arthur?" "Yes old man. It must be that." And then Tessa saw the most amazing thing. Her father looked at Penny and Tessa saw the fleeting flash in Penny's eyes as she and Avery locked gazes. Tessa realized they knew one another and that was 'knew' in the most intimate sense of the word. Ohmigod. "Something told me you'd be a brandy, lime and soda girl?" "Oh I'm a brandy lime a soda girl Sir Avery," Penny said. "Oh please, Avery." "Then it's Penny for you." They were playing a little charade; Tessa knew they were. Father and son were discussing French beer and her mother apparently had not heard a word of the interplay and said to her husband, "You know Arthur well but don't know Lady Oakland?" "No, Penny has been to the cellars on special occasions but apart from the usual introductions, I've never conversed with her. Ever." Penny smiled, a secretive smile if one looked quick enough to catch it, as if expecting to see it: "No unfortunately." Tessa could tell they were lying and held her breath but her mother remained oblivious. "Then we must invite you to dinner and stay the night Penny." "Oh Agnes, that would be lovely." Tessa's mind was on fire. Where did the adulterous duo meet? How often did they meet? How had the affair started? Who was the instigator? How often did they do it? What were their favoured positions? Would she ever have this secrete liaison ever confirmed. Would she dare speak to Penny about it? Questions, questions, so many questions. Her pulse was racing. She was so happy for them. But would she ever know that this liaison was factual, beyond the slightest doubt. She fiddled with her engagement ring in her pocket, knowing within half an hour the two families would feel united and Arthur's mind would be racing...would she bear him a grandson. Tessa felt hugely aroused. She had to know. She just had to know. She'd die if she didn't. She was suddenly aware the conversations around her had stopped and heard her mother asking, "Are you all right dear?" Tessa shook her head and suddenly focused. She'd been staring at Penny without realising it. "Yes mother. Just a little over-heated I think." She looked back at Penny, unable to stop that move, feeling something was linking them. She focused, caught Penny's smile and then caught Penny's conspiratorial wink. Penny knew she knew! Ohmigod, though Tessa, as her empty glass slipped out of her hand and hit the tiled floor. THE END