First Night

[Britwitch]

<<Closed for myself and Bullshot>>
Comments welcome by PM

OOC: I started writing a story in the summer about the historical right Lord's used to have over the maidens in their land...the right to take them on their wedding night...I wrote the first 3 parts of the story but then kind of ground to a halt...
Was thinking it might make a fun SRP to play out and it might give me some inspiration to continue it...
Here's the first part to give an idea of how it was going, you can read the following parts through the link in my profile...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The room was silent. Dark but eerily warm.

Candles flickering against the stone walls were giving some light but no where near enough to quell the nerves building steadily inside her. Just how she had gotten here was something of a blur. The kind when dreams blend almost seamlessly with reality.

The last thing she was certain of was that she had been running, no, not running, fleeing.

Pulling uselessly at the heavy shackles holding her arms firmly behind her, she didn't notice him enter the dimly lit room. It was only when he shut the door behind himself, the sound of metal clanging against metal echoed chillingly in the room, making her jump and her skin ripple with nerves.

His gaze roamed across her form as he slinked closer, running a finger thoughtfully across his lips as he did so.

She straightened her back and shrugged her shoulders, wincing slightly as the crude shackles dug into her skin, her eyes remaining fixed on his approaching face. His eyes dark and framed with even darker lashes, set within a face that under other circumstances she probably would have found more than a little attractive. It was a face she recognised but one that she hadn't seen up close before.

He stopped less than a pace in front of her and let his eyes roam up and across her body, his smile twisting as they finally came to rest upon her face. She looked so very different from the confident young woman who had fought and struggled so bravely not so long before. Her eyes were narrowed but definitely uncertain, and while her jaw was set angrily he couldn't help but notice she was trembling. She looked younger, almost child-like and lost as her blue eyes met his as strongly as she could manage, but somehow faltered even then and never quite made contact. She didn't want him to see just how concerned she was. He allowed himself a quiet laugh, almost silent, but not so quiet that she didn't hear it. Her body tightened and her chin rose slightly.

"You don't scare me..." She said eventually.

He stepped forwards and slowly, painfully slowly, walked around and stopped behind her. Leaning closer he gently moved her mane of dark hair from upon her shoulder to rest down her back, letting his fingertips drag slightly against the newly revealed skin of her neck. Smirking as she shuddered in response. Noting the depth and richness of her hair's colour compared to the pale skin beneath it, the two so different and yet complimenting each other perfectly.

"You're lying," He whispered darkly, bringing his face close to her shoulder, his breath tingling against her skin.

She closed her eyes and bit her tongue. She would not give him the satisfaction of revealing just how petrified she actually was, she just couldn't. Nor would she just surrender, no matter how desperate her situation seemed she was certain of one thing, that she would not give in to anything without a fight.

Somewhere inside she reasoned she had to have been in worse situations than this and survived with her will intact, even though she failed each time as she tried to pinpoint anything specific.

He grinned and shook his head as he watched her struggling against the situation.

"You know, it's almost endearing how you're trying to fight the inevitable..."

"Nothing is inevitable..." She tilted her chin a little higher, clenching her hands behind her back subconsciously as she felt him move even closer. The words sounded empty and desperate. That was what really frightened her. They were.

There was a moment or two's silence, she could hear her heart pounding loudly in her ears.

He felt his breathing deepen as his gaze traveled down over her shoulder, catching sight of her chest rising and falling with increasing speed within the tightly corseted dress.

"What do you want from me?" She finally broke the silence, her voice echoing in the room. "Do you want me to be afraid of you? Is that what this is about...?"

"Oh no..." He wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her back sharply against him, crushing her body against his. His other hand moving up to stroke her hair. "No, this is about something very different..." His hand in her hair pulled sharply, titling her head and exposing her neck completely while drawing a gasp from her lips as he let his own brush her pale skin.

She felt her heart stop momentarily as he kissed her neck, struggling for a moment as he trapped her in his arms. Feeling her skin ripple once again with goosebumps of terror as his hand left her hair and slid over her skin to rest loosely on her throat.

"You're right, I do want something..." His hand tightened ever so slightly around her throat, ceasing her renewed struggling immediately. "And you and I both know I'm going to get it..." He laughed again, his confidence growing as he sensed her submission starting to draw closer, and span her around so she was now pressed against his chest, his hand returning to pull her hair and force her eyes to meet his.

Increasing the hold his hand had within her hair he drew her back and away from him, suddenly aware of just how heavy his own breathing had become as his eyes once again moved down to her cleavage. Raising his free hand slowly, so slowly it barely seemed to be moving he traced the tip of his index finger from her chin, down her neck and over her décolletage and down to the crease of her breasts. His breathing stopped momentarily as his finger stroked down the line of her cleavage, the pale skin soft and smooth; almost caressing his finger as he trailed it downwards. Tutting slightly as the neckline of her dress stopped his finger's descent and snapped him out of his almost meditative state.

His hold on her hair released and he stepped back, moving away to sit in a chair close to the wall she hadn't noticed until that point. She shook her head slightly, convinced she could still feel his hand wound within her hair. Her brow creased a little, almost in confusion as to this rather unexpected move. He lifted his elbow to rest upon the arm of the chair, cradling his chin in his palm; languidly crossing one leg over the other and just looking at her. His eyes flicking up and down her figure, lips occasionally pursing and relaxing. She stood awkwardly, unable to move very far from her current position thanks to the shackles around her wrists; unable to escape his roving eyes and probing gaze. Every glance sending tremors of nervousness through her entire body. Catching the tip of his tongue moistening his lips while his eyes were once again latched onto her cleavage she felt her stomach tense with anger, revulsion, a myriad of emotions all at once.

"Now my dear..." He said abruptly, having apparently contemplated her enough for the moment, rising to his feet once more causing her to shrink back a little instinctively. "I think it's time I made you a little more uncomfortable..." His eyes sparkling with a dangerous light, he strode slowly towards her.

 

[bullshot]

Lord James

Lord James was 28 years old and had claimed the right to the first night with new brides from his ageing father when he reached the age of maturity he travelled the lands searching out the fairest of the land checking there ages and making sure that he was informed of any pending marriages

Tonight he was sitting in his lounge waiting for the new bride to be brought to him, he’d been to look at her only a week ago her exceptional beauty ensured that he would claim the first night with her as he had done with others not as beautiful as her.

He smiled when there was a knock on the door the smile turning to a frown when his butler entered. “Sir the young lady is in the dungeon it appears that she tried to escape twice after your men collected her,” the butler informed him.

“Very well I’ll go down and greet her there,” he replied getting up from his comfortable arm chair and heading down to the dungeons he was sure the young girl wouldn’t be happy down there and it might make her more amenable.

When he entered the dungeon he stopped and looked at her she was chained with her arms spread above her head still wearing her wedding gown which was slightly soiled obviously from her escape attempts, he veil was missing but that was understandable she looked even more stunning chained in his dungeon. He could see that she had been crying from the streaks on her cheeks but her demure was one of defiance when he approached he could see why she had tried to escape.

“So who have we here?” he asked as he got closer. “I’m sure you would have been more comfortable in the main house instead of down here if you hadn’t tried to escape,” he told her.

He knew that her husband and family had given her over to him for the night so there would be nobody looking for her as they would expect her to be delivered back to them some tome on the morrow. She was his to use for the night she could either come willingly to his bed as many before her had or she could be raped as a few had been most once they learnt the inevitability had surrendered to him willingly.

She was a few inches shorter than him so he took hold of her hair pulling her head back as he pressed a kiss onto her luscious lips to see her reaction.

 

[Britwitch]

Erin was not long turned 18 and today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
But it wasn't.
Her wedding had been beautiful, her husband Samuel had looked more handsome than she had ever seen him. All of her friends and family, those she loved, were all around, sharing her day.
Then the sun had begun to set and the happy faces had grown pale and sad...Samuel's had grown angry as several uninvited, but unstoppable, guests had entered. Guards working for the Lord of the lands, come to collect her. To take her to his castle where her innocence would be taken, but not by her husband, but by Lord James himself. Like so many others before her.
Erin had known that to run was a foolish thing to do, but she couldn't help it. She had dashed from the barn in which they had been feasting and dancing, heading for the woods, hoping to remain hidden until the sunrise when her 'first night' would be over and she could be safe. But the guards were far quicker than she and soon she had found herself with her arms shackled behind her, lifted up onto a horse and led away from all that she loved towards the castle.

Strands of her long dark brown, almost black hair, had worked free from their pins in the chase. Flowers still adorned the top of her head but her veil had been ripped off in the process. Her long white gown, hand sewn by her mother and grandmother was now stained a little with mud around the bottom from where she'd tumbled and been caught. She kept her chin held high, determined not to feel afraid, refraining from letting her bright blue eyes make contact with anyone in case they saw the terror that was threatening to take her over.
Another tussle in the entrance to the castle when she had made one last bid for her freedom ensured she was taken below to the dungeons and chained in a damp room to await Lord James. Her wrists held high above her head, arching her back and almost forcing her up onto her toes, she was not the tallest of girls in her village. She pulled and twisted uselessly against the shackles and then froze as the door opened and Lord James stepped inside.

“So who have we here?”...I’m sure you would have been more comfortable in the main house instead of down here if you hadn’t tried to escape,”

He approached her and she saw his eyes drift down over her form, she kept hers fixed on his face. A face that would have seemed handsome under other circumstances but that now sent shivers throughout Erin's young body.
"I...I am Erin..." She answered, in a voice that sounded considerably braver than she felt. "And I wouldn't have had to try and escape if you didn't insist on this vile tradition you 'lords' have..."
She gasped as she felt his hand take hold of her hair, pulling sharply and jerking her head back before pressing his lips firmly against hers, stopping any further words she might have had. She struggled to pull her head away but his grip tightened making her yelp into his mouth and cease her struggling. For the moment at least.

 

[bullshot]

Lord James

James broke the kiss when she appeared to cease struggling against him but the look in her eyes told him he was going to enjoy breaking this beauty to his will he’d chosen her from a number getting married that day as she was the best of a good crop.

"And I wouldn't have had to try and escape if you didn't insist on this vile tradition you 'lords' have..."

“It’s not a vile tradition it’s a right owed to all lords as part of the tax they pay to farm his lands your husband will get a cut in his taxes at the end of the year,” James told her lying there was no way that he’d give her husband a tax cut the only cut he might get was across his neck.

“Now Erin the question is do you want to keep your wedding dress in one piece or do I remove it for you now?” he asked as much to himself as to her as he took his dagger out of its sheath and flashed the blade at her pretending to cut through the front of her dress.

He was quite keen to get her out of the dress but decided to enjoy her a little more while she wasn’t in a position to resist too hard using one hand to keep her head still he kissed her again while the other hand ran the flat of the dagger across her breasts and then down to her crotch. What Erin didn’t know was the dagger was only sharp on one edge like that it would allow him to cut straight down the front of her dress without cutting her with the blunt edge.

Continuing the kiss he slipped the dagger back into its sheath before gently massaging her breasts through her dress taking time to caress her nipples as he tried to get them to harden.

 

[Britwitch]

“It’s not a vile tradition it’s a right owed to all lords as part of the tax they pay to farm his lands your husband will get a cut in his taxes at the end of the year,”
Erin's eyes narrowed in contempt but she bit back a reply. Not wanting to anger him more than she had to. She had heard the tales of others being taken so cruelly, right her in the dungeon. Girls too intent on escape, too intent on insulting him that had been forced to submit to his desires down here in the darkness, strapped to all manner of machines...the idea made her shiver to the core...

“Now Erin the question is do you want to keep your wedding dress in one piece or do I remove it for you now?”Erin gasped as she watched him draw the blade and caused it to flash into her wide eyes. Moving it closer to her dress.
"No...no please...this dress was made by my mother...and grandmother...please don't ruin it..." She whimpered as he pressed the blade down her front and lingered for a moment over her crotch before re-sheathing it. He held her head in place as his mouth captured hers once more. She allowed the kiss but did not respond to it, whimpering into his mouth however as his other hand lifted to begin to grope at her chest through the dress. Feeling the weight and size of her generous chest, finding the small nubs of flesh that had already hardened a little in the cool air of the dungeon. So sensitive, the feeling of his fingers rubbing over them, even through the dress, made her squirm and flush with embarassment.

 

[bullshot]

James

James could feel Erin’s body responding to his hand as it massage her breasts and teased at her nipples and as he kissed her he could feel the heat in her face as she blushed although as yet she wasn’t responding to the kiss he knew that she would eventually.

“Guards” he shouted as he released her and turned to the door. Two guards entered with fighting to control two large hounds each they moved across the room to Erin allowing the hounds to sniff at her and growl as they took in her scent.

“If you try to escape again I won’t send guards after you I’ll send my four friends here. You won’t be able to hide from them and there won’t be much left of you for your husband once they find you,” James told Erin as he turned back to her.

“You can take the dogs away but keep them ready just in case,” he dismissed the guards turning his attention back to the beauty that was going to be his.

“Well dinner is ready for us upstairs so we need to go up there,” James told her. “As you want to keep your dress in one piece once I release you I want you to take it off for me we’ll leave it down here for now and if you’re good I’ll have someone collect it for you before you leave,” he instructed her as he released her arms from the shackles and stepped back to wait for her to obey and watch her undress.

He wasn’t bothered about her trying to escape he knew there where two guards outside the door ready to do his bidding and if she should by chance get past them the dogs would soon hunt her down.

 

[Britwitch]

“Guards”
Erin felt her body tense as he called for his guards, shrinking back against the wall slightly as two burly guards entered with two enormous dogs each. The hounds sniffing eagerly as they approached her.
“If you try to escape again I won’t send guards after you I’ll send my four friends here. You won’t be able to hide from them and there won’t be much left of you for your husband once they find you,”
Erin couldn't take her eyes off of the beasts, her heart thumping loudly in her ears as she listened to James' threat.The guards and the dogs left them along once more and the Lord turned back to face her.
“Well dinner is ready for us upstairs so we need to go up there...As you want to keep your dress in one piece once I release you I want you to take it off for me we’ll leave it down here for now and if you’re good I’ll have someone collect it for you before you leave,”
Erin sighed with obvious relief as her wrists were freed from the shackles, rubbing the tender skin as she looked curiously at him. Surely he didn't mean for her to disrobe here, the dungeon. But the look on his face and his demeanour told her that was exactly what he expected.
Avoiding his eyes, she began to take off her wedding dress. Untying the ribbon that held the bodice together, letting it open before slipping the shoulders down her arms and then pushing the entire garment over her rounded hips to the floor. Stepping out of it quickly to pick it up off the stones, worried it would be marked more than it already was, she stood before him in her slip. The thin, sheer material provided little cover for her body. Revealing almost everything beneath it to his eyes in the flickering torchlight of the dungeon. Beneath the slip she wore only her simple undergarments around her waist but her bare breasts strained against the material, her hard nipples pushing against it obscenely.

 

[bullshot]

James

James watched as Erin began to undo the ties on her dress licking his lips in anticipation as she slipped it off her shoulders then had to push it down over her ample hips exposing the top of her breasts to him as she bent over to pick up her dress the weight of her breasts pressing against the flimsy sheer shift she was wearing underneath. Stepping forward he took the dress from her and hung it onto the shackles that had restrained her as she waited for his arrival he’d hung it there to remind her she could be quickly fastened there again.

Moving so that he was in front of her again the only thing spoiling her was her panties her sheer shift gave him a lovely view of her ample breasts with her erect nipples trying to get out through the thin material. Stepping up to her he took her head in his hands and kissed her again full on the lips pushing his tongue this time between her lips waiting for her to respond he moved one hand down to tease her already hard nipples before sliding it further down to cup her crotch through her panties checking for any wetness.

“I think it’s time I took you to more comfortable surroundings,” he told her after breaking the kiss. “Then we can have a little to eat before we think about how we’re going to spend our wedding night,” he suggested with a big smile on his face. He knew exactly how they were going to spend the night he’d slept most of the day so that he’d be able to stay awake most of the night so what if he did return her a little late he didn’t care.

James took Erin's arm and led her out of the cell taking her up two flights of stairs back to his sitting room where a meal had been laid out for them. The two guards managed to hide their smiles as she want past them as they could see that she was nearly naked and she hadn'teven reached the lords quarters. The guards fell in behind them and followed stopping at the door to James's sitting room.

 

[Britwitch]

Erin watched him hang her precious dress up upon the shackles that had held her only moments earlier before her eyes returned to his face, watching him watching her. See his smile of approval as he took in her breasts, seeing it fade slightly as her undergarments prevented further inspection.

He moved in front of her, taking her head in his hands and holding it firmly in place as his mouth claimed hers once again. His tongue probing against her lips until she parted them and allowed it to snake into her mouth. Exploring, stroking her own tongue. Then a whimper as his hand trailed down to fondle her nipples. Tingling from nervousness and the cool air in the dungeon, they sent shocks throughout her at his touch. Then a louder whimper was consumed by his mouth as the hand slid down further to cup her sex through her clothing. Her body struggled for the briefest of moments before she remembered his threats and forced herself to stand still and let him finish.

“I think it’s time I took you to more comfortable surroundings...Then we can have a little to eat before we think about how we’re going to spend our wedding night,”
He announced, taking her arm and leading her out of the cell. Erin's cheeks burnt with embarassment as the guards at the door took in her almost naked figure. Following behind close enough for her to hear parts of their whispered comments of approval but far enough away that they would not draw the wrath of his Lordship upon them.

James took her into a large, elaborately decorated room. A meal was laid out on the table and a fire was dancing merrily in the fireplace warming the air around them. For a moment Erin was distracted by the opulent surroundings, she'd never seen anything like it before. But then she was dragged back to reality as James guided her over to the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit down. Making sure she pulled the top of the slip up a little, trying to maintain some shred of her modesty, she sat down.

 

[bullshot]

James

James smiled at the comments made by his guards as they followed Erin and himself it just proved that he’d chosen the right bride as they whispered about her tits and ass that was all they had chance to see her sex was still covered by her undergarment and he wondered why he hadn’t had her remove that in the dungeon as well.

It didn’t really matter except that the guards fun had been spoilt to a certain extent he have her remove it for his pleasure later probably before she removed the sheer slip she was wearing. The room was quite warm especially when compared with the dungeon and as he sat Erin down at the table he smiled as she pulled the top of the ridiculous slip up a little to cover the top of her breast but all it did was make her nipples press harder against the flimsy fabric showing them off to him.

He moved around the table so that he was sitting directly opposite her and had a wonderful view of her breasts and nipples as they stretched the thin fabric covering them.

“Eat up,” he told her. “You’ll need your strength to get through the night,” he added with a laugh as he started to serve himself slices of meat and then spoons of vegetables until his platter was full before starting to eat.

He wondered how to get rid of the undergarment if he should remove it himself or have her remove it for him having decided it would be better to have her remove it he waited until she had a mouthful of food.

“When we’ve finished eating you’re going to get more comfortable by removing that undergarment so that all you’re wearing is your slip,” he informed her making it sound as if it wasn’t a command.

 

[Britwitch]

“Eat up...You’ll need your strength to get through the night,”
Erin looked away from him as he piled his platter with food, she helped herself to some meat and vegetables but she was sure that her nerves wouldn't let her eat much without feeling sick. Sat oppposite her, James' eyes seemed to be fixed on either one of two points. His food...or her chest...
Trying to put him out of her head for a few moments, she carefully cut some meat and brought it up to her mouth. No sooner had the food passed her lips she heard,
“When we’ve finished eating you’re going to get more comfortable by removing that undergarment so that all you’re wearing is your slip,”
When she looked across at him, eyes widened, his eyes were focused on his own meal. It had sounded more like he was offering her more food than commanding her to remove one of the last things maintaining her modesty. he informed her making it sound as if it wasn’t a command.
"As you wish...M'lord..." She replied after swallowing the meat, her voice tight and quiet, knowing that they were alone but that there were guards outside the door who would come running at the sound of raised voices. So she bit back her angry words and continued to eat her meal.

 

[bullshot]

James

James smiled as he heard her say in a quiet voice. "As you wish...M'lord..." The question he was asking himself as he continued eating was whether to have her remove her slip after a few drinks or to wait until he was ready to take her to his bed.

Deciding that he could wait until he’d seen her fully wearing only the slip which didn’t hide anything and besides he wanted a few kisses before bed. He’d enjoyed the feel of her breasts in the dungeon and wondered about her sex whether it was wet with anticipation or dry from fear. It didn’t matter as his fingers would soon have her juices running if the girls that had preceded her were anything to go by.

They were getting close to finishing their meal as Erin hadn’t started with much on her plate it was close to empty and James was anxious to see what she would do when they finally finished.

He picked up his goblet of wine and turned to Erin saying. “A toast to us, may we have a happy night together” waiting for her to pick up her goblet before taking a drink himself.

 

[bullshot]

Double post

 

[Britwitch]

“A toast to us, may we have a happy night together”
Erin raised her goblet, lifting it towards James but remaining silent. She replaced the gilded cup upon the table and glanced at her plate, it was practically empty and she didn't feel she could manage to eat another mouthful.
Standing slowly, and moving to the side of her chair, she carefully removed her undergarments, being sure not to let him see a flash of her legs or the apex, lightly covered with fine, dark hair. Unsure of what to do with them, she left them upon the floor and went to sit back down, knowing the sheer slip would be revealing almost as much as if she were stood naked before him.

 

[bullshot]

James

“Don’t sit,” he ordered as she went to take her seat again he knew that it was an attempt to hide her body from him as the sheer slip didn’t cover anything and he wanted a good look at her before he had her remove the slip.

James got up from his seat walking around the table so he could see the full length of her beautiful body the body she was going to share with him later but for now he enjoyed the sight. He moved behind her running his hands down her back to her buttocks and then giving her ass cheeks a quick squeeze and a gentle slab each. As his hands moved back up her body they moved to the front of her to cup her breasts as he kissed the back of her neck before brushing his hands across her already hardening nipples.

“I wonder if you should take your undergarments out to the guards and ask them to put them in the dungeon with your dress,” he said with a wicked grin on his face as he walked around to stand in front of her looking her up and down. His eyes taking in every bit of her from her head to her ample bust with nipples pressing through the sheer material then down to her narrow waist finally settling on the small collection of dark hair that was trying to hide her most intimate place.

With a laugh he stepped up to her and kissed her passionately on the lips as one hand slipped down and pressed the sheer gown between her partially open legs so that he could run his finger along her pussy lips. Pressing gently he opened them slightly to find out if her juices were running as his finger continued to rub against her sex without actually entering.

 

[Britwitch]

“Don’t sit,”
Erin froze, standing still beside the table as he moved around it, coming closer. His eyes hungrily sweeping over the thin slip clinging to her trembling frame, revealing almost everything that it covered.

She gasped as his hand stroked, squeezed then slapped each rounded globe of her behind. James' hands then rising around her front to cup her breasts, pulling her back against him slightly, his lips brushing the back of her neck. She bit down against a whimper as her hardening nipples throbbed at the sweeping touch of his palms.
“I wonder if you should take your undergarments out to the guards and ask them to put them in the dungeon with your dress,”
She shook her head, her eyes wide and pleading as he moved before her once again.
"No...no please..." Dreading the thought of being seen like this by even more people. Especially by his leering guards.
He kissed her once more, pulling her towards him and running a hand down her front to cup her sex through her gown. Whimpering into his mouth as a finger pressed more insistently. Pushing the gauzy material up between the lips of her sex. Exploring her, seeking out signs of her arousal. Of which there were none. Fear alone was preventing her sex from reacting as easily as her breasts were. Her whimpered moans all captured by his mouth as his finger continued to rub back and forth, claiming her flesh, teasing and tormenting it and Erin had no choice but to submit.

 

[bullshot]

Duplicate post

 

[bullshot]

James smiled as she pleaded against taking her undergarments out to the two guards what she hadn’t considered was that to get to the bed where he was going to deflower her meant they would have to walk along the corridor with the guards following and by that time he intended to have had her remove the sheer slip so she’d be completely naked for them to enjoy.

He could feel in his mouth the moans coming from her as they kissed and was surprised to find that her sex was completely dry as his finger rubbed along the lips. He could feel her body starting to relax a little as he continued to tease her still not entering her with his finger. Using his free hand he started to carefully pull the shift up at the front raising it until he could access her sex without the hindrance of the material.

Once he’d managed that he slipped his finger between her sex lips searching until he found her clit then took it between his finger and thumb and started to tease it to hardness the same as he’d done with her nipples feeling it starting to engorge as he worked. He wanted her juices flowing before he penetrated her to make it easier on her, he could take her dry but he wanted her to enjoy losing her virginity and with her sex dry it wouldn’t be very enjoyable for either of them.

While still teasing her clit he slipped a finger into her sex still looking for her juices to flow slowly moving his finger in time with his thumb and finger pulling and teasing her clit feeling sure that eventually her juices would flow.