Bluebeard’s Pearl

He arrived at our door unannounced just before we sat down to supper. My father peered out the front window, then grew pale with apprehension.

“It’s him!” he hissed at me and my two sisters. Immediately we knew who our father meant, and I hurried to set another place at the table for our unexpected guest.

Father didn’t need to remind us to be cordial to the man at our door, the man townsfolk derisively called Bluebeard. Of course, they never dared to insult him to his face. No, they only whispered behind his back, spreading rumors and speculating about what had happened to his previous wives. The two women had vanished without a trace, and it was only natural for people to suspect foul play.

“What do you think he wants, Pearl?” my oldest sister, Harriet, whispered. I only shook my head. Bluebeard owned the land my father farmed, and each year, Father paid him rent after our crops were harvested. Bluebeard’s rent was reasonable, far lower than the exploitative amounts many other landowners charged, and yet Father struggled to make ends meet. Lately, he’d been grumbling about having three grown daughters who were still unmarried. He’d begun throwing the word “useless” around when he referred to us, especially when he’d been drinking.

“Come in, come in!” Father now said to Bluebeard, his voice ringing with feigned enthusiasm.

My other sister, Georgina, drew herself up to her full height as she stood next to me with her hands clasped behind her back. She was twenty-one, just a year younger than Harriet and two years older than I. As I glanced up at her, I noticed she wasn’t smiling as Bluebeard stepped into our small clapboard house. Instead, she glowered at the man, as if her sour expression could drive him away.

I tried to make up for her rudeness by smiling brightly. “Good evening, sir,” I said to Bluebeard as he removed his hat.

The man was dressed in a fine suit, and as I studied him, I guessed he was a little younger than Father, perhaps forty years old. His hair and beard were raven-black, and just like the feathers of that bird, they took on a faint hue of deepest indigo in the sunlight. Thus the reason for the nickname Bluebeard. His features were sharp and angular, and his fair complexion was a contrast to my tanned skin, and that of my sisters and father. We spent a good part of the day outdoors, tending to chores.

While Harriet trembled with nervousness and Georgina continued to scowl, Bluebeard stepped toward me and held out his hand. “Please, call me William,” he said with a warm smile.

I grasped his hand and instantly noticed the absence of his right ring finger. Some people in town claimed that one of his wives had hacked off that finger in an attempt to escape him before she was murdered, but I didn’t believe that ridiculous rumor.

“I’m Pearl,” I said. William rented out parcels of land to numerous tenant farmers, and I figured he couldn’t be bothered to remember the names of all the family members.

“I know who you are, Pearl,” he told me.

His eyes were such a deep blue, they appeared black in the low light of our front room. As William regarded me, his gaze was intent but kind, and I thought I could discern a hint of sorrow in his eyes as well. A wave of compassion for him welled up inside me.

“I hope you’ll join us for supper,” Father spoke up, running his palm over his hair in an attempt to tame his unruly curls. “Harriet’s made beef stew.”

I expected William to decline, as he was a wealthy man who likely wouldn’t find our humble meal appetizing. Yet he surprised me by accepting Father’s invitation, and as we made our way to the kitchen, just off the front room, I noticed that William didn’t seem much interested in our house. I couldn’t help but feel relieved that he paid no mind to the threadbare curtains or worn-out furnishings.

I had seen the outside of William’s grand house numerous times, usually when I accompanied my father to pay the yearly rent. While my father, always obsequious, spoke to William, I had glanced around in awe of such a beautiful place. Beyond the house with its balcony and wraparound porch, green hills rolled into the distance, as far as the eye could see. All that land belonged to William, and much more besides that. He didn’t need to farm, for he was independently wealthy, having inherited a fortune from his grandfather.

Now as William took a seat at our table, I was struck by the way he treated me and my family as equals. He didn’t look down upon us, though we were poor, and he didn’t seem to judge my father for drinking away what little money he did manage to make from farming.

The five of us ate dinner in near silence, though William did compliment Harriet on her cooking. I struggled for something to say and could think of no appropriate topic of conversation. My father kept glancing at William in trepidation, as if he feared our landlord was here to cast us off his property.

William seemed to sense our unease, for he gave us another reassuring smile. “I apologize for coming here uninvited,” he said to Father, “but I was hoping to have a word with you.”

Father’s eyes widened, and I thought I heard him swallow hard. Even I had grown nervous by this point. “Of course!” Father said, then waved his hands at me and my sisters as though to shoo us away. “Leave us, girls. Give us some privacy.”

We lingered only long enough to clear the table before we headed outside, far enough from the house so that we couldn’t be heard through the open windows.

“What on earth is he doing here?” Georgina muttered. “Do you think he’s going to evict us?”

I frowned and shook my head. “I don’t think so. He’s being far too nice for that. And besides, what kind of monster would sit down to eat with a family and then kick them out of their home?”

“Have you heard what he did to his two wives?” Harriet whispered, looking back at our house with a terrified expression, as though she expected William to come charging out at us.

“I’ve heard rumors,” I replied. “Nothing more than that. Remember, the authorities investigated those disappearances, and they found no evidence of wrongdoing.”

Georgia snorted with derision. “Pearl, do you honestly believe both women just happened to run off? And even if they did, what does that say about Bluebeard? He must be a total brute!”

I didn’t reply, for I knew my sisters had a point. It was well known that William’s first wife had always acted strangely, or a bit touched in the head, as the townspeople liked to say, but if she’d run away while in the grip of madness, that still didn’t explain the second wife’s disappearance.

I also knew that his reason for visiting our house this evening probably didn’t bode well for our family. Still, it seemed cruel to judge a man who had always been fair to us, and whose eyes were haunted by grief. Harriet and Georgina might not have noticed William’s sadness, but I certainly did.

An agonizing silence fell over me and my sisters as we waited. Though little more than fifteen minutes could have passed, it felt like an eternity before Father and William stepped out of the house, shaking hands and smiling as though they were old friends.

I felt my knees weaken with relief that we weren’t about to lose our home. Glancing at my sisters, I saw the tension drain from their faces, and I grabbed Harriet’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Father walked William to his car, and we hurried over to say goodbye to our guest. Even Georgina smiled at him when William took her hand and wished her a good evening.

Finally he turned to me, and my eyes widened slightly when he clasped my hand in both of his. His skin was warm but not clammy. I figured he would quickly release my hand, as my palm had to have been sweaty from nervousness. Yet he held onto me, his smile tender and more intimate than would be expected from a stranger.

“It was a pleasure to see you again, Pearl,” William told me in a low voice, his eyes never leaving mine. “I do hope we meet again very soon.”

Flustered, I looked to my father for some kind of clue as to how to respond, but he only stared at the ground. “Of course, William,” I finally managed to say with a smile. “I’d like that very much.”

As soon as William’s car had disappeared down the dirt road, Georgina turned to Father, hands on her hips. “Why did he come here?” she asked, not bothering to hide her suspicion.

Father cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. “Let’s go inside, girls. We need to have a talk.”

Worry descended upon me again, feeling like a wild animal clawing at the inside of my chest. In silence, my sisters and I followed Father into the house. We didn’t even have a chance to sit down before he turned to face us.

“The man wants to marry one of you,” Father announced.

I cupped a hand over my mouth, trying to muffle a cry of surprise. Of all the reasons William might have visited, I never would have suspected that one!

My sisters released anguished shrieks and clung to each other, as if they feared being dragged away that instant.

“I will not marry that man!” Harriet wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’ll join a convent first.”

“You’re not Catholic,” Georgina scoffed. Her lips trembled with the effort to hold back her own tears.

“I’ll convert!” Harriet insisted.

Georgina glared at Father. “I’ll be damned if I marry that man. If you try to make me, I’ll run away!”

Father rolled his eyes. “Some threat that is. And you two can quit your theatrics. It’s not you he’s interested in. It’s Pearl.”

I froze, unable to speak. My mind raced with what felt like a million questions. Finally I managed to ask what seemed the most important one: “Why?”

Father gave me a rare smile. “He’s obviously taken a liking to you, girl. You’re a pretty thing, and at nineteen, you’re certainly old enough to be married.”

“You can’t do it, Pearl!” Georgina said through her teeth. “That man is dangerous.” She turned on our Father once more. “When you were becoming such great friends with Bluebeard this evening, did you think to ask him what happened to his previous wives?”

Father looked wounded as he released a heavy sigh. “You girls know they both ran off,” he said. “That first one went crazy, and the second one?” He shrugged. “Well, maybe she was a good-for-nothing like your own mother. I don’t need to remind you that she ran off, too.”

Harriet and Georgina recoiled from his words, as though he’d slapped them. We never talked about our mother, and hearing Father mention her now only added to my sisters’ distress.

I took a step forward. “Is that the reason William gave for wanting to marry me?” I asked Father. “He’s taken a liking to me, and thinks I’m pretty?”

Father scratched his chin. “Well, he phrased it more eloquently than that. He said something about you being a beautiful young woman, and he would be honored to have you as his wife. He mentioned his loneliness, and said he longs for a loving companion.”

I could only shake my head as I wondered what a man like William saw in me. I was actually rather plain, with long, fine brown hair and light brown eyes. While my sisters had willowy frames, I was shorter and had a buxom figure. I had already resigned myself to remaining unmarried, as I was no great beauty and didn’t come from a wealthy family.

Before I could ask any more questions, Father pressed on. “Pearl, if you agree to marry William, he’ll give me this house, and this land, outright, along with a hundred more acres. There will be no more paying rent; everything will be ours to keep.”

“So you want to exchange Pearl for some land, like she’s chattel?” Georgina shouted. “How dare you even suggest such a thing!”

“I’ve heard enough out of you!” Father bellowed at her, loud enough to make me jump. Then he retrieved his flask from a nearby table and helped himself to several long swallows of liquor. After he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, Father glanced at me and said, “I’m not saying you have to marry him, Pearl. Of course I’m not saying that.”

No, he wasn’t saying that outright, I told myself. But I knew that if he kept drinking and began to neglect the land even more, he could lose everything. We could all lose everything.

“I’ll do it,” I said, the words spilling from my lips in a rush before I had a chance to change my mind. Georgina and Harriet began protesting, but I only held up a hand to silence them. “Contact William and make the necessary arrangements,” I told Father.

Then I turned away from my family and hurried to the kitchen so they wouldn’t see my fear, and the doubt I already had about my decision.

* * *

A few weeks later, William and I were married by the justice of the peace in a simple ceremony. I didn’t desire a grand wedding of any kind, and I figured a man marrying his third wife wasn’t interested in one, either.

I wore my mother’s old wedding dress, though Harriet had to let out the waist a little for it to fit me properly. Father served as my witness while my sisters looked on, appearing so sorrowful that they may as well have been attending a funeral. I forced a smile for their benefit as I stood by William’s side, and they kept their promise to me that they wouldn’t break down crying during the proceedings.

An older woman with flaming red hair was William’s witness. I had never seen her before, and though William introduced her as Selene, he didn’t elaborate on his relationship with her. I noticed that he acted rather formal toward her, almost deferential.

As William and I recited our vows, my gaze drifted over to Selene, and she gave me a sly grin. I quickly looked away, suppressing a shiver.

My hand was visibly trembling when I offered it to William so he could slip the wedding ring on my finger. It was no diamond, I discovered, but a blood-red ruby, and its enormous size made Harriet gasp when she saw it. It fit me perfectly.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I slid the gold band onto William’s left ring finger. “Good thing I still have this one,” he murmured, making an obvious reference to his missing right finger. I snapped my head up to look at him with wide eyes, and I noticed a playful smile dancing at his lips. In spite of myself, I felt the tension drain from my shoulders. I told myself I was marrying a good man, a man who sensed my anxiousness and wanted to put me at ease.

When the justice of the peace announced, “You may kiss the bride,” I closed my eyes even before William had lifted my simple veil. Tilting my head upward, I offered my mouth to him, and all my anxiety returned, for this would be my first real kiss.

I felt his lips, so soft and warm, and the tickle of his beard. The kiss was chaste, but I readily yielded to it. As we pulled apart, I opened my eyes and saw a heat in his stare that made my breath catch in my throat.

After the ceremony, William invited everyone to his house for a celebratory feast, but my father declined, and I knew it was because he feared how my sisters might act. They had held up well until this point, but I could easily see they were fighting back tears as the time to say goodbye drew near.

Selene also gave her regrets for not being able to attend, but before she left, she took my hand and guided it to William’s. “May the Fates bless this union,” the woman said, and as she spoke, her eyes never left my husband’s. “May you find happiness this time.”

* * *

I spent the rest of the day in a dream-like state, feeling strangely disconnected from everything around me. Again and again I told myself I was now a wife, but the words didn’t seem to register in my mind.

William and I made the short trip back to his house, and he carried in the suitcase which held my few belongings. Once we were inside, I stared in wonder at the high ceilings, the winding staircase and the rich furnishings.

“Welcome to your new home, Pearl,” William said as he took my hand.

I looked up at him as if in a daze. “This is a beautiful house, but I imagine I’ll be busy day and night taking care of it!”

My husband smiled affectionately and stroked my cheek. “You won’t have to lift a finger, my dear,” he said. “There are servants for that.”

As if on cue, numerous servants appeared, and my eyes grew wide. I realized I was uncomfortable at the thought of someone else waiting on me, when I’d always done everything for myself.

William introduced me to the servants, and in my frazzled state, I struggled to commit each of their names to memory. They addressed me as “ma’am,” which only increased my discomfort.

As William promised, a feast had been prepared, with roast duck and flowing wine, and a beautiful wedding cake. As I gazed upon the cake, unexpected tears filled my eyes, for I’d never imagined that this day, with all its splendor, would happen for me.

My husband immediately sensed the emotions threatening to overwhelm me, for he excused the servants and poured me a glass of wine. I took several sips without hesitation.

“I know this is a great deal of change for you, Pearl,” William said gently. “Why don’t we have a nice, relaxing meal together, without a lot of fuss?”

I smiled, unable to hide my relief. “I would love that.”

As I sat down at the table, my husband took on the role of serving me. I felt too nervous to eat, but I wanted to make the effort. Someone had put so much work into preparing this meal, and it would be ungrateful of me not to at least try to enjoy it.

Once we were both seated, William’s eyes locked with mine, and his smile made something stir deep within me. “I must say, Pearl, you make a ravishing bride.”

I blushed at his compliment, unable to hide my own smile. “And you are certainly a very handsome groom, William,” I replied, and his smile widened.

As we dined, I was careful not to drink too much wine, though I enjoyed the way it relaxed me. I didn’t feel nearly as nervous and out of my element after I’d had an entire glass, and William was quick to pour me another.

The servants didn’t interrupt our meal, not even to ask if everything was to our liking. I was happy to finally spend some time alone with my new husband. As he picked up a knife and cut the first slice of our wedding cake, I clapped my hands together in delight.

“It’s almost too beautiful to eat!” I exclaimed.

“Almost,” William said with a wink, “but not quite.” He placed the cake plate before me, then brought a forkful of the cake to my lips. Gazing up at him, I opened my mouth, and his stare was riveted on my face as he fed me.

“Mmm,” I moaned. The cake was so moist, it practically melted on my tongue.

William set the fork aside, then gathered up some icing on his index finger. I didn’t understand at first, but when he brought his finger to my mouth, I realized what he wanted of me.

Nervously, tentatively, I took his finger between my lips, then sucked and licked the icing from it. I heard his sharp intake of breath, followed by a faint sigh.

In my innocence, I didn’t fully comprehend the significance of this act, but his pleasured reaction, and the way his dark blue eyes were fixed on mine, made a dull, needy ache begin between my thighs.

Even when William withdrew from me and set about enjoying his own piece of cake, my heart thumped hard in my chest, and I struggled to slow my quick breaths.

After our meal, he gave me a tour of the house, and when we reached a closed door off one of the downstairs hallways, William withdrew a key from his pocket. “Some doors in this house are kept locked, as I don’t like the servants prying into my personal affairs,” William said. He unlocked the door and opened it to reveal a neatly kept office, with a mahogany desk gleaming in the fading daylight coming through the windows.

I quickly nodded, and after William had closed and relocked the door, we ventured upstairs. I noticed that no servants accompanied us, and I assumed they were busy cleaning up now that William and I were finished eating.

My husband led me down a long hallway upstairs, and he unlocked a door that opened onto the master suite. “The servants are allowed in here only when I’m present to supervise them,” he explained as I followed him through a sitting room. When we reached the bathroom, I couldn’t help but marvel at the enormous size of it. This house was over a hundred years old but had clearly been extensively remodeled. I wondered if William had done that to please his first wife, or his second.

Then there was the master bedroom with its luxurious bed, and a walk-in closet that was larger than the room I’d shared with my sisters at home. But this was my home now, I reminded myself, though I couldn’t quite believe it.

In that closet, I found outfits of every kind, from beautiful gowns to simple dresses. I grazed my fingertips over the garments, my mouth agape.

“I thought you might enjoy some new clothes,” William said from behind me, and I turned to face him.

“It’s an entire wardrobe!” I said, and he shrugged, wearing a sheepish smile.

“I requested that your father ask one of your sisters about your dress size, so I could have some things ready for you when you arrived. Of course, whatever you don’t care for can be returned…”

“No, no, I love everything!” I said. A lump of unshed tears formed in my throat as I imagined William doing everything he could to make me happy. Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around him, and he readily embraced me.

“I want to give you everything you desire,” he whispered. “And I know you miss your family, but they’re welcome to visit you here at any time, Pearl. I want you to be happy.”

Looking up at him, I cupped his face in my hands. “I promise I will do everything I can to be a good wife to you, William,” I said. “I want you to be happy, too.”

He lowered his mouth to mine, and I welcomed his kiss. I felt his hands sliding down my back, over the fabric of my wedding dress. When his lips parted, I followed his lead, and our kiss deepened.

His tongue grazed mine, and I released a surprised cry. It was such an intimate thing, the way he explored my mouth. His grip on me tightened, and as I was pressed firmly against him, I felt his hardness.

I found myself a little afraid of the desire I’d evoked in him, though of course I knew that was part of my role as his wife. And even in my nervousness, I discovered my own desire heightening from his kiss, his closeness, and his arousal.

Finally he broke the kiss, breathing hard. I stared up at him, craving more of his touch. Yet he only smiled as he released me.

“If you find that you want your own suite, we can arrange that,” William told me. “It might have been presumptuous of me to have your belongings brought to my rooms…”

I only shook my head. “I wouldn’t know what to do with my own suite,” I confessed. “I’m certainly not used to having so much space.”

His gaze softened at my words, and he took hold of my hand once more, bringing it to his lips. “Let me show you the rest of the upstairs.”

Many of the other doors were unlocked, as they opened to reveal empty guest rooms. But at the opposite end of the hallway from the master suite, there was yet another locked door, and William didn’t move to open it. Instead, he turned to me and withdrew another key from his pocket.

“As my wife, you have my trust,” he said, placing the extra key in my palm. “Like my key, this one will open the door to every room in the house. You’re free to enter any room you please. Except for this one.” William nodded toward that door at the end of the hall, the only one he had refused to open. “Do not ever unlock this door under any circumstance.” For the first time, my husband’s stare was piercing, almost hard, as he regarded me. “Do you understand me, Pearl?”

I swallowed hard, trying to hide my sudden fear of him. “Of course,” I replied, my voice shaking. “I understand.”

As William slipped an arm around me and led me back down the hall, I glanced over my shoulder at the closed door and shivered. I wondered if my husband felt it.

* * *

Back in the master suite, I pulled away from William and went to one of the windows so I could see the view I’d admired when visiting with my father before. “Everything is so beautiful here,” I said in a surprisingly steady voice.

I heard him approach me, and I tried not to grow tense. When he placed his hands on my shoulders, I closed my eyes.

“I hope you’re not upset with me, darling, for what I said before,” William told me in a low voice. I found it soothing despite my misgivings. “That room is full of personal effects that belonged to my grandfather. He was like a father to me, and I miss him even now. It’s painful for me to enter that room; I almost never do. Too many memories.”

I nodded, desperately wanting to believe William. As I turned to face him, I forced a smile. “I understand. You’ve been so generous to me, and I’m happy to respect your wishes.”

William returned my smile, then brushed his lips against mine. “Why don’t you get settled in while I go downstairs and tell the servants they can leave for the evening?” He must have seen the confusion on my face, for I had assumed the servants had their own quarters in the house. “I’m a private man, Pearl, and while this house is large enough to require help for its upkeep, I prefer to have the place all to myself once night falls,” he explained.

“Of course,” I said. “I must admit, the idea of having servants at all is very strange to me.”

William smiled and lowered his lips to my neck. I gasped when I felt his tongue swirling over my skin. “You’ll get used to it,” he told me, then left me alone.

I looked around the room, at a loss as to what I should do. Moving toward the full-length mirror, I took the pins and combs from my hair so it fell down my back. I wished my locks were wavy like Harriet’s.

Gazing down at my dress, I wondered if I should take it off. Was there lingerie in that new wardrobe William had bought for me? I didn’t know if I should be partially clothed or completely naked when he returned.

Honestly, I had little idea of what to expect from our wedding night. Of course I knew a wife would have relations with her husband, but beyond that, I was clueless. My sisters, as inexperienced as I was, could provide no helpful knowledge; we whispered about things we’d overheard or happened to read in a book, but we weren’t sure what to believe.

Finally I decided to remain in the dress until my husband came back and gave an indication of what he preferred. Sinking into a chair near the window, I gazed out into the distance as night fell. From here, I couldn’t see the house where my family lived. I thought about my sisters and hoped they weren’t too upset over my absence. Maybe their lives would change for the better now that Father was a landowner. Maybe he would stop drinking, and our family could prosper.

The room was almost dark when William returned. Though he turned on a lamp, giving our surroundings a soft glow, he didn’t close the window. The late spring evening was mild, and a gentle breeze drifted in to caress our skin.

I stood, suddenly nervous, with my hands clasped before me and my eyes lowered. William slowly approached me, as if I were a skittish animal who might bolt.

He placed his fingers under my chin, lifting my head so I was forced to look at him.

“Though we’re now wed, I won’t force you, Pearl,” he whispered. “I know we’re almost strangers to each other, and I understand it might take time for you to be ready to consummate our marriage.”

His hand slid lower until it rested against my throat. For the briefest of moments, I imagined his fingers squeezing, and the thought terrified me. Yet his touch remained tender, and I was flooded with shame for fearing a man who had been so kind to me.

“I’m ready now,” I whispered back as our eyes locked. “I want to.”

I could tell William was pleased with my response, for he smiled and then gave me a hungry kiss, his mouth claiming mine. When he finally pulled away, he set about carefully undressing me, and I sighed softly as his fingers began exploring my bare skin.

Though his stare was hot as he drank in the sight of me, he exercised restraint in removing my undergarments. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the process of slowly stripping me naked.

I couldn’t help but shiver as I stood completely exposed before him. My hair cascaded down to cover my breasts, but William denied me even that bit of modesty. I closed my eyes when he brushed my hair back over my shoulders.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. Then I felt his lips encircle my right nipple, and I drew in a sharp breath at the pleasure of it. Opening my eyes, I looked down at him and couldn’t resist the urge to stroke his hair as he suckled and fondled my breasts.

“Feel what you do to me, darling,” he said in a husky voice, then took my hand and pressed it to his groin. My eyes widened at how hard he was, and I couldn’t fight a surge of trepidation at the thought of my husband pushing himself all the way inside me.

And yet between my thighs, I was aching for it. My body, innocent of a man’s touch, still longed to be filled and taken.

William went to the bed and drew back the covers. “Lie down, Pearl,” he said softly, and I quickly obeyed, pulling the sheet up to my chest.

I watched as he removed his clothes, going about the task far more quickly than he had undressed me. I was shaking with nervousness and desire, and the sight of him naked, his erection pointing upward, made me release a whimper.

Though I tried to avert my gaze, I couldn’t stop staring at him. His chest hair was thick and black, as were the curls at the base of his penis. I noticed a scar, long and slightly raised, snaking across his right side. I wondered how he’d gotten such an injury.

My husband smiled at my blatant curiosity. He certainly had none of my shyness. “I hope you don’t mind what you see,” he said.

I blushed and shook my head. “Not at all,” I managed to reply.

William joined me in the bed, his movements unhurried. As he lay at my side, I could clearly see his erection beneath the sheet.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, nodding toward it. “To be so hard? It looks like it would be painful.”

William laughed, but not in a mocking way. No, he seemed delighted by my eagerness to learn more about his body. “No, my dear, it doesn’t hurt. Do you want to feel it?”

I hesitated just a moment before whispering, “Yes.”

He pulled the sheet away from him, and I let it slide from my body as well. Tentatively, my hand trembling, I circled my fingers around his member, marveling at the silky feel of his skin, which covered such a hardness.

William moaned at my touch, his lips parted and his eyes half-closed. “Stroke it, my sweet,” he encouraged.

I wanted to please him, and I was all too aware of the wetness between my thighs, the persistent aching there. As I gently moved my hand up and down, William’s groans grew louder, and then he dared to reach between my legs.

My breath hitched in my chest when his fingertips parted my folds, and he began exploring me. “Ah, you’re excited, aren’t you, Pearl?” he said with a grin. “Yes, I love that you’re so wet for me!”

I felt so hot, I wondered that I wasn’t blushing all over. And yet I stroked him faster as he touched me. Greedily, I spread my legs wider, and when I felt him ease a finger inside me, I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

It was then that William moved to lie on top of me, and I tensed, wondering if he planned to make love to me at that very moment. Instead, he kissed my lips, and then his mouth traveled lower, lingering at my breasts. He teased my nipples with his tongue, making them grow almost achingly hard, but his suckling relieved the discomfort and brought a wave of pleasure instead.

When my cries grew nearly constant, he moved lower still, showering kisses on my belly before he opened my legs wider. I stared down at him in confusion, which quickly turned to shock as my husband buried his face between my thighs.

I’d never heard of a man doing such a thing, even with his wife. Part of me was aghast that William would put his mouth between my legs of all places, and my face burned with shame. I lay spread wide before him, my muscles rigid.

“Relax, darling,” he whispered, gazing up at me. I could feel his warm breath on my skin. “I love doing this.” His voice was guttural, and his eyes had grown dark with lust. “Do you think it’s wicked of me, to want to taste you like this?”

I didn’t have a chance to respond, for he began lapping at me, and I couldn’t suppress a moan. William smiled at the sounds escaping my lips, and he soon homed in on one place in particular, using a fingertip to massage it to an exquisite tenderness. As he slid his tongue over it, my moans turned to cries.

Without warning, my thighs began shaking, and I didn’t understand what was happening. “Maybe we should stop,” I told him in a trembling voice even as my hips rhythmically rocked.

“Oh no, sweetheart, you’re almost there,” William replied, flashing me a grin. “You’re so close now! I want to see and hear and feel you reach that peak.” He returned to pleasuring me with his lips and tongue, and I knew it was useless to try to hold back, for he was determined to bring about whatever was building inside me.

Soon I was actually sweating, my cries bordering on wails. “Don’t stop!” I pleaded, aching to reach that peak he had spoken of. The lower half of my body felt as if it had become a warm, languid pool, my formerly tense muscles relaxing as a result of the magic William worked with his tongue. I was caught by utter surprise when my entire body suddenly seized with a force that made my back arch.

I cried out for him, and he moaned encouragingly, never relenting in his pleasuring of me. I was gripped by another spasm, and I felt rhythmic contractions deep in my core as ecstasy washed over me.

I expected my husband to lift his head, to show me some kind of mercy, but his tongue lashed at me, driving me to greater heights until I was shamelessly mewling. Only after I collapsed back onto the bed did he lift himself up. I was helpless before him, weak from what he’d done to me, and when I felt him at my opening, I was still too enraptured to be afraid.

William was gentle, his movements painstakingly slow as he entered me. I gazed up at him, wincing from the twinge of pain that grew sharper.

“I’m sorry, darling,” he said, his voice strained. Then he thrust all the way inside.

I whimpered, my limbs wrapped around him as my body yielded to this sudden invasion. With his eyes locked on mine, my husband couldn’t hide his own ecstasy. The expression on his face made the tension seep from my muscles, and my pain lessened until it mingled with my pleasure, making the two almost indistinguishable.

But pleasure won out in the end, and my hips began moving to meet the rhythm of William’s thrusts. He gazed down at me with such longing that it made me lose my breath, and I had to remind myself to inhale.

As our lovemaking grew more intense, I realized I’d never dreamed I could feel such bliss, or that William could coax it forth by the way he moved inside me. It was as if my body no longer answered to my will, but solely to his. My cries soon filled the room yet again, and William panted, sweat dripping from his brow as he drove us toward climax.

When the contractions coursed through me once more, I dug my fingernails into my husband’s back, wanting to draw him even deeper inside me. He must have felt my spasms all around him, for he let out his own helpless cry, and his body grew rigid beneath my hands.

I gasped as he erupted inside me, and then I felt my muscles milking him, seemingly draining him of every drop.

When William was spent, he lay against me, his mouth finding mine. I eagerly kissed him back, still awed by what we had just shared. I breathed in the scent of my juices clinging to his beard.

After he gently pulled out of me and rested at my side, I couldn’t resist the urge to sit up and inspect the sheet beneath my spread thighs. Shocked to see no blood, I turned to William, fearing he would think less of me. “I was a virgin before tonight, I swear it!” I insisted.

My husband sat up as well, studying the sheet. It was damp from our lovemaking, but there was no bloodstain. I’d always been told that I would bleed my first time, and I didn’t understand why I hadn’t.

William smiled tenderly, then stroked my back to soothe me. “I know you were a virgin,” he said. “And do you think I would judge you if you weren’t? Do you think that’s why I wanted to marry you, because I hoped for some pristine bride?”

I gave him a helpless shrug. “Honestly, I have no idea why you wanted to marry me,” I admitted.

He wove his fingers through my hair. “I wanted to marry you because you’re beautiful and kind,” he told me. “Your goodness radiates from you, and it makes you even lovelier. When we met at your father’s house, you didn’t shrink away from me in revulsion, though you must have heard many of the terrible rumors about me.”

“I could sense your goodness, too,” I revealed.

He gathered me in his arms and drew me back down on the bed. “And I’m glad you didn’t bleed. I hated the thought of hurting you.”

As the night deepened, William and I dozed and then wakened to make love yet again. Each time, my soreness lessened, and the longing for his touch grew fervent.

Afterward, I lay in his arms, and we talked in low, soft voices, learning more about each other.

“I’m sure you know that my mother left our family years ago,” I said, my head resting on William’s chest. “She ran off with a man she met in town, and after that, Father started drinking heavily.”

“I can understand the pain your father must have felt. I’ve felt it myself,” William confessed. I waited for him to say more about his previous wives, but he didn’t, and I refused to give in to the temptation to ask. I was his wife, yes, but I wasn’t entitled to the details of his past.

“And I understand how you must miss your mother,” he went on. “My mother died of tuberculosis, and when my father remarried, his new wife didn’t care for me, so I was sent to live here with my grandfather. When he passed away, I inherited everything he owned. My father was furious, and we haven’t spoken since my grandfather’s funeral.”

“I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips to his skin, wishing I could kiss away his pain. “And who is Selene?” I murmured, my eyelids heavy as I fought sleep. “Is she a relative of yours?”

William hesitated a moment, then said, “No, she’s an old friend.”

I frowned in confusion, for the two of them didn’t act particularly close. I remembered the knowing grin the woman had given me, and that strange blessing she’d uttered at our wedding.

Though I couldn’t easily decipher the relationship William had with Selene, I trusted his word, and I figured her friendship must mean a great deal to him, since he’d chosen her to be his witness.

“I want you to be happy here,” William said, his voice sounding drowsy as well.

“I am happy,” I responded. “Happier than I ever dreamed I could be.”

“My beautiful Pearl,” he whispered. “How I already cherish you…”

* * *

I began to settle into my new life, growing accustomed to its routine, and as I did, my affection for William deepened.

On the day before he was to leave for an overnight business trip to a city several hours north, I went downstairs, seeking him out. During his trip, I would be remaining at the house, for he told me I’d be bored while he met with people who managed his finances.

I also knew that William didn’t like leaving the house unoccupied for any length of time, and he wanted me to supervise the servants as they went about their tasks. Of course, I couldn’t imagine giving the servants directions of any kind, but I agreed to stay behind.

His office door was closed, and I gently knocked. “Come in,” he called, and I let myself inside the room.

My husband sat at his desk, papers spread out before him. When he looked up and saw me in the doorway, a warm smile appeared on his lips. “You look stunning, Pearl,” he said, giving me an appreciative stare.

I wore a knee-length black dress that hugged my curves, along with black thigh-highs. And I had finally learned to walk in heels without wobbling.

“I know you have to leave tomorrow,” I said, “but I already miss you.”

His gaze softened, and he leaned back in his chair. “Come over here, sweetheart, and close the door behind you.”

I readily did as William said, and before he could utter another word, I slid his papers aside, clearing the desktop. Immediately he sensed what I was up to, for he pushed back his chair, and I sat on the edge of the desk before him.

Keeping my legs primly crossed, I grinned down at my husband as he slid his hand up my calf, his fingers inching beneath the hem of my dress.

Slowly, teasingly, I uncrossed my legs and spread them. Then I lifted up the dress, revealing more of my thighs. Drawing it higher and higher, I displayed myself to William, and his eyes widened when he saw that I wore no panties.

“I realize this isn’t very ladylike,” I murmured, “but sometimes, I don’t want to act like a lady with you.”

“And I am so glad for that,” he replied, his voice almost a groan. He caressed my inner thighs, his stare fixed between them. Licking his lips, he leaned forward and closed his eyes, breathing me in.

Then William was on his feet, working to free his erection from his pants. “I need to give you something to remember me by while I’m gone,” he said.

I hooked my legs around his hips, angling myself so he could easily position himself at my entrance. With a forceful thrust, he took me, and we both struggled to suppress our cries. The servants were nearby, no doubt wondering what had brought me to my husband’s office.

Letting my head fall back, I sighed, my long hair brushing against the desktop. William brought his lips to my neck and suckled so fiercely that I feared he would mark my skin, but I didn’t want him to stop. No, I loved his passion as he moved between my thighs, driving himself deep.

I clung to him, shaking with my need. “Yes, harder, please!” I begged him, feeling no shame in expressing my desire.

His thrusts grew more fervent, and I released a plaintive cry. “The servants will hear you,” he whispered in my ear, but there was no warning in his voice. Instead, he sounded teasing, as if daring me to be even louder.

“I don’t care!” I panted. “Let them hear. Let them tell everyone in town how much you please your wife!”

As my climax built deep within me, and William reached between my thighs, working his fingers against the tender nub of flesh that so readily responded to his touch, my cries turned to screams.

“Yes, come, come for me, Pearl!” William urged, and as soon as I began spasming around him, he reached his own release, spurting his seed within me as I shuddered and buried my face against his chest.

After we were spent, our breathing slowing, William remained inside me, cupping my face in his hands. “I already miss you, too,” he whispered, his eyes full of tenderness. “And I love you, Pearl.”

* * *

William had suggested that I invite my family for a visit while he was gone. “I know your sisters don’t care for me, but since I won’t be here, they’ll be able to relax and enjoy themselves,” he said.

Though I was happy in my new life, I missed my sisters a great deal, and the thought of seeing them again filled me with joy. I knew my father wouldn’t come, for he would feel out of place and inadequate staying at William’s house, even though my husband wouldn’t be present. But I was certain Harriet and Georgina were curious about how I now lived, and they would be glad for the invitation.

Soon after I said goodbye to William, giving him a lingering kiss before he drove away, my sisters arrived, with Georgina behind the wheel of Father’s old truck. I couldn’t believe he’d allowed her to drive it.

As they climbed out of the vehicle, I ran down the porch steps toward them. The two of them hurried my way, and we threw our arms around one another, tears flowing as we all tried to talk at the same time.

“I’ve missed you so much!” Harriet cried.

“How are you? Is Bluebeard treating you well?” Georgina demanded.

“His name is William,” I told her pointedly, “and he is a wonderful husband.”

Georgina couldn’t hide her surprise. “I’m glad to hear it,” she said. “Harriet and I have been worried sick about you, afraid he had you locked away in some dungeon.”

I rolled my eyes. “Come inside, you two.”

As the servants prepared a meal for us, I showed my sisters around the house, and I noticed the wonder on their faces as they took everything in. “This place is amazing!” Harriet breathed, her eyes wide.

They were obviously amused when I unfastened the chain I wore around my neck and took the metal key from it. “He keeps all these doors locked?” Georgina asked.

“Most of them,” I replied. “He’s very private, and he doesn’t want the servants snooping.”

I unlocked the doors to rooms throughout the house, showing them each one. They oohed and aahed appreciatively, and when we were finished, I double-checked each door to make sure I had relocked it. Then I led them to their individual rooms upstairs.

“Georgina and I won’t be sharing a room?” Harriet asked, looking uneasy. “I think I’ll be scared sleeping in this big house by myself.”

Georgina snorted. “Well, I certainly won’t. It will be a relief not to share a bed with you for once, Harriet. You toss and turn and hog all the covers.”

“I do not!” Harriet protested.

I couldn’t help but laugh at their familiar bickering as we stepped back into the long hallway.

My sisters squealed with delight at the master suite I shared with William. They moved from room to room, and when they came upon the walk-in closet, filled with my new wardrobe, they quickly set about trying everything on.

“My clothes are too big for you,” I reminded them.

Harriet looked down at her small breasts, which were hidden by the bodice of one of my dresses. “It’s a shame I don’t have your bust, Pearl,” she said. “I bet this dress looks beautiful on you.”

Mildred, one of the servants, came to tell us that the meal was ready, and when she saw the heap of clothes on the floor of my closet, her lips tightened into a thin line of disapproval.

“I’ll put everything away,” I assured her.

My words made her expression soften, and she actually smiled before she turned to go back downstairs.

My sisters and I went about hanging up all the outfits, and when the room was in order again, we stepped back into the hall, and I locked the door to the master suite.

“What’s in that room?” Georgina asked, looking toward the opposite end of the hallway. “You didn’t show it to us.”

“Oh, it’s filled with things that belonged to William’s grandfather,” I responded before slipping the key back on the chain.

“But we want to see,” Harriet said. “I imagine there are gorgeous antiques in there!”

I fastened the chain around my neck. “I promised William I wouldn’t go in that room,” I explained to my sisters.

Georgina frowned at me. “You mean, you’ve never peeked inside? Not even once?”

“Of course not,” I replied. “I want to respect my husband’s wishes.”

“That’s crazy,” Georgina muttered, shaking her head. “My curiosity would have gotten the better of me long before now. And how would he ever know you opened the door if you didn’t tell him?”

“Let’s go eat,” I said, desperately wanting to change the subject.

As we shared a scrumptious meal, I asked my sisters how our father was doing.

“Much better,” Harriet said. “He seems happy now that he owns the house and the land, and he’s working hard to take care of it. You should stop by and see how we’ve fixed up the place.”

“I will,” I promised her with a smile.

As we ate dessert, Georgina stared at her plate, and I couldn’t help but notice her silence. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

She looked up and raised an eyebrow at me. “Everything’s fine, Pearl. I was just thinking that you’ve turned into such a good little wife, so obedient!”

“Georgina,” Harriet said sharply. “We are guests here.”

“And isn’t our sister a mere guest in this house, too?” Georgina retorted. “She can’t even go into all the rooms!”

“Keep your voice down,” I said through my teeth. A shadow of hurt and anger crossed over Georgina’s face at my tone, and I immediately reached for her hand. “Please, let’s have a nice visit. It feels like ages since I’ve seen you both, and I don’t want to argue.”

Georgina stared down at my hand covering hers, then sighed and nodded. “It’s not my business, anyway.”

“No, it isn’t,” Harriet added. “Pearl doesn’t care about what’s in that room, and neither should we, Georgina.”

My sisters and I didn’t bring up the topic again during their visit, but after they left the next day, and before my husband returned, I thought of what Harriet had said, and I realized that I did care about what was in that room. Georgina was right, I told myself. It was ridiculous that I should be forbidden to enter a room in my own house.

Though it wasn’t yet evening, I told the servants they could leave for the day. Once I was all alone, I steeled my spine and crept up the steps, toying with the key which hung from the chain around my neck. My heart beat faster, and a ripple of apprehension coursed through me when I reached the upstairs hallway.

After I made my way to that closed door, I stood motionless, frozen with indecision. I loved William, and I wanted him to trust me. But how could I trust him, when he was keeping such a secret from me?

Before I could change my mind, I took the key from the chain, and with shaking hands, I unlocked the door.

Grasping the knob, I slowly opened the door but didn’t step inside. Instead, I peered around, confused by what I saw. There were no antiques, no old furniture or other valuable heirlooms. No, the room was sparsely furnished and full of late afternoon sunlight. The windows provided a beautiful view of William’s land.

Then my gaze drifted to the right, settling on a high-backed chair in the far corner of the room. I had to swallow a scream when I saw a woman sitting there, her eyes half-closed as she stared vacantly ahead.

Dropping the key in panic, I cupped a hand to my mouth, my stare riveted on the woman’s face. She had pale blonde hair drawn back into a neat plait, and her expression was peaceful, her lips parted slightly while her clasped hands rested in her lap. She was pale, as if it had been years since the sun had shone upon her skin. Her modest dress was royal blue and out of fashion.

For a brief moment, I feared I was looking upon a ghost. Yet the woman seemed all too real, though she didn’t acknowledge my presence in the room. I was shaking violently, ready to turn on my heel and bolt.

Before I could, a voice thundered from down the hall. “What are you doing in that room?”

My knees buckled with sheer fright, and I turned to see my husband glaring at me. I didn’t have a chance to move, or even speak, before he advanced upon me and forced me into the room, quickly closing the door behind us.

I had never seen him angry before, and the sight terrified me now. “I forbade you from coming in here!” he hissed, and when he drew closer to me, I quickly backed away.

“I’m sorry,” I stammered. “I just…”

“You just couldn’t help yourself?” William finished for me with a bitter smile. “I trusted you, Pearl.”

Even as my husband’s voice shook with rage, I couldn’t help but glance at the figure in the corner.

“Have a good look at her!” William shouted, striding over to where the woman sat. “I’d introduce you two, but she won’t respond to you in any way. She’s been like this for years.”

“Who is she?” I managed to gasp. Terror was making me short of breath, and I struggled to draw air into my lungs.

William ran a hand through his hair as he regarded the woman. He appeared utterly helpless in her presence.

“She’s my first wife, Bianca,” he finally replied.

Now my knees did give out, and I fell hard into a nearby chair, fighting the urge to faint. “I thought she ran away,” I said weakly.

“No, she’s been here all this time.” William extended a hand, as if to touch Bianca’s face, but then he seemed to think better of it. “I loved her, so deeply, when we were first married,” he told me. “And though her moods were unpredictable, and she often seemed melancholy for no reason, I know she loved me, too. But when the doctor told Bianca she wouldn’t be able to have children, she simply unraveled. Her despair deepened, and a madness began to take hold. My beautiful, gentle wife grew to hate me.” William’s eyes filled with pain as he looked at me. “She hated everyone. And when Bianca came at me with a knife, slashing my side, I knew she couldn’t continue to live here. She was a danger to herself and everyone around her.”

“She did that to you?” I cried, thinking of the scar I’d so many times traced with my fingertips, and my lips.

“It could have been far worse; she seemed hellbent on killing me. But I managed to get the knife away from her.” William took several steps toward me. “I still loved her then, and I felt I was dying inside as I witnessed her suffering. Doctors advised me to have Bianca institutionalized, but I couldn’t bear to do that. They wanted to lobotomize my wife, for God’s sake!” He covered his eyes with his hand, as if to try to hide his distress. “Eventually, I grew desperate enough to seek out other, more unorthodox ways to try to help her.”

“I don’t understand,” I said slowly. My face felt too hot, and I was shaking so hard, my teeth were chattering.

“I told you that Selene is a friend of mine,” William said, “but that’s not exactly true. After I made some discreet inquiries, I was introduced to her, since she happens to be a powerful witch.”

“Oh, no,” I moaned, not wanting to hear any more.

William went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “Selene agreed to try to help Bianca, and in return, I gave her a diamond ring that had been in my family for generations. Selene cautioned me that the spell she concocted might have unintended consequences, and that my wife might end up in an even worse state of mind. But at that point, I couldn’t imagine Bianca’s condition growing any worse than it already was.”

I shook my head, wanting more than anything for my husband to stop talking. I couldn’t fathom all that he was telling me, and I feared I might lose my own mind if he continued.

But now that I knew the truth about him, and about Bianca and Selene, he seemed determined to confess everything.

“Selene’s spell required me to make a sacrifice,” William said, then held up his right hand, the one with a missing finger. “I made a sacrifice of my own blood and flesh and bone, severing my finger as Selene recited an incantation. It seemed a small price to pay if the spell could help my wife, but Selene warned me that I might pay a far heavier price in the afterlife.”

“William!” I wailed, tears streaming down my cheeks.

He drew even closer but didn’t try to touch me. “As you can see, Selene’s spell didn’t work the way we had hoped it would. My wife settled into a trance; she didn’t move, didn’t have need for food or drink. She was completely unresponsive, just as she is now. My heart was broken; it felt ripped from my chest. But I tried to convince myself that this was no worse a fate than that which would have awaited her in an institution.”

I stared at his wife in horror, but her expression remained unchanged; it was almost serene.

“I knew there would be questions about her catatonic state, and even more questions if people learned that she has no need for nourishment or sleep. Hell, she doesn’t even blink.” William glanced over at Bianca, as if willing her to rouse herself from that unnerving stillness. “I wouldn’t let her become some kind of test subject, some scientific oddity to be examined and poked and prodded. I owed her more than that. And I also wouldn’t risk word getting out that I’d turned to Selene for help. She’d be under a cloud of suspicion, as would I. People would suspect that we’d somehow done this to my wife so we could be together.

“So I left Bianca with Selene until the authorities finished their questioning, and their search of my property.” William’s shoulders slumped, and he appeared exhausted from telling me all of this. “It was easy for me to convince them that my wife had run away. When she didn’t return, everyone assumed she had taken her own life. Once the controversy died down, I brought Bianca back here, to this room.”

I found the strength to climb to my feet. “And what about your second wife?” I asked. “What happened to her?”

William went to the window and gazed outside. The fading daylight made the lines on his face, around his eyes, appear much deeper. “I was young and foolish, thinking I could keep Bianca safe here, in this trance-like state, and I could marry again, have a chance at happiness. My second wife, Nellie, was a no-nonsense young woman; unlike Bianca, she didn’t have her head in the clouds. She wasn’t prone to fancy or melancholy. Maybe I fell in love with her for those very reasons.”

My husband turned on me then, his stare hard. “Yet she betrayed my trust. She unlocked the door to Bianca’s room, and of course she was horrified by what she saw, just as you are now. She wouldn’t listen to my explanations; no, she accused me of being in league with the devil, and she threatened to go straight to the authorities. That’s when I had to warn her about Selene, and her powers. I told Nellie that if she breathed a word about what she’d seen in this house, Selene would cast a vengeful spell upon her.”

The tears had dried on my face, but fresh sobs threatened to issue forth from me, and my chest rose and fell with my uneven breaths.

“So Nellie fled,” William told me. “I certainly don’t blame her for that.”

When he closed the distance between us, I knew I should run and try to escape him.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t. All that he had revealed to me wasn’t enough to make me fear him.

William gently took my hand and brought it to his lips. “Now I’m not so young, but I’m still as foolish, apparently, for I thought you and I could have a good life together, Pearl. I hoped I could trust you. I see I was wrong, and I fully expect you to return to your father and sisters.” He closed his eyes and drew in a shuddering breath, as if speaking the words wounded him. “I will only ask you to keep quiet about this, for my sake and for Bianca’s, and for your own.”

Gingerly, I slipped my arms around William, then rested my head against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered, “and you don’t have to worry about me saying anything. I’ll keep silent not because I’m afraid of what Selene will do to me, but because I love you, William.”

My husband released an anguished cry. “How can you still love me now that you know what I’ve done?”

I lifted my head and looked up at him. “I can’t condone what you did with Selene, but I understand the desperation that drove you to it,” I said as I stroked his cheek. “You spared Bianca a brutal life in an institution. May your love for her, and the love you’ve shown me as your wife, redeem your soul.”

Before William could respond, a low moan sounded from across the room. His eyes widened, and we both turned to see Bianca slowly stirring in her chair.

“My God,” William breathed.

Bianca tried to stand, but her knees wouldn’t hold her at first, and she sank back down into the chair. She struggled to form words, her stare panicked.