Once at the party, it was a veritable whirlwind! Sarah drank a glass of champagne but vowed not to have too much; she didn't want to embarrass everyone by jumping on Simon in an alcohol-induced frenzy of lust! Actually she must be a little under the influence even to think of such a thing!
Fortunately, when she did dance with Simon, he kept clear air between them, for the sake of propriety and so Sarah was able to keep her mounting arousal in check. Between dances she caught sight of Amy, and each time, Amy would glance down at the junction of her thighs, to remind Saran that she was wearing her wet panties. Each time, Sarah would blush, to which Amy gave her a secret smile.
Sarah loved the music and dancing and hoped Simon would take her to the dance floor again, but he complained of tiredness and when his elder cousin asked Simon if he could have the pleasure of the next dance with his fiancé, he readily agreed. Joseph was quite a bit older than Simon, probably in his mid thirties, if Sarah was any judge, but he was fit and ruggedly handsome.
Joseph took her hand to lead her to the dance floor and Sarah immediately felt a spark at the contact. He held her in his arms and without any thought of propriety, pulled her in close. Sarah could feel the length of his body from his strong thighs through his hips to his broad chest. She felt her breasts crushed against him and her nipples responded by trying to force their way out of her lacy bra.
She was shocked and alarmed. She tried to get some distance between them but he was too strong.
"Shush, don't struggle, we're only having a dance."
With a twinkle in his eye, he grinned at her and Sarah couldn't help but smile back and she relaxed somewhat against him. He continued to hold her close and began to move his hands over her back, each pass seeming to get lower and lower towards her bottom. At the same time he seemed to manoeuvre her towards the darker corner of the dance floor. Finally his hands reach her bottom and he caressed it gently.
"Joseph, stop that! I'm betrothed to married!"
"You're not married yet, are you?"
"But I'm engaged! This is my engagement party!"
"So, let's enjoy it then!" He slipped his hand underneath Sarah's skirt and caressed her bare bottom.
"Joseph, you shouldn't!" but Sarah did nothing to stop his caresses.
Sarah could feel his hardness against her belly. "My goodness, he's so big and hard. If Simon is the same how will I ever take that inside me?"
Joseph slipped his other hand between them to fondle her breast and was gratified to see that Sarah unconsciously moved her upper body slightly away from him so he could better gain access and thumb her turgid nipple.
Sarah moaned, "Joseph we shouldn't," she gasped, "be doing," gasp, "this."
She was saved by an announcement by Mr Fitzpatrick, who called attention to the gathering by hitting the side of his glass with a fork. Joseph pulled away, leaving Sarah weak kneed and almost stumbling to the floor.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I take great pleasure in announcing the engagement of my son, Simon to the delightful and beautiful Sarah Stevens, a spinster of this parish. May you all raise your glasses in a toast to the happy couple!
"Hear, Hear!"
Simon appeared at her side and put his arm around her, and everyone turned to look at her. She was red as a beet though whether it was from the crowd's or Joseph's attention, she was unable to say.
Fitzpatrick went further. "The couple hope to marry in the summer after Simon finishes his exams but until then, he will be cloistered with his books at college. In the meantime from tonight, Sarah will stay with her new family at law to better prepare not only for the wedding, but for her new life as Lady of the Manor!"
Sarah was rather shocked but as her father shook hands with Fitzpatrick, it was clear that her father had already agreed with the proposal. Clearly, the men wanted her isolated and still pure for her wedding night.
As the party wound down and the guests were saying their goodbyes, each and everyone came and congratulated the young couple. When it was cousin Joseph's turn he shook Simon's hand and then turned to Sarah.
Sarah was nervous in his presence and though she was loathe to admit it, she was still aroused by his outrageous forwardness. As he kissed her on each cheek, he surreptitiously brushed a hand against her breast, giving a little flick to her prominent nipple. It was all Sarah could do to suppress a gasp of surprise. When Amy came to her, she was hugged close and Amy whispered, "I saw what Simon's cousin was doing do you Sarah. Are your panties wet?"
Sarah could only nod mutely from shame and embarrassment.
"I promised to take them off you if you got them wet, didn't I?"
Sarah stiffened in her arms until Amy said, "Well, no opportunity now, I suppose, but you owe me"
Again, Sarah nodded in acquiescence and Amy squeezed her hard and then let her go.
Once everyone left, Sarah felt very alone. She was in a strange house and she knew no one. She suddenly realised, she only had the clothes she was standing in, nothing else! "Simon, I have no night things with me, no toiletries, nothing!"
"Shush, Sarah, it's fine, I'm sure everything has been arranged."
Just then, Marcus Fitzpatrick approached. "Sarah, I'm putting you in the west wing and have assigned you a personal maid, Mary. She will settle you in and see to your needs. Tomorrow, my P.A., Ms Staunton will come to you and arrange for your new wardrobe and so on. Simon, you need to get to your room and have an early night - a car will take you back to college first thing."
Marcus turned to leave, and Sarah saw a young woman, only a few years older than herself dressed in a maid's uniform. She recognised her from school, though she was two years above her and Sarah remembered she'd left school at 16 to work for the Fitzpatricks.
"Come this way, Miss," murmured Mary.
Mary led her up an ornate staircase and along a hall, past several doors until they reached a doorway near the end of the corridor.
"This is your room, Miss" said Mary as she opened the door and stepped aside to let Sarah enter.
Sarah was taken aback by the opulence of the room. It was enormous and she could see another door which evidently led to a bathroom. Even the bathroom was huge! It was bigger than her whole bedroom at home!
"I'm sure you're tired, Miss, but I'll draw you a bath and then you can snuggle in and have a good night's sleep. I expect you'll have a busy day tomorrow."
As Mary attended to the bath, Sarah walked slowly around the room admiring the luxurious furnishings and paintings on the walls. It was astonishing but she supposed she would just have to get used to, of she was to marry Simon, but it was a huge leap from her humble beginnings to this life.
