Riding with the Lady
I find myself unexpectedly acting out of character. A pair of dear friends and my wife and I are sitting in a line of cars, each of us stark naked, waiting for a box of chocolates and a simple decal. Here's the story that led up to this moment.
It was in the spring 2024 that while doing a bit of research on myths, legends, and the facts or lack thereof that it came to my attention that Godiva Chocolate's origins were in 1926. This tidbit was learned while exploring the legend of Lady Godiva's famous nude ride.
Almost all historians consider that nude ride to be fiction, yet there are those that believe that the lady may have walked through town as a pilgrim. If so, she would have left her jewels and gowns behind and walked in a shift, barefoot and humbly. She would have been as close to naked as a woman of her high rank would possibly have gotten in public. Such an act might well have served as the basis of the myth that would grow in the following centuries.
After I learned about the theories about Lady Godiva and the upcoming anniversary of Godiva Chocolate, a crazy thought led to my writing a story. This story was of a man and his wife, Jeff and Nancy who admired the legend of Lady Godiva. The thought of a high-born lady, almost a queen due to her position, shedding her pride and dignity to relieve the suffering of the common people that her husband ruled over, was intriguing and inspiring.
The story began with the Lady's powerful husband, Leofric the Earl of Mercia, who had levied additional heavy taxes on the commoners. His people were struggling to feed and clothe themselves as payment of taxes always came first. Once again, Lady Godiva had begged him to reduce the tax burden on the commoners one evening as they prepared for bed.
She had pleaded with her husband as she had taken her many rings and necklaces off. As she shared the plight of their subjects, she had removed the layers of clothing until her bare full breasts were framed by her long graying auburn hair. Her breasts swaying with her movements in the flickering candlelight caught the lustful eyes of her husband.
As she slid her nightgown over her head, her husband said in jest, "My dear, were you to ride through the town with only that beautiful hair to cover yourself, I would be happy to rescind the tax increases."
Godiva froze as the words filled her awareness. The shock of her husband's suggestion stunned her. Then the thought of hungry children and the coming cold winter wind whipping through their ragged clothes sparked a fiery response that surprised her, "If that is what it takes, I'll do it."
He gasped as her words rang in their chambers. Her scorching gaze burned him as he looked into her determined eyes. He realized that she was serious, and he knew from experience that once she had set a course, it was almost impossible to divert her from her path.
He stepped to her and gathered her rigid form into his arms. "I was only jesting," he whispered, "I will honor my words if you wish."
He kissed her forehead and felt her body relaxed in his embrace. They slipped into bed and fell asleep with their arms wrapped around each other.
The next morning as the sun broached the horizon, Lady Godiva woke and felt the arms of her loving husband holding her. She felt his affection in the tight warm embrace of his hand on her soft breast. She stirred and smiled as his grip tightened as she moved. Soon the sounds of morning woke her husband and they rose to start another day.
As they ate their breakfast, she asked if he remembered his words from the previous night. He simply nodded his head, then asked if she intended to carry out the challenge.
"Yes, I am," her quivering voice responded.
"When?"
She took a deep breath and then replied, "Tomorrow I suppose." A nervous smile crossed her face, "If I think about it too long, my courage may drain away."
"Your courage has never been in doubt, my love," replied her husband as he rose from the table to begin his duties.
The next morning following breakfast, the Lady found that one of her oldest servants was waiting for her. The servant informed her that the Earl had ordered a horse saddled and left at the entrance to the hall. In addition, he had given the edict that all were to close their shutters and remain indoors until the noon meal upon pain of death.
Godiva was surprised and relieved with this news as she had feared what the people would have said about her as she rode nude through town. The two then went to the entrance of the hall and found the saddled horse with one of the younger woman servants holding the reins.
With the help of the older woman Lady Godiva began removing her garments. Soon she was down to her shift and before proceeding she paused. She noticed that the young blonde woman holding the horse had stepped out of her simple dress and her face was bright red.
The young woman noticed her gaze and questioning look and answered the unspoken question. "The master gave me the responsibility to lead your horse wearing no more than you."
She then slipped one shoulder out from her shift and slid the light garment down over her breast. With a slight wiggle, the other shoulder was revealed, and pale pink of her nipples were exposed as the shift fell below her petite breasts. The cloth bunched up at her hips for a moment and then dropped around her ankles displaying her light blonde hair barely hiding her femineity. The young woman stood there with her face and chest blazing a red blush, yet her expression was one of being proud to be joining her Lady in this challenge.
Godiva knew this was the moment of truth for her, her hands shook slightly as she reached down to grasp her shift. As she tugged it over her head, she felt the breeze caress her thighs. The thin fabric rubbed against the curve of her behind, and she felt the hem slide up her back. The thin shift was drawn over her head and she straightened up with it covering her breasts and arms. She paused for a moment, then let it drop off her arms. She felt the fabric drop away, revealing her breasts to the breeze.
She took a deep breath and felt her face warm from a blush that went down her neck as she stood naked outside her home. Then the breeze caressed her bare skin for the first time since she was a girl, and she felt a wave of excitement along with a flicker of fear of others seeing her.
She climbed up on her horse and settled into the sidesaddle. She covered her left breast with most of her long hair and daringly left her right breast covered by only a few strands. Her long hair didn't cover her womanhood and the triangle of auburn hair drew her eye. She looked away from herself and saw her old servant was blushing just as brilliantly. The nude young woman started forward leading the horse down the narrow streets on the Lady's mission of mercy.
The town seemed empty without people scurrying about in their daily tasks. Each window was shuttered, and doors were all closed. Godiva could imagine hidden eyes looking at the two nude women on their mission of compassion. The horses' hooves clanged against the cobblestones in the empty streets, and occasionally a noise of hidden life would ring out from one of the houses. Each sound drew the eyes of the two women to the wall that hid the maker of the sound from them.
The woman leading the horse followed the path she had been instructed to take. The two nude women traveled along the narrow streets the younger woman walked with a sway of her hips and the older one riding with her breasts swaying with each step of the horse. Both women became more comfortable with their nudity as time passed on their circular route.
