My husband agreed.
In the spring of 1916 my husband went to Plattsburg, New York, where the previous
summer General Leonard Wood had instituted a citizens training camp for officer
candidates – Brian had been disappointed not to be able to attend it in ages, and
planned ahead not to miss it in 1916. Ethel was born while Brian was away, through
some careful planning of my own. When he returned at the end of August, I had the
property back in shape and ready to welcome him, i.b.a.w.m.l.o., so that he could
w.m.t.b.w. – and ‘Mrs Gillyhooley’ did her best to be worth more than five dollars.
I suspect that I was, as my biological pressure was far up past the danger line.
It was the longest dry spell of my married life, in part because I was thoroughly
chaperoned at home. At Brian’s request Father lived with us while Brian was away. No
harem guard ever took his duties more seriously than Father did. Brian had often
chaperoned me as a shut-eye sentry; protecting me from the neighbours, not from my
own libidinous nature.
Father included protecting me from himself. Yes, I tested the water. I had known way
back when I was still virgo intacta how thoroughly incestuous were my feelings
toward my father. Furthermore I was certain that he was just as moved by me.
So about ten days after Brian drove away, when my animal nature was crawling up on
me, I arranged it so that I missed saying goodnight to Father, then came into his
room right after he had gone to bed, dressed in a low-cut nightgown and a not too
opaque peignoir-freshly bathed and smelling good (‘April Showers’, a euphemism) –
and said that I had come in to say goodnight, which he echoed. So I leaned over to
kiss him, exposing my breasts and producing a wave of that sinful scent.
He pulled his face back. ‘Daughter, get out of here. And don’t come around me again
half naked.’
‘All naked, perhaps? Mon cher papa, je t’adore.’
`You shut t’door… behind you.’
`Oh, papa, don’t be mean to me. I need to be cuddled. I need to be hugged.’
`I know what you need but you are not going to get it from me. Now get out.’
`What if I won’t? I’m too big to spank.’
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He sighed. `So you are. Daughter, you are an enticing and amoral bitch, we both know
it, we have always known it. Since I can’t spank you, I must warn you. Get out this
instant… or I will telephone your husband right now, tonight, and tell him that he
must come home at once as I am unable to carry out my responsibilities to him and to
his family. Understand me?’
‘Yes, sir.’
`Now get out.’
‘Yes, sir. May I make a short statement first?’
‘Well – make it march.’
`I did not ask you to couple with me but if you had – if we had dope so, it would
have done no harm; I am pregnant.’
`Irrelevant ‘
`Let me finish, please, sir. Ages ago, back when you were requiring me to work out
my own personal commandments, you defined for me the parameters of prudent adultery.
I have conformed meticulously to your definition, for it turned out that my
husband’s values in this matter match yours exactly.’
`I am pleased to know that… but, possibly, not pleased that you told me. Did your
husband specifically authorise you to tell me that?’
`Uh… No, sir. Not specifically.’
`Then you have told me a bedroom secret without the consent of the other person
affected by the secret. Materially affected, as it is his reputation at risk as well
as yours. Maureen; you have no right to place another person at risk without his
knowledge and consent and you know it.’
I kept quiet a long, cold moment. `Yes. I was wrong. Goodnight, sir.’
`Goodnight, my darling daughter. I love you.’ .
When Brian returned, he told us that he would be going back to Plattsburg again in
1917 – if we were not already at war by then. `They want some of us to get there