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Newsletter number twelve.
Jul. 9th, 2010 11:59 amEngland is proving remarkably warm and sunny this summer; I have an awful feeling we’re being lulled into a false sense of security and once the kids have broken up from school the heavens will open.
News:
Lessons in Desire is now out in print, available here and all the usual outlets. Here’s a snippet -
They basked, like lizards in the sunshine, the water dripping from their costumes giving them a reptilian sheen. It was perfect, until Jonty spoke out of the corner of his mouth. “I know that when someone says, ‘Don’t look’, the very first thing people do is to turn around to try and see what they’re being warned about, but if you could restrain yourself from looking up onto the cliffs, I’d be very much obliged.”
Orlando did restrain himself, despite the fact that he was itching to know what was going on. “What is it Jonty? Inspector Wilson, or worse still, Matthew Ainslie?”
“It’s the worst case. We’ve been discovered by the ‘Misses’. They’re up on the path and I’m fairly certain they’re deliberately observing us.”
“What are we to do?” It seemed so unfair. This was their special place, where they could be happy alone. Three times they’d visited and this was the first time Orlando had seen another soul.
“Ignore them. I’m fairly certain they can’t descend to the beach. It’s a fair old scramble down that path which I think they’d baulk at. The problem will be if they hang around until we need to return to the Beaulieu. We’ll be too wet to just put our jackets and trousers back on.”
Orlando felt sick. “Those bushes give plenty of cover from the front, but from above there’s very little, apart from the trees we lay under last time. A beady eye could probably penetrate them.”
“Do you think that they’d want to see us dishabille, then?” Jonty chuckled.
“I shudder to think, truly. I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
Jonty crinkled his nose in thought. “I’ve got an idea, Orlando, a very bold one, but then my father has always said that cowardliness never won a man anything. He should know. He must have been pretty brave to propose to my mother, as she’d got a bit of a reputation of sending off any men who tried it with a flea in their ear.”
“And this audacious plan is?”
“I daren’t tell you, as you probably won’t let me do it if you know.” He stood up, making absolutely sure he didn’t look at the ladies, who still remained enjoying the view. “You just keep them in sight out of the corner of your eye. If there’s no immediate effect you’d better let me know.” He started to undo the buttons on the front of his costume.
“Jonty, are you mad? What on earth do you think you’re up to? Stop it at once.” Orlando made to grab at his friend’s hands, but he flapped them away.
“I told you it would make you cross. Just leave me to it and play your part as a scout, I need all my wits about me.” When all the buttons were undone, he proceeded to peel the garment off his shoulders. “Any movement yet?”
“There seems to be a distinct fluttering going on up there. How far do you intend to go?”
“As far as it takes, Orlando, with a quick dive into the briny if it goes too far.” He removed his arms from the costume then let it fall to fully expose his muscular chest. “Still there?”
“They seem a bit agitated although they’re still hovering. You’re not…”
“Might have to.” Jonty inserted his thumbs into his waistband. “Here goes. We need to frighten them off once and for all with no chance of returning, so if it takes the ultimate sacrifice, so be it.” He started to edge the material down.
“Stop! They’re on the move.” Orlando risked a direct look. “I had no idea they could run so quickly.” He laughed. “Just in time to preserve your modesty. Put that costume back on now before it gives me ideas.”
Jonty obliged, rebuttoning it until he was the model of propriety. “Close call there. Very near thing.” He joined in the giggling. “Did I really nearly expose myself?”
“You did. Promise you’ll never do it again, except in the privacy of our own rooms.”
“Promise.” Jonty sighed. “Now back to the shore, Orlando. I’ve an appointment with the police.”
“It was nearly an appointment to discuss indecent exposure.”
In other news, the lovely Dawn Roberto interviewed me on such key topics as "Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?" My muse is male, of course and you can read the answer here.
Inspiration:
This beach in Jersey was instrumental in getting Lessons in Desire written. It's the beach I have in mind for Orlando and Jonty to call their own (although I’ve relocated it).
News:
Lessons in Desire is now out in print, available here and all the usual outlets. Here’s a snippet -
They basked, like lizards in the sunshine, the water dripping from their costumes giving them a reptilian sheen. It was perfect, until Jonty spoke out of the corner of his mouth. “I know that when someone says, ‘Don’t look’, the very first thing people do is to turn around to try and see what they’re being warned about, but if you could restrain yourself from looking up onto the cliffs, I’d be very much obliged.”
Orlando did restrain himself, despite the fact that he was itching to know what was going on. “What is it Jonty? Inspector Wilson, or worse still, Matthew Ainslie?”
“It’s the worst case. We’ve been discovered by the ‘Misses’. They’re up on the path and I’m fairly certain they’re deliberately observing us.”
“What are we to do?” It seemed so unfair. This was their special place, where they could be happy alone. Three times they’d visited and this was the first time Orlando had seen another soul.
“Ignore them. I’m fairly certain they can’t descend to the beach. It’s a fair old scramble down that path which I think they’d baulk at. The problem will be if they hang around until we need to return to the Beaulieu. We’ll be too wet to just put our jackets and trousers back on.”
Orlando felt sick. “Those bushes give plenty of cover from the front, but from above there’s very little, apart from the trees we lay under last time. A beady eye could probably penetrate them.”
“Do you think that they’d want to see us dishabille, then?” Jonty chuckled.
“I shudder to think, truly. I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
Jonty crinkled his nose in thought. “I’ve got an idea, Orlando, a very bold one, but then my father has always said that cowardliness never won a man anything. He should know. He must have been pretty brave to propose to my mother, as she’d got a bit of a reputation of sending off any men who tried it with a flea in their ear.”
“And this audacious plan is?”
“I daren’t tell you, as you probably won’t let me do it if you know.” He stood up, making absolutely sure he didn’t look at the ladies, who still remained enjoying the view. “You just keep them in sight out of the corner of your eye. If there’s no immediate effect you’d better let me know.” He started to undo the buttons on the front of his costume.
“Jonty, are you mad? What on earth do you think you’re up to? Stop it at once.” Orlando made to grab at his friend’s hands, but he flapped them away.
“I told you it would make you cross. Just leave me to it and play your part as a scout, I need all my wits about me.” When all the buttons were undone, he proceeded to peel the garment off his shoulders. “Any movement yet?”
“There seems to be a distinct fluttering going on up there. How far do you intend to go?”
“As far as it takes, Orlando, with a quick dive into the briny if it goes too far.” He removed his arms from the costume then let it fall to fully expose his muscular chest. “Still there?”
“They seem a bit agitated although they’re still hovering. You’re not…”
“Might have to.” Jonty inserted his thumbs into his waistband. “Here goes. We need to frighten them off once and for all with no chance of returning, so if it takes the ultimate sacrifice, so be it.” He started to edge the material down.
“Stop! They’re on the move.” Orlando risked a direct look. “I had no idea they could run so quickly.” He laughed. “Just in time to preserve your modesty. Put that costume back on now before it gives me ideas.”
Jonty obliged, rebuttoning it until he was the model of propriety. “Close call there. Very near thing.” He joined in the giggling. “Did I really nearly expose myself?”
“You did. Promise you’ll never do it again, except in the privacy of our own rooms.”
“Promise.” Jonty sighed. “Now back to the shore, Orlando. I’ve an appointment with the police.”
“It was nearly an appointment to discuss indecent exposure.”
In other news, the lovely Dawn Roberto interviewed me on such key topics as "Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?" My muse is male, of course and you can read the answer here.
Inspiration:
This beach in Jersey was instrumental in getting Lessons in Desire written. It's the beach I have in mind for Orlando and Jonty to call their own (although I’ve relocated it).
