Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) Read online

  Pish! Me father ought to have some crude words fer that!

  The day had begun with an awkward, unkempt girl of fourteen years who knew nothing of womanhood, and there, eyeing me in the mirror, be a confident, feminine young woman! I could not believe it to truly be meself!

  Me musings over Donovan to Deirdre lasted through dinner, well into the evening, and beyond tea. She did manage to wiggle in a few hints on utilizing me new appearance to me benefit. Tactics such as swaying me hips when I walked, fondling me locks coyly, applying me eyes to flirt demurely, alluring ways to smile, exploiting subtle maneuvers with me lips and speaking softly.

  Oftentimes, afflicted I be with nightmares. It had always been that way with me and always did I have the sense that some imminent doom be waiting to claim me. During the night, I began screaming in me sleep.

  “Aislinn! Waken!” Deirdre cried, shaking me ‘til I roused from me terror.

  I opened me eyes. She be hovering over me. I stared at her, me eyes wide, frozen in me terror.

  “Aislinn! What be the matter with you?” Worried, she searched me face.

  I regarded her vacantly and a moment it took me to realise where I be and that I be safe, just as when I did retire to bed. “Biting me . . . Sucking the blood from me . . . ’Twas a stunning woman . . . A Vampire she be,” I whispered, clutching hold of me neck to feel of it fer wounds.

  “A vampire!” Deirdre shrieked. “Oh honestly, Aislinn! Sometimes you can be so bizarre!” Seeming exasperated, she snorted, falling back onto the bed, and nestled her head into the pillow.

  I attempted to coax meself back to sleep, but ended up lying there with me eyes wide open fer most of the remainder of the night. Early in the morning I did manage to fall asleep.

  The next day after we arose, Deirdre diligently reviewed her ‘masterpiece’. Feeling sure there could be nothing left fer her to alter on me, I sat proudly smiling at her through me new and improved confident self. Disappointed I be when her extensive assessment of me once again ended with a frown.

  Oh good grief, what affliction could she possibly have thought of fer me now?

  “It is these dreadful garments!” she glowered, flipping the sleeve of me worn, blemished, burlap blouse. “They will simply never do! Especially not now, that you appear as though you should not belong in them.”

  Oh just grand! Deirdre has that gleam of determination in her eyes all over again.

  “Aislinn, please do tell me you possess some finer wears at home?” she pleaded, her arms crossed firmly across her chest.

  “Well … Just more … nearly the same as these … mostly.” I answered abashedly; with an only recently altered view of the garments I had worn fer most of me life.

  “I simply cannot bear for you to go on donning these rags! It is not befitting of you and will serve only to distract from all my hard work!”

  “And then, what would you have me do, Deirdre?” I asked with sarcasm heavy in me tone. “March right up to me darling father and command him the acquisition of new garments upon me behalf?”

  Clearly perturbed, she rolled her eyes at me. “Of course not!” Deirdre snapped, “Neither of us would have to predict the outcome of that discussion!”

  Her mood always fluid, promptly switching to a sweet voice, she said, “Let us browse through my wardrobe! There’s sure to be some wears I’ve outgrown that I can pass to you.” Deirdre rushed to the wooden wardrobe that housed her garments, an extravagance I certainly did not have at me home, and flung the sizeable doors open eagerly.

  Fixed with disbelief me eyes were as they skimmed over the unending assortment of garments within that cabinet! Never a penchant had I fer style, lending nary a concern to me own attire. Yet, even still, I suddenly found this oddly fascinating, picturing how I might appear donning any of these dazzling wears with me fresh look.

  Deirdre quickly shuffled through her wardrobe, passing many that appeared to never have been worn. She began to pull out one after another and pile them across me arms. Standing there in amazement I be when she ordered impatiently, “Move along now, Aislinn! Try these on and see if they be a fit for you.”

  I made haste in moving to the nearby settee to lay them upon. Already, there must have been at least a dozen dresses laid out before me. Surreal to me ‘twas! Not once in me life had I the occasion to don or even try on such lovely wears.

  Sifting through the ever rising stack, there were garments of all shades, some of which I had only beheld upon wildflowers— stunning hues of rich reds, soft blushes, brilliant yellows, vibrant greens, and deep blues. And not a single taupe or brown, the only colours me own garments had ever shown.

  Deirdre passed on to me still four more. One be an understated everyday dress in a lovely shade of green. That one I would try first, I decided.

  Slowly I began to disrobe, all at once most conscious of me exposure in front of another. Me breasts were bared as soon as I pulled me garment off, since a proper undergarment I did not possess. As I caught sight of meself in the expansive tri-fold dressing mirror before me, I halted in satisfying shock at the first sight of me own nakedness before a mirror. Not any idea had I of how me own form did appear.

  That is when I noticed Deirdre looking over at me, her face struck in awe. Directly, I clutched me arms over me breasts stooping over to hide meself much as I could.

  “Oh, Aislinn . . .” she cooed to me softly, “it is not necessary that you cover yourself. Lasses we both be. And moreover, you be utterly beautiful!”

  I wondered whether she was simply being kind, or if she might have truly meant it. Fer Deirdre to think someone other than herself beautiful was quite something, indeed!

  Gradually, I did stand upright and unwrapped me arms from me chest. Once again, her eyes widened in amazement as once more she looked upon me blooming breasts. Gripped by self-consciousness, I moved to cover meself again, when Deirdre exclaimed, “Please, Aislinn! Do let me look upon you without shame. You be undeniably exquisite to behold.”

  Not a word could I speak, so I simply stood there delighted while she looked upon me. Once I overcame that initial embarrassment, I did rather pleasure in it, the novel gratification of having another’s eyes browsing over me form fondly. Never a thought had I given to me figure: how it did appear, or that others might find pleasure from it.

  Deirdre continued viewing me, her eyes affixed predominantly to me breasts. In her eyes, there be an expression I could not identify, except that it resembled the glazed, coveting look I had once seen in her when she spotted a beautiful new dress she had to possess. And as with that dress, she appeared as though she had some inclination to feel of them.

  What an interesting notion.

  Finally she spoke, her voice full of admiration. “Why, your breasts are even grander than mine! I had not the slightest idea with the awful slack fitting garb you shroud yourself in! Quite remarkable that be, considering you are two years younger than I!”

  To that, still I did not know how to respond. Never before had I discoursed over me breasts with anyone. I suppose I had realised they had enlarged, yet I did not care to take much notice of it, except when their unavoidable bouncing aggravated me as I ran through the fields.

  Finally, without knowing what else to say, I apologised. “Sorry I be, Deirdre. Surely, yours be beautiful, as well.” Suddenly I found meself wondering if she would insist upon showing me hers now, in comparison or such. Not sure I be just how I felt about that. Neither had I beheld another’s nakedness.

  While pondering the idea of that, she spoke again. “Not to be sorry at all, Aislinn. It is most fortunate you are, to have such a blessing. Most beneficial they will be in capturing the attention of your lad.” Deirdre winked at me and I flushed with embarrassment. “We must find you garments that will accentuate them!” She paused a moment lifting her hand to her chin and scrunching up her face as she gazed off. “A proper corset you are in need of, to give them lift.”

  I simply looked at her bewildered, this te
rm altogether new to me. Amused by me naivety, Deirdre pulled down the top of her dress to flash me a piece of the undergarment she wore.

  “Oh, I see,” I muttered indifferently.

  She debated over something, at last declaring, “Of course, mine will never fit you.” Her eyes glazed over again, apparently at the idea of me bounteous breasts. Deirdre paused as she regarded them again, this time looking as if she were particularly thirsty.

  How very odd she behaves . . .

  Tugging herself out of her apparent trance, Deirdre went on to say, “We will have to sneak into my mother’s bureau and snatch one of hers.”

  “We cannot pilfer yer mother’s undergarments!” I protested in shock.

  “Oh, she shall never be the wiser! And besides, so many pieces has she, it will only be to her advantage to skim down the contents of her drawer!”

  Her mother then outdoors in the garden, Deirdre dashed away to her mother’s chamber, while I remained there naked. Precipitously, she came back into the room holding three of her mother’s undergarments. “Here,” she said, handing them to me. “See how these fit.”

  Fer a long moment, I just stood there staring at the foreign objects in me hands. What on earth was I supposed to do with these complex devices? So many lacings and fastenings were there, I could not even begin to fathom how ‘twas to go on me.

  Deirdre just stood there, staring at me, waiting fer me to whisk the whole thing on in one swift motion, I supposed. Finally she grew tired of watching me gape at it and threw her hands up in exasperation. “Would you like me to help you with it?”

  Dumbfounded, I simply nodded me head.

  “Honestly, Aislinn, have you not even a wee bit of sense when it comes to these matters?” she queried with amusement, though with an obvious hint of mockery.

  The corset she took from me hands and moving to stand behind me, brought each side under me arms and pulled it onto me breasts. Saying nothing, Deirdre reached inside and with her hand, lifted me breast to rest in an odd uplifted placement. Still engrossed in me surprise I be, when she promptly reached into the other side to do the same thing.

  This time, when I felt the heat from her hand against the skin of me breast, most peculiar tingling sensations lighted all about me breast affecting me breath to draw in and me eyes to flutter in response.

  Instantly, I prayed she would not take notice of me unplanned reaction. Once she had finished drawing tight the lacings, Deirdre murmured low, “I am sorry if I stunned you. You did not mind me touching you, did you, Aislinn?” She walked around to face me.

  Realizing I still held onto me breath, I exhaled, and said breathlessly, “Not sure I be, Deirdre. All I know is it did give me the strangest feeling …” I squirmed under her gaze.

  “Oh, well, I suppose I should take that as a compliment, then!” she pronounced excitedly. “Just wait until the first time you are fondled by a lad! Now, that will have you feeling quite strange all over, indeed!” Deirdre described as though she had experience with such matters.

  Then, to me surprise, she threw in, “Moreover, it gave me a bit of a feeling too. Your breasts did feel lovely in my hands.” And then Deirdre looked at me adoringly as she gave a kiss to me cheek.

  Struck absolutely speechless I be by these happenings! I put them aside fer a moment as I gazed upon the form of the young woman staring back at me from within the mirror.

  It simply does not seem possible that she truly be me, this seductive looking girl with lustrous hair, her curvaceous figure clad in a cream coloured satin corset serving to enhance her slim waist and heave her bosom into rounded mounds of quavering flesh high upon her chest. Still I do not feel as that girl, ‘tis just too impossible to conceive. Me, who would rather hide in a barn and run through fields, climbing rocks with dreadfully untidy hair returning home absolutely filthy, could not conceivably be this strikingly alluring woman staring back at me!

  Me marveling at me own image in the mirror be interrupted by Deirdre’s pushing the green dress at me. “Indeed, Aislinn, you are quite becoming. Now do put on the dress so that we may see the final outcome of my makeover!” Impatient she be growing once again.

  The dress I took from her and gathered it up to put it over me head, though scarcely could I move, stifled as I be by the corset. Struggling to reach me arms through it and pull it down over me, it suddenly occurred to me what she had said a few moments earlier. Still acclimating to the restrains of the corset, rather breathlessly, I probed her, “Then, do tell me, Deirdre, what knowledge have you of being fondled by a lad?” I looked at her inquisitively.

  Deirdre showed a feebly simulated modest smile, as she feigned an attempt at concealing her secrets. I looked at her anxiously, making it obvious she did not fool me, waiting fer her answer.

  She threw her hands up and replied, “To be truthful … well, you know how dismal I be when I dreamt of Fergus that night for the second?” Deirdre looked at me and I nodded so she would continue.

  “Well, at the first I refused to accept that was to be me fate . . . you know, to be promised to Fergus.” Once more, she looked to me fer evidence of understanding. “And he went on pestering me as always he had, which only made it more difficult to bear the thought of it all.”

  Deirdre’s face showed a hint of shame as she went on, “So, I decided since I was doomed to be stuck with someone as plain as Fergus, I was not about to let me charms and beauty lay entirely to waste. Thus, for a time I dabbled in receiving the attentions of a few other older lads.”

  She looked at me fully expecting the shocked look which came over me face then, as I processed her confession.

  I hesitated in me speaking, first considering that which she had revealed. “Are you telling me, you . . . and these lads . . .” Unable to bring meself to say the words, I instead stressed the implication of them through the widening of me eyes and the nodding of me head.

  Deirdre quickly understood what ‘twas I be getting at and clasped hold of me hands. “Oh, heavens, Aislinn, certainly not! That I did not with them! Only that I allowed them . . . liberties . . . with their hands, and their kisses . . .” she paused a moment before adding, casting her eyes to the floor, “. . . Perhaps too many liberties.”

  “Oh . . .” I slowly responded, undoubtedly with a bewildered look upon me face as I struggled to comprehend that which she had told me. “And what of now?”

  A new sort of smile changed her face as Deirdre spoke then. “Well, at some point, Fergus’ aggravations somehow became endearing, and I realised he is not so dreadful after all and I began to see him differently. He actually is quite a bit more attractive and less awkward now,” she explained. Looking to me, she appeared relieved to see me willingness to hear more.

  “Is he now?” I declared, raising an eyebrow, yet truly anxious to hear more about it all. As this be the first time I had engaged in any sort of formal girl talk— now that I had a vested interest in it fer once— quite intriguing to me ‘twas! “Awhile ‘tis been I have seen him then, I suppose.”

  Talk of Fergus’s appeal affected Deirdre to beam again. I could see she truly be in love!

  “So, allowed Fergus those same liberties, have you then?” I assumed curiously.

  “Surely not!” The expression upon Deirdre’s face instantly turned defensive. “It must be different with him, since he will be the one. I cannot have him thinking that of me. Follow the proper protocol I must. And he not be knowin’ a smidgen about those other lads, so you be mindin’ your mouth now, Aislinn, agreed?” she warned me.

  A bit hurt I be that Deirdre thinks I’d go blabbing her secrets! Though, I suppose she has every right to be concerned, since she is fated to spend her life with him as such. Supposin’ I‘d be feeling the same.

  Chapter Seven

  One night awoken I be by an exceptionally vivid dream such as never before I had encountered.

  In the dream, there be a beautiful young woman with dark hair whom, although resembled me not in the slightest, I under
stood to be meself. She waits in a manor house overlooking manicured grounds from her window fer her lover. Her handsome blonde lover arrives and they run laughing hand in hand into the wood to be together. Nothing monumental occurs, only their doting upon each other. Yet, most aware I be of the extraordinary connection they share.

  And then, there be nothing I be more acutely aware of than his scent; aware of it through her, in this dream, as she breathes in the intoxicating sweet yet musky aroma that emanates from her lover. Still detect the scent in me nostrils I could upon awakening, virtually savour it in me throat, feeling intoxicated by the mere memory of it, so distinct be the imprint it left upon me mind.

  At once upon awaking, I recognised this to be a memory of a life past. And I be indubitably definite that her lover be me Donovan. Never had I been more certain of anything in this lifetime as I be then! I trembled uncontrollably in awe of this indescribable feeling that overtook me. Even though I had just awakened from a long nights slumber, nearly depleted I felt as a consequence of its colossal impression upon me spirit.

  When at last me trembling had subsided, me mind was clearer than ever it had been before. Certain I be this meant our souls were entwined and destined we were to meet in each lifetime and fulfill our life together. Undoubtedly, fundamentally changed I be with the knowledge I now possessed, significantly altered to the core with this quest of me soul.

  I want to feel you, the rush, the passion, the intensity of me soul coming to life.

  From that day forth, I felt overtaken with restlessness, heightened in me intense longing to lay eyes upon him once again. Thoughts of him did always linger upon me mind. No longer did I attribute me feelings to some girlish infatuation or question the validity of them and me choice to follow the path to his arms.

  Over the course of the next year, Donovan visited our farm many times. It seemed to me he did call on us to check-up on our animals more frequently than I recalled the tréidlia doing before, but then perhaps me perception be due to the acute awareness I held fer any sign of his presence.