Sophia let out a small, soft squeal of surprise when Paul threw her onto the bed. Despite his playful countenance, half of her mind was convinced that he would hurt her. With her heart pounding nervously and hard against her chest, she looked towards him. When she saw him hurriedly removing his clothes, she grinned. In a few more seconds, he was standing naked in front of her. Her eyes moved down slowly from his face to his chest and down to his hardness that was visibly pulsating in anticipation of her. He was larger than the men she had been with and she wondered briefly how he could fit in her.

She stood up and adeptly untied the laces on her simple dress. In a few more minutes, she mirrored his nakedness. She reached out and took his hand. [color=lightgreen]"Come, my Lord,"[/color] she invited boldly as she pulled him to the bed.

---

"Lady Eddithia ... she has passed."

The Count's words stunned Olivia enough to make her sit down abruptly on one of the plush chairs. [color=tan]"What...? How...?"[/color] she whispered, complete and utter devastation on her face.

"The Priest said she was sick ... more so than usual, for several moons. They did their best, but...  They tell me she went quietly and peacefully ... in her sleep, six days ago."

Olivia's eyes pooled with tears. She shook her head, unbelieving. [color=tan]"No..."[/color] came her heartbroken whisper as she thought of the happy times she had spent with her grandmother when she was younger. She remembered how the older woman's eyes crinkled with delight every time she pressed her lips to her cheek and how she clapped with delight whenever she danced and sang for her. How was she gone?

Distraught with the news, she didn't hear the rest of what her father said and only caught the last of his words. 

"...If you wish ... we can venture to the monastery day after next ... to pay our respects, and lay the Duchess to rest."

With tears running down her cheeks, she looked up at the Count and nodded. Without any word, she slowly got to her feet and headed towards the door in a sort of daze. [color=tan]"I'll... go up to my room... and lie down for a bit, Father..."[/color]

She couldn't believe that her grandmother had passed away. How could she leave without even saying goodbye? Or even sending her a single letter.