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.Nulli Secundus -
'Second to None'
by Terence Cardwell
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Chapter
Eighteen- Penzance
In February of 1914, the worst of the English winter was
giving way to an early spring. The sun was out more than
usual for the time of year, and the blue skies invited
many to travel to the coast for a holiday.
The Coldstreamers were on a one-week furlough, and Jack,
Bob and the girls had arranged to go to Penzance by
train for two days. This was their first time away
together, and as the train pulled out of Victoria
Station, Jack and Bob sat opposite each other with
Elizabeth and Emily sitting alongside them, leaning
against their partners and holding hands occasionally.
The carriage was crammed with travellers and holiday
makers, with little to spare in the way of seating. The
full carriage kept the couples on their best behaviour,
limiting any possibility of courting or kissing.
This was the first time the girls had been south, and
they enjoyed the passing countryside with its bright
green grass and the age-old walls separating fields. The
view was clean and fresh, far different from some parts
of London which were dirty and oppressive.
When they arrived at Penzance they walked down the hill
from the station to a small hotel on the road running
around the harbour. The hotel was unpretentious,
blending into the buildings around it. It was clean and
inviting when inside. The foyer was small, with typical
English timber doors and counters. The walls were white,
and bright floral curtains framed the large windows.
They got adjacent rooms, small but comfortable, with
double beds covered by bright quilted bedspreads. The
rooms overlooked the harbour and the road below.
The ladies were ushered into one room and the men to the
other. Bob and Jack were hopeful of a possible change of
situation, but did nothing to suggest this except a wink
and a nod to each other. After they were installed, they
walked along the road surrounding the harbour holding
hands and stopping occasionally to hug each other and
steal a quick kiss. They were not alone; many courting
couples were doing similar things.
The view across the harbour was of serenity and a quiet
beauty. The tide was going out, and the dinghies and
larger boats rocked slightly at their moorings as they
faced into the light breeze. The sky was a pale blue
with small white clouds scattered across it. The sun
reflected off the waters of the harbour, glimmering, and
looked tempting enough for the more game swimmers to
dive in, although the waters were still rather cool from
the coldness of winter.
Jack observed the scenery around him. ‘I don’t know what
is more beautiful, you or this wonderful view,’ he said
to Elizabeth.
She was quick to reply. ‘Well if you think the view is
prettier, you had better get yourself a new girlfriend,’
she said, stepping back in mock anger.
Jack took her hand back. ‘There is nothing more
beautiful than my Elizabeth,’ he said, and whispered in
her ear, ‘And I love you very much.’
Elizabeth moved closer, looking into his eyes. ‘Will you
love me forever?’ She kissed him lightly on the lips.
‘For an eternity,’ Jack whispered back.
Bob interrupted. ‘I know someone as beautiful as
Elizabeth.’
‘And who may that be?’ Elizabeth smiled, pretending not
to know.
‘A beautiful lady by the name of Emily.’ Bob leaned and
kissed Emily on the cheek.
‘I think you all had better behave yourselves; you’re in
public, you lecherous old men,’ Emily said.
‘Old! What do you mean, old?’ Jack answered. ‘We’re in
the prime of our lives.’
‘So you admit you’re both lecherous, then,’ Emily
giggled.
Jack and Bob looked at each other and winked. ‘Never,’
they replied together.
They reached the end of the harbour wall and stood at
the top of the stone stairs leading down to the sandy
harbour. ‘Come on, let’s go down and have a paddle,’
Elizabeth said, pulling at Jack’s hand.
‘Oh, I don’t know about that, I’m not one to go
paddling,’ he answered reluctantly.
‘Don’t be a sook, it won’t hurt you— and besides, we
can’t go paddling in London, the water’s too dirty.’
‘Yes, Jack, we’ll all go,’ Emily added. ‘You game, Bob?’
‘Yea, I’ll give it a go, might be fun. Come on, Jack,
get your boots off,’ Bob urged.
‘Oh well, might as well give it a go, no good being the
odd one out,’ Jack replied, sitting on the steps to take
his boots off and roll up his trouser cuffs. The others
removed their shoes and boots, and the girls held their
dresses up a little as they stepped onto the clean sand
and walked to the water’s edge.
Jack caught Elizabeth’s hand as they paddled in the
shallow water. She pulled free, trying to splash him
with her foot and giggling like a little girl. Jack
returned the splash, careful not to wet her too much.
She ran away and returned to try again, cheerful and
cheeky.
Bob and Emily also played for a while, then the four
returned to the sand, walking slowly along the beach
holding their shoes and boots in one hand and each other
with the other .The afternoon was spent walking and
wading in the shallow waters of the harbour after which
they retired to a nearby public house for a quiet drink.
The evening came quickly, and after a bath and change of
clothes Jack and Bob waited for Elizabeth and Emily in
the small private bar of the hotel.
Elizabeth arrived with Emily twenty minutes later,
looking as fresh and beautiful as the first time Jack
had seen her. Love welled up inside him and he wanted to
pull her close there and then, but he stood up and
helped her to her chair, quietly taking her hand as she
sat down; the perfect gentleman.
Elizabeth looked up at him, almost staring. Her hazel
blue eyes bright in the reflection of the candles on the
table. She smiled and leaned towards him, squeezing his
hand. He looked quickly around and found everyone in the
restaurant preoccupied with their own interests, so he
leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss, long enough to
be enjoyed but short enough that no one noticed.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, savouring his touch.
‘Here, two can play at that,’ Bob interrupted, leaning
across and kissing Emily.
Emily and Elizabeth put their hands to their faces and
giggled. ‘You two behave yourselves, or we won’t take
you out again,’ Emily said.
‘Yes, behave yourself Jack,’ Elizabeth added smiling at
him.
‘You’re very difficult to resist, but I’ll try,’ he
replied.
The meal was excellent. Cottage pie with local
vegetables and new potatoes was followed by cooked
apples and fresh cream, and finished with a local sherry
which the girls enjoyed, drinking copiously, making them
tipsy and more relaxed. Jack had never experienced such
an enjoyable meal and felt the weekend was already worth
the two weeks’ pay it had cost him.
A large fire burning in the open hearth of the hotel’s
small dining room combined with the flicker of the
candles on the walls and tables to give the room a soft
flickering glow that added to the romantic atmosphere.
The evening passed as quickly as Jack had feared it
would. He wished he could stop time to enjoy it forever.
This was one of the most enjoyable moments of his life.
He looked at the glow on Elizabeth’s cheeks, the
flickering of her eyelashes and her soft lips as she
spoke to Emily.
‘Would you ladies like a short walk before we retire?’
Bob asked.
They looked at each other and nodded. ‘Yes, that would
be nice,’ Elizabeth replied, taking Jack’s hand.
‘As long as it’s not too cold,’ Emily said.
Bob took her hand as she stood up, pulling her close.
‘Don’t worry my love, I’ll keep you warm,’ he said,
giving her a mischievous smile.
They walked out into the early spring night, which still
had coolness to it. Elizabeth and Emily moved close to
their beaus and put their arms through theirs. They
walked along the harbour road, stopping occasionally in
a suitably dark area to steal a quick kiss.
When they stopped at the end of the harbour, Jack pulled
Elizabeth close. He stroked her left cheek and kissed
her lightly on the lips, feeling the warmth of them and
slowly moving his lips over hers.
Elizabeth held him close, feeling his body pressing
against her. His fingers felt like sparks of electricity
on her cheek and she felt his manliness pressing against
her. A chill ran up her spine and she shivered with
emotion, the feel of him exciting her as never before.
‘You’re cold; we’ll go back,’ Jack said stepping away,
misinterpreting her response.
‘No, no, I’m alright,’ she pleaded, not wanting the
evening to end.
‘Well, it’s bedtime anyway,’ Bob urged, nudging Emily in
the dark. She gave a little giggle, fully understanding
his meaning. But it was lost on Elizabeth and Jack, who
thought that the evening was to come to an end very
soon. They were both quiet as they walked back to the
hotel, trying to retain some of the evening’s warmth,
holding hands and looking at each other as they walked.
They arrived at the hotel and walked up the stairs to
the first floor, Bob and Emily leading the way. When
they arrived at the girls’ room Bob open the door for
Emily, who walked in and turned around with a
mischievous smile.
‘Good night, you two lovebirds,’ Bob said, easing Emily
further inside and grinning like a Cheshire cat. ‘I
don’t know where you’re staying, Elizabeth, but I’m
staying with Emily.’ He winked.
Jack and Elizabeth stood stunned, their mouths open, not
knowing what to say. Elizabeth felt a fluttering inside
and a tightening of her stomach. ‘That means I’ll be
with Jack all night,’ she thought, looking at Jack with
her mouth open, still unable to speak. Bob entered
Emily’s room and quietly closed the door.
Jack looked into Elizabeth’s eyes. He took her hand,
gently pulling her towards his bedroom door. She
followed him meekly, as if mesmerised. He closed the
door and led her to the bed, pulled her to him, and
slid both of his hands around her back, holding her
close.
Elizabeth could not believe they were alone at last, a
moment she had yearned for, for a long time. She slid
her hand up and around Jack’s neck, pulling him towards
her.
Jack leaned down a little, kissing her eyelids one at a
time, and then brushed his lips over the tip of her
nose. His hands caressed her dark ringlets and stroked
her cheeks, his fingers sliding to stroke and hold her
behind her ears.
Elizabeth felt she would faint as Jack moved down and
kissed her neck; and then his lips moved behind her
ears. She wanted to kiss him, but the sensation from the
kisses on her neck made her feel a tingle in her loins
and a tremor like never before. She pushed hard against
him, once again feeling his hardness against her.
Jack moved his head back and looked into her eyes,
seeing a shine in them he had never seen before. Her
creamy skin glowed with the flush of desire. He touched
her cheeks, stroking them softly.
Elizabeth moved her mouth to his and kissed him
fervently, her lips stroking against his, her tongue
caressing his. She felt Jack’s hands fumbling, trying to
undo her dress, and she moved away to undo the buttons
at the front. She let the dress fall to the floor.
Underneath was her camisole, that she quickly undid,
letting it fall to the floor too.
Jack removed his jacket and shirt, quickly followed by
his trousers, and stood in his underpants. Elizabeth
stroked his chest and marvelled at his slim body. He had
little hair apart from a small patch in the middle of
his chest. She slid her fingers across his chest and
stroked his nipples with her fingers. The touch made him
shiver.
Jack looked at Elizabeth’s partial nakedness for the
first time. Her breasts were a delight as they sloped
evenly from her shoulders, curving underneath to create
a perfect form. Her nipples were a dark pink surrounded
by a lighter hue, and they grew as he caressed them with
his fingers.
They kissed, pressing hard against each other. Her
breasts caressed his chest and he felt her pressing
against his erection, moving her body from side to side.
He could wait no longer and eased her to the bed. She
did not resist as he laid her down and slowly slid his
hands down and removed her silk knickers.
She lay on the bed, naked and feeling wanton as Jack
looked down at her, his eyes arresting hers as he
removed his underpants.
She gasped as she saw his erection standing large and
firm. This was the first time she had seen a man naked,
and the excitement made her quiver as Jack came to her.
He felt her body pressing against him as he stroked his
hand down her back, gently caressing, and ran his
fingers over her firm small bottom, his fingers feeling
every slope and hidden place.
Elizabeth could not stop herself as her hand moved
downwards, caressing Jack’s stomach, then down to stroke
her fingers over his firm manliness, wrapping her
fingers around it. Jack groaned at the touch and stroked
his fingers up Elizabeth’s legs till he touched her love
nest, moving his fingers into her moist softness,
stroking inside her. She arched her back, reaching up
with her hips, and pulled Jack on top of herself. She
opened her legs to accept him as she guided him inside
her. She felt the thrust as Jack entered her and a sharp
pain made her flinch.
Jack did not move, waiting for Elizabeth. As the pain
slowly faded away her desperate desire for him rose
inside her, and she pulled him further into her and
moved to meet his thrusts. A surge of ecstasy rippled
though her, starting at her toes and flowing though her
body. She wanted to cry out for the sheer joy of her
love. She rose up, carried away as a tide of passion
swept through her.
Their lovemaking lasted till nearly midnight, and
Elizabeth cuddled against Jack, pressing her body
against his, enjoying the feel of his skin against her
body. He stroked her hair and ran his fingers through
her ringlets.
She had never known such a feeling as she felt now. She
never wanted to leave Jack. She wanted to be with him
for the rest of her life. She felt totally safe and
secure in his arms, protected from all the evils of the
world, feeling his strength seep through her and
thinking for the first time in her life she could take
on the world.
‘Jack, am I just a soldier’s weekend, or do I mean more
to you?’ she asked, hoping she knew the answer but
fearing this might just be a weekend romance.
Jack leaned back enough to see her. ‘Elizabeth,’ he
answered, always enjoying speaking her name. ‘I’ve known
the love of my father and mother, I enjoy the love of my
brothers and sisters, but you are my complete love. I
think of you day and night, and when I’m away from you I
yearn to be with you. I lie in bed at night thinking of
you and how much I love you. My dearest Elizabeth, I
love you so much it hurts.’
‘And I love you so much Jack. Please, never leave me, I
couldn’t live without you. You have completely taken me
over. I’m yours forever.’
‘Forever,’ Jack whispered, raising her chin and kissing
her softly. Elizabeth lifted to his kiss, putting her
arms around his neck and pulling him down to her, ready
to accept him inside her again.
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