The Tribulations of Tobias

by L. E. Thomas

  Meg was Tobias’ intimate friend before his marriage and it was her inspired intervention that had brought the happy couple together, for which Tobias was profoundly grateful. She had not only discovered why Lucy, after being so hot, had suddenly become cold toward Tobias but had urged her to explain the entire issue to him without delay.

  She had taken great pride in their subsequent betrothal, and saw this achievement (quite rightly) as entirely her own doing. Unfortunately, due to Meg’s aversion to spending the winter in the country, she was unable to attend the wedding celebrations.

  Despite saying all that was proper, Tobias was privately relieved. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Meg there to share in his and Lucy’s joy, but the presence of his beady-eyed mama, who could spot a person of impropriety from twenty yards, may have led to some awkward and unanswerable questions.

  The following autumn, Meg delayed her seasonal departure for more civilized climes to be in the district and available for Jamie’s christening. As was the norm, it was a small affair incorporated into a Sunday morning service, with none of their family expected to attend. This was especially fortuitous as Tobias and Lucy had chosen Meg as their firstborn’s godmother.

  A surprising choice from a Christian viewpoint, perhaps, but Tobias thought it would be no bad thing for Jamie to have the provision of someone with more worldly wisdom than both of his parents put together.

  Meg had accepted the honor enthusiastically and for the occasion, had worn a hat so wide that it nearly eclipsed the ancient church pillars. Since then, during her winter absence, there had been several chatty and wildly indiscreet letters to Lucy that she read out to Tobias for their mutual amusement at the breakfast table. Taking her role of godmother seriously, she had also sent regular parcels of beautifully knitted garments for Jamie.

  Until told otherwise, Tobias had assumed that these were purchased during her regular shopping trips to fashionable towns, funded by her admirers. Possibly because he assumed her aptitude lay elsewhere, he was taken aback when Lucy told him that Meg had fashioned them with her own elegant hands.

  He had turned to Lucy with a slightly puzzled frown and asked, “But how does she know his size?”

  Saying nothing, Lucy gave him that look that, as an apprentice husband, he was slowly recognizing as bafflement at the workings of the male mind.

  * * * *

  In her last letter, Meg had announced that she would be back in the district once spring had sprung. Therefore, it was no surprise when Tobias had come home one afternoon in the previous week to find both Lucy and Meg kneeling on the hearthrug, with Jamie between them. The infant was lying on his back, wiggling his arms, giggling and fluttering his eyelashes at Meg.

  Tobias had felt a mixture of pride and faint alarm for the far future that his son had inherited his father’s weakness for the ladies.

  Lucy continued with her train of thought, “We had a comfortable coze last week when Meg called round. She noticed my fatigue and immediately realized how this might affect you too. After a thorough discussion, we have come to a decision. Meg will be in the neighborhood off and on for some weeks and is happy to take care of your needs until I am feeling a little less weary.”

  She paused for a moment as if to allow Tobias to absorb the arrangement. “My darling, we really do have your best interests at heart and I hope you don’t mind the discussion of our,” she paused, “private life. But if you are content, Meg and I are both agreed.”

  Lucy added, “I think it will a pleasant diversion for her too, as her protectors provide more in the way of wherewithal than enjoyment. She will welcome the distraction.” Tobias raised his eyebrows slightly that Meg’s sophisticated viewpoint had rubbed off on his sheltered country-bred helpmeet.

  Although he could not object to the proposed delights, Tobias was momentarily astonished. This was not only at the generous gesture of his better half but also the degree of clinical organization the women in his life were capable of, especially in the most intimate of matters.

  Given Meg was on temporary offer, as such, it was on the tip of his tongue to inquire if this goodwill extended also to Meg’s bouncing and buxom friend Betty. Even as he opened his mouth to ask, some instinct of self-preservation made him hesitate.

  Unaware of the lurid directions of her husband’s thoughts, Lucy tilted her head to look up at him earnestly, saying, “Unlike that dreadful Wood woman, Meg is our true and trusted friend. I am certain she will hand you back to me without a second thought whenever I am ready, and I have no fear of losing you to her. After all,” she added with a smile, “You know how proud she was to engineer our engagement, and she absolutely dotes on Jamie.”

  Tobias’ murmured something innocuous. His head was still reeling, as the thought of getting marital dispensation to sport with a most accomplished lover (and good companion, of course) made him want to break into a noisy song of praise.

  Settling himself with a more appropriate response, he cautiously asked his wife, “As long as you’re sure, my sweet?”

  Lucy snuggled into him and said, “I am. This way we can all be happy for the time being. And I can get some rest.”

  Marveling at how the women in his life always managed to maneuver events to his sensory advantage, Tobias held Lucy close as she relaxed against him. The house was still, except for the ticking of the clock. He listened to Lucy’s breathing become deeper until she was fast asleep in his arms.

  Taking his time to finish his glass of wine, the most pressing of his concerns was which of his two sleeping beauties to carry upstairs first, his darling wife or precious baby son.

  * * * *

  In the days that followed, Tobias had almost forgotten this surprising conversation. This was not due to the fact he had become a fashionably jaded rake, but simply the distracting demands of everyday life.

  As he had managed to secure a living from his patron for his previous hardworking curate, he was now breaking in a raw and new recruit. Unfortunately, this young man was as nervous as he was inept and Tobias seemed to spend most of his time covering for him and saving him from the wrath of his critical churchwarden.

  Then Jamie had a spate of bad nights that Lucy thought might herald the start of teething. As a result, both Lucy and Tobias were red-eyed and somnambulant during the day.

  What with his duties, plus chivvying his new curate to some sort of semblance of adequacy and taking his turn to nurse a fretful Jamie, it came as a start when the subject was brought up again when Tobias came home for his midday meal.

  Feeling slightly more awake after dinner and while munching from his cheese plate, he looked sympathetically at Lucy, who was almost half asleep in her chair. When Tobias suggested that Lucy rested that afternoon, she looked at him with a weary smile.

  “As Jamie is finally asleep, that might be a very good idea,” she agreed. “Do you have any fixed plans for this afternoon?”

  “Nothing much besides working on a sermon and dozing in my study,” Tobias replied amiably. “Why, is there something I can do for you, my dear?”

  “Would you mind doing an errand for me?”

  “Not at all,” replied Tobias, thinking a bit of fresh air after a hearty meal would do him good.

  “I have a basket of things for mama if you feel like taking the horse and trap.” This very useful conveyance was yet another thoughtful wedding gift from Lucy’s parents and meant she and Jamie could make regular trips to the doting grandparents.

  Tobias was about to nod in agreement when Lucy continued blithely, “And as you have a free afternoon, you might want to visit Meg.”

  Tobias had a chunk of cheese halfway to his mouth as he heard this. He was glad he was not in the process of eating it as he might have choked.

  “Oh,” was all he said, the wind taken out of his sails momentarily.

  Lucy carried on, “It’s one of the afternoons when she said she would be at home. As Meg has no stabling, you can leave the trap at my parents’ in the meantime and wa
lk into Titterington from there.” Then as though this was entirely run-of-the-mill, she frowned slightly. “And don’t let me forget to give you a list for Meg. She’s going to Bristol next week and offered to get me some tea and spices.”

  Feeling slightly dazed, Tobias said something bland in assent and chewed his cheese, his mind whirring.

  Within half an hour, he was ready in the front hall, Lucy having handed over the basket of goods for her mother.

  “Don’t forget the list,” Tobias said promptly.

  “Oh yes, of course,” Lucy replied and hurried into the back parlor to retrieve the sheet of paper.

  “Here it is,” she said returning and Tobias carefully put the folded note in his coat pocket.

  He put his arms around his exhausted wife and held her close, relishing the fragrance of her hair and the way her body melted sleepily into his.

  He kissed her tenderly and said, “Get a good nap while Jamie lets you.”

  “I will,” Lucy replied and Tobias’ last sight of her before he left the vicarage was her ascending the stairs as if sleepwalking.

  * * * *

  The first part of his journey was completely innocuous. Tobias merely enjoyed the fresh air and responded politely to the calls of, “Good afternoon, Vicar,” from parishioners as he made his way out of his parish and the town of Stratton-over-Wye.

  Once left his vehicle in the capable hands of the Holbourne family’s stable hand and carefully carried the hamper to his mother-in-law. After the inevitable cup of tea and family chat, where many useful tips about teething babies were received, Tobias casually asked if he could leave the pony and trap while doing some errands in the nearby town.

  This was agreed without a second thought while the voluble Mrs. Holbourne continued to impart household and local gossip to pass on to Lucy. With his head slightly ringing from all the inconsequential information, Tobias took his leave. Once in Titterington, he made sure to drop into one or two nearby shops before discreetly making his way to Meg’s familiar perch when she was in the neighborhood.

  This was the first time he had visited the premises as a married man and despite being having given wifely dispensation, he felt unaccountably nervous. He knocked on the door, loosening his neckcloth that suddenly felt a tad tight.

  Meg opened the door with a broad smile and a complete lack of embarrassment which eased his sense of awkwardness.

  “Ah, here you are,” she said, inviting him over the threshold. “Lucy said you might be over one afternoon this week.”

  “I had no parish visits,” Tobias explained, following her into the pretty front room. “And as Jamie was finally sleeping, Lucy’s getting a few hours to doze too, so I thought I’d leave her in peace.”

  They sat opposite each other as Meg asked sympathetically about Jamie’s precocious incursion into teething and his parents’ resulting sleep-deprivation like any good family friend would.

  Relaxing in the charming room and the comfortable conversation with a confidante, Tobias felt himself grow sleepy. He yawned suddenly. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “Nothing to do with the present company, I assure you!”

  “I would think not,” Meg said archly. “Gentlemen pay good money for an afternoon of my time, I’ll have you know.”

  They both laughed.

  “And where is your gentleman this week?” Tobias asked.

  “Away with some business or family matter or other,” Meg said with a casual wave of her hand. “So I’m free to entertain myself as I see fit,” she said with a naughty wink.

  “And how would you like to be entertained?” Tobias asked, entering into the game.

  “Hmm, let me see,” Meg said, pretending to look around the room. “Do we have a pack of cards?” she asked with a roguish smile.

  Tobias gave a snort of laughter, “Even if we did, I’d inevitably lose and I haven’t any spare money for your winnings.”

  Meg rose from her chair and came and sat beside him on the sofa, putting her hand on his thigh. “Mm, I’m sure you have something more substantial for me to play with,” she said as her hand inched upwards.

  She leaned in for a kiss and Tobias moaned as she reached her already eager destination.

  With the skill he always admired, she managed to unbutton him without releasing her lips from his. Not to be outdone, Tobias’ hand slipped below the bodice of her gown to toy with the familiar outline of her deliciously large nipples as she stroked him.

  Soon, Tobias lost himself in the steady rhythm of Meg’s talented hand. What with pent-up desire, tiredness, and too much stimulation, he broke off their kiss with a loud groan and succumbed to delight. To his chagrin, it was all over far too quickly.

  He started to apologize for his shortcomings, and Meg stopped him with her lips.

  “Never you worry,” she said, with a familiar glint in her eye. “This was just the opening salvo.” And with that, she loosened her bodice so her perfectly formed breasts were fully revealed. Then lifting her skirts, she straddled Tobias right there on the sofa.

  What with those guinea-sized nipples ready for his eager mouth and her firm buttocks filling his hands, Tobias relished the feel of Meg’s lean body as she pressed against him, grinding and writhing to a long and vocal moment of bliss.

  Once she had revived, it was Tobias’ turn to kiss her and murmur teasingly, “One all?”

  In reply, there was more kissing and caressing as she rocked against his renewed firmness. “I think we’re ready for another round,” she grinned back.

  They shifted together on the sofa, changing position. Tobias was on his back, Meg above him, half-naked, looking like a beautiful ship figurehead with her hair loose and tangled and her proud breasts bare.

  Tobias barely had time to admire the view when she put her hand between them, lifted her skirts a little, and managed to take them both to precisely where they needed to be.

  Meg rotated and swayed on him as if it were only she who had been starved of enjoyment these past months. Less fearful of finishing too quickly this time, Tobias simply reclined and relished the ride. He sneaked his hand beneath the covering of her dress to add to her pleasure. Meg moaned, those delicious nipples quivering in such a way that Tobias had to taste them and they both gave in to a starburst of mutual rapture.

  They stayed quietly together for a little while. Meg was collapsed over him with Tobias holding his friend as they recovered from such glorious heights. Finally noticing the sky was starting to darken outside, they started to stir. They helped each other button-up and re-fasten their clothes while chatting amicably.

  When Tobias was in the narrow hallway, he was surprised when a large cloth bag was whisked from nowhere and offered to him.

  “A few summer things for Jamie,” Meg explained succinctly. “Now do say to Lucy that they may be a little big for him as yet, but he’ll grow into them in a few months…”

  She tailed off as Tobias stared at her, his lips twitching.

  “What?” she asked, puzzled.

  Tobias put his arms around her, held her close, and whispered fervently in her ear, “Thank you.”

  For an instant, Meg returned his embrace, hugging him fiercely. Then she pushed him away with a brisk, “Oh, get away with you!” But she was smiling.

  As Tobias, now laden with the bag, turned to open the door, Meg’s voice came from behind him, “Do you have that shopping list from Lucy?”

  The note was duly passed on, and with the front door facing onto the street, formal farewells were given in case of any over-curious passers-by. Walking back to his in-laws, his transport was then collected without any fuss and Tobias made his way back to Stratton in the growing dusk.

  He felt calm in mind and much relieved in body and deeply grateful for the plenteous blessings that God had graciously bestowed on him, as far as the fairer sex was concerned.

  He left the conveyance at the local stables and finished his journey on foot. Approaching the vicarage, where he could see the welcoming lights g
lowing in the windows, he quickened his step toward home, eager to greet his much-loved wife and darling son.

  THE END

  ABOUT L.E. THOMAS

  L.E. Thomas mainly writes historical stories with an erotic twist. A lifelong enjoyment of history and literature is a spur for her imagination when conjuring up these tales.

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!