�The squire told me that when the Lords father died you were the first girl to go to the castle and after the Lord had taken your virginity he took you to him and he also entered you so how was it with two different men�. �It wasn't nice daughter the Lord being young and inexperienced didn't get me wet and being tight and dry he had to force it all the way in� �It hurt so much each time he went in and out I cried all the time he was doing it but it wasn't as bad with the squire because the Lords juice was still in me�. �I have told your father all he needs to know about the squire undressing me seeing me naked and fingering my fanny but not that I was taken to his room and penetrated by him�.

�I saw Beth Barkwell earlier today and she said two of the girls were birched and the third branded; now I know why�. �You said the Lord took you and Rose, so was it Meg that was sent to the Son�. �Yes mother, although he took her virginity he didn't go all the way in�. �Thank you Ann but are you sure nothing else happened to you�. �Yes Mother that's everything�. Sally called her friends together and with her husband a sailor away for months at a time they met at Beth's house so the women could talk in private. Sally said, �I have spoken to Ann� then repeated everything Ann had told her but when she mentioned Ruth not being a virgin they knew it was she who had been branded.

Nora went pale, �Now I understand why the family left in such a hurry. You both remember how long it took the villagers to forgive me and only then because Walter married me as soon as I was healed�. �Beth you read the records, do you think they will treat my daughters worse for my sins�. Beth answered, �After the way the Lord allowed these girls to be treated by his Son I can't say�. �He has been away so much and for so long he is a different man than I knew�.

�What do you know about his Son?� asked Sally. �We have never seen his Mother, and do you know who she was�. �I have only heard rumours. He was supposed to have married a daughter of a Caliph while abroad and she died having his baby�. �It is said his Son was put into the care of a rich merchant who made his money dealing in slaves and some of them are white women captured by corsairs raiding ships and towns�. Beth said �My husband told me once about white women being captured and sold as slaves. I didn't believe him when he said his ship docked at a port for supplies and he saw a line of white women, tied together, being taken off one of the corsairs boats�.

I thought he was trying to get me aroused when he said he and some shipmates went ashore and saw these same women in a market square. One at a time a woman was untied from the others and stood on a stone block, then a black man stripped her naked and men from the crowd put their hands all over her�. Nora said, �I could believe that because as young girls we have been displayed naked and our womanhood opened by men, they have raped you two and I have been branded. We are nothing but slaves to our Lord, he can do anything he wants with us, how are we any different�?

Sally and Beth agreed and wishing each other good day prepared to go home. Before she left Sally asked Beth, �With your husband away so much, do you miss the company of a man�. �Yes I do� she replied. �I must tell you in confidence; there are many exciting ways a woman can be satisfied other than laying on her back with a man on top. I feel sure my Henry has other women when his ship is in port. When he comes home he does things to me I have never heard about and I miss them when he is away�. One evening the Lord and his son were finishing supper when the squire approached saying two girls were soon due to attend him, Rebecca and Abigail Grinds, they are twins and the daughters of Nora Grinds, the woman who had been branded nineteen years ago. The woman Grinds tells me they are both ready so when will you find it convenient to view them. �You forget squire, our ship sails in three days; have them here at midday tomorrow�. �I will have a messenger sent this very night my Lord�.