I don't suppose I was unusual in spending a lot of time imagining my honeymoon when I was younger. It's such a romantic idea to wait until after you're married to consumate the relationship, and once upon a time, I was sure that I'd happily wait. Then, in my fond imaginings, we'd have a super night of romantic, satisfying sex, and it'd be the beautiful beginning to the rest of our lives together....

These days, this idea is a great deal less appealing. But I very much like the idea of this set. It's about a girl who's led her rich, older fiance to believe that she's just so old-fashioned that she couldn't possibly let him touch her before the wedding, even though she's desperately attracted to him. But as soon as the wedding's over (and she's sure of being able to share his fortune) she lets him know in no uncertain terms that she's far too tired, and far too headachy to do anything but fall asleep. Alone.

Fortunately for this story, her new husband isn't the sort to tip-toe apologetically out of the room and resolve to try again next week. Instead, he ties her in a highly convenient frog-tie and canes her (with the rattan cane he'd had the sense to pack - he's a very sensible man and an excellent judge of character!). Then, without even giving her a chance to change her mind about her headache, he uses another rope (he really is very well prepared) to turn the strict elbows-together tie into a strappado. And there he leaves her, to consider whether her vast new wealth is really worth being treated so cruelly? And whether, after all, she might not really be quite as tired and headachy as she thought....

Ariel