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However, letters were not Anna Sofia’s strong suit, she
needed someone else to read her lines aloud, at which point
she would memorize them. And that other person was no
less than Commandant Emilius von Løbner. He was patient
and kind and read well, and he never forgot to light a fire in
the Bilegger stove so that the room was cozy. Sometimes
these readings lasted past midnight, and during the breaks
Løbner offered the budding actress sweet wine and fair
words. And she let herself be enticed by his ripe charms,
becoming giggly, inviting, and compliant.
“Just call me Emilius,” he said, placing a sweetmeat on her
moist, pink tongue. He received permission to bathe her
with an expensive soap, telling her that this was how the
illustrious enjoyed themselves in the King’s city. He placed a
dish of warm water on the table and rubbed soap into the
wet washcloth; she consented to let him wash her face and
neck and along her hairline. Nor did she protest when he
untied her blouse, washed under her arms, and carefully
dried the sweat off her heavy breasts. She enjoyed this
intriguing midnight game, allowed him suckle her breasts,
and made no objection when he undid her skirt. He said
“hopsasa,” and she lifted her rump while he spread a towel
on the chair to keep the plush dry, and the towel was so
large that he also folded it over her thatch, so that she
would not feel too exposed. While he washed her toes, one
after the other, he caressed and patted her thighs, which he
called love’s white columns. And Anna Sofie purred with
well-being, just like the Bilegger stove.