Was Lady Godiva really naked?

Did Lady Godiva really ride naked through the streets of Coventry? 

I spotted a book on that and other salacious tidbits, and naturally had to have it.  

Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercer. She also was wealthy in her own right, and did a great deal for religious and charitable enterprises. This much we know is true. She pleaded the causes of the poor with her husband, and here we descend into legend. She argued against a new and onerous tax he passed on the townspeople and he lost his temper, saying he'd lift the tax she day she rode nude through the streets of Coventry.

She did, and he kept his word. She is still celebrated to this day in the town, with her statue at its center, and her logo used to the city council. This last sentence at lease we know is true.

The naked ride is the legend. The truth might well be different. There is no mention of Lady Godiva in any history book of the period. The first account is in manuscripts written by Roger of Wendover about 150 years later. Other later versions embellished the story. In the 17^th century the Lady now has long golden hair, which covered her more private parts. 

Another version of this same time period tells of how the earl ordered everyone in town to stay indoors behind shuttered windows. One curious soul called Tom peeked through the shutters and was struck blind by the gods. He is remembered as Peeping Tom.

 

Don't you love stories like this?  And of course I hope you like this excerpt from my just published Fearless Pursuit. My hero and heroines sometime get nude pretty quickly.

Here's an excerpt from Fearless Pursuit

"He found her in the music room, staring out the window into the dark night.

He came up behind her and turned her slowly in his arms until she faced him. Tears were running down her cheeks, and when she saw who held her she sobbed and laid her dark head on his shoulder.

Astonished at her acceptance of his embrace, he handed her a handkerchief and held her while she gulped, mopped at her tears, and then relaxed again in his arms. The feel of her beautiful body so close to his almost broke his control. He kissed her hair softly and sweetly as she nestled closer. Unable to stop himself, he lifted her face and claimed her mouth. Their kiss blazed into instant heat and he groaned as he ran his tongue around her soft lips, demanding she let him in. Her hesitancy surprised him. It seemed more as if she didn’t know what he wanted rather than the reluctance he’d expected. Gently nipping her lower lip, she gasped and he thrust his tongue in to finally taste her sweetness.

Dear lord of all the elves, she tasted better than butter and vanilla icing. He’d noticed before she always wore a scent that smelled like daffodils, and he sucked on her tongue as he breathed in the evocative fragrance. She caught on quickly, running her tongue around his lips as soon as he released it, and then allowing him to deepen the kiss.

Holding her tightly with one arm, he freed the other to caress her face and then her shoulders, and finally he let his hands roam along the sides of her breasts and down to her narrow waist. Afraid to truly explore her breasts and nipples, he contented himself with tracing the shape of the perfect rounds and cupping them in his hands.

She made no attempt to stop him, and his cock raged almost out of control. Dear elves, he didn’t want to shoot his cum in his pants, but he was very near to doing just that. She was so damned delectable, so perfect for him, that he pushed her against the wall and ground his rigid cock against her soft body.

A mistake. Whether the size of his cock frightened her he didn’t know, but she suddenly pushed him away and slid from under his arms.

“Rurik, I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean to lead you on like that.”

He finally gulped in enough air to answer.

“My love, and you are my love, don’t look so startled. I’m the one to apologize. I pushed you much too fast. I can’t feel truly sorry, though, it was simply too wonderful to have you in my arms.”

She’d sped to stand half-way across the room and was eyeing him warily.

“You can’t mean that, it’s too soon. We barely know each other. I never should have encouraged you on like that. I’ve never acted like a slut before.”

Rurik believed her. Her every response had been innocence itself. He found the fact she’d apologized to him the most endearing words he could envision.

“As I said, Reina, I rushed you. You are not a slut in any sense of the word. You are my love."

 

Now do tell me what you think about Lady Godiva.  Was she naughty or extremely nice?