One of your catgirls has a surprise

Ever since some of your catgirls decided they wanted to learn about cooking you've been pressed into service as a taste tester. After all, only you and Lessia have human tastebuds and a memory of what all the different types of food are really supposed to taste like. The catgirls can tell if they like something, sometimes it's even obvious when a girl remembers the taste of a favorite dish from before being 'cured', but they can't tell if that's really as it should be or if there's something missing.

You're just polishing off the last of some hearty stew, definitely a fine and tasty meal, when you feel a presence behind you. Sure enough, behind you is Lynne, trying her best to look small and inoffensive. Her long, thin gray tail is clutched tightly in her hands - it was probably whipping around and threatening to smack against the wall.

"Hey Lynne, what are you doing?" you ask her. Her amber eyes widen and then snap to the floor.

She wrings her tail and says, "Ummm, wow, I'm so nervous! I have... um... can you come with me? Please?"

You let her lead the way. In a manor full of curious catgirls it's no surprise that Lynne leading you somewhere draws attention. Soon you've got a tail of five other catgirls, Harmony among them. Lynne leads you outside the main gate and when she sees the crowd that's following she just about dies of embarrassment. But the other girls are so interested they might as well have bowls of popcorn, there's no keeping them out of this now.

Lynne dashes around the corner and comes back with a young man. He's got sandy blond hair and he's a little shorter than average, but he's got some decent muscles so he must actually work for a living. He looks every bit as nervous as her and he's worrying his cap as he tries to maintain respectful behavior in front of a noble.

"This is Marcus," Lynne manages in a strangled voice. She takes a step closer to him and nearly goes to hide behind him. Since Lynne is just 4'11" Marcus still looms over her.

"My lord, I don't know how this is supposed to work, but being that you're the one who's taking care of Lynne..."

That's about as far as he gets before the crowd of gathered catgirls let out a frantic squeal. Two of them immediately start running in loops around the yard, one girl races over and hugs Lynne tight, the other grabs a surprised Harmony and hugs her.

Given how worried they both look you decide to relieve the tension. "Ah, wonderful! I was starting to wonder if the townsfolk of the capital didn't like these lovely catgirls. It's only nobles and merchants from afar who've asked about taking care of them - and then just as servants." Well that's not entirely true, but close enough.

"Oh, so you're happy to see me... that is, er, if I wanted to ask for Lynne's hand..."

"Yes, please do," you tell him. "You'll be the first, hopefully more will follow."

Oh dear, that seems to have added some of the tension back. Then you hear a thrilled, "Oh my!" from behind you. Looks like the gossip reached all the way to Lessia. So now poor Marcus gets to propose to his girl not only in front of a delirious crowd of catgirls and a mage lord, but also in front of a princess of the realm.

He gulps and pulls out a little box. He gets down on one knee and to his credit he doesn't freeze up under all the pressure. Inside the box is a ring of dark, glossy black wood that Lynne is all too happy to accept. It blends nicely with her soft, gray fur.

For a while there's no chance of getting anything done. Everyone is just too excited. In short order a celebratory dinner is arranged. You almost have to barricade Lynne and Marcus in a room with you so you can talk about the details. It seems he's a carpenter, which works out nicely since you're going to need tradesmen of many kinds to set up a new village for the catgirls.

Apparently they met once when Lynne had to go into town to get some supplies and unlike a lot of your other catgirls Lynne decided to go back the next day and then the next, even though she had nothing to buy in town. Marcus started looking forward to her visits and before he knew it he'd taken a cutoff piece of ebony and started working on a ring.

Once the wine starts flowing and Marcus is sure you're not about to stop him from marrying Lynne the two of them become inseparable. The night goes on, with almost every catgirl you look at grinning like she's watching a romance novel play out in front of her. Lessia also gives you some pleasant smiles that suggest that tonight she will be very much in the mood.

Later, as you're heading up to your room, you hear Harmony say, "I never thought Lynne would be first. She's so shy."

"A lot of men like girls who act shy," you say, giving Lessia's bum a pinch for emphasis. She jumps and swats you, but also gives you a big, tight hug.

"Oh, and Sandra, Alice?" you say from within the hug, "did you notice that Marcus seems to like small chested girls?"

"I bet Marcus would have liked Lynne just as much if she was packing a big pair," says Alice. "But I'm glad some guys will put up with little A cups," she teases.

Since Kyelle is right behind Alice she immediately gets hoisted up in the air by your own tall, but small chested lover. "Some guys will put up with them, huh?" she growls. "That's it, I've warned you. I'm gonna truss you up and use those milk bags of yours as a pillow. You can spend the whole night watching everyone else celebrate with John."

"Hey, even with magic I don't know if I can manage everyone," you say, but that just gets a laugh from most of your wives.

You know you're in trouble when Doe gently touches your shoulder and says, "Oh? I guess we'll see."