She'll have to 'work'

An hour or so later, Christine and Erik were bathed, fed and shown to two small adjacent rooms so high in the building that the ceilings were sloped from the roof above. Christine didn't mind that the rooms were clearly intended for servants and judging by how fast Erik fell asleep, she knew that her little brother cared even less.

A pretty blonde woman perhaps a year or two older than Christine showed her the bath house that had a set of three large tubs and plenty of hot water in steaming brass kettles that hung over a hearth. In truth, the facilities were better than what she was used to in Castle Gerard and Christine didn't mind when Alice stayed in the room and helped pour hot water and scented oils into the bathwater as she chattered away.

The Verderer's cloak and the awful rag she discarded were whisked away, and when she climbed from the tub Alice handed her a long-sleeved linen tunic to wear. It was hardly the kind of clothing she was used to, but she assumed that Lady Scarlett would be able to find a dress for her tomorrow. She was as tired as Erik, but she wandered around the small room saying her prayers, grateful for the kindness of the Verderer and Lady Scarlett.

It was only by chance that Christine was in the right place to hear the conversation between Lady Scarlet and Alice outside her door.

"... oth be fast asleep, what with the food and drink." Christine paused by the door surprised to hear Alice's clear voice just outside her room.

"Such a pretty, innocent face." Lady Scarlett replied. "A good figure too with a fine healthy bosom for such a tiny girl" Christine felt uncomfortable with such a personal comment, but she was about to return to the bed against the far wall and the blissful sleep it offered when she heard something even more troubling.

"She'll need to be shaved, Lady Scarlett," Alice had clearly watched her more carefully than she realized as she climbed in and out of the bath, "her privates are as hairy as a longshoreman's."

"All in good time, Alice." Scarlett chuckled not unkindly. "We don't want to scare the girl. We'll have to go slowly with this one." There was another brief pause before Scarlett continued. "Werner refused to say, but she's highborne. I can tell."

Christine pressed her ear to the thin wooden slats of the door no longer caring that eavesdropping was a sin. "They're both well fed with strong teeth. and her speech is a dead give-a-way, as was the way they ate their dinner." Christine felt a moment of relief to learn that Warner had protected her identity, but then she heard Scarlett's tone sharpen with undisguised interest. "Do you think she's still a virgin?"

"Maybe." Alice's reply can out slowly, "she didn't mind me being in the bathroom with her, but I imagine she'd freak out if Charles or one of the boys came in. Still, there's a good chance she fell for some Casanova, and that's why she's not safely locked up in some high tower."

"Well, see if you can find out, OK?" Christine heard Alice's knowing chuckle and realized that the pretty blonde was going to be around a lot more than she thought.

"That one's going to make us rich, Alice." Scarlett's voice was so soft that Christine was only half sure of what she heard, "and you'll get your fair share if you help get her used to spreading her pretty little legs."

"What about the Verderer?" Alice asked the very question Christine was thinking. "Does he know you're going to put her to work?"

"Not on her back, no." Scarlett laughed softly, "I told him I could use her help cleaning up the rooms and the like. But that was before I saw her."

"Won't he be mad?"

"Not if it's clear to him that it is her idea." Scarlett had clearly thought this out. "Especially not if he gets a go at her himself. That man's got the hots for our Evelyn something bad. I may even let him be her first." Christine could feel her face getting hot and a tingling in her private parts too that she didn't quite understand. "If she lays back and spreads her legs for him, I very much doubt Werner's going to complain."

"And what about the boy?" Christine heard Alice ask, "he told me he wants to be a squire. If we find some knight to take him on, it will put Evelyn in our debt..."

"That's a good idea." It sounded like the pair were moving away. "God knows we get plenty of knights here. I'm sure we could find the right man ..."

Just like that the pair were gone and Christine had a lot to think about as she sat down on her bed.