Alice explains much

As Christine was led to the bathhouse by Alice, she listened to the pretty blonde's happy chatter. Alice, it seemed, was excited to have a new girl here at the Scarlett Rose. Especially, she confided with a smile to Christine, because they were so close in age.

"Some of the others here are so old it's a wonder they get any work at all." Before Christine could formulate any kind of answer, Alice led her across a small courtyard to a bathhouse that stood at the rear of the building. The small brick building had smoke rising steadily from its chimney promised plenty of steaming water and warm towels.

Inside, was a large room with three tubs each one large enough for at least three bathers. At the moment the room was empty, and Alice lost no time in unlacing the ribbons that fastened her ruffled dress. Christine was just about to shed her cloak when two men walked into the room without even a knock on the door. She had just barely enough time to pull the covering back on to avoid being seen by the cheerful pair as they stoked up the fire and carried kettles of steaming water over to the nearest tub.

"That's better girls," the older of the pair announced as he hung fresh kettles over the fire to warm, "but you just give us a holler if you start getting chilly."

"Thank-you, Charles, you're the best." To Christine's amazement, Alice had continued to undress while even with the two men working in the room and was now wearing only a lacy shift as she stepped out of her frilly leggings. She winked at the pair as they headed for the door, and then turned her attention to a selection of glass vials, pouring a generous portion of a scented oil into the warm water.

"Don't be shy, Evelyn." Alice told Christine to undress. "We're going to get you cleaned up and smelling like a rose garden. You'll be so pretty for Master Merthin he won't have eyes for anyone else, not even me."

Christine stood by the tub. She lingered there for a minute waiting for Alice to step out of the room. "I need some privacy."

"Silly. The bath is for both of us." She pulled off her shift and turned to Christine as naked and shameless as Eve in the garden of Eden. "Come on, Evelyn, God knows you need to get cleaned up."

"But?" Christine watched as Alice stepped into the tub as gracefully as a dryad from myth as she spoke.

"Not many people can enjoy a warm bath." That was certainly true, even back in her father's castle they didn't have a bath house like this. "It's just one of the many perks of living here under Lady Scarlett's care. Enjoy it."

Christine let her cloak slip off her shoulders and slipped first one arm and then the other under the threadbare tunic. She paused for a second, but the temptation of the hot water was too much to resist and with a soft sigh let the ragged garment slide to the tiled floor. She was going to have to get used to not being in charge.

Alice held out her hand and helped Christine climb into the tub and then the two of them slowly lowered themselves into the water that was already starting to foam with little sweet-smelling bubbles.

Christine scooped up handfuls of the suds and used them to cover her exposed breasts. She had been naked many times as she changed with her ladies-in-waiting, but not with a stranger and never together in the same tub. Deeply embarrassed she slipped even lower into the tub until she felt her legs press against Alice's under the soapy water.

Alice nodded in approval, not in the least disturbed by the touch of flesh on flesh. She got a good look at Merthin's new girl and could easily see why she had been chosen. Evelyn's body was smeared with all manner of filth, but under the grime her skin was creamy and unblemished. She was young and healthy with full round breasts that were firm and perfectly peaked with little pink nipples. She had full bum cheeks and a slight curve under her belly, further signs of a comfortable upbringing only afforded to the wealthy and her shyness was attractive too. There was really only one thing that would need attention.

"You are truly beautiful, Evelyn." Alice smiled as she slid closer and started to wash the girl's arm "however, we'll need to take you to the gardener."

"Excuse me?" The words made no sense, and Christine was having difficulty concentrating with Alice's soft hands stroking her like this.

"Your womanly bush is most unruly, it needs a good trimming." Alice's eyes dropped to where her lap was submerged under water and with a start Christine realized what the blonde was talking about. Her hands shyly covered the dark curls that sat upon her pubic mound.

"I didn't know I should."

Alice reached over to a shelf against the wall and handed Christine a ceramic tub of soap. "Use this, wash up well." She watched Christine gingerly lather the soft soap along her arms and chest for a moment before she too dipped her fingers into the soap jar and started to lather her own breasts.

"Feels good, doesn't it." She sighed contentedly and then lowered her torso all the way under the water before coming up spluttering. Somehow that broke the tension and after that Christine relaxed enough that she let Alice wash her feet and legs before she returned the favor.

"Don't forget to clean your womanhood, Evelyn." Alice demonstrated what she meant on her own neatly trimmed tuft of curls just one shade darker than her golden curls. Only dirty minds go down well here." Christine realized just how messy her own tangled curls were, and she lowered her eyes silently. "Don't worry, we'll get you cleaned up and Merthin will love it."

"I don't know..." She stopped herself, unsure of what Merthin might be saying to Lady Scarlett and not wanting to say more than she had to.

"You will learn quickly." Alice soaped her hands them affectionately washed Christine's shoulders and back. "Most of the men are kind. Of course, some aren't. But most are." Christine listened to Alice attentively, aware that she needed to know as much as possible if she was going to survive here. "You might, unfortunately, get the odd bad man too. But the same one is never allowed back if he hurts a girl beyond reason."

"I suppose that's good." Christine leaned back against Alice relaxing even more as the young woman's washing turned into soothing caresses.

"Every girl has their favorites too." Alice's hands were now brushing over her breasts, and it felt too good to stop her. "Not a special friend like your Merthin, but a man or two who might fall in love with us." She giggled softly with her lips brushing Christine's ear as she added with a hushed whisper. "They treat us even better than their wives, if they ever marry."

"Can't they marry you?"

"It happens." Alice looked wistful for a moment as if she was remembering an old flame." But most often they're already married… or not able." She continued to soap Christine's long legs. "Trust me, take Master Merthin's gifts and money, maybe even his love, but don't expect a proposal. You'll learn to play on their love and guilt for all it's worth."

"Hmm. You almost make it sound like a good job." For a moment Christine thought she saw a shadow cross Alice's normally cheerful face, but then the shadow was gone, and Alice's eyes were sparkling mischievously as she reached for the soap again.

"Now. Let's do some gardening."

Alice lathered a load of soap on her hand. She then reached boldly down into the water to clean Christine's pubic hair.

Christine flinched. But Alice whispered. "It's okay for people to touch, we're all friends here. Close your eyes and enjoy."

Trying to relax Christine measured her breaths and closed her eyes as Alice gently massaged her tight folds. Her soft touch and the warm soapy water felt good on her nether lips. It was the same rush of excitement she had experienced while riding the Verderer's horse, and far far better than the probing of Bishop Anthryl's probing fingers.

Chrstine was then brought back from the clouds when Alice had her perch on the edge of the tub with her legs spread wide so she could trim her pubic hair with scissors. It was embarrassing to be exposed like that and she half expected at any moment for one or both of the serving men to come back in and see her in this compromising position. Alice noticed the change in her mood and stopped long enough to squeeze her thigh encouragingly. "Trust me, sweety, you're beautiful down here, you want people to see every bit of this pretty little kitty."

In almost no time at all, Alice was done and when the pair had toweled off, she handed Christine a long white chemise to wear. With a start Christine realized that someone must have come into the bath house while they were washing and replaced their old clothes with these night shirts.

"Let's get you to your room. There should be food waiting for you."