...in which trouble can freely brew.

A few more days pass idyllically for all the girls. The nights, like the days, are unventful. Well...for most of them.

"Oh, fuuuuuuuuuuck," Alice groans as she threads her fingers into Deborah's hair. It's late at night, with a candle still burning on the windowsill. They're the only ones awake, and Alice is trying to be quiet - but that's hard, as Deborah has been improving her pussylicking with practice. Alice grinds her crotch against the bond girl's face as she orgasms, pleasure pulsing through her in waves as Deborah swirls her tongue over Alice's clit. {if Barnes-Alice > -100}Unbidden, the mental image of that rough Private Barnes swirls into her mind. {endif}{if Simmons-Alice > 0}Captain Simmons's visage appears in her mind's eye {if Barnes-Alice > -100}too, {endif}and Alice stifles a squeal as she imagines the body that uniform must hide. {endif}Alice gasps, her breath coming in ragged pants, as her orgasm subsides and she relaxes, laughing breathlessly.

"Hmmmmm. You know, I think we're under-utilizing your talents, Deb!" she says with a chuckle. The bond girl stays submissively kneeling on the floor, head bowed, as Alice sits up on her bed. "Do any of my sisters make use of you?"

"No," Deborah says softly, eyes still downcast.

"Look at me when you talk to me!" Alice tells her sharply. When Deborah looks up, Alice slaps her on the cheek. "And you forgot the proper address, slut. Do any of my sisters make use of you?"

"No, Goddess," Deborah whispers, blue eyes shining with tears.

"Hmmmm. Tell me this - have you ever been fucked?"

"Y-yes, Goddess."

"Oho. Wait. Ugh, it wasn't by my father, was it?"

"No, Goddess. I - he never...no."

"Thank the Lord. I want to hear nothing of him in that way. Who did it, then?"

"A...a boy I knew, Goddess. Thomas. We...we were sweet on each other before I...came here."

"Aha! You are a little slut, then. Glad to see nothing has changed." Alice grins. "Stand up and take your dress off." Mutely, Deborah complies. Alice casts an appraising eye over the girl's figure as she shivers, pale and naked, in her mistress's bedroom. Deborah's blonde hair and blue eyes must attract some men, but she's skinny as a rail - hardly any ass, and bony hips. Her breasts aren't bad, though: peach-sized things, a good handful, with pink nipples already coming erect in the cool night air. Deborah shamefacedly tries to cover her bush with her hands. Alice swats her hands away. "Don't bother with that, I want to see all of you. Hmmm. I can see why that boy would use you! Did you enjoy his fucking?"

"I - yes, Goddess."

Alice smirks. "Excellent." She reaches forward and pinches one of the bond girl's nipples, getting a gasp from her. "I've learned recently that some men like to use a bond girl's ass - buggery, I think it's called. Did he ever do that to you, this Thomas?"

"My -" Deborah's eyes go wide in consternation. "N-no. Goddess."

"Ha! Good. Still a virgin in one way, then. That could be useful to me."

"I live to serve my Goddess," Deborah whispers, gaze shifting toward the floor again.

"Indeed you do. And I'll make such good use of your service!" Alice leans upward and pecks the bond girl on the lips as she squeezes a breast in one hand. "Starting now. Let me put these on you..." She grins and holds up a pair of wooden clothespins. Deborah's eyes widen.

"G-Goddess?" Then she yelps as Alice grabs one of her breasts and pinches the nipple hard. As it comes erect, Alice quickly slides one of the clothespins onto it, pinning the nipple. Deborah writhes but holds more or less still as Alice repeats the process with her other breast.

"How's that feel, Deb?" Alice asks casually as she runs her hands down the older girl's sides and slides a couple of fingers over her snatch. She smirks to discover that the bond girl is slightly wet.

"It - it hurts, Goddess! Please..."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll take them off," Alice says cheerfully. Then she leans in. "Once...you've made me finish."

"Goooddeeeess..." Deborah whines slightly, and Alice holds up a finger.

"Four times." Deborah whimpers as Alice lies back on the bed, nightshirt around her waist and a smirk on her face. "You'd better get going!"

As Alice relaxes into the bond girl's ministrations, wrapping her legs around Deborah's head to pull her face further into her snatch, she smiles. Gripping Deborah's hair, she goes over the possibilities for the girl. {if Barnes-Alice > 0}Perhaps I could get that brutal Barnes to leave me alone by redirecting some of his energy onto Deb's ass...I'm sure one cunt is much like any other to him. {elseif Barnes-Alice < 0}I think I have that Barnes under a bit of control, now...I wonder if I could get him to plow Deborah in exchange for some future favors to me. I would like seeing a man take her. {if Barnes-Alice < -6}Those bond girls at the party got me interested in the process! {endif}{endif}{if Simmons-Alice > 0}I wonder if that Captain Simmons is lonely...I'm sure he wouldn't mind the occasional visit from a pliable, obedient blue-eyed wench like Deb. And if I tell him it's my way of making him welcome in the county...why I'm sure he'd be very grateful.{endif}

Alice giggles as she tightens her grip on Deborah's head. Oh, yes! I do love having a bond girl.

In the first week of April, the family are eating breakfast together when Mr. Foxhaven lets out a cry of surprise, coughing some of his beans onto his plate.

"My goodness!" he exclaims, waving the note that he received just before their meal. "Ladies, it's my unfortunate duty to inform you that poor old Mr. Tines has shuffled off this mortal coil."

"No!" Anne exclaims. "Why, I didn't even know that he was ill."

"That is a shame, but it is hardly surprising," Rebecca murmurs. "I always worried whether he would make it through his sermons, these last few months."

"God have mercy on his soul," Esther says primly. "Though I doubt he needs it much."

"One would hope not, eh? He was a decent sort, for a parson," Mr. Foxhaven says. He continues to scan the note. "I shall have to attend the funeral on Saturday, and after that there will be a reception for the entire parish at the parsonage. Apparently the new parson, a Mr. Brightson, will be there. I shall be curious to see what he is like."

"Are we to go to the reception, Father?" Alice asks, already looking bored.

"Indeed, it would be best for all of us to go," he says firmly. "Though of course you ladies are not expected to attend the funeral. We had best pay our respects to the old man who saw you all born and buried my mother."

The end of the week comes quickly, with Saturday hot on its heels. As she's preparing for the reception, Anne hesitates, privately torn in her room between two different options for her gown. The one she'd initially planned to wear is simple, sober, and typical - exactly what you'd expect. But she did recently obtain a French gown that would...serve, but be a little more daring. A little more bare arm, a slightly lower décolletage. Higher fashion, essentially. Should she wear that? It would attract more eyes, which she normally tries to avoid. But then again, if everyone from the parish is going to be there...well...there might be someone whose eyes she wishes to attract!