Chapter the First: In which our protagonist begins to accustom herself to the villa's ways
The early sun shone through the tall French windows and brightened the whole room with its dark paneling, catching her still asleep. She blinked her eyes in response to this Adriatic sunshine and struggled to hoist herself up on her elbows. This was the first clear look she had of her appointed bedchamber since she had been conducted there the previous evening by simple candlelight. After she was shown where she would be sleeping, she was instructed to undress and was handed a light cotton shift to put on. Only now in the daylight was she able to appreciate the quality of the nightgown. She scanned the room and saw a dressing table up against the wall opposite the foot of her four-poster bed. In the corner was an odd looking stool she didn't recognize. The window treatment was a rich brocade tied back with tassels to large bronze medallions. She pushed back the linens and draped her legs over the edge of the four-poster bed. She shuffled directly to the windows and saw that there was a large balcony, but she chose to not open the French doors. Through the glass panes, she saw a large, ornate garden bounded by high brick walls outside of which extended pastures and orchards as far as the horizon.
She gazed out and thought about her journey to this place. Her Master had arranged the whole affair after much research and effort. He had saved to send her here and even though she wanted to help pay, He insisted that it come from him exclusively. When He announced the date, she was both eager and anxious. She had never traveled so far alone. She had never even heard of Montenegro until he showed it to her in the atlas. There were many spectacular properties available to informed buyers since the dissolution of greater Yugoslavia, some of which had been built during the time of Venetian control of the Adriatic in centuries past. An enterprising Italian businesswoman with a well deserved reputation for her skills had purchased an old villa near the seacoast and its surrounding estate and had begun the difficult task of restoring it to function as a training school for submissive women. He had kissed her just yesterday when He dropped her off at the airport and held her extra tightly before wishing her bon voyage and reiterated that he would soon join her in due time.
That seemed as long ago in time as in space now. She kept telling herself that her Master knew what He was doing, that His well laid plans were now up to her to complete. She felt, of course, an obligation to her Master but also to herself. She wanted to learn more about her psyche and innermost desires and she believed strongly that she would be able to accomplish such goals away from the standards and routines of her native country in this foreign setting. This journey would become one of discovery and she intended to discover all that was inside her.
A movement in the garden caught her eye suddenly. She saw two men tending to the plants. They both seemed young and strong. Feeling a bit too naked in her shift, she took one step back, aware that the strong natural light while warming was also revealing. Just then the large door to room opened with a creak on its massive hinges. In walked boldly a tall brunette, her hair held up in a tight bun, wearing a long velvet gown, which dragged along ground, high at the neck with buttons running down the middle until the slit opened at just below her crotch. Closely behind her floated an Asian woman with long braided hair in a light blue uniform and a frilly white apron, carrying a small handbag. As the brunette strutted forward, her heels clicked audibly on the waxed parquet flooring. She carried her head stiffly upright and announced in a stern yet refined voice.
"Good morning. I see you are admiring our gardens and grounds."
She stood and faced her room's newest arrivals, but she didn't respond.
