Soon the calisthenics and the daily beatings resumed; Francesca was restrained in her practice but Anne had seen what she could do. The experience softened and opened her when she was offered to Mr. Schuyler's associates in the course of his business. Like Madame Byrne before him, he found that stripes added to her appeal; Paul gave up trying to buy her back.
The man who complained of her complimented Mr. Schuyler on her improvement. Anne was glad to be returned to service, to be of use to her owner, and to have Hermann and Andre and the others inside her again. She tried to remember how long it was since a man had taken her; it must have been Sir Nigel, but when was that? She could not tell.
His trading partners were often more amenable to terms after Anne had relieved them of their tensions. After one especially profitable negotiation, he suggested to Francesca that she reward herself and Anne with an outing on his estate. The next morning after a brief exercise with a short-handled leather crop, she unshackled Anne just as Frieda emerged from the house with a backpack.
After helping Anne on with it and fastening her bracelets and leash, Francesca herded her to a forest path. They followed it through woods of hemlock and oak, past a number of tame deer that Anne felt a special kinship with. After crossing a wooden bridge over a creek they entered a grassy meadow bordered with tall pines.
Francesca removed Anne's pack, took out a rope, and tethered her to a tree. Delving into the pack, she spread a cloth on the green. The kitchen staff had packed bowls for Anne and a sandwich, salad, and thermos of tea for Francesca. Anne lapped contentedly at her water bowl, stopping now and again to nibble on feed pellets while Francesca ate her lunch and watched her.
She sat on the grass enjoying the sensation of the green shoots between her legs and next to her skin, listening to Francesca describe her plans. The young woman was torn between post-graduate study and a career in business. Anne tried to attend to the details of a field in which she had little knowledge, nodding intelligently (she hoped) in the right places and asking simple questions now and then. Francesca was so eager to talk about her work that all she needed was a word of encouragement from time to time as she took Anne into her confidence.
Anne was in bliss, sitting and listening to Francesca speak so unguardedly of her hopes. She could not recall a happier time and her love became if possible even greater than before. This was apparent when it was time to go; as Anne rose, Francesca noticed the wet spot she left behind and smiled.
Anne lowered her eyes and blushed a little, but she was privately glad: she dared not express her feelings to Francesca in words, but the stain on the grass was as good as a sonnet. Francesca kissed her on the cheek before stowing the picnic goods and the rope, then put the pack on her and fastened her bracelets and leash for the return trip.
Sir Nigel came by often. An infrequent visitor before the test, after meeting Anne he appeared regularly now. One day in the library, as she held him in her mouth and he absently stroked her neck, he discussed plans for improving his estate. More cells to hold girls he was given by owners who wanted rid of them, for example; and a gallows.
Anne's blood ran cold to hear him describe the arrangement. He would put it in the "compound" where they could see it every day. To be effective as a warning, he would have to use it now and then in front of them; that would help with the overcrowding, too. Already a girl had volunteered.
She imagined herself bound, led naked up the steps to the scaffold above the crowd; the noose placed on her and made tight around her neck; waiting for the signal to open the trapdoor beneath her. Sir Nigel rapped her head with his knuckles and she got back to work.
Mr. Schuyler observed drily that between the dogs and Berthe, his neighbor already had sufficient means to thin his herd. Sir Nigel had recently bought one of Edward's soft garrotes from Paul and looked forward to trying it out.
Mr. Schuyler was more old-fashioned, or more frugal; plain rope had always been used in his family and it was good enough for him. His neighbor replied that Edward's device would be useful in training a girl before sale without leaving marks.
He listened, stroked his chin thoughtfully and said he would consider it. This one here would benefit from its application now and then, wouldn't you Anne. Her mouth full, she assented with little nods yes.
Sir Nigel expressed envy at his neighbor's possession. Mr. Schuyler replied "Be patient; I expect you'll have her in time". Anne found this ominous.
"Tell you what, Arthur; why doesn't she come visit my place, to see if she'd like it?" Sir Nigel chuckled at his own joke.
"Possibly. I don't need her till tomorrow evening when some Russian clients are coming over." Anne felt Sir Nigel rising in her at the idea, and gently massaged him while he grew. "You can have her till noon; but I need her back in one piece."
"Still breathing?"
"Yes, unmarked and in working order; I told you I need her for business."
"You drive a hard bargain Arthur, but I accept. I'll take her there now and return her mostly undamaged tomorrow afternoon." He continued to grow and harden as Anne stroked him with her tongue.
Mr. Schuyler gave orders, and Francesca appeared a minute later. He handed the end of Anne's leash to her.
