Eleonore's parents had a warm cottage and a happy family. The atmosphere in the cottage was intimate, loving and feminine.
The father played the flute and was always looking for wood to make new flutes. This was his downfall. After climbing into a box tree to get a fine branch, he fell and broke his spine.
It was a disaster for the family. The youngest was 8 years and the eldest was 18. Charity alone kept the family alive during the first hungry winter after the accident. Their mother had to work in the village. Knowing her to be tidy, clean, and honest she was given work as a milk maid and soon became expert.
The oldest child, Eleonore, was a sweet girl. She had a husky voice and, like her mum, worked as a milk maid in the village. As her own bust grew, the boys had long noticed her. But she protected her virginity.
The lad to whom Eleonore eventually gave her heart was Cuthbert. He had flaxen hair, strong limbs and a fresh smell. But the decisive factor was that her mother employed him for heavy work about the croft. Cuthbert became part of the family and Eleonore came to accept him as such. In their moments alone together he begged to see her breasts. She saw no reason to refuse and, as they kissed, enjoyed the feeling of his strong hands on her soft flesh. But she would go no further.
Cuthbert was called to live and work in the castle. The young couple were separated and missed each other. Eleonore pined for him and the longer they were apart the worse it got. Then Cuthbert had an idea. Hearing that an extra wash-room servant was needed, he persuaded Eleonore to dress as a boy and join the hiring parade. She was chosen for her soft clean hands and went to live and work in the castle. It was a busy place and there was no opportunity to be alone with Cuthbert.
The servants worked all their waking hours and slept in the great hall. Nobody took off their clothes and nobody discovered she was a girl. Eleonore came to think of the whole group as her family. It was much more fun than being at home. She loved the male company and, liking many of the boys, drifted away from Cuthbert.
When Sir Rufus found out that she was a girl he had Cuthbert sent away. She had listened to the boys' endless talk about sex and, though worried about their coarseness, was more than ready for this stage of her life.
Rufus had sex with his wife only a few times in a month but when he found Eleonore he wanted it every day. She gave herself to him in every way. But it was his wife who became pregnant and as soon as this happened she refused all sexual contact with her husband.
The birth was difficult and when it was over she wanted to spend as much time as possible praying in the chapel. Rufus complained about her neglecting both her husband and her child. Annoyed, she told him to get a wet nurse.
The bailiff organised a hiring session. Brought to the castle for inspection, the girls sat on a bench in the cowshed. Sun streamed through the open door. Rufus and Eleonore arrived separately. The six girls stripped to the waist. Eleonore believed a good supply of good milk was essential and advised her master to taste the milk. He sat down and the girls took turns standing in front of him.