Four Of Clubs Ch 02

This chapter has a lot more buildup and story before the sex happens, so buckle up!

Previously: After one of them boasted he could bed any woman, including Tomasin, Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Ramulvia, four members of the castle staff made a vow to seduce all four princesses.

A warm breeze blew through the stables, bringing with it a sense of peace that swept over Joby the Stablemaster as he went about his work. Having spent his entire life amongst the horses, he long ago lost the ability to smell the accompanying odors.

Not that scents were even remotely on Joby's mind. It had been over a week since he and his friends had made their pact at the Ring and Clover, and it seemed not one of them had made any headway. Seducing a princess was, after all, a delicate process. One had to approach it with the utmost care, or else the whole endeavor could end disastrously.

Although he was used to most of the smells which wafted through the stables on any given day, one he noticed every time was that of lavender and honey, the delicate scent of soap available only to the Royal Family and members of their court. Today, it blew in just as he was brushing one of Queen Margret's prized steeds.

"Stablemaster!" a sweet, ringing voice carried through the air. Joby recognized it immediately. He put the horse brush aside and did his best to make himself presentable before stepping out into the stable's hall. There, he found exactly who he thought he would.

Long golden hair falling in immaculate curls over her shoulders, and wearing a vibrant blue riding dress, Princess Annet, the King and Queen's youngest daughter, stood waiting for him. She smiled as she caught sight of him.

"Oh, there you are, Stablemaster," the Princess said, making her way towards him.

"Good morning, your Highness," Joby replied, doing his best not to let his eyes wander too much over her form as she approached, "how may I be of service to you?"

Princess Annet looked up at him. She was short in stature, though many had noted not small in many ways. Her ample bosom and the wide flair of her hips were often the subject of hushed talk at the Ring and Clover, and Joby noted as carefully as possible that at this angle, and with the cut of her dress, he could see quite a bit more of her than was proper.

It wasn't at all unusual for Joby to have less than proper thoughts about the ladies of the court, including the Princesses, but with the reminder of the pact which said he needed to bed this particular Princess, Joby's mind was wandering far more than usual. Images flooded his mind of the pretty little blonde looking up at him with those sparkling blue eyes as his cock disappeared into her eager mouth. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

Annet's voice cut him out of his fantasy. "I wish to go for a ride, Stablemaster. It has been some time since I felt the wind in my hair. Ready my horse, if you will."

Joby gave the Princess a quick bow and then hurried off to collect Annet's horse. He was grateful to turn his back on her. His fantasies had gotten the better of him, and he needed a chance to calm down before the Princess noticed the bulge rising in his pants.

That was the problem though, wasn't it? He needed her to notice. Not just notice, but want to take a more active role in what was causing it. But how? Truly, Joby had never had much trouble courting women in the past. Between his quick smile and the muscles he'd developed during a life of hard work, the maids of the castle tended to fall all over him. The Princesses, however... It was as though an invisible barrier was erected between them, making all more personal contact a complete impossibility.

Perhaps, he thought as he saddled up the horse, that invisible wall was all in his head. Maybe Leland was right: the Princesses are just women. Maybe what works on a chambermaid would have a similar effect on a Princess. He straightened his shoulders as he led the horse out of its stall and towards its waiting rider.

"Here he is, your Highness," Joby said, and made a point to flash the Princess his most devilish smile.

Princess Annet paused for a moment, looking at him. Perhaps Joby was imagining it, but he thought he saw the slightest blush rise to her cheeks. "Thank you, Stablemaster," she said, and went to mount her horse.

Joby moved in closer. "Here, let me help you, your Highness."

For the first time, he placed his hands on the Princess's body. She did not seem to object, and once she was atop the horse, she looked down at him, and there was no question about it: her face was growing quite red.

"Thank you, Stablemaster," Princess Annet said, "I really must be out of practice, if I needed such assistance."

Joby thought he saw his opening, and decided to take it. "You know, Highness, the trails may have changed somewhat since the last time you rode. Perhaps I could accompany you until you're familiar again."

Annet was quiet for a few moments, then shook her head, her golden curls dancing along her back and shoulders. "I think I would prefer some solitude this morning, Stablemaster." She looked down at him and was quiet again, her blue eyes narrowing. "Though, I do appreciate the offer. Perhaps another--"

"Annet!"

Another voice, breezier but not dissimilar to Annet's, entered the stable. Joby turned to look, and saw Princess Elsabet approaching. Annet took one look at her sister and spurred her horse to carry her away, and in a few seconds she was just a shrinking shape in the distance.

"That

girl

," Princess Elsabet said, her voice soft but exasperated. She looked at Joby and gave him a gentle smile. "I apologize for causing such a scene, sir."

Joby bowed slightly. "Your Highness has nothing to apologize for."

The Princess held up a hand and shook her head, laughing softly. "Please, sir, I gave up such titles and stylings when I began the Path of the Healer on my Choosing Day. I am simply Elsabet."

Nothing could have been stranger to Joby than addressing a Princess by her first name. Still he nodded his head in deference. "Very well, Miss Elsabet."

Elsabet looked out in the direction her sister had ridden away. "As it would happen," she said, "I was hoping to talk to Annet about

her

upcoming Choosing Day. She will need, as all members of the Royal Family, to decide how she intends to serve the people of Ramulvia. I fear she is dragging her feet on the subject."

"She is young," Joby said, "young people often have trouble committing to things."

"You are not wrong," Elsabet said, then smiled at Joby again, "but I was no less young when I made my choice. Nor was Tomasin when she chose the Path of the Leader, nor Matild when she chose the Path of the Warrior. Our Day of Choosing comes on our twentieth birthday, whether we like it or not."

Joby nodded. When he remembered that he began work in the stables as a boy of ten, twenty seemed like a very reasonable age to choose a path. He smiled back at Princess Elsabet, and in the morning light it struck him that he'd never gotten a close look at her before.

She was taller than her sister, and thin, with sandy blonde hair that curled only at the ends, unlike Annet's head of perfectly-styled curls. Elsabet's blue eyes had a touch of green around the edges, making them look a bit like a glimpse of the sea. Joby didn't dare look at the Princess's body when she was looking right back at him, but he'd gotten a quick glance in when she'd arrived. She had modest, pert breasts which pushed at the bodice of her dress, and soft, pale skin dusted with a smattering of freckles.

When he made his move, Adair was going to have a lovely prize.

With a little sigh, Elsabet tilted her head to the side. "I suppose I should get back to my duties. If the sick healed themselves, I would need to choose a new Path. When you next see my sister, please tell her I'm looking for her." She turned to leave, then stopped. "By the way, what may I call you, sir?"

"I am Joby, Miss Elsabet," Joby said with a slight bow.

Elsabet smiled broadly at him. She had a dazzling set of teeth. "Good day, Joby. Thank you for the chat."

With that, she strode away, and Joby watched as the sway of her hips made her skirts swing rhythmically around.

*****

It was a few days before Joby saw any of the Princesses again. He was refilling the feed troughs and humming to himself, letting his mind go silent in the monotony of his work, when he heard a familiar voice echoing through the stables.

"Stablemaster!"

Just as he knew he would, Joby saw Princess Annet hurrying through the hall when he leant his head out to look. She hadn't spotted him yet, and that was for the best, as Joby's eyes fell immediately to the ample cleavage her riding dress was displaying. Her large breasts bounced with every step, producing a hypnotizing effect on poor Joby's mind. He shook his head to clear it and then stepped out into the hall. "I am here, your Highness."

Annet smiled. "Oh, good." She looked up at him as she had the last time they'd met, and again a slight blush seemed to be rising in her cheeks. "My horse, if you will, Stablemaster."

"At once, your Highness." Joby bowed, then turned and readied Annet's horse. He felt a grin spreading over his face. Unless he was greatly mistaken, the Princess seemed to be having a reaction to him already. Perhaps with just a little more time, he could have something to share with the boys at the Ring and Clover.

As he led the horse out to its rider, Joby made a point to hold himself as tall as he could and not stop until he was standing right over the little blonde. "Your horse, your Highness."

Annet swallowed hard. Her face was very visibly red now. "Th-thank you, Stablemaster." She didn't move, just staring up into Joby's eyes, and when she finally did move, it was to reach out a hand towards him. The hand slipped right past him, however, and took the reins of the horse. Her voice was dry and cracked a little as she spoke again. "Will you help me to mount him?"

It took Joby a few seconds to process the request. Then, he shook his head and stifled a laugh. "Of course, your Highness," he said, and carefully placed his hand on Annet's waist. Immediately he felt her draw in her breath, but she did not hesitate, and with Joby's help, she was soon atop her horse.

"Thank you, Stablemaster," she said again, her blue eyes sparkling down at him from her bright red face.

"My pleasure, your Highness," Joby replied, and then he remembered his conversation with Elsabet. "By the way, Highness, your sister asked me to tell you she wishes to speak with you."

Irritation flashed across Annet's face. "Which sister? Elsabet?" She exhaled sharply through her nose. "She's been hounding me for weeks."

"I believe, if your Highness will forgive me for intruding," Joby said, "that she only wants to make sure you're ready for your Choosing Day." Regardless of the subject, Joby determined that a conversation with Princess Annet could only help his chances with her down the line, so long as he didn't say anything stupid.

Annet scoffed. "I know what it is she wants, Stablemaster. She wants, as she always does, to get in between me and my fun. Speaking of which," she said, "I should very much like to go for my ride now. Thank you again for your help." With that, she rode away, leaving a cloud of dust and the lingering scent of lavender and honey in her wake.

*****

Some mornings were quieter than others, and at the next sunrise, Joby awoke to an especially quiet morning. He fed the horses, finished some cleaning, took stock of supplies, and made note of a few repairs he'd have to get around to soon, and during all that time, no one visited the stables at all.

Just before noon, Joby was brushing one of the horses when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from outside. He put the brush away and stepped out into the hall just as Princess Elsabet was entering. She gave him one of her typical gentle smiles.

"Good day, Joby," she said.

The fact that she remembered his name surprised Joby. He returned her smile with a little bow. "Good day, your Highness."

Elsabet shook her head with a soft chuckle. "I told you, Joby. I am simply Elsabet, the healer."

Joby laughed with her. "Very well, Miss Elsabet. What brings you to me today?"

"Well," Elsabet said with a sharp exhale, "I was looking for my sister. I cannot seem to find her in the castle, and I thought maybe she'd come out for a ride."

"Not today. In fact you're the first person I've seen today at all."

Elsabet sighed. The way her brow furrowed and her deep blue-green eyes darkened when she was frustrated was strangely appealing. Joby found himself tracing the curves of her face, and then, before he caught himself, the curves of her body.

"I swear, that girl is going to send me to an early grave before her Choosing Day arrives," Elsabet said at last.

Joby leaned against the nearest wall and crossed his arms. "Why are you so invested in this? I worry that you might be pushing her away with all the attention you're putting on her."

"I worry about the same." Elsabet groaned. "But my father has tasked me personally with making sure Annet is ready for her Choosing, and so I must hound her."

"Ah," Joby said, "you mustn't disappoint His Majesty, that is certain."

"Indeed," Elsabet said. She took a long, slow breath, and the tension in her face and body seemed to lighten somewhat. She glanced around and then looked up at Joby with another smile. "Have you eaten?"

"Not since I awoke," Joby said.

"Excellent. How do you feel about sharing a meal with me?"

A jolt ran through Joby as he processed the question. For someone of his station, sharing a meal with a Princess was almost as outlandish as sleeping with one. Then again, he had already set his sights on the latter goal, so why not? He bowed. "I would be delighted, Miss Elsabet."

Elsabet grinned. "Wonderful. I had planned to talk with Annet over a nice luncheon, but since she has up and gone into hiding, I am more than happy to share that meal with you, seeing as you've been so kind and helpful lately. Come, Joby." She turned slightly and, with a sparkle in her eye, motioned for him to follow.

For the first time in his life, Joby found himself in the nicer part of the palace, and on top of that he was there as a guest of one of the Princesses. They sat together on a balcony overlooking the gardens as they dined on cakes and little sandwiches and washed it down with an incredibly fragrant tea. The only unpleasant part of the experience was meeting the eyes of the servants bringing the dishes. Surely, the rest of the castle staff would soon hear about him dining with Princess Elsabet.

Elsabet, for her part, was extremely pleasant. She asked with genuine interest about his life and his past, and listened attentively. Joby found himself opening up very easily to the pretty Royal, as though the invisible wall he'd imagined before never existed in the first place. Finally, during a lull in the conversation, Joby decided to turn the subject around.

"What drew you to the Path of the Healer, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, well," Elsabet laughed gently. "If you can believe it, my initial plan was to choose the Path of the Warrior. I've always enjoyed sparring with the castle Blademaster."

"Adair?"

Elsabet nodded. "You know him?"

Now it was Joby's turn to laugh. "Oh yes, I know him well. We share drinks together most nights. A very agreeable gentleman." He thought for a moment. Elsabet was, according to their plan, Adair's chosen prize. Perhaps, Joby thought, he should lay some groundwork for his friend. "He speaks quite fondly of you, you know."

"Is that so?" Elsabet seemed pleased with this information. "He is a lovely man. Perhaps a bit overserious for my taste, however." She shrugged. "At any rate, I toyed with the idea of the military life for a while. I spent some time traveling with the troops, had some adventures that perhaps did not befit a Princess, even got myself into a little trouble here and there. And then I spent some time at the Bolgili front."

"Oh," Joby's stomach twisted. Conflict with the Bolgillians was especially fierce, and many of the battles there were infamously bloody.

Elsabet nodded. "I saw what horrors warfare brought, and then I saw the healers there. The way they eased the pain and suffering of the soldiers and the civilians alike, often regardless of which side, and it inspired me. I wanted to bring that kind of comfort to my people. And so, on my Choosing Day, I took the Path of the Healer. I have never regretted it."

"It suits you," Joby said. He could easily imagine the gentle Princess sitting by a hospital bed, easing the sick and wounded, bringing them back to health. It certainly made for a more reasonable image than her in armor wielding a blade. Then, something she'd said struck him, and he laughed. "So, are you saying that you once had a wild side?"

An uncharacteristically wicked grin spread over Elsabet's face. "Perhaps. Perhaps I still have a wild side in me somewhere. Who can say?"

"Well," Joby said, "I promise not to spread that around."

"Thank you," Elsabet said, and poured them each another cup of tea. "I have a reputation to protect, after all." She locked eyes with him and sipped from her teacup. "I'm glad you joined me today, Joby."

"As am I, Miss Elsabet," Joby said, and took a long sip from his own cup, savoring the taste.

*****

"All I'm saying, Annet, is that you must be prepared."

Joby could hear Princess Elsabet from some distance before he saw her. She had a gentle, tender voice, but it carried on the breeze nonetheless.

"Yes," the voice of Princess Annet replied, "so you keep telling me."

They were getting closer to the stables. It wouldn't do for Joby to interrupt the Princesses or approach them before he was summoned, so he kept himself tucked away. Still, he began preparing Princess Annet's horse in case she needed it.

"You don't want to be the first Princess to reach her Choosing Day without having a path chosen!"

"I wouldn't be the first," Annet replied. They were in the stables now. "There was Princess Sabra in the 1130s."

Elsabet laughed. "Look who's paying attention in her lessons. Although, if you really paid attention, you'd remember that she's remembered as Sabra the Unready."

Joby leaned against the wall of the stable and listened. Officially, the castle servants didn't overhear anything the Royals said in their presence, but unofficially, gossip was as good as silver in the castle.

"Well," Annet sounded very frustrated now, "I know what you and Tomasin think of me. Annet the Brainless. Annet the Selfish. Annet the Harlot."

Joby's eyebrows shot up at that last one.

"Don't be ridiculous," Elsabet said, "no one thinks those things about you, Annet. We just want to make sure you're thinking about your future."

"Whatever you say,

Elsabet the Perfect

," Annet shot back. Then, she raised her voice. "Stablemaster! Stablemaster, my horse, now!"

Silently, Joby praised himself for being prepared. He took Annet's horse by the reins and led it out to the two Princesses. He barely got a look at Annet--but what a look it was! As usual, Annet's riding dress exposed a great deal of her bosom--before she climbed deftly atop her horse without any help. Joby hardly had time to feel disappointed before the golden-haired Princess spurred her horse and was gone.

Elsabet looked thoroughly disgruntled. She watched her sister ride away and placed her hands on her hips. "I suppose that will have to be the end of it for now."

Joby looked her over. She was dressed conservatively, as always, but even conservative clothing was form-fitting for a high-class woman. Her thin, shapely body was well on display regardless. Joby smiled. "I could prepare another horse if you'd like to go after her, your Highness."