Copyright Otto26, 2008M
*
Queresh was another person unlike any Evelyn had met before. Like Mrs. Elati he was undoubtedly a trusted servant brought with Sir Arun when the nobility had come to Wells. He was very tall with short, neat, blonde hair so light it seemed white. His eyes were a deeper blue than Evelyn had ever seen and his clothing was cut in a servant's style, but of the same sort of cloth the nobility wore, fine and bright and very soft.
"There is very little time, unfortunately. We need to resolve certain matters before the young master returns to his quarters and finds you missing. Many matters we can resolve later, but your fertility must be addressed immediately. The house physician is awaiting us and I will brief you as we go. I regret the rush, but needs must."
"The master has not confided in me, but I believe this is because his plan is newly formed. I imagine he will inform the young master that he may have you as his body servant when he travels to the court of the Count. It would be unseemly for the young master to arrive without a servant. However it would be customary to send him with four or five. The master is choosing to make an insult. This will strengthen the impression that the master is displeased with the young master. It will also force the young master to rely heavily upon you, though I doubt he will realize this very soon."
"The Count himself is very young, twenty-five years by local measurement, and came into his title after the untimely death of his father. His court has a reputation for sexual depravity. You understand, I hope, the position this places you in."
He looked at her, assessing, but did not wait for an answer before continuing.
"You will undoubtedly be required to participate in these depravities. Report details when you have them as our intelligence on the specifics of these gatherings are sparse. For this reason, and because we have no wish to see the young master get a child upon you, the physician will turn off your ovulation cycle. Temporary I assure you," he said as she looked sharply at him.
He opened a door and they walked into a small medical facility. Evelyn stared in unabashed curiosity, trying to name all the equipment. Just a few weeks ago her dream had been to work in a place like this. Something seemed out of place, however, and it took her a moment to identify it.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
"Sent away," another voice answered.
She turned her head and saw yet another obvious off-worlder smiling at her.
"Physician El-Man," he introduced himself. "Time is short, so please sit on the table and spread your legs. This will not hurt in the slightest, I assure you."
Evelyn climbed up on the padded table and placed her feet in the two cups that stuck out from it. She was disconcerted to see that Queresh was not leaving the room. A moment later she was discomfited as the physician threw her skirts back and exposed her to his view, and the steward's.
"You will need," he began, but the physician interrupted him.
"Not yet, not yet. Let me get the procedure safely under way. Have you had unprotected sexual intercourse in the past twenty hours.... Evelyn is it?"
"Yes, physician, Evelyn. And yes, I had unprotected sex last night," she answered.