A couple of hours later, after a nice relaxing bath administered by the lovely delicate hands of both Lucy and Susan, Helena sat in her drawing room awaiting the arrival of Lily Carlton. During the bath she and Lucy had explained the alternative arrangements in the house to Susan and sworn her to secrecy. She had also been invited to join in with the activities if she was interested.
"If I don't have to do anything with the men I would love to!" she giggled, "men just don't do anything for me, quite the opposite in fact."
Helena grinned, "believe me there are enough ladies who would love to enjoy you, that the men will be no problem!" she advised, "leave the men to the likes of myself, Lucy and Molly!"
Jones was out in the stable yard with Harrison, harnessing up the Mountfort carriage and team for Lily to view his craftsmanship. James stuck his head out of the door into the courtyard.
"Are you gentlemen ready? Our guest of honour is on her way up the drive." he inquired.
"All set here Mr James, Sir. If this little lot don't catch her eye, I'll become a priest!"
James laughed, "Just remember, best behaviour till her Ladyship gives you the nod! "
Both men put their hands to their foreheads as if tugging their forelock and grinned.
"Cheeky bastards!" James said to himself with a wry smile.
He made his way through to the main drawing room where Lady Helena was waiting.
"Lady Faversham's carriage is coming up the drive Ma'am. Shall I tell cook to prepare the luncheon in here?"
Helena smiled a slightly manic smile, "I think so, we will have some privacy here. Please see we are not disturbed. Lucy will be escorting Lady Carlton up when she arrives for tea. Susan can assist in here till then."
James looked at his mistress and raised an eyebrow quizzically, "Are you sure about having Susan around this afternoon?".
Helena laughed before replying to James, "don't worry Lucy has explained everything to me. We have brought her into the circle." She winked at James as she replied, "Now lets go greet my guest!"
They made their way to the main doors to the house, Helena waiting at the top of the grand steps, along with several of the staff. James made his way down the steps as the carriage pulled up. Even from a distance Helena can see the harnesses are worn and weathered.
"Perhaps Billy is being a bit of a skinflint here?" she thought to herself. Lily Faversham stepped from the carriage in a stunning new dress with a very daring low décolletage and a split in the skirt that exposed her legs as she walked up the steps with James.
"Darling, thank you so much for inviting me," Lily announced, "I so hope you can help me with Billy."
Helena took her hand, "come on let's go and have a look at Jones' handywork first. "
Helena led her through the house and out into the courtyard of the stable block.
As they stood in the doorway, Lily stopped and put her hand to her mouth.
"My God they are magnificent!" she gasped.
Helena smiled inwardly as responded, "thank you they are my favourite stallions they have such great stamina for the long rides."
Helena had to smile as both Jones and Harrison were both wearing breeches that were almost skin-tight, their white shirts undone to the waist.
"I wasn't talking about your horses you silly woman!" gasped Lily quietly.
Continuing her double entendre phrasing Helena looked across, "let's go take a look at the product, shall we?" she said steering a breathless Lily into the courtyard.
She led Lily up to the horses, "I'll let jones demonstrate his handywork," she said.
"He can demonstrate on me anytime!" gasped Lily once more. Jones stepped forward and took Lily's tiny gloved hand in his huge hand.
"This way Lady Faversham," he said taking over from Helena.
With great restraint and the utmost deference, he explained the harnesses and his technique to Lady Faversham. Helena watched from a distance as the woman positively swooned at his side.
"Are you ok Lady Faversham," inquired Jones, "you look a little flushed."
She took his arm, "it's just a little warm is all, this dress is a little heavy for outdoors."
Jones put his arm around her waist and helped her back towards the house.
"I think we should discuss your needs in the cool of Lady Mountfort drawing room." As he stepped past Helena he smiled wickedly at her.
Susan greeted them in the drawing room. "I took the liberty of preparing some iced fruit punch and chilled fruit ma'am," she announced, "however luncheon is ready if you would rather eat first?"
Helena replied, "why thank you Susan most thoughtful of you. Lily why don't you give Jones the designs you had made up, he can review them downstairs whilst we cool down a little with a drink. We can then catch up on all the London gossip over luncheon. Jones perhaps you could return with your thoughts in an hour or so."
Lily handed over the drawings and the two ladies sat down whilst Susan served them drinks.
"My I needed that," giggled lily, as she finished her glass, "I was quite overheating down there."
Helena smiled, "they have the same effect on me!" She looked across to Susan, "that will be all for now, I will ring if we need anything."
"I trust her implicitly," said Helena, "but some conversations simply shouldn't be overheard by anyone."
Lily laughed, "you are so right my dear, now how have you kept those two stallions hidden from me all this time?"
Helena looked back quizzically, "you've seen them pull my carriage on many occasions?"
Lily laughed again, "the two-legged ones, not the four-legged ones, silly girl!"
Now Helena laughed, "Oh you mean Jones and Harrison?" she responded, "I suppose they are quite striking men in their own way for staff."
Lily gasped, "Striking? They are positive brutes, I wish some of my staff looked like that, be tempted to take advantage of them!"
Helena looked at Lily with a raised eyebrow, "You would fuck your staff?" she asked.
Lily giggled, "Oh I have been tempted my dear believe me," she breathed, "but I couldn't risk my marriage to Billy, I have no money of my own you see. Billy recruits all the men on the staff. They are either spies for him, or bat for the other side if you know what I mean."
Now Lily looked questioningly at Helena, "surely you must have had some male company since he died? I am quite desperate for Billy to roger me when he has been away for a few days."
Helena grinned back "Well there may have been one or two, but a Lady in my position has to be careful. I wouldn't want to get a reputation."
Lily sipped at her drink and nibbled on a sandwich before replying, "Well you're obviously being very very careful because I haven't heard a whisper and I hear everything!"
She stood up and walked towards Helena, "Do you think one of them might be tempted into paying me a visit tonight whilst I am here? Billy has been away for two weeks now with these luddites causing chaos in Lancashire, I think my pussy will close permanently if it doesn't get some attention soon. None of his men are here to tell him what I get up to! "
Helena sniggered, "I'll have a word with James and see if he can arrange something for you later."
Deep down she is smiling at Lily's false claims of being the respectful and faithful wife, knowing full well of her reputation with the Officer set at Horseguards, the source of such reputation Lily believing to be a secret.
Just then James knocked on the door, "Mr Jones would like to discuss Lady Faversham's harness designs Ma'am, he has some issues with them."
Helena approached him and whispered in his ear conspiratorially, "We have her, she wants one of them to come to her room tonight, I said I would ask you to arrange."
He nodded to Helena and then looked Lady Faversham in the eye before giving a discrete nod in her direction., she grinned back and blushed furiously. Helena could see Jones stood in the hallway, "Come in please Jones, you have some things to discuss?"
Lily Faversham lounged in a chair as Jones began to explain the issues with the design.
"Its a good design, Ma'am," he explained, "good for the makers to make more money out of you. It's designed to put stress in places it shouldn't, so they wear out more quickly and need to be repaired. Meaning you have to go back to the makers and pay em again."
Lily looked shocked, "but so many people use them? " she said, "are they really that bad? "
Jones smiled, "I have prepared a little demonstration to show you the difference. It's a little risqué, I hope you don't mind? Lady Helena is aware of a side-line in leather work for a select group of clients."
Lady Faversham laughed, " don't worry I am more broadminded than you might think," she replied, "I have to be, with my husband!"
Jones opened the door once more, calling out, "James, if you don't mind?"
A response came from the hallway, "it will be my pleasure Mr Jones."
There was the squeak of wheels and the click of heels.
"Oh my!" gasped Lily and Helena almost in synchronisation.
Coming through the door were Susan and Molly the assistant cook, naked except for a set of harness like a horses and short heeled boots. Behind them on a small wheeled chariot was James holding the reins to the harnesses. Jones walked over and took Lily by the hand and led her over to the two human ponies as James closed the door. The girls stood perfectly still as Jones explained the differences in the harnesses they were wearing.
"Susan's harness is to my design and Molly's is like your design. They have both been worn and used regularly but I am sure you can see and feel the difference."
He took her hand and placed it on the harness near to Molly's breasts, making sure it slipped and brushed her nipple.
"See how worn and brittle this one is," he said, then placed her other hand on Susan's harness as he stood close behind her talking over her shoulder.
He could feel her shiver with excitement when her hands touched the harnesses or the girls breasts.
