She sank into a sweet dreamless sleep, this time without interruption until she felt a light squeeze on one nipple, then the other. She looked up into Francesca's smiling face.
"Wake up, little one; I have to get ready for dinner too." She helped Anne to her feet with firm hands on Anne's bare shoulders which thrilled at her touch. Anne knelt facing the door with her head bowed, trying to compose her jumbled thoughts.
After a while Francesca returned, attired in a pin-striped suit and looking for all the world like a successful junior executive, her hair neatly arranged.
"Oh ma'am, you're even more beautiful than before. I'm speechless."
"Thank you; do you like my perfume?" She held her wrist out for Anne.
"It's wonderful ma'am; the perfect match for you. I used to wear that when..."
"When you wore things," said Francesca, completing the sentence for her. "Stand up." She released the tether and led Anne on her leash out the door and across the cobblestoned courtyard to the open French doors of the dining room, from which a warm light spilled out.
They were the last to arrive; Paul and Carol were there, along with a heavily built man Anne did not know. All eyes turned to the formally dressed Francesca and her naked charge. Mr. Schuyler spoke.
"Georges, I don't believe you have met Mlle. Francesca before; allow me to introduce you. She is completing her graduate work with some distinction in a field I believe will interest you."
Francesca nodded gracefully as Georges kissed her hand. "Our host is too kind, sir; but I'm always interested in discussing my work if you find it worthwhile."
"Most assuredly, mademoiselle; we have need of new ideas and informed thinking in our business." He gave her his card. "Perhaps I might have the pleasure of your company at dinner another time when you can tell me of your goals. I expect to need a new manager in a few months' time."
Francesca pulled on the leash and Anne obediently stepped forward into Georges' view. She realized with a start that she had become an aid to Francesca's career, and wondered if her interest in Anne was merely practical. At the same time it came to her that she was head over heels in love with the woman who held her leash, and that in any case her opinions were of no interest to the others. She had not been invited for her mind.
"And this is the girl I bought from Paul." Mr. Schuyler pointed to Anne who made a deep curtsey to Georges, which he found amusing. "She appears to be working out better than her predecessor."
"Yes, Emily was a disappointment, so tense; she seemed all right at the academy. What became of her?"
"Different environments bring out different sides of their characters, I suppose. I gave her to Nigel; I don't expect to hear of her again." His neighbor Sir Nigel's tastes were barbaric; women sent to his estate did not last long.
"No, I suppose not," said Georges sadly, thinking of the wasted training. Brightening after this reflection, he tested Anne's breasts for firmness and squeezed her buttocks before placing a hand between her legs. Carol watched Anne's face as she reacted to his probing.
"This one appears satisfactory. We will see how she performs after dinner, eh?" They laughed.
"Francesca exercised her today; it was an inspired performance. We recorded the event, if you'd like to see it. I could make you a copy."
"Why yes, that would be most appreciated," he said as he removed his hand and dried it on a cloth.
Carol spoke up. "If you could make another copy, Mr. Schuyler, I'd like one myself. I'm sure Anne's old friends want to see what she's up to these days." Anne squirmed and shrank into herself.
"Certainly, mademoiselle, that can easily be arranged." Mr. Schuyler gave orders to a nearby servant. Others offered wine to the guests, and after more light conversation they sat down to a candlelit dinner.
Anne knelt between her mistress and Georges, her hands still bound and her leash held by a servant who stood behind her. A fly landed on one of her breasts and Francesca brushed it away. Georges reached down and fondled the other. She smiled up at him and leaned her head on his thigh as she had been taught. Georges' hand moved down to explore elsewhere, and she shifted to accommodate him.
As the guests were being served, a tumbler with a straw and a small bowl of feed were placed within reach of Anne's mouth. The conversation proceeded; Paul was taking Carol to the opera that evening. "They're performing 'Manon Lescaut'," he observed, and Anne reflected on favorite operas she had seen and the improbability of her seeing any more.
She selected some pellets from the bowl with her tongue and drew on the straw which made a loud sucking noise, interrupting the conversation. Even Francesca joined in the general laughter, though briefly; she pulled Anne's head back, retrieved the glass and gave it to a servant.
_I didn't know it was almost empty_, thought Anne as she reddened. _I should have looked_. Tears started to her eyes in her shame. Francesca patted her head as if she were a child who had blundered among grownups; she looked up at her mistress in gratitude. The servant returned with the glass filled to the brim. Anne did not touch it for the rest of the evening, fearful of making another faux pas when she was trying to avoid calling attention to herself.