Grateful she did not encounter anyone as she made her way down the various hallways, Lenora entered the spacious Blue Room and immediately covered her breasts as best she could.
Being confronted by Bailey as soon as she entered the room, she could see in the distance a long couch fronted by a padded platform about the same size as a small bed. Seated on the couch were three well-dressed women, who were obviously ladies of the court and a man standing nearby who appeared to be only somewhat younger than Bailey and sporting very nice salt and pepper hair.
Accompanying the man, there was also a young woman carrying a large black box.
By her demeanor, it was obvious the young woman was the man's assistant, and the
man himself, though rather short, was nevertheless, rather distinguished in his own way and it was obvious he was a person of some importance.
"Lenora, my dear," Bailey addressed her, after leading her to stand in front on the couch for everyone's view, "This is Mr. Greystone and his assistant Miss Tisdale. These ladies will introduce themselves to you later, but for now we have some business with Mr. Greystone. Please assume position one now dear."
Not knowing exactly what to expect, but certainly not wanting to get in any trouble, Lenora warily lowered her arms to expose her breasts and assumed the position of attention, arching her back and thrusting her breasts as far out as possible.
"Good Lord! Her tits are huge! I've never seen nipples that big in my life!" exclaimed the obviously over-eager young assistant, before being admonished by the gentleman.
"Mind your manners, Miss. Tisdale."
"Yes, Sir," responded the young woman.
Taking his time, the man began his slow, silent and careful perusal of Lenora's body, and to Lenora, it seemed he was able to see all the way into her very soul. In a way, she had never felt so naked in her life as she watched his eyes roam over her body and make his appraisal.
In contrast to the man's silence, the young woman was immediately quite exuberant and vocal with her assessments as she walked around and around Lenora, commenting on everything until the man had to once again admonish her.
"Her cheekbones are so high, and her skin is so creamy... Her hands and feet are so delicate... She has beautiful feet... Nobody has beautiful feet... Her buttocks are perfectly arced... and her nipples... I've never seen nipples that big..."
"Mrs. Tisdale!" barked the man softly, but with great authority.
"Yes, Sir," answered the young woman, now knowing she had gone too far.
"Shut up."
"Yes, Sir," the young woman answered again, making it obvious by her tone that she would now be on her best behavior.
Studying Lenora for fully another three or four minutes, as everyone waited in silence, the man made his final decision and pronouncement.
"Number twenty-six," he said softly, "The complete set."
"Oh! Yes, Sir!" enthused the young woman, as she opened the big black box and began unfolding the little shelves inside, revealing a treasure chest of fine jewelry, "Excellent choice, Sir."
Finally producing the called-for items, the young woman began the work or adorning Lenora's body with a beautiful ensemble of ear rings, necklace and ankle bracelet.
"Rubies and diamonds," declared the young woman, "It sets her skin off perfectly."
"Well done!" exclaimed one of the Ladies, but all were surprised as Greystone next spoke.
"No," he declared, softly, "Miss, Tisdale, please measure Mrs. Buckley's nipples... gently."
"Yes, Sir," answered the young woman, quickly producing a ruler and a set of calipers and making her pronouncement after she had carefully placed the instruments to each of Lenora's nipples, only barely touching her, "one and one quarter inch long, Sir, exactly, and also exactly one-half inch in diameter... each the same... exactly the same... amazing," declared the young woman.
Now reaching into the jewelry case himself and retrieving some thin gold wire and a dowel, Greystone carefully and quickly made a small double-wind ring of the wire and presented it to Lenora.
"The left side," said Greystone, simply.
Grateful that he hadn't put the ring on himself, Lenora took the small ring and slowly slipped it onto her nipple and pushed it back until it nestled nicely up against her areola. Held in place by the spring tension of the wire, it had been perfectly made, just tight enough to remain in place, but also entirely comfortable.
"Exquisite," echoed one of the ladies in the background, followed by further comments of approval from the other two.
"Mr. Greystone, you are a genius! Absolutely magnificent!"
"She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," added the young woman softly, still unable to contain her natural exuberance.
"Miss. Tisdale," added the man, as they all took a long moment to simply admire what was before them, "She is the most beautiful woman any of us has ever seen."
"Yes, Sir," answered the young woman.
The first business of the day being concluded, Lenora was left standing at attention as the women retreated to the couch and Bailey escorted the royal jeweler and his assistant out, but upon her return, she was told to go sit on the platform facing the women. No longer trying to cover herself, Lenora sat down to face both the women and her fate.
"Lenora, My name is Elizabeth Darby, but my friends all call me Libby. You may call me Libby," said the first woman on her right, "To my immediate right is Abigail Ellsworth and on the far right is the Lady Eleanor Harrington. You will address her always as Lady Harrington."
"Yes, Mam," answered Lenora, very unsure of the proper etiquette, but proceeding as best she could and hoping for the best, "I'm very pleased to meet you all, I am very sure."
"And we are very pleased to meet you as well," replied Libby, to Lenora's great relief, "You can be sure I speak for us all when I say we find you most lovely."
"Most lovely indeed," added Abigail.
"Thank you, Mam," responded Lenora, but she was not at all ready for the response of the The Lady Harrington.
"It is easy to see why His Majesty is so enamored of you."
"Thank you, Mam," Lenora once again responded, this time blushing a bit as all the women smiled at having caused her to do so.
"Lenora, my dear," Libby began anew, "I am certain you have been wondering a great deal about what is going to happen to you and what plans His Majesty has for you, so we are going to explain that to you now."
"Yes, Mam, thank you, Mam," responded Lenora, grateful that the woman's comments were indeed going directly toward her immediate concerns.
"I think I should begin by telling you a bit about each of us here," continued Libby, "The Lady Harrington is, of course, royalty. She is the wife of Lord Harrington, of whom I am sure you have heard."
"Yes, Mam," replied Lenora, as everyone in the kingdom knew of him.
"Abby and myself are, of course, not royalty, but neither are we exactly commoners," continued Libby, "for you see, I am, in fact, a courtesan to the royal court."
"As am I," added Abigail.
"Now, the reason we are telling you this is because you too, Lenora, my dear, are also to be a courtesan to the royal court," declared Libby.
"I see," responded Lenora, now aware of her fate for the first time.
"I know this must be a shock and huge disappointment to you, Lenora, my dear," commiserated Libby, kindly, "but do not underestimate the importance of your service to His Majesty, for a sovereign never rules by power alone. A King must cultivate and reward loyalty. His very survival depends on it."
"And I am to be that reward," responded Lenora.
"A woman as beautiful as you," declared Libby, "The King would be remiss, even incompetent if I may be so bold, were he to not take advantage of such an asset."
"I suppose," responded Lenora.
"The King loves you, Lenora," assured Libby, "Everyone knows it. He couldn't hide it if he tried and he doesn't try. He's proud of you and he loves you, as best a King can."
"I shall loose so much sleep feeling sorry for him," replied Lenora.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Libby, along with the rest of the women, "Ladies, I like this girl!"
Waiting until the moment had subsided, Libby once more returned to the business of Lenora's education with some more kind and wise words.
"Do not despair too much, my dear, for there is one good think about it. You are not to be just any courtesan. Like me, you are to be a very special kind of courtesan."
"A special kind of courtesan?" responded Lenora.
"Very special indeed," continued Libby, "Lenora, do you know what a 'Willy walker' is?"
"No, Mam," answered Lenora.