My chin slipped off my hand and I jolted awake. Eyes wide, I sheepishly wiped a bit of saliva from the corner of my mouth while my two chaperones stared at me disapprovingly. It was a long trip to the Palace, and after the ceremony last night there was no time for sleeping.
I shifted on the carriage bench, my vagina's muscles aching in a surprisingly nice way. I felt a slight pang of anxiety. The Bond had already begun; I belonged to the Palace now and in exchange my family's status had been elevated one level. Fabre had been very gentle in our stolen hour together last night, but I wasn't completely sure that it was gentle enough to fool them. My family had promised their first (and only) daughter untouched and, well, I had been most thoroughly touched last night.
The chaperones watched me closely, both dressed in heavy black fabric that must have been absolutely stifling. I was wearing a white travelling dress that was bad enough. I stared back at them, wondering if they could already sense that I had already broken my family's bargain.
My thoughts were interrupted by another jolt: this time from the road changing from dirt to cobblestones. I sighed. The carriage was clattering so much now there was no chance of getting any more sleep. Instead, I pulled back the curtain to watch the looming shape of the Palace grow steadily larger.
*
Before long, I found myself climbing up the marble steps of the Palace, flanked on either side by a chaperone. The ACTUAL Palace. Nobody had set foot here since my great-grandmother...no, I wouldn't think about that now. I had to focus. Focus on being the innocent and pure girl that my family had bargained with.
The uniformed guards opened the double doors and I crossed the threshold into my new home.
Standing in the enormous tiled foyer was a middle-aged woman. She was dressed in rich but simple grey fabric with hair slicked back in a tight bun.
"Anesha?" she asked, without ceremony.
"Yes...er..."
"Madam," she said for me, in a clipped tone.
"Yes, Madam," I said obediently.
"You must first be washed, then you will be examined by the Doctor. If everything is in order, you will then be shown to your quarters. Your duties will be explained to you in due course. You will have an attendant if you require anything. Do not, under any circumstances, wander the Palace unattended. The consequences will be severe."
Not certain what to say to this rather grim introduction, I merely nodded in acquiescence.
"This is Hanina. She is your attendant. If you are unkind to her, I will be far more unkind to you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Madam," I said, not being able to stop myself from pulling a face. Who on earth would be unkind to a maid? I glanced at Hanina. She was slimmer than me, but she was taller and looked quite strong under her powder blue robes. Hopefully someone had asked her to be kind to me!
"Very well. Hanina, please take Anesha for her bath. I trust she is in need of one after a long journey".
"This way, Mistress," Hanina said to me, her voice soft and deep. Madam lifted a hand indicating for me to follow, so I did as I was bid and let Hanina lead the way.
I tried not to let my mouth gape open as we walk through the halls at the front of the Palace. The marble floors were matched by white walls and offset by black and gold trim. Our family had been considered wealthy back home, but compared to here we were absolute paupers.
Eventually we arrived at a bath house. It was open air with several rooms, and a couple of women lounged in a pool.
"Mistresses..." Hanina said, bowing her head.
One of them stood up, exposing her breasts above the waterline.
"Oh look, it's the new one. Gosh, she looks provincial. Look at that wild hair! We'll let you be, Hanina, you have your work cut out for you!"
Laughing, the women left the pool, dried themselves off with towels, and covered up before heading out of the bathhouse. The entire time they gossiped within clear earshot about where I may be from and my various likely attributes and failings.
Exasperated, I turned to Hanina who had opened a door to a private bathroom. I followed her in, and without waiting for me to say anything, she began to undress me. Using a pail to dip hot water out of a tall narrow tub from the wall, she doused me without ceremony until I was completely drenched. She then took some scented soap, sandalwood perhaps, and began unprompted to scrub my arms with a loofah. I stood patiently, allowing her to clean me head to toe, but jumped a little when I felt the slight scratchiness of the loofah between my thighs.
"Um, Hanina, I can do that part..."
"Sorry Mistress," she said calmly, "I have to make sure you are suitable for the Doctor."
