Previously in Frankengeld. Damion von Frankengeld, newly returned home from University has discovered that his father much resembles the strange beast-like statue at the entrance to the family estate. And he has witnessed Una, a maidservant, being abused, which explains why the family go through so many maidservants. His brother Karl, he discovers, also has the furry lower parts like his Father, a situation that does not seem to bother his wife Gerda. He has taken possession of the Old Doctor's house number 34 Hilgenstrasse, in the town of Carlsbruck, and met the strange Lawyer again.
Now read on...
6th June, in the year 1784, mid afternoon.
Anya and Yani worked very hard and soon the house began to look much cleaner. In the entrance hall the cobwebs were gone, the stone floors were scrubbed, not completely back to pristine condition but well on the way. Helena learned that Yani was Anya's nephew, and that they had rooms nearby. They seemed very affectionate with each other and there were no disputes, no friction between elderly aunt and young nephew - despite the generation gap - that might have created a bad atmosphere in the house. They seemed ideal servants.
Whilst Anya and Yani did the basic cleaning, Helena and I investigated the wardrobes in the bedrooms and found, to our surprise, that they contained an unusual selection of garments. In the master bedroom there were, of course, the robes of a professional doctor, which I expected. Town, and Country styles, and some excellent riding gear. They were rather old-fashioned, but this fitted with the probable taste of the elderly doctor who used to have this practice. Something must have happened that meant nobody had claimed these garments, which is unusual since they had some value.
What surprised us were the female garments, clearly quite modern in style, that hung in the second family bedroom. Did the old doctor have a wife with modern taste in dresses? Or did he have special female visitors? I was aware that some men hire themselves a woman for conversation, an intimate meal, and overnight sexual satisfaction. Was the old doctor one of these sort of men?
Helena pulled out a few of the garments and held them up to her body, gazing at her reflection in the mirror on the door of the wardrobe. There were numerous day and evening dresses, a formal ball gown, and nightclothes, and again, some tough travelling items. She did a twirl with a very attractive deep blue dress, and then put it back with a wistful expression on her face. My father had purchased the house with all its contents, and I could have sold these garments, but I had a better idea. They looked to me that they would fit her, so I would gift all the women's clothes to Helena. They would make excellent replacements for her peasant garb. And, if the doctor's wife, mistress, whatever, turned up later, I would make some financial arrangement with her.
"Helena," I said. "Please take all these ladies clothes for yourself."
Helena's jaw dropped. It was the first time I had ever seen her speechless since the first day she became my housekeeper. Then she smiled, flung her arms around my neck, and gave me a hug. After a moment I could hear her crying. I pulled her away and she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I am sorry, Master Damion," she wailed.
"Why are you crying Helena?" I asked. "Have I done something wrong?"
"No! No!" she assured me. "It's just that I don't deserve this." She waved her hands at the new clothes.
"Nonsense," I said firmly. "You have worked hard. You are my companion in this enterprise. Why should we not share what treasures we find?"
This precipitated another hug, disturbed only by Anya entering the room to sweep and deal with the cobwebs. I smiled at my new housekeeper over Helena's shoulder, and Anya nodded back without the slightest flicker of emotion on her face. A strange one that woman, I thought, and hoped that Helena's 'loyalty' wages would prevent her from gossiping about us. It was common for masters to have their 'wicked way' with servants, but for them to be embracing as equals. Just not the done thing.
I turned back to Helena to find her looking at me intently. I recognised that look. It was the expression she got on her face when she wanted to pleasure me, and have pleasure. Giving her the quality clothes had made her grateful and she had a very physical way of showing her gratitude. I would have been churlish to refuse what she offered but we had Anya and Yani in the house. What could we do? Then I had an idea.
I turned to Anya, "Where do you and Yani live?"
"In the Merchant's quarter, on Tannery Lane," she replied.
A dreadful part of town. I knew it mostly by reputation. A concentration of industries that produced foul smells. There were some dwelling places there as well, cheap accommodation for those who couldn't afford better.
"Would you and Yani like to move in here?" I asked. "It would be useful to me to have you and the lad close by."
Anya looked at me with her steely eye. She stopped cleaning the room and was clearly assessing me. Perhaps she thought I was taunting her, and about to play a prank. That as soon as she gratefully accepted I would reject her foolishness with a cruel laugh.