Liddy lay exhausted on the couch after scribbling down the revised bill for the party. The other women had had the luxury of going straight to bed. It wasn't until some hours later that she was awakened by a knocking at the door. One of the soldiers answered it and came to see Liddy. She took the bill from the table before noticing Liddy was awake and paused. Liddy nodded and the soldier took the bill with her. It could have been a few moments or an hour later when that same soldier tapped her on the shoulder.
"Captain. A tailor's assistant is here. The Leftenant said she would be here to gather measurements for the uniforms."
Liddy waved her hand and nodded, closing her eyes again, hoping to get some more sleep. The soldier hadn't left -- and she could tell, so she opened her eyes again.
"What else is it?"
"The investigator has returned, looking for his suit. Also, we have prepared an early supper for everyone."
Liddy resigned herself to having to stay awake for the time being and got off the couch. One of the soldiers had retrieved the suit by the time she made it to the door, and she saw Inky admitting a young woman dressed in a simple dress and literally wearing measuring tapes.
Liddy greeted the woman. "Welcome, it will be nice for my girls to have proper uniforms. Take as much time as you need."
"Thank you, madam," the young girl replied as Inky took her below.
Liddy took the suit as it was offered by the soldier and handed it to Calhan. "Here you go. Though I am afraid I'm much too spent to take you out shopping for a new one just now."
"No worries, Captain. After what happened, I think anyone would need some time to rest."
"Agreed," Liddy turned to the soldier. "Juno is it?"
"Yes, Captain." The cute, raven haired-girl with freckles replied.
"Go down to the dockmaster and inform him we will not be open for business today or tonight. That there is a special engagement and we will simply not be available."
She saluted smartly before darting off. Liddy caught herself watching the woman leave with a fondness for her well-toned bum. She returned her attention to Calhan.
"Now I must go. Perhaps when I am rested we can meet again."
"Very well," Calhan bowed formally. "Another time."
After he left, Liddy went down the stairs, half expecting to find the tailor's daughter being ravished by her crew, but instead found them being professionally measured. Though she did notice a few sharp smiles when hands got close to certain areas. Writing down notes the whole time, the young woman got through all the soldiers who were awake as well as Liddy herself. Afterwards, the scent of food had driven the rest from their sleep and allowed her to keep working. As most went up to eat, Juno arrived back on the ship in time for her turn. She stripped down to her unflattering panties and tank top.
"I'm sorry if it's a strange thing to ask," the girl asked.
"I'm a soldier, sweetheart. Getting asked strange questions and told to do strange things are my stock and trade," Juno replied.
"How is it you can have sex with men?"
"Oh," Juno smiled with a bit of a blush. "I haven't yet. Well, at least not while getting paid. Or are you asking about men in general? You don't look quite so young, but I suppose if you aren't married, it isn't normal to have any experience."
"Well, I am engaged. Father found me a nice man. I like him. I even took to bed with him, but... it didn't feel like I thought it would."
"Well, the first time isn't always fun. Mine was terrible. Man didn't know what to do once he got it in me. Had to sample a few before I found one who could do me right."
"That's what I wondered. So I went to the stables with a boy I grew up with. I knew he was upset I was set to marry someone else, so I thought he would be different. Yet, he did well. I think. But it just didn't feel like anything special."
"Not like you feel when you get your hands on these?" Juno took her hands into her own and placed them on her breasts.
The young woman gasped but didn't pull away. "Is this wrong?" she asked.
"Well, what's right and wrong depends on how you feel about it. Others feel differently. Tell you what," Juno stripped off her top and underwear to reveal her naked body. "Touch me however you want. Stop when it feels wrong. Just let me know if there is something you want me to do to you."
"My name is Kit." She swallowed deeply, looking at the freckle-covered body before her.
Juno laughed quietly. "So nice to meet you. My name is Juno."
Kit reached out with one hand and touched Juno again on the breasts. Juno smiled as Kit shuddered at the feeling. Kit leant forward to kiss the nipple she was holding and began to move her tongue on it. She looked up at Juno, terrified that things would suddenly stop and be taken away from her. Juno petted Kit on her hair and smiled, gently pulling her head towards her. Moving her tongue over the freckled flesh, Kit came up to kiss Juno and feel her tongue entangling with her partner's. Until she pulled away.
"I shouldn't," Kit explained. "I mean, I want to. But this is something I won't ever be able to have. I'm grateful I know now why I feel the way I do, but I have already betrayed my betrothed once, I shouldn't do so again."
Juno understood and redressed. "I understand. Sorry life has to be this way for you, but I understand."
"Do you mind if I think of you while I'm with the man who will be my husband?"
"By all means. Whatever you need."
After finishing up her work, the tailor left without saying much more, and Juno went up to join in on the meal. Nobody seemed to notice the extra time it took for her. They were all seated in the lounge, eating and talking.
"I closed us down for the night." Liddy started. "So everyone is free to do whatever they want. Rest here, go shopping, drinking."
"Some of us haven't been laid yet," Kilty spoke up. "Just want to make sure that's okay with you."
Liddy smiled. "By all means. Just try not to bang any potential clients. Other than that, just be safe."
"We got emberstones and guns. Safety is a thing other people worry about," Juno added, before shovelling some vegetables into her mouth with some bread.
"Just don't leave until you collect your pay," Liddy reminded them. "With any luck, I will get paid for today's job and give everyone a bonus."
"What about me?" Leira asked. "I didn't do any work and I can't go out in fucking public."
"We need to make sure you can see clients properly. Not that you need to be particularly ladylike." Liddy eyed Mari, who smiled innocently. "But 'not' being too vulgar or direct is a skill you should have."
"Oh well, can we let a client on board for a practice fu... um.. session? Or whatever?"
"No, because the nobility doesn't generally like being used as instructional tools. At least, not when they are aware of it."
Inky spoke up to address the soldier who had answered the door. "What is it, Tara?"
"Ma'am, the courier has returned. Carriage with guards hauling a lockbox. Also, Lady Bell from the party is with them."
Hannah whispered into Liddy's ear, who rolled her eyes in response. Liddy got up and went to the door to greet the courier.
"Captain. All paid in full. Since banknotes were an issue with Lord Bell, my Lord instructed me to make the payment in cash."
"Most appreciated," Liddy replied, eyeing him up. "Could you wait a moment?"
"Of course," he replied, standing formally at the door as the guards went past him after leaving the lockbox in the entry way.
Liddy took the key from the courier and turned to Lady Bell. "My insubordinate tells me you will be looking for work."
"I... yes. No family money to speak of, but thankfully my father disowned me so I bear no responsibility for his new debt either. Also your subordinate..."
"Insubordinate. I didn't misspeak."
Hannah scoffed at Liddy's remark.
"Right, well she must have realised I enjoy sex enough. Given that the clients would be the class I am most familiar with, it seemed like the best option to me."
"Welcome aboard. If you have any of your things, put them in the lower decks."
"Oh, yes," she replied, and turned to the courier. "If your men don't mind." she gestured to the stack of luggage at the docks. "I took almost everything I could get my hands on."
"Of course." The courier made a few gestures to his men and the luggage.
Liddy could hear the doors below her opening and praised the wonderful initiative the soldiers took in anticipating her needs.
"The pair of you. Come with me." Liddy led Cathrine and the courier into the lounge. "I have two problems that I need you to solve. They both involve that bundle of trouble over there. Her name is Leira."
"I... am going to hate some part of this, aren't I?" Leira said, walking over and looking at the two new arrivals.
"At some point today, someone is going to buy a cast iron tub so you can sleep in a bedroom and not occupy the whole workroom by yourself. That room is going to be shared with Cathrine here, who's going to teach you to be ladylike."
"Oh shit..." Leria looked slightly worried.
"Right. Now Mr Courier."
"Philbert, Ma'am," the courier replied, feeling way out of his depth.
"You have any issues having sex with this woman? She needs to learn how to seduce the upper class without alienating them in the process, and we need a stand in."