The Lady Evelyn stood behind the privacy screen in the great bedroom that Casius had put at her disposal. She was impatient for the hand-maidens that he had also supplied, to remove her soiled robes, so that she could get into the bath of hot water before her. "Please hurry. I would be clean as soon as possible and put the atrocities that befell me into the past." The maidens curtsied and started to disrobe the Lady. Eventually she stood naked before them.
To Evelyn it was perfectly natural to stand naked before her maidens, as she had been used to it all of her life. Indeed, one was so used to it that these servants ceased to exist as persons of interest. She stood before the mirror, a sheet of highly polished steel, and examined herself. She could see that her breasts had both been tormented, as there were the beginnings of bruising on both. One had been particularly abused around the nipple area. She was instantly repulsed at the thought of that creature sucking on her teat.
Her arms had weal marks from the rope used to restrain her, as did her ankles. Her thighs looked chafed and sore, particularly on the inside areas. She turned to the servants. "Please turn away for a minute." When they had turned, she investigated her most private parts. She was relieved to feel that they were not sore, nor was there any other sign that she had been defiled. Her "heat" in that area earlier, Evelyn put down to her immediate attraction to Casius and his heroic deed in saving her. A natural reaction she felt.
"Please help me into the water and bathe me." The maidens returned to their serving and as the Lady knelt in the water, they began to bathe her. "Make sure you scrub me hard. I want to be spotless," Evelyn instructed. She lifted her arms as they scrubbed across her back and then onto her chest. Gently cleaning around the sore nipple. Evelyn stood so that the hand-maidens could clean her legs and more delicate places.
She was happier when standing dry, that all traces of the attack had been washed from her and allowed the servants to start the long process of getting her ready to be presented to Casius. She stepped into her undergarments, and allowed the girls to slip the chemise over her arms. She was happy to fasten the buttons herself. She then stepped into the underskirts, before sitting to allow the older of the two maidens to comb out her hair. "How would m'Lady like me to style her hair?"
Evelyn though for a while, then, not wanting to be too long in her preparation and keeping the knight waiting, she decided on a simple option. "Just lose, with a simple braid around the crown, meeting at the back."
"Yes m'Lady."
Evelyn pulled on the cotton stockings herself and tied the red ribbon just above the knee, securing them in place. She then rolled down the top edge. Then applied a little rouge to her face just to hide the abrasions and waited for her hair to be finished before choosing a dress. She found that she was more than a little keen to return to the presence of the gallant knight.
Casius sat languidly in the chair before the fire. He did not feel the cold, but enjoyed the soporific effect the flames had upon him. It had been an hour since the Lady had gone to her chamber, but he was in no hurry. Though he did admit to himself that fighting demons always made him ravenous. He had selected some simple fayre to eat. Not wanting to give Evelyn too much rich food, as often after shock, food would more likely come back up. He had visited his wine cellar earlier and selected a couple of wines that were made on his estates and asked his man-servant to clean the bottles of dust and bring them to the table.
Casius sat contemplating the Lady. She was one of those true beauties. Long golden hair; he liked it when ladies allowed their hair to be lose and natural. Large clear deep blue eyes, at least they will be once the swelling has gone down. Full lips. And the type of figure that would generate in him, the most appreciation. He was eager to see if her conversation and personality matched her beauty. He didn't need to wait long, for she was being ushered into the "War Room", where Casius sat. His man servant announcing her arrival. "The Lady Evelyn Sir."
