Flower in the Kitchen (Closed)

[Knightmare27]

Germany, 1592:

It had been a long day out hunting for the Count of Gravenitz. The success dangled on his belt - five fat pheasants, shot by his own hand. Count Johann was quite a good shot with the crossbow, and he thoroughly enjoyed these long days out. Fresh air, the thrill of stalking his prey. Also, he got to be away from his wife for a few hours. Their marriage had been a purely political affair, of course, but there was no time he hated politics more than every night in bed. He had done his duty - five times, in fact - but, other than that, he and his wife tried to ignore each other. As long as they did that, they had a harmonious marriage.

His two sons had accompanied him, but they had not shot anything, much to his disappointment. Still, they were all in a good mood as they passed the drawbridge and rode into the castle courtyard. Beaming with pride, he personally entered the kitchen, the string of pheasants held high. "See to it that they are prepared for tonight's dinner", he ordered. As he turned to leave, his eyes fell on the loveliest woman he had seen in a long time (not that there was much competition). A simple kitchen maid, she was standing in the farthest corner of the kitchen cutting vegetables. Even covered in the soot of the kitchen and with her hair hidden under a dirty rag, she was a sight to behold. Very young, and with a natural grace in her movements as she went about her duties.

Someone had apparently noticed, if the whispering behind his back was any indication. He shut the whisperers up with a single glare and left the kitchen. "Find out who that is", he quietly ordered Bertram, his manservant. The old, thin man nodded and went to talk to the cook. Roast pheasant for dinner! And after dinner... oh, it would be the best night of his life!

 

[wideeyedone]

Kristiane had been working since before dawn. She lived in a hovel with her family on the edge of the estate. Her father herded sheep for the Count. Her mother had died when she was but a slip of a girl. She had helped her father raise her siblings, and now the next eldest sister was keeping the other children. Kristiane had been sent to work in the manor house to make more wages.

Being the newest girl in the kitchen it was her job to start the fires, clean the vegetables, haul at the refuse and do the bidding of the cantankerous cook. Kristiane had a slender build. Her homespun dress clung to her breasts and showed off her tiny waist. Her dark brown hair was long and straight and hung all the way to her waist, but she had it tied back with a rag.

She worked quietly. She did not want to upset the cook, or catch the notice of the other maids and workers.

Kristiane had kept her head down when the Count had arrived in the kitchen with his kill from the hunt. Now she was helping one of the other maids clean the birds of their beautiful feathers. The feathers were to be saved for the countess's dressmaker.

Bertram, the head manservant, arrived in the kitchen. Kristiane heard him whispering with the cook but she only slid her big brown eyes to the side, she didn't allow herself to lift her head. After Bertram left the cook slammed down the large spoon she was using.

"Girl, you may end up leaving the kitchens." But she didn't explain her meaning.

 

[Knightmare27]

The servant returned as the count was getting out of his hunting clothes. A powerful man in his thirties, the noble could be called "ruggedly handsome", but mostly, he was just rugged. War and hunting had left him with a powerful build and a number of scars - most notably two long, straight gashes on his right cheek, the result of an angry boar a while back. This, and the fierce look in his black eyes, made him resemble a bandit when he was in his hunting clothes.

"Thank you. Have...Kristiane...sent to my room after dinner."

The old man gave him a knowing look and disappeared again. It was not Johann's first affair, and he was known to take good care of his bastards, so the local peasants did not complain too much when one of their daughters stayed at his castle for a night or two. The daughters did sometimes complain, admittedly, and he hated taking them by force. If they resisted too much, they were free to leave. Most of them had brothers, after all, and someone had to do the nastiest work around the castle, not to mention serve in his troops.

He put on more civilised clothing and checked his appearance in the mirror, then went downstairs for dinner. His wife was awaiting him. Or, at least, she was there. Dinner was very good, and the pheasants expertly prepared, but he could hardly wait for it to end. Finally, he could retire, so he impatiently hurried upstairs and sat down on his bed.

 

[wideeyedone]

Serving in the kitchen was back breaking work. Kristiane did not go into the great hall, but she prepared the trays for service, kept the fires stoked, and scrubbed pots and trenchers. She took the heavy pots from the fire and set them on the bricks outside to cool. She was dripping with sweat even though the air was cool.

Bertram had sent his wife Hilde, to collect Kristiane. She told the girl to follow her. Kristiane did as she was bid. Once they were alone, Hilde looked at her with hard eyes.

"The Count has asked to see you. And I can't send you into him, looking like a soot smeared waif. I have a clean dress for you and there is some hot water and a rag. Wash up, now."

Kristiane thought the directions were strange, but she didn't think to question them. She removed her dress and washed herself, scrubbing the soot from her face. She used her fingers to comb out her hair. She washed up and then slid on the clean dress. It was homespun like her own, but it was cleaner and newer than her own.

Hilde stood and waited for her. Kristiane allowed Hilde to lead her up the stone stairs to the Master's chamber. She left Kristiane before the heavy wooden door.

"Knock." Hilde told her.

Kristiane wasn't sure why she was so nervous. She lifted her hand and lightly knocked on the door. She waited, biting her lip. She startled and looked up when the door opened.

 

[Knightmare27]

The count smiled at his servant and pulled her in by the hand as Bertram closed the door and left the two of them alone. He sat her down next to him at the edge of his bed and put a hand around her hips.

"You are beautiful, Kristiane. And today, you shall be rewarded for your beauty. It would be a waste to leave you in my kitchen. Which is why I ordered you to come here."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Yes, I am an adulterer. Can you blame me? Have you seen my wife? My duty requires me to stay with her, but my heart has brought you to me." Taking her hand, he continued: "If you fulfil my desire, I will reward you with everything you could ever want. You know I can. Gifts, favors, a better position among my servants. I could not say no to such a beauty."

He opened his shirt with impatient hands. Underneath was a well-muscled torso, as scarred as his face. He got up and affectionately stroked Kristiane's hair. "Of course, if you do not want to make me the happiest man in this world, you are free to go. I despise men who would take women by force. As long as you keep quiet about it, of course. One word, and you will not be the only one to suffer. But if you promise to be quiet, you can leave."

He was absolutely honest about this... of course, he did not tell her that he would make her regret it if she rejected him. There were so many other ways of doing that which did not involve the undignified wrestling he had so often see his men do when they sacked a town.

 

[wideeyedone]

Kristiane was shaking as he lead her to the edge of his bed. She was chaste, but no so innocent that she didn't understand what was about to come. She didn't speak when the master of the house disparaged his wife. She didn't know if it was a trick, but she new the Countess was quite unpleasant, she seemed to be shrill and all of the servants were afraid of the sturdy woman.

He offered her reward and she knew her family was barely getting by, a small increase in her wages could make a huge difference, and displeasing the Count could mean disaster. She felt her cheeks flush with nervousness.

"My lord, I have never...." She whispered as he opened his shirt. She couldn't help but look at his strong chest, and stomach. She was shivering with nervousness. She was flattered by his attention, he said she was beautiful, he had noticed her covered with soot and sweat in the kitchen. However, she was still afraid.

"I am frightened, my Lord." She whispered, her sweet voice, shaking, but she didn't pull away, she didn't leave. She didn't protest.

Kristiane looked up at him with her big brown eyes.

"I am not sure what you want, my Lord."

 

[Knightmare27]

"What I want from you, my sweet Kristiane, is not very difficult. You will learn quickly, I am sure. Now lie back and enjoy this. It only hurts a little bit in the beginning."

His left hand was now between her clothing - not on her bare skin yet, but only a thin layer of undercloth was between him and her warm, soft body. He could feel her heart beat through the cloth as he gently pushed her upper body down onto the bed. With his other hand, he began undoing the lacings on her outer garments, but without hurry - they had all night,

As he was slowly undressing her, he kissed her on the cheek: "Do not worry, I will not demand anything bad from you. Who knows, you may even enjoy it."

The top she was wearing was now off, and he slid his left hand in between her undershirt and her body. He could feel her breath, hard and excited as it moved her stomach up and down. Under the soft skin with the thin, silky hairs, he could feel firm muscles, stiff from excitement and, probably, fear.

He moved his hand down, under her dress, until he could feel some slightly coarse hair. The count stopped and kissed her on the cheek again. "Even in that dark kitchen, I could see the beauty shining through. It is a good thing you were covered in soot, or it would have blinded me."

 

[wideeyedone]

Kristiane was shivering with fear. She did not want to refuse the Count but she had envisioned her first time with a love, and more than likely a husband. She bit her lip and found herself tearing up. She blinked hard trying not to cry.

"Please..." She whispered but she wasn't sure what she was asking him to do. She looked up at him with her golden, brown eyes. "I am going to be expected at home, my father will be looking for me...."

She knew her breasts were straining against the thin fabric of her dress. She tried to tug down her dress a little, hoping to keep part of her body a secret. But his hand kept touching her. His hand was hovering above her sex. She pressed her thighs together.

"If the countess finds out that I am here, she will surely punish me." Kristiane whispered. Her hands moved to his chest, but she did not push him away, she just clung to the fine fabric of his shirt, and her fingers brushed against the warm skin of his chest.

 

[Knightmare27]

As he kept undressing and kissing her, he whispered into her ear: "Your father surely knows better than to look for you. And let the countess be my concern. She will not dare touch you."

He could protect the servant from his wife. It was not as if he was the only one here committing adultery. And if she lifted a hand against his beloved, a certain stable boy would get punished much, much worse...

Kristiane was now completly naked. The count placed her on the bed and stepped back to undress himself, then lay down beside her, his left hand playing with her hair. His right stroked her back. "You have never been with a man, is that true? I need to be careful, then."

He cupped her buttocks with his right hand, enjoyed the firm, but yielding feeling under his fingers. Then, very slowly, he moved to her front until he could feel the short, coarse hair.

 

[wideeyedone]

His hand cupped her buttocks and her body arched up and his hand pressed hard against her sex. His fingers parted the lips of her sex.

She whimpered and looked up at him with her golden eyes.

"Please be gentle. I will be good for you if you won't hurt me." She whispered. Her trim, slender body was laid before him. She parted her legs for him, her thighs falling open.

She laid before him, his fingers toying with her flesh.

"Please my lord, I need you to take care of my family. Please? If I please you...?"