Smile of a Woman (closed)

[Honey_B]

A thread for DeliciousMaiden and Honey B...

The year is 1500, the place is Florence, Italy. There a relationship begins between a maid and her lady.

My interview was complete. Quite confident was I that I had secured the position. Even so, I shivered in dread. My unease was certainly not for myself. No, I felt for the poor mistress I would now be serving. I had just been hired by the woman's husband, a very rich merchant by the name of Francesco del Giocondo. Although I had left his office, his face had branded itself on my mind's eye. His was a stern visage with a dirty white torrent of a beard and a voice like breaking stones. I still felt his eyes - iron pikes that looked at, and saw, everything. I shivered again.

He had explained that I would earn twice the pay of a ladies maid because my duties would extend to enforcing a set of his decrees:

The Lady was not to leave her chambers after dark.
The Lady was not to have any male callers.
The Lady's activities were to be recorded and submitted to my employer regularly.

Now I am not one to ask questions, especially for that kind of compensation.

That was true until I saw my new mistress. I knocked quietly upon the door of her quarters. A quiet voice bid me to enter. When I opened the door, I was struck by the saddest face I have ever seen.

"Hello, m'lady. My name is Juliana and I have been hired to serve as your new maid. Whatever is the matter?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Marianna del Giaconda

I sat staring sightlessly out of the window.
My quarters were comfortable, luxurious even, but as much a prison as if there had been bars at the window and a lock on the door.
Watching the antics of the bird as it hopped from branch to branch I sighed wistfully .. gilded cage…
I had never truly understood that term … until now.

The knock was soft, respectful, but it pulled me back to my reality.

”Enter … “

I braced myself, turning to face my new maid.
I was her Mistress in name only.
As with all the staff, they were appointed by my husband and answerable only to him … as I was …

"Hello, m'lady. “

The voice spoke deferentially enough, but her service had been forced upon me, as had so many things since my marriage.

”My name is Juliana and I have been hired to serve as your new maid.”

I nodded mutely and dropped my eyes to my lap.
She was young, scarcely older than I.
She seemed gentle, eager to please and yet …
She was not Miriam.
With Miriam’s dismissal, I’d finally lost the last link, the last familiar face.
She had been with me for as long as I could remember, but Francesco had not welcomed her aged face, nor her opinions.

” Whatever is the matter?"

The girl had moved forward, concern in her eyes as I finally raised my head.
I forced a smile, masking my distress.

”Good day, Juliana. I trust you will enjoy your time with us.”

I stood smoothly and took up my stance at the window, a deliberate move to avoid those all-seeing eyes.
Straight-backed, I fought for control before turning to face the girl once more.

”I am sure that my husband explained your duties…”

The soft words hung in the air.
They were intended to be a casual observation and yet her reaction made them into an accusation.
My eyes widened, not understanding what I saw in hers, but realising that her loyalty was already established.
Whatever duties had been assigned it was from my husband it seemed that her instructions were to be taken.

Not only was she a stranger to me, but was she also .... ?
I had never felt so trapped ... so lonely …

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Marianna Del Giaconda

* pic *

 

[Honey_B]

Juliana

When one is born the seventh daughter of a lowly miller, one dreams of a better life. Throughout my childhood, I would see women like Signora Giaconda on my many trips into the city. Strolling along the Arno, so rich and elegant, seemingly beyond the mundane cares of the world. I had longed to be one of them, to find a rich husband who would take me away from our drab little cottage.

As is almost always the case, reality fell short of the fantasy. My new mistress was evidence of that. Sorrow had etched itself into the beauty of her face. I had the sudden urge to see her smile, or at the very least, to lighten the mood between us. It was apparent the Signora Giaconda knew of the extraneous orders I had received or at least guessed at them.

It was already late afternoon and the shadows that threw their dark patterns over the room had begun to lengthen.

“I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t get you along to dinner, m’lady. We need to get you bathed if you should require it and changed. Something tells me that husband of yours doesn’t like to be kept awaiting though I’d be sorely tempted to see the expression on his visage if we didn’t get you to his table on time. I was but minutes late for my interview and he looked as if he had been sucking on lemons before I arrived.”

I winked at her and smiled

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Marianna del Giaconda

“I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t get you along to dinner, m’lady.
We need to get you bathed if you should require it and changed."

I nodded aware suddenly of the lengthening shadows.
Another formal dinner with my husband ... at least there would be no guests to entertain this evening ...

"Something tells me that husband of yours doesn’t like to be kept awaiting though I’d be sorely tempted to see the expression on his visage if we didn’t get you to his table on time."

I looked over at the young woman who now stood just before me.
That was the kind of comment that Miriam used to make, the same words she might have used ...

"I was but minutes late for my interview and he looked as if he had been sucking on lemons before I arrived.”

The observation took my completely by surprise.
I averted my head quickly, smothering an unladylike urge to giggle.
It was with difficulty that I kept the smile from my face.
I knew that I should admonish the girl, that I should reprimand her for her lack of respect, but ... her observation was so accurate.
It was an expression I had seen all to often even in so short a time with Francesco ...

Finally having almost schooled my expression, I looked up.

"I do not think I have time to bathe, Juliana.
If you would help me freshen up and get into my gown ..."

I paused.

"I do not wish to keep my husband waiting."

I conceded carefully.

"He can be a very ... difficult man ... if he does not get his way ... he must never be crossed ... "

I warned her.
If she had undertaken any "private" obligations to him, then Juliana would do well to remember this.
If he could dismiss Miriam, he could certainly send this young girl away without a second glance.

"Come... let us make ready..."

I sighed, rising and allowing Juliana to assist me.

 

[Honey_B]

Juliana

"He can be a very difficult man if he does not get his way. He must never be crossed."

I did not take Marianna's warning lightly. After all, I had already met the man and the brief encounter had certainly made an impression. Signore del Giocondo would tolerate little in the way of disobedience from his wife or his servants. It made me feel something of a kinship for my new mistress and I wished I could say as much. I held my tongue, however. It would be beyond presumptuous to express that kind of familiarity to a lady of Marianna del Giaconda's stature.

"Come, let us make ready."

The art of helping a lady dress is a delicate one and something I had perfected long ago. Be necessity, a maid sees her lady in all state of déshabillé as she assists with the task of dressing and bathing. One needs to be perfectly attentive, allowing the mistress to do nothing for herself. For modesty's sake, this needs to be accomplished without appearing to look directly at the lady. Luckily nature had blessed me with long, sweeping lashes that hid many a serendipitous glance.

Marianna del Giaconda had an enviable selection of gowns. I waited patiently as she selected one for the evening. Standing just behind her, I was able to take in the graceful lines of her back. My eyes appeared to be appropriately downcast when she turned around with a gown in her hand. In fact, I had been admiring her slender waist, but the signora did not need to know that. Marianna handed me the dress. I shook out the folds and laid it across the back of a chair before returning to my Mistress.

“You have exquisite taste, m’lady.”

I said this as I placed my hands on her shoulders and deftly turned her around.

“But I’m sure you would be a vision in whatever you’d have selected.”

With nimble fingers, I undid the lacings at the back of Marianna’s dress. That done, I lifted the day dress over her head.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Marianna del Giaconda

I led the way to my dressing room and stood uncertain as to which garment would be most appropriate for the dinner I was to endure. Juliana awaited my decision patiently and took the dress from me offering a compliment on my selection.

“You have exquisite taste, m’lady.”

I barely nodded as I allowed her hands to work helping me to shed my garments, a task she carried out with impressive efficiency.
I turned to face Juliana awaiting her ministrations to complete the loosening of the remaining ribbons and fastenings, which held my daily garments in place.

“But I’m sure you would be a vision in whatever you’d have selected.”

My eyes met my maid’s.
I could not hold back a smile at the flattering comment, which appeared to have been made in all sincerity.

”Why thank you Juliana … “

I responded softly, trying to remind myself that she was employed by Francesco and as such would never truly be in “my” service.
I bit back a regretful sigh as I allowed her to lift the dress around my body and turn to attend to the formal outfit.

”I am fortunate in the provision my husband has made for my attire … for indeed as you must guess appearances are very important to him.”

I forced myself to continue with impersonal chatter.
It would be as well that the girl knew just whom she was dealing with as her employer.

Juliana nodded as she eased shook out the dress and began to fit it.
I turned as guided, lost in thought as her deft hands flitted over my body securing the fine fabric and pulling it gently into place until it hung perfectly.
I drew to a mirror to check the line of the dress and nodded without comment.
All Francesco ever saw was what he owned, what he had bought and that included me.
I had to be “suitable”, “appropriate” and an asset to him.
What I felt, what I was had become … in consequential.

I sighed and sunk onto the fine chair before the looking glass and handed Juliana the fine gilt edged brush.

”Dress my hair high, if you please Juliana.
Francesco dislikes any immodest display of hair, especially at dinner.”

I sat docilely watching the brush move slowly through my hair.
I closed my eyes momentarily and enjoyed the sensation of it massaging my scalp.
I gave a soft murmur of enjoyment and then opened my eyes catching my maid’s gaze in the mirror.

”Enjoyable though your attentions are, Juliana, I fear we must make haste…”

I smiled as she nodded.
I was immediately reassured as I felt Juliana’s fingers flying through my tresses, winding, pinning and dressing my thick shiny locks high on my head.

”Perfect … you are most adept … thank you …”

I praised.

The chime of the clock interrupted the calm of my quarters.
I knew it was the time I should be in the dining room.

”Quick … Juliana … my wrap … “

I drew it round me, knowing Francesco required me to carry a garment over my gowns as an act of modesty and formality.
Despite my good intentions I was now running late!