The Smile of a Woman

[Honey_B]

A thread for Missla & Honey B...

The year 1503, Florence, Italy: A relationship begins between a maid and her lady.

My interview was completed. I had secured the position. Even so, I shivered in dread. Not for myself. No, 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. Having just left his office, his face was emblazoned 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.
Her needs were only to be met by me.

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 you as your new maid. Whatever is the matter?"

 

[missla]

la Giaconda

"Come in," I replied to the knock at the door. The knock had brought me back to reality from my daydreams. You would think that being married to one of the wealthiest merchants in the country would be the dream of a lifetime, but, alas, it was just the opposite.

I was such a young and naive young lady when I met him, and he quickly swept me off my feet. Against the wishes of my family and friends, I had married him, not seeing the entire situation due to the stars in my eyes. I was not very well educated in the ways of the world, and was eager to learn from him, but after the marriage, all he was interested in was having me on his arm at all the social functions, but then basically locking me away when he didn't need me. I was not allowed to venture out on my own, nor able to have visits from any of my family and friends. It was quite boring and depressing - no one at our enormous dwelling even remotely close to my age. And they evidently had instructions not to socialize with me, so I was always by myself.

I had been a virgin when we married, and I was not at all sure what sexual relations were all about. My husband expected me to accomodate him whenever he wanted me, and it was usually when he had been drinking, and it was usually very quick, kind of rough, and somewhat painful. I was well aware of the fact that he had many other ladies that he went to, but according to him, I was to not complain about anything of that nature. I came to the point where I dreaded him coming to me to pleasure himself. I had been told I was quite attractive, and I had always had plenty of young me after my charms, but now I felt like I was totally useless, and almost worthless.

The door opened and in stepped a quite beautiful young lady. She introduced herself as Juliana, my new maid. My husband had mentioned that he was going to hire a new one - the last one was old and gruff, and I think that even she had tired of his behavior and had resigned. At least this one was a little closer to my age - maybe, at the least, we might have something in common. But after I thought of it for a bit, I wondered what he had told her about me, and if she was merely one of his pawns to keep control of me.

As that thought entered my mind, I couldn't help it but a tear made its way from the corner of my eye, and began its trek down my cheek. Young Juliana asked me what was the matter - I brushed off the question - after all, it was none of her business. She persisted a bit, and I began to tell her a bit of why I felt the way I did. She seemed to have a somewhat understanding look on her face - at least someone was listening to me a little bit...

 

[Honey_B]

Julianna

"We'll have to see what we can do about cheering you up, m'lady. Unfortuately that will have to wait just a bit. I have instructions from your husband to get you ready for dinner. I must say it will be a pleasure. You really are quite lovely."

And she was, Julianna thought. Long, dark hair that flowed down the girl's back. She had expressive brown eyes that seemed to have the power to speak a language of their own. Unfortunately, they were drenched in unhappiness at present.

Which was the exact opposite of Julianna. Julianna's tawny eyes danced with merriment. She looked upon life as a constant source of pleasure and amusement and her lust for life was infectious. The beautiful maid considered herself to be in the prime of her life. Certainly, many Florentine gentlemen, and ladies for that matter, thought so too. Julianna had a figure that could only be described as lush, with a full bosom, slender waist, rounded hips, and long legs. Her long hair was the color of chocolate infused with cinnamon. She was proud of her looks but too busy enjoying herself to be arrogent about them.

"Shall I draw a bath for you my lady?"

 

[missla]

Young Julianna brushed the hair from the front of my eyes, and promised she would cheer me up. As she smiled at me, I couldn't help but smile back at her. She seemed like a nice girl, but I couldn't put the thought from my mind that my husband had hired her to spy on me, so he could keep continue to keep me under his control.

Why, after all, why would this beautiful young lady want to be hired as a maid, and work for him? I was sure that she could enjoy life much more out with some of the handsome young men in the village - she was certainly attractive, and had the body that the young men would certainly lust for. As my eyes ran over her, I was, for a moment, envious of her perfect body, and perfect skin, and, well... she was just a beautful young lady. if I had been her, I would not come to work for my husband, knowing what I now knew.

Julianna then informed me that she was to get me ready for dinner, and should she draw the bath. I nodded a yes response to her - "I guess we may as well - his highness might not take it well if we don't."

 

[Honey_B]

Julianna

Julianna left the room and was back shortly.

"Indeed," Julianna said, not wanting to sounding disapproving of the man who had hired her. "I have no desire for that husband of yours to be angry with either of us," Julianna said with a merry laugh that brightened the room.

"I have arranged for the sculleries to bring up heated water," the maid said as she opened the door to a hesitant knock. A trio of little scullery maids traipsed through the room, carrying buckets of steaming water. The one in the lead opened another door that Julianna presumed lead to her mistress's stanza da bagno.

Like most ladies of a certain station, Senora del Giocondo's boudoir consisted of a suite of rooms. Julianna presumed the opposite door led to her mistress's bedchamber.

Her lady had a fine copper wash basin that Julianna admired immediately. She supervised its filling and then shoed the little maids out of the room.

"M'lady, allow me to help you undress." Julianna waited for the woman to stand.

 

[missla]

After a quick trip out of the room, Julianna soon returned to the room, agreeing with the fact that neither one of us probably wanted to raise my husband's ire. A knock soon came to the door, and three maids entered, each carrying a large bucket of hot water. They followed Julianna into the room where the tub was located, and began to pour their buckets of water to fill the tub.

The tub was soon filled with water, the steam rising from it, looking so inviting. Julianna escorted the three maids to the door, and closed and locked it behind them. She then turned to me and as she walked toward me, asked me to allow her to help me undress.

I sighed and stood - oh well, I guess a nice bath would feel good, and we certainly don't want to disobey my husband's directive. I just hoped that Julianna was sincere, and not someone my husband had planted to watch what I was doing...

 

[Honey_B]

Seeing her mistress's acquiescence, Julianna moved behind her. A lady never removed her own clothing. It was the task of the ladies maid to help her mistress into and out of her clothes with a minimum of embarrassment. Ideally a servant should be able to reduce their presence during these awkward moments to that of furniture.

Julianna had never been able to able to fully master that skill except, of course, with her last employer who was a hag. This was certainly not the case in Lady Gioconda's case. The woman's exquisite figure slowly came into view as Julianna undressed her. She could not fight the impulse to run her eyes sinuously her body. She hoped her mistress did not notice. Ravishing breasts of the perfect size, a flat stomach, delicately curving hips, perfectly rounded buttocks that begged to be squeezed...

"Careful, Julianna," she scolded herself.

She had seen the nervous glances her mistress had been giving her. Most likely the poor dear did not trust her. Julianna knew she would have to be careful not to do anything untoward until she had gained her lady's trust.

"Right then. Into the water, m'lady. Before you catch your death."

She held out her hand to help Lady Gioconda into her bath.

 

[missla]

I stood, and Julianna moved behind me and began to unfasten all the buttons and ties that kept my outfit together. Her hands moved quickly, and it wasn't long before she was sliding my dress off of my shoulders and onto the floor. My undergarments soon followed, until I was standing naked in front of her.

It did not bother me, as my thoughts were millions of miles away, not really thinking about the situation I was in. I was brought back to reality as Julianna moved in front of me, and I thought I saw her eyes looking over me - but I suppose it was only my imagination - after all, she was just a maid, and I was sure she wanted to get done with her work and leave. But .....

She extended her hand to help me into the bath, and I raised my leg over the edge of the tub...