Chapter Eleven

For the first time in five days I'm not awakened by a cramp, but by someone teasing the heck out of my very stiff nipples. Opening my eyes I see Emi suckling my left breast, her hand gently pinching and kneading the right. She must have sensed I was awake as she straddles me, our breasts rubbing together, our lips caressing each others with tongues intertwined. Things proceeded to a mutual orgasmic conclusion.

We lay in sweaty bliss for a while before I get to up to use the necessity. "I think we need some hot water, shall I go get some?" I inquire of Emi. She nods, still being on the bed in a post orgasmic state. I slip into my robe and head down stairs, an empty pitcher in my hands. I notice the sky is starting to glow. I move so I can look across the atrium to look to the northeast at the guard tower, I can see the sun striking its roof, it is officially dawn. I hope there is hot water available at this time of the morning. When I get to the kitchen I see the large pot of water still steaming on whats left of the fire. I pause, how do I get the water out of the pot? Dip it out with the pitcher or ladle it out. Ladle, I chose you. Mainly because there is a large one hanging by the pot. After I fill the pitcher I add a few small pieces of wood to the fire.

Once back at the room with the pitcher I mix to water to the correct temperature and soap a cloth. I glance at Emi, she has fallen asleep. Should I wake her or let her sleep, that is the question? I'll let her sleep, it is still very early. I drop the robe and start washing, soon having scrubbed all the nooks and crannies I can reach, every where but between my shoulder blades. I dry off, then with a sigh I put on the damn straps again, and crawl back on to the bed cuddling up to Emi. Soon I too am asleep.

I'm wakened by someone pulling on my leg. My eyes open to the sight of Tilly pulling on my leg, softly saying,"Wake up, Rufina." Noticing I am awake, she stops pulling,"You are about 50 minutes late, Kalvin and Aden are here waiting for you." She turns to leave, I notice she has lit a couple of candles for us.

Before she gets out the door I tell her, "Thank you, Tilly. We be down in a few minutes."

Emi is still sound asleep, lightly snoring. I lean over her, kissing her while my hand caresses her breasts. Once she starts responding I back off a bit, telling her, "No time for play dear one, we are late. The guys are waiting." I lean back down, giving the nearest nipple a kiss. Her arms wrap around me, hugging me tight. She seeks my mouth, kissing me, "Love you so much, Fina."

"And I you, now get up." I roll off the bed, heading to the chamber pot. Once finished, I go pull her off of bed, she hadn't moved, she squeals as she hits the floor. I offer her a hand up, which she grasps pulling herself up then pushes me to the bed, jumping on me and starts tickling me.

"Pull me to the floor will you, beware the tickles, girl." I get so I can't breath, I am laughing so hard. She stops tickling me then leans over kissing me, "Good morning Love." She stands up, then pulls me up, giving me a hug then as she uses the chamber pot, I move to the wardrobe.

As I stare in the wardrobe I think of what I will be doing today, riding out to the inlet, digging a hole(?), lining said hole with mud, which I will be mixing, stamping in the clay in the ponds. Yes, I will be getting dirty today. Should I break down and buy a pair of pants like the serfs wear?

I decide on what to wear, an above the knee tunic over trousers with a pair of drawers and a waist length chemise, stockings and boots. I suggest the same to Emi. When we are stomping mud we can remove our trousers and still be modest. I do suggest taking along a spare tunic in case of mud. I ask Emi if she would be all right showing the cloth shop lady her new undies as I plan to stop there again. She is alright with it as long as it's just her. We are finished dressing so we go down to breakfast, we can do T'ai Chi at the inlet.

Aden and Kalvin are waiting, siting at the table chatting, I stick my head in the kitchen asking Tilly for some weak w.w.f. tea this morning as I haven't been cramping yet this morning. She says she just started it so it will be fine. I thank her and say everyone is at the table. She asks me to set the table then, I take the tray that is ready out to the table. I have no idea what she is serving this morning. I set the table like I did when I was little, plate, spoon on the right, cup on the saucer to the upper left. I stepped between the guys, place everything in front of Aden then moved around Kalvin to do the same, they paused their talk to look at me with a strange look.

"What? you think I can't set a table, I have been doing this for longer than you two have been alive. I was a waitress in a greasy spoon during college to boot."

"We forget that you aren't a twenty year old princess any more but a mature woman with years of experience when you still look so young. And whats a greasy spoon?"

"Flattery, are you trying to turn a girls head?" I give them my best offended waitress stance, hands on hips. They look confused so I smile and pat their heads, which confuses them worse. "A greasy spoon is a cheap inn that serves a lot of fried foods."

"Ah, Aden were we not expecting some deliveries last night? or this morning?"

"Yes, there should have been several. We owe some coin on delivery if I remember correctly. Excuse me a moment." He gets up and goes to his office, returning shortly. Holding out his hand he shows a handful of silver and copper coins, "For Tilly, to pay the balance due."

And speaking of Tilly, here she is, carrying a tray loaded with two covered platters and a plate stacked with toast. She set the platters and plate on the table, then sat down next to Emi. "I tired something different this morning, I hope it's satisfactory." She uncovered the platter in front of her. It held what looked like fried potatoes but that can't be, there are no potatoes here. "Fried turnips, thin sliced turnips fried in olive oil, lightly salted. The other platter holds eggs, mixed like for an omelet but not cooked two at a time but all together." Emi lifts the cover on the platter revealing scrambled eggs.

"Ah, scrambled eggs. Those look delicious Tilly." She looks disappointed that I know what she made. "I'm not sure but I think scrambled eggs had been made before omelets. Don't feel bad Tilly, I worked in a restaurant that specialized in egg dishes. Eggs, scrambled, poached, soft boiled, hard boiled, omelets all kinds, soft fried, hard fried, sunny side up, over easy, huevos rancheros, scrabble, served with ham, spam, sausage and if you could stomach them, raw."

Spooning up some eggs then some turnips, I started eating. Yum, the eggs were perfect and the turnips were slightly crisp yet cooked and slightly browned. Turnips had been a food that had fallen out of favor on Earth, being considered food for the poor, so I hadn't eaten many of them on Earth. But these were good. I told Tilly so and the others agree. The smile is back on Tilly's face when we say that.

"Tilly, there are some deliveries scheduled for today, here is some coin to cover the amounts due on delivery." Aden hands Tilly the handful of coins.

We help Tilly clean up, then taking our supplies we go out to find the horses ready and waiting. When we reach town Aden arranges for a bucket and a couple more of the large baskets being used at the inlet. They nest together so I carry both with the bucket inside, Emi having our normal basket and Kalvin, being the guard, can't be encumbered.

When we arrive at the inlet the serfs are hard at work having all ready finished the third pond and are half done with the fourth. Emi and I inspect the third and what there is of the fourth ponds. They are looking good. I tell the men that they are doing a fine job and let them get to it. I inspect the pile of soil that is on the beach, it's mostly sand which I will need. Taking one of the baskets I fill it with sand and we carry it to the side, to where the liner test holes will be. Emi and I take the empty basket up to the clay deposit where we dig a basket full of clay. We carry it back to the hole, placing it near the sand.

The men finish digging the fourth pond. I tell them to take a break and then I borrow the pick and shovel. I quickly break the soil for four holes about twenty inches on a side then dig them out to about the same depth as the ponds. I dump the sand and clay from the baskets into one of the holes. Taking the baskets, the pick and the shovel back to the men, asking them to bring three more baskets of clay down to the holes. Emi and I take off our boots and trousers followed by our stockings, which we neatly fold and place in the basket with the spare tunics. I dry mix the sand and clay in the hole until it is fairly well mixed, then as I stomp on it while Emi slowly pours water into the hole. Soon I have mud up to my knees. The men bring the clay I asked for, I have them dump it near each hole. I tell them to start bringing clay down to the ponds, enough to cover the bottoms a hand width thick.

When I have sand and clay mix to the constancy I want I sit on the edge of the hole and spread the mud on the walls, trying to maintain an even thickness. Good thing I brought a clean tunic because this one is now dirty. Oh well. I smooth the mud on the walls and floor of the hole, then move to the next hole, while I measure sand and clay into the hole I have Emi gather dried grass to use in the mud, just like when we made bricks. In each hole I vary the ratio of sand, clay and grass, then coating the walls and floor with the mud, smoothing it out. Now to let them dry out a bit. I write the ratio of sand to clay and how much straw is added down so I know which is which.

Emi and I wade out into the inlet up to our knees, then support each other as we wash off the mud. Glancing at the men, I make sure they are facing away from me then I drop my drawers, I don't want to put my trousers on with them dirty and they are that. I rinse them off then wring them well. When we get back on shore I hand them to Emi to put in the basket. She gets out our stockings and trousers. We put on the stockings, then our trousers and boots. The men have finished putting clay in two of the ponds so far and it is approaching noon. I tell them to take a break for lunch, saying we will be back in about an hour. I do a final check of the test holes then we collect Kalvin and the horses and head back to the palace for dinner.

When we arrive at the palace Kalvin takes the horses to the stable while Emi and I head toward the west gate. I check the bricks on the way, they are drying well. As we go through the gate I stop Emi and have her get out the spare tunic, I pull the one I'm wear off and trade her for the clean one which I put on. The gate is double doored, we are standing between the doors, out of sight. I straighten my tunic as we open the inner door and step into the garden.

Because we woke up late and didn't do T'ai Chi this morning and we are early for dinner I suggest we do it now. I move to the pergola instead of the patio because the sun is high and its much hotter than when we normally do T'ai Chi, the shade will be welcome. We did the forms that I had taught Emi, not doing a new one today. When we finished we walk into the palace barefooted having taken our boots and stockings off before our exercise.

We greeted Tilly let her know we had returned then when to my rooms as I need to use the necessity. Once in my room Emi removes the wet drawers from the basket draping them over the edge of the dirty clothes basket to dry out. I do my toilet, washing the pad I am wearing, noting that has little blood on it. When I replace it I use a light duty one instead. As I clean my crotch I notice I need another shave which I mention to Emi, who come over and strokes me. Not yet she says but soon, then kisses me, continuing to caress me. It feels so good. But all good thing must end, she moves her hand to my hip and her lips from mine and whispers, "Dinner should be ready soon and we need to finish washing up." She then nibbles my ear lobe.

"Damn it girl, you know how to get me hot and bothered."

We finish washing up, dump the water and head down stairs. Aden and Kalvin are again chatting at the table, then I see what they are chatting about. My improved candle stick and the steamer have arrived. Now I want to test them, darn it. I go around the table to where Tilly normally sits and pickup the candlestick, examining the reflector, moving it up and down and rotating it. The movements are smooth and the locks hold it where I place it. Now if the flames are in the right spots and the reflector is the right shape it's all good.

Next I examine the steamer. The three tiers that are here all fit together well along with the lid. The mesh at the bottom of each tier is tight and evenly spaced and secured to the sides well. I wonder when the pot will be done, I could check that this afternoon, either on the way to or coming back from the inlet.

Emi and Tilly enter the dinning room bearing trays, Tilly who has the food sets hers on the side table while Emi places hers on the table then starts setting the table. I move the lamp and the steamer down past where we sit, getting them out of the way. Emi quickly had the table set and sat in her normal spot, to the left of the head. Tilly had placed the platter and small bowls on the table then look at me sitting in her spot, shrugged and sat at the head.

Tilly uncovered the platter to reveal a pie, gravy still bubbling out of the vent holes in the top. The gravy is yellowish so I would say it's not beef or pork, probably chicken. And I am right. Tilly says it's chicken, turnips, carrots, onions and garlic. Yum. She slices the pie into eight pieces and serves us each one, saying the rest is for the maids.

As we eat I can see Tilly gazing at the objects farther down the table, until she can't stand it, asking what are those things? As we are nearly finished get up, pick up one of the steamer tiers and hand it to her. "This is for you, Tilly. It's a food steamer, fashioned after ones used in a country called China. You place the items to cook in this then place it all over a pot of steaming water, there is new pot coming also. So if you don't have the proper sized pot now, you will soon. You can cook vegetables, fish, meat buns, dim sum and seafood. I'll show you how."

Returning to my seat, I pickup the lamp. "This is a improved lamp, at least I hope it is. The idea is to reflect the light in this direction using the reflector. Like I said I don't know if it will work the way I want it to."

"Hey Aden is there a glass smith on the island or are we too small?"

"We're too small to have a glass smith."

"Oh bother. More expenses."

"Now what do you want to build?"

"I have another lamp idea. It needs glass and brass or copper. But I can wait there more important thing to build first, like the thresher. Did you get the woodworkers on that?"

"Yes, the woodworkers are on it. The carver is doing the grill, the furniture maker the hood and body and the carpenter is doing the frame and drum. I think I'll tell the carver to do the treadle and crank." Aden replies.

"That reminds me, I need someone to cut some poles for the water lift at the salt ponds. And later some planks to make water moving troughs. And special basket or bucket or maybe a scoop."

"When do you need these?"

"The poles right away, then the water scoop and finally the water troughs."

"Alright I will contact a wood cutter today about the poles. Any thing else?"

"The workers will be done moving clay this afternoon, and I haven't filled the liner test holes yet and that will need at least a day to test for leaking. So I was going to release them this evening though they could be fetching some stone for the pier. That would require a cart."

"What pier?"

"The pier the water lift will be on, to be able to reach a steady water supply. It's not very big, maybe four paces out into the water and knee high above the water line, and the same width as the path between the ponds."

"Good, I was thinking you meant one for a ship to land at."

"And tonight we will be working on swim suits for Tilly and Aden. I would like you two to bring a pair of drawers and you, Tilly, a chemise also. They should be in fair condition, no holes. Kalvin, as you are alright with a loin cloth you can wear that when we swim. Questions? No, alright let's go back to work."

We cleaned up the table, taking the steamer into the kitchen. We left the lamp on the table. The dishes were washed and maids got their dinner. Kalvin, Emi and I left though the garden as that is where our boots were, Aden went out the front door and brought the horses nearer the west gate. When we passed the bricks I noticed that sand had been delivered. We saddled up and rode into town, Aden leaving us there.

When we got to the inlet the worker were hard at it again, move baskets of clay down to the ponds. They were quick, the third pond was half done already. I checked the holes, they were doing OK, the first one was cracking a bit, I wet my hand a smooth it out. We found flat stones and put them in the bottom of the holes, then took turns filling and emptying the bucket into that hole, pouring the water on the rock to prevent erosion. When the hole was full enough I marked the position of the water. Then we moved to the next hole and repeated the process. Soon the four holes were all full of water. We would check the water level before we left and late tomorrow.

The workers were on the last pond when a man carrying an axe came over the hill from town, he stop and spoke to Kalvin who pointed in our direction. He approached us, bowed his head saying, "Aden sent me, your majesty. He said you needed some poles cut."

"Yes, I need some poles. What is your name, my good man?"

"Alton, your majesty. How many and what length?"

"Two poles, twice my height, at least this big around," I held hands in a circle eight inches in diameter. "And one, three times my height, this big around at the thick end." this time my hands were five inches in diameter. "and a short piece, about this long about the same diameter as the long one." my hand were at 24 inches.

"And where do you want them? Here?"

"You see that pile of soil? Place them there, taking care not to damage the big holes."

"And when do you need them?"

"As soon has you can. They are going to be needed soon."

"Very well, your majesty, three poles, two twice your height, one three times your height and a short piece, as soon as I can. Depending on how quickly I can find them seven days, if not sooner. Payment on delivery."

Sigh, "If that is what it takes, yes, very well. Thank you Alton, may you find them quickly."

With another head bow and ,"Thank you, your majesty." He was soon back over the hill and gone.

The worker were nearly finished with the fourth pond, I check the depth of the clay, it's good. I have Emi fetch Kalvin and the horses, I went to talk to the men. "Good afternoon, my good men. You are very industrious, I was expecting it to take longer to do this part of the job, thank you. Tomorrow you will be moving stones if Aden can arrange a cart and driver. Do any of you have a rock pile you want removed, I would gladly accept them? Karl come with me please, I will show where to put the stones." I lead him to where the sea and path meet, telling him to place them on the shore along the beach, that they would be used to build a continuation of the path out in to the sea. He said he understood, he asked where we would meet tomorrow, I told him in front of the town hall. I let him know that we were leaving and as soon they were done they could go also.

I walked over to where Kalvin, Emi and the horse were and mount. When we reached town we first stop at the blacksmiths. Kalvin went in to bring him out. When he appeared I asked him how the pot was coming along, it is going to be cast tomorrow. And the wheelbarrow axle? It was nearly done, also. He would have the axle to the carpenter late tomorrow afternoon. I thanked him and let him go back to work.

Next stop was the carpenter, to check the status of the wheelbarrow. The body was done just waiting on the wheel, I informed him what the blacksmith had said. I then inquired about the thresher, he was working on the drum and had a lot of the parts for it finished. I thanked him and we left.

Next was the cloth shop. Kalvin waits outside as usual while Emi and I enter. We greet the shop keeper, finally asking her name. It is Helen. I ask her about buttons. The only buttons she has are huge fancy ones used as decorations. I ask if she would like to see the new under garment, of course she did. She lead us to the back room where Emi removed her boots and trousers then, after digging the panties out of the basket, her drawers. She slid the panties up then reaching around to connect the tail frog, finally lifting her tunic, showing off the panties. I explained that these are a crude first try and they could be as plain or as fancy as you liked. You can make the front and back panels wider at the top, make them out of lace or do this style and fill the edges with lace. When she asks us to make pair so she could see how they were made, I invited her to the palace for supper and a work session after. She will need to bring her own cloth. She agrees to come, I tell her how much of each cloth to bring after being told she wants to try a wide top front and back style. I thanked her for her help and I told her we would return in an hour or so to take her to the palace with us.

Next was the wood carver. He was apologetic about the forks and spoons, he was busy with the thresher, I ask how the thresher grill was coming along, he show us his progress on the different projects, the utensils were rough shaped with one or two finished, the box to hold them was just a box without carving and the grill frame was done and the grill bars were cut to length just needing shaping. I thank him for his work and let him know he could have another week to ten days on the utensils seeing as the thresher is more important.

The next stop was the swimming hole. As usual we left the horses with Kalvin and he went the other side of the islet. We walk a short distance to the swimming hole, where we stripped down, I had Emi leave the panties on so she could get used to wearing them in the water. I explained that the difference between them and her swimsuit was the swimsuit would have two layers in the crotch not one. We started swimming slowly working out harder until we were tired then slowly floated back and forth a few times. We got dressed and called for Kalvin.

As we rode back to town, we saw a group of children playing and I notice a wistful look on Emi's face. I wonder what that is about. We stop to pickup Helen who rides double with Emi.

As we approach the palace I ask Emi how the panties felt while she was swimming. She replied that the tail hole chafed and there was some rubbing on her legs. I said that we will fix those problems tonight. Helen ask what swimming was, which got Emi geeking on about it.

Kalvin help Helen and Emi dismount then assists me before taking the horses to the stable. I whisper to Emi that she should hang the panties up somewhere in the garden so they can dry. I tell them I am going to stack the bricks before I head in, would they help? Emi takes Helen's basket and goes through the gate as I start moving bricks around. I move them to the side, stacking them a finger breadth apart, then stack more on these running the other direction, three tiers high. Soon Helen is assisting and Emi does too when she returns. Helen asks what the bricks are for. I tell her they are for a new stove in the kitchen. We are soon finished, the ground clear to make more bricks, which needs to be done soon.

The three of us enter the garden, which induces an 'ah' from Helen with a comment of, "So pretty." We take seats on the patio bench and remove our boots and stocking, while I explain to Helen that it is to help keep dirt off the floors inside. I make a comment that a basin and pitcher of water should be placed here, so we could wash up before entering. Emi says she'll go fetch one. She is soon back, using the basin as a tray to carry the pitcher. We soon are splashing water on our faces and washing our hands. When we are finished I pour the basin on the plants lining the patio. I then hold the door for Helen and Emi.

We stop at the kitchen long enough to introduce Helen to Tilly, telling her that Helen will be staying for supper. I show Helen around, telling that this is the old section of the palace, used as a public space on the lower floor and guest rooms on the upper, except for my rooms anyway. Emi has gone to the kitchen. As I show her the dining room she spots the lamp sitting on the table. She comments, "That is a strange looking candlestick." I explain what I hope it will do and why. She is excited, she too is tired of trying to work in the dark.

Aden enters from the front door, going to his office straight away. Then Kalvin comes down from the guard house. He reports all is well on the walls. Then goes and sits at the table. I escort Helen to her place at the table, the second seat on my left, between Emi and Tilly. I take the seat at the head of the table, soon Aden joins us, sitting on my right. I ask of the progress on the harvest, he says the all the fields that are ready to harvest have been, that the grain heads are full and heavy, it should be an exceptional harvest. I reply very good, we can use it.

I have a thought, I ask Aden if he knows how the seed for next year is selected? He doesn't know but will ask the senior farmers. Why he asks. I explain the idea I have had, of a sieve sized to let the smallest grains through, diverting the largest, which when planted should produce a hardier plant for next season. And if those were selected from only the heads with the most kernels, larger heads with more kernels should be produced.

While Aden and I talk, Emi has set the table. Soon Tilly brings in the tray of food, setting the platter in front of me and spreading the smaller bowls and bread plates around. She pours my tea, then switches pots and pours for the others. After I uncover the platter I have every one pass their plate to me where I place a piece of the meat of the day on each plate, starting with our guest. Soon we passing the bowls and bread around. I let them all know that the salt ponds are nearing the lining stage, the workers can proceed to that when I have selected the mud mix. I will be checking that tomorrow. I ask Aden if he has a cart lined up. He has and I tell him that the workers will be at the town hall in the morning. I tell him that Karl has been instructed on where to place the stone.

I ask Helen about herself and her business, where she gets her product and if she knows anyone that could make some smallish flat buttons. She was a widow, she had moved to Haven with her husband three years ago, her husband had perished on the same ship as prince Jared. She was able to get by on the small amount of coin the shop produced. She produced most of the linen herself, also some of the notions. She asked what the buttons were for, which replied that I would answer that later, but they needed to be waterproof. She know someone who could make some out of shell. She could arrange a meeting.

When we finished eating we all helped clear the table. Emi and Tilly wash the dishes, Kalvin goes up stairs, and I talk to Aden about his swimsuit. Had he brought a pair of drawers we could modify? He handed them to me. I ask Helen if she has a twine to measure Aden with. She did. I took it, measuring his waist, hips, around the top of his leg near the crotch and the crotch. The last embarrassed him, his ears turn bright red. I told him he could go home for tonight, we would check the fit tomorrow night. I gave him a hug telling him I would see him in the morning.

When Emi and Tilly finished the dishes they joined Helen and I in my rooms. Helen and I had moved the table away from the wall. Helen and Tilly got out their sewing supplies. I have Tilly take off her dress, so she is in her under garments. I then take another piece of twine and measure her at the hip,waist and crotch. I tell Tilly she can get dressed. I then explain to Helen the process for cutting the pieces for the waist band. She soon has a waistband cut and sewn which she hands to Tilly to try on. It slides over her hips and settles on her waist, I check the fit, the stretchy pieces are just right.

I lay her drawers on the table then place a mark down the center of them. I also mark the waistband in the middle, placing those marks over each so the waistband is now centered on the drawers. I mark the drawers about a thumbs width wider than the new waistband. I measure from Tilly's waist to her hip and then mark this on the drawers then folding the cord with her hip measurement in quarters. From the center line I mark both side with this measurement plus a finger. Then using half the distance of the leg measurement plus a finger from the inner edge of the leg opening. Then I mark a line from the waistband to the leg mark, doing so on both sides. Then cutting on the outside of these lines I remove the excess material. I hand the drawers to Tilly, having her sew the edges I just cut together. While I have been doing all this measuring and cutting, the others have been watching intently, as I explain the what and why of what I am doing.

While Tilly is sewing, I have Helen remove her skirt so Emi can measure her. That is when I notice she has a tail, a short stubby one, covered in curly hair, like a sheep would have. She sees me staring at her tail, her cheek grow pink. "Yes, I am a Gwynne." When she says this she takes off the scarf she is wearing and has had on every time we have seen her. This exposes her ears, which like Emi's are closer to the top of her head, sticking out through the curly hair on her head. They aren't pointy like Emi's but are rounder, pointing to the side instead of up like Emi's do. I tell her it's not some thing to be ashamed of, you are born the way you are, you can't change it, if others can't see anything but the differences it is their problem not yours. I see a smart, pretty young woman who happens to have a cute little tail and perky sheep like ears. I tell Emi to continue measuring and not to forget the measurements for the tail.

When Emi has the measurements, I tell them to start on Helen's waistband. Soon they have the pieces cut and sewn together. She slips it on, having some trouble getting it over her tail. I tell her she will need three pieces, a front, a back and a crotch piece. The front and back pieces will not be hard but she will need to trim the crotch piece to fit. So instead of using cloth which is so expensive I suggest using paper, so they do, fitting and trimming a piece of paper to the correct size.

While they are busy doing that Tilly finishes sewing. I have her go to my room and try them on. When she come back out, she is wearing them. I ask her how they fit. She says they are tight at the top of the legs. I check where she says they are tight, they are tighter there than I thought they would be. I asked if she would be alright with no legs, if they were removed the source of the tightness would be removed. She asks how high they would be cut. I put my finger on her hip joint, saying to here on both sides. That would be alright. I take a bit of twine pining one end at the leg opening in the crotch then bringing it to her hip pinning it there also. I then bring it down the back to the crotch again, pinning it there. Using my finger I follow the twine from her crotch to her hip, it follows the crease in the skin, prefect, just where it should be. I repeat that movement but with a charcoal stick, marking the material. I check the back, marking it when I had it where I wanted it. I then repeated on the other side. I had her cut and hem the results.

We do basically the same thing for Helen's though we use four pieces of twine and some paper, connecting the twine to the crotch piece and brought up to the waistband. I traced the line of the twine on to a piece of paper pinned to the waistband and the crotch piece, front and back. These are trimmed then used as patterns to cut the cloth. They then sew the pieces together, hem all the seams and connect them to the waistband. Then cut and hem the hole for the tail, adding a frog to close the back above the tail.

Meanwhile Tilly has finished sewing the new hems on hers, she has gone to change into them. She comes back, smiling, they must fit better. I have her move around, lifting her legs and squatting. She's still smiling. Now to start the top. I have her change into the chemise that we will be modifying without using a breast band. While she holds her arms over her head I measure below her breasts then over them. I take her breasts in hand, supporting them, feeling their weight. They match Tilly, mature, well used, not perky young ones. I wonder how many children she has had. She will need a support bra.

I remember the bras I wore as Rosa, picturing the construction of them, how the cups were formed and how the straps and bands were shaped. I started to sketch different pieces, bands, cup parts, and straps. Because it was to be a swimsuit I went with a Y shaped strap, don't want the straps falling off her shoulders. The band had a center T shaped piece in back to connect to the shoulder strap, then two pieces of stretch material under the arms, with two mirrored pieces under the breasts. The cups were in two pieces each.

This is going to have to be a group project. Thinking about the steps, I send Tilly to bring a tea cup with a bit of flour in it. We'll make a pattern, then glue it together with flour paste, then fit it to her, then when it is fitted, take it apart and copy in cloth. And we still need to do Aden's suit, though drawing Tilly's bra has given me ideas for that. I take a new piece of paper and start sketching again, drawing the inner supports for Aden suit, I make his straighter on the sides making them looser than Tilly's.

Helen and Emi have finished and Tilly has returned. Helen goes to try on her new panties, soon returning, with a smile as big as Tilly's had been, saying that except for a little snugness at the waist she couldn't tell she was wearing them. They did look fine.

I have them gather around, telling them the plan, Helen will assist me making the pattern while Tilly and Emi can start on Aden's suit, making the internal parts. I have labeled all the parts and what to make them out of on the sketches. Before we begin I need a few more measurements from Tilly, the diameter of each breast. Soon we are all busy cutting or fitting.

I ask Helen what kind of loom she has as we work. She says it's not a very big one, making narrow bands of cloth, like the ones I had purchased the other day. One of pieces she had brought tonight was near the max width it would do. I asked if I could examine it someday. Sure she said, but why? I had an idea for a modification that would double the amount of cloth a weaver could do in a day, but needed to test it first. Double the cloth! Really? I then asked if she had the loom built on the island or imported? It had come with them when they moved here. Was it able to weave a pattern or did just do a plain cloth? Just plain cloth. What did she pay for the thread she used or did she spin her own? She did spin some by mostly bought from the serfs, at between 1 and 2 coppers a ball depending on quality. Did she always get the same amount per ball? No, but some thread was a finer than others, so the length per ball varied.

We finished the pattern and had it pasted together so asked Tilly to come try it on. She took off the chemise she was wearing and stood with her arms over her head while we fit the paper bra on her. The band fit nicely but the cups were a problem, the weight of her breasts made them come apart. I let her put the chemise back on. We cut out and sewed a cloth cup with a piece of cloth sewn to the top then call Tilly again. This time the cup didn't fall apart and fit fairly well, though not quite deep enough, so we tried again, adjusting one of the parts to make the cups deeper. This time when we did the test fit it was right on. We cut out all the parts, hemmed and sew them together. It was one piece and wouldn't go over her hips so had to go over her head. Once it was on I could tell it was close but not quite. I asked if it pinched anywhere or was too tight. I slid a finger between the cups and her breast to feel how much pressure there was. There wasn't an excess amount. I had her lean over then pulled the cups downward then let them back, that did it, they just needed to be centered. Tilly's face slowly got a smile on it. I had her put the chemise back on. Her shape had improved, she looked younger.

Did we want it to look like she just had a chemise on or did we want to show some of the bra. I had wanted it to look like just a chemise with just a bit of definition added by the bra. Emi and Helen wanted to show the bra off a little more, Tilly was torn between the two, want to show off her new shape and still be covered. So we compromised. The chemise was secured to the bottom of the bra all the way around with gathers at the stretchy parts so they still worked. Then a panel covered the cups, tapering to the sides then flaring in the back to follow the straps. So her shoulders were bare except for the straps. Her cleavage was showing but there was a ribbon tieing the panels together.

We then checked Aden's suit which Emi and Tilly had finished. Curious, I tried the twine of Aden' measurements on Emi and Helen, Helen's hips were wider than Aden but Emi's waist was much smaller, then I tried them on me, the hips were the same and so was the waist. I took the drawers into my room and put them on, the fit was near perfect. I came back out to show the others. They said they look alright. After I removed them I was looking at them when I notice something. I told the others we weren't done with Tilly suit yet, we had forgotten the liner for the panties. Whoops. Tilly got to sew that in while the rest of us designed bikini tops for Emi and I. I ask Helen if she want one also. She wants to wait a bit to see one first. I stripped to the waist and had Emi measure my breasts, chest and over my breasts. I was barely a B cup. I did Emi then, she is slightly larger, a definite B cup. To be ahead we measured Helen next, a C cup. Tilly is a D cup.

I had Helen make some strapping while we made the cups. The cups are equilateral triangles with rounded bottoms and sightly rounded sides, two per cup, one being used as a liner. The top point of the triangles are cut flat where the strap is to be sewn on. A tube of stretchy cloth is placed on the curved bottom of the cup, tacked on one end then lightly stretched and tacked on the other end, so when it is relaxed the bottom of cup gathers. A length of strapping is cut as the back strap connecting the sides of the cups. Two more connect the top of the cups to near the center of the back strap. Finally two short pieces of stretchy material with a frog connect the cups to each other.

We finish Emi's first so we go to my room for her try it on, I hold it as she slip one arm in then the other then I connected the front, I have her breath deeply to see if it gets to tight. It stays snug but not tight. Oh, darn, we forgot her panties, they are drying in the garden. I mention them to her, she tells me where she put them. I get my robe as I am in drawers and chemise, when we go out I excuse myself, take a candle and go down stairs and out to the garden, find the panties, which are dry. Before I head back upstairs I pick up the new candlestick and take it with me. It can get tested in a bit.

I hand Emi her panties and shed my robe. She returns to my room and soon comes out wear both new pieces of underwear. I ask her if she want these fixed or a new pair, like the one we made for Helen? Yes, she would like that. I have her turn away from me, I then take the charcoal stick and mark around her tail indicating how far to enlargen the hole. I hold a piece of paper up to the waistband overlapping enough for a seam pinning it in place, then marking the tail hole and slot. Then pinning one end of a length of twine at the edge of the stretchy cloth on the waistband then draping over her butt to her crotch, this gets traced with charcoal. I turn her around and do the same on the front. These get cut on the charcoal line, then used as patterns to cut two piece of cloth, one side a mirror of the other. These get pinned to the waistband and test fit, when the crotch doesn't mate up a pieces is added there. These three pieces are then sewn together then sewn to the waistband after having the edges hemmed. Emi changes again, coming out to show the finished product. These look much better than the just the liner version. Helen and Tilly think so too. Now if they were some color beside raw linen tan. I ask Helen if there are any cloth dyes available. Not Really. I ask Tilly if Nora might know of any. She didn't know. Helen asks who Nora is. Tilly tells her she is the herbalist in town. Ah, is the reply. Sounds like we have a trip to Nora in the offing.

Tilly yawns. It is getting late. I look at Helen, she is looking tired. I ask her if she has a reason to go home it not she is welcome to stay the night, there are plenty of beds. She would like that, there is nothing urgent at home. We put the table back against the wall, give Tilly and Helen a candle each then Emi leads Helen to one of the spare rooms. Tilly gives me a hug saying thank you for the clothes, I say there will be some more, that was just the first. We bid each other a goodnight and a see you in the morning.

I blow out all but two of the candles, leaving one and taking the other I go in to my chamber. I start my toilet and clean up after. When I had tried on Aden's swimsuit I notice that I hadn't bleed any so I washed the straps and the pad and left them hanging on the edge of the clothes basket. And I hadn't cramped today.

Emi came in carrying a pitcher of hot water, I wanted to kiss her, so as soon as she put the pitcher on the table I gave her one, a nice long one with tongue and roaming hands. Soon I was receiving has well as giving. Breaking away she says, "Waters going to get cold if we keep this up." She steps out into the outer room and blows out the candle. While she is out I mix the water getting ready for our bath. When she returns I help her strip, then scrub her back starting at her neck and working my way down to the tip of her tail, by the time I get that far she is almost a puddle on the floor. Then I wash her legs,arms, stomach and face finishing with her breasts giving the nipples a lick and suck as I finish. "You don't want a warm bath do you, naughty princess. For that you get a licking." She push me down on the bed, burying her face in my crotch. Much moaning later I finally get my back scrubbed and yes, the water was cool but I didn't care.

After we pick up our clothes and dumping the water, we crawled into bed and cuddled. She was close to be asleep when I asked, "What was that look on the way home this evening, when you saw the children? Are you longing for a child of your own?"

"Yes I am. I'm over twenty, by then most women are married with a child. But being what I am, if I marry a human I would have a hard time bearing a live child. Males of my species are rare in human lands, I have only seen one other beside my father and brothers. And my time is approaching, you think you have problems when you have your period, just wait. I get so horny I would mate with a fence post if one was handy. I usually have myself locked in my room for four or five days until it passes. The only way to cut it short is to get with child. I have mated since I arrived here, the men were brutes, cruel and unwashed but I was not picky at the time. Since then I have had Tilly lock me away rather that do that again. Will you do it for me now?"

I look into her eyes, eyes that are starting to tear up, "Of course love, if that is what you want and need." giving her another kiss, this one tender. I snuggle closer, stroking her ears. This is how we finally fall asleep.