We had spent our first night in our new lodgements.
I couldn't sleep but for a few hours in the early morning, and from my bedroom I could hear the other inhabitants of the house, namely my mother and my brothers, moving about. I therefore knew they were in the same state of upset as I was.
I reasoned all night over our situation.
Mother had assured us we would be comfortable in this apartment, but I feared this was a temporary situation. I saw we hadn't even retained a maid, which most well-to-do families would be expected to keep. This, combined with the great shock I had suffered of losing my father in such a violent way, made me very fearsome of more hits to come my way, and I wondered whether we were destined to the workhouse.
'Armand, Blaise,' Mother said addressing my brothers, as we sat around the table for breakfast, 'you will have to seek some employment. You can try some of the offices in town, maybe the guilds, or the organisations devoted to commerce.'
My brothers, whatever their real sentiments might have been, made a great show of optimism and exuberance.
'We had planned to do so already,' Blaise said.
'We will lay out our abilities, but also our expectations,' Armand said.
'I will soon want to acquire my own place,' Blaise added to this.
Armand then said:
'I'm sure we will need to do some economies in the first few weeks, but I will insist on choosing good furniture, as the décor is the true mark of a gentleman.'
I was surprised by this manner of speech, but I wanted to believe that my brothers could easily find employment and resuscitate our family's station.
After a very frugal meal, they chose from their trunks very elegant and formal suits and, cane in hand, walked out, patting each other on the back and saying words to this effect:
'What an adventure, brother!'
'If I'm not rich by the end of the year, I will be surprised.'
My mother then informed me I would accompany her on some visits that day, as she too had some errands to run, and that I too needed to get dress smartly.
'Where are we going, Mother?' I asked, once we left the house.
She looked at me, assessing the effect that the clothes I had chosen for myself made:
'That looks very nicely on you, darling. I admire that fine hat you're wearing, and I wonder if had seen it before. But what were you saying?'
'I wanted to know where we're going,' I repeated.
'The money I have been able to save over the years will not last us more than a few months. I will need to find us an income.
'Unfortunately, Father was right, without a dowry you can only hope for some lowly employee to marry you. That wouldn't suit your temperament, as you have been raised in a manner that's not congenial to privation. So, we will need to find a way to solve this problem of yours too.'
'Is it far?' I asked.
'Rather,' she replied.
I volunteered to call a cab, but she wouldn't allow it.
My mother seemed to know the city reasonably well, or, at least, she knew how to get to her destination through the maze of the city roads and little alleys.
We reached a building with an ornate façade: Atlases and Caryatides supported the cornices, and each window was adorned with columns and tympani.
My mother explained:
'Here lives Mr Aumont. He's a very grand man, related to some of the most noble families of France. He's been a long-time acquaintance of my family.'
I showed I was duly impressed and walked beside her, preparing myself to meet this impressive connection.
We were announced, and we were led to the first floor of this establishment by the man who had welcomed us at the front door. Everything was elegant. Many pieces of furniture, paintings, tapestries and other expensive items adorned each space.
We finally arrived at a very grand door which seemed more suitable for an ancient temple than a residence. As we got closer, this opened, and a young woman, a maid I presumed, walked out of it. She looked very pretty and very flushed, as if she had been put through some great exertion.
Our guide and the woman didn't acknowledge each other as we passed her.
'Come in,' a voice said, as our chaperon knocked on the door.
My mother and I walked into a large room, well decorated with paintings in the Italian style, Oriental carpets and well-waxed furniture. On a sofa, was a gentleman of about five and fifty. He looked quite plump and short. He had a round, pleasant face, with little hair above it but grand sideburns framing its sides.
He was reading some papers he had in his hand, making notes as he went.
'Ah, my dear lady!' he exclaimed seeing my mother, but he didn't stand up, but waiting until my mother walked up to him and curtsied.
I curtsied too, and the gentleman showed us another sofa.
'Please, make yourselves at home,' he said.
Presently, tea and pastries were served, to which our host helped himself with great appetite.
'I am sorry to hear of your husband's demise.'
My mother thanked him for his kind words.
'I believe he was also very close to realising a great fortune.'
My mother nodded politely:
'We are awaiting the arrival of a shipment.'
'What is the vessel's name?' the gentleman demanded.
'The Saint Mary, your lordship.'
He frowned.
'Saint Mary… Saint Mary… Oh, yes, I see.'
'It may be any day now,' my mother said.
The gentleman said nothing to this.
'So, who is this, now?' he said as he turned toward me.
'This is my daughter.' Then, my mother began talking with some agitation: 'As you can see, your Lordship, my present situation is quite precarious. Unbeknownst to me, my husband had gambled away most of our fortune on risky ventures. I still trust the Saint Mary will arrive shortly, and, once it does, my present concerns will be settled. However, at present, my station has been much reduced.'
'Madame, calm yourself. I believe I understand your predicament. I too have a daughter, and her union to a suitable party is always on the forefront of my mind. Young women like yourself,' he added pointing a finger at me and winking merrily, 'are very dear to your parents: any threat to your wellbeing keep us awake at night!'
I smiled, although I knew I was not being altogether complimented.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
A woman of a similar age to myself peeped in.
'Good morning, Father!' she said.
Still without rising, our host announced:
'And here is my daughter. Look what I have found for you. Here is an old friend of mine,' he said indicating my mother, 'and her young daughter. I wonder if you can show her around. I have been asked to assist her mother with a difficult situation, and we might be engaged for some time.'
'Yes, I remember you mentioned their arrival, Father. What is your name?'
I answered her:
'Eloise, mademoiselle.'
'I am Juliette. Come join me.'
My mother indicated that all was well, and that I was to spend some time with this new acquaintance.
I thanked Mr. Aumont and left with his daughter.
Juliette dressed in very expensive clothes and spoke with an affected tone. She also bore an annoyed air, and she spoke to me as if the effort of uttering any word to my address caused her a great fatigue.
'I believe you come from the country,' she said, stressing this last word to signify that my origin was not as worthy as that of someone who had been born in a great city such as herself.
'Yes. Our house was near ***.'
She made a great show of thinking hard about this fact. Finally, she said:
'I don't believe I have heard of it.'
As we walked through the house, I asked her her age.
'Eighteen,' she said.
I told her she and I had the same age.
'Young women are tedious, don't you think?' she asked.
I was getting a little annoyed with her tone, so I said:
'I don't find you too annoying yet. But I guess I don't know you well enough.'
She looked at me with a blank stare, unable to catch my meaning, or pretending not to, at least.
'They always say the drollest and most childish thing,' she continued, to which I blushed greatly.
She took me to the park that bordered their palace.
'Let's take a stroll,' she said. 'The gardens are very pretty this time of year. We have many exotic plants you may have never seen.'
I then realised I had left my hat on the sofa next to Mother. I begged to be excused so that I could retrieve it.
Juliette sat on a divan, then lay on it, and, with a wave of her hand, dismissed me.
'I will return shortly,' I said, although I believe she didn't care much whether I did, and, I confess, neither did I, so odious had she already become to me.
I retraced my steps and walked to the great door to the room where Mr. Aumont and my mother were.
I was very curious about the cause for this visit, and what help my mother was seeking from this gentleman.
I therefore opened the door, just an inch, without making any noise.
What I saw frightened me greatly.
My mother was fully naked, standing a few metres away from Mr. Aumont, who was still sitting on his chair, sipping some tea.
'Madame, you have a very fine figure indeed,' he was saying. 'I confess that you are almost too fine for my taste.'
I looked at her and, indeed, she looked beautiful: her breasts were small and didn't show any sign of ageing; her pussy was well trimmed, and her skin was candid.
My mother was standing without moving, with a smile painted on her lips, as this man critiqued her physique.
'Young, handsome women are easy to come by: the maid, the baker's daughter, the beggar on the street. But what experience can they offer to a man who has lift so long as I have? You seem curious about this: of late, I have found great pleasure in admiring the figure of women who, while not young anymore are not yet old; they are, so to speak, lingering at Old Age's doorsteps. I derive much enjoyment from plucking their last petal before they finally enter their final season.'
My mother still said nothing.
'Your breasts, madame,' the gentleman was saying wagging a finger casually towards her, 'are firm and round, like those painters and sculptors often represent. Your figure is delicate, and I wonder if you appear a day older than your daughter. To be brief, madame, not only is my carnet full at present, but I have an appetite for different dishes than the one you put before me.'
Finally, my mother, seeing that this rejection was final, spoke:
'I am still glad I came to you and that we had this conversation. I thank you for your frankness. May I ask you to keep my interest in mind, my dear friend, should things change?'
Mr. Aumont appeared a little bored with this conversation:
'That will be well. Sure, sure…. Opportunities arise all the time…. I won't mind…'
My mother walked a little closer, and speaking with much charm said:
'Wouldn't you want to sample this morsel?'
The man shrugged his shoulders, and, with a broad smile, my mother knelt at his feet. She undid his trousers and took out his dick, which was still limp.
Undeterred, my mother put it in her mouth seeking to fuel his desire.
'I believe I am not your first today,' she said.
I understood she could taste some other woman's pleasure on his cock, and I thought about the maid who had walked out of the room as we arrived.
'Madame,' he said jocularly, 'as I said: pretty young women are easy to find. But, please, you may continue.'
My mother went down on him again, sucking him with enthusiasm. She eyed him seductively, as she was so engaged.
Finally, once Mr. Aumont's cock was erect, she stood up and, turning around, spread her ass gently with her hands.
That gentleman stared at it and smiled but didn't move.
So, my mother lowered herself onto his dick and placed it in her pussy.
'Oh, my lord, you have a very nice dick!' she said.
She moved up and down, slowly at first, then faster and faster. As she did so, she moaned loudly to indicate how pleasurable this activity was.
'Oh, I'm so wet! You fuck me so well.'
Little by little, Mr. Aumont seemed to be aroused by this activity, so that he became all red in his face, and he was now puffing and making great noises:
'Ah, my lady, you do have a nice pussy. Tight!'
He then grabbed her ass and began to move her up and down with great force, unable to resist the urge to be well stimulated.
Finally, as his cries had become so great, my mother took his cock out of her and sat on it, moving her butt cheeks so that the friction would stimulate him until he came.
I then closed the door, remembering Juliette was still downstair waiting for me. I turned and I was started to see that girl standing behind me.
She still bore that tired and annoyed expression on her face.
'Have you found your hat?' she asked me.
I explained that I didn't want to disturb her father and my mother as they spoke, but, in saying so, I realised she must have also seen what activity they had been engaged in.
'They're probably done. Let's wait outside,' Juliette said.
Within fifteen minutes, the large door opened, and my mother and Mr Aumont emerged.
'Thank you, my friend,' she said shaking his hand warmly. 'It was so great to see you and talk to you so earnestly. I want to believe you will keep my case in mind.'
He nodded, now as bored as his daughter:
'Will you do me the honour of joining us for a little gathering we're having in a few days? I believe you will be introduced to many honourable gentlemen who can also help your case.'
My mother thanked him again for his kindness.
Mr. Aumont enquired after our walk, and Juliette said:
'Mademoiselle and I have spent a very pleasant time getting to know each other.'
Although much surprised, I said that had been the case.
'We look forward to this party. I know so few people here,' my mother said.
After much shaking of hands, smiles, thanks, and other courtesies, my mother and I were dismissed.