reassured her before she completely lost her temper.
At the same time Angela seemed to lose interest in him and got back to the weekend’s entertainment. Isabelle realized that Evan had used his ability to compel her away from him. It was a revelation that she approved. She definitely did not want to share him with anyone else sexually.
Angela said, “All the staff can handle their duties as usual. You only communicate orders to them. They do all the work. I will enjoy telling them what to do. I was born for this.”
It was a bit more complicated than that. Part of it was designing menus for the foods that were available. It was not possible to grow enough foods to make a consistent menu. Isabelle and the cooks were creating meals out of whatever they managed to grow. It changed every day. And someone, usually Isabelle had to come up with attractive recipes using whatever was in the gardens. Sometimes she really had to pluck things almost out of thin air and extend the ingredients to feed all the people who wanted and needed to eat. She and the people who cooked could never really relax. Additionally, their paying customers were demanding and many people who lived in the castle also had to be fed and with too little food.
The entertainments were difficult, too, especially since Isabelle was not cut out for thinking up raunchy stuff to entertain low company. She also cared little for gambling. Maybe Angela could handle those parts of it, she thought.
“I don’t really have any notes,” Isabelle said. “Our menus change every day and other things are handled on a case by case basis.”
Angela spoke again. “I want you to stay and advise me this weekend. You can leave on Monday so you will be here to help me with any problems that come up. After that I’m sure we can manage without your constant nagging. Additionally I want some of those slackers who hide in the dungeons to make themselves available for our customers’ pleasure.”
“Those people have tasks that are essential for the success of the parties,” Isabelle said mildly, but she thought it could quickly turn into a disaster. Angela had no idea how much work was required to keep the castle reasonably clean, food coming at all the times customers wanted it, along with plenty of hot water. She also had to oversee other tasks that were both complicated and labor intensive. Clean sheets and other bedding were needed for many rooms more than once a day. Clothing had to be washed, too. The tasks were never ending. Sometimes things happened that no one could anticipate.
“We need not do some of the things you have been doing, Angela said. “Men are pigs. They don’t need fancy meals or clean bedding every time they mess up the sheets a bit. They also don’t care whether the room is clean. We don’t need all these people waiting on them. They are just more mouths to feed. Your Uncle wants sex workers and people to draw customers to gambling, not waiters and cooks and cleaners. He would like for many of the people here to just leave.”
Isabelle knew that was what Uncle wanted and there was obviously not much she could do to protect the employment and the rather insecure existence of all the people who lived in the castle.
“It might not please the customers,” she said. “They want the comfort as well as the sex workers and cards and other gambling. It’s part of their expectations. We have offered some luxury that is unavailable anywhere else.”
“The men just want sex,” Angela said. “It’s what they all want and they will be happier with more of it and less pampering with other stuff. Believe me, I know men. It’s the sex that makes them come here.”
Isabelle did not have the heart to argue with her. “Is there anything else right now?” she asked.
“No, nothing,” Angela said, turning away from them. “I have set up an office in a room next to this one. You can help me with
At the same time Angela seemed to lose interest in him and got back to the weekend’s entertainment. Isabelle realized that Evan had used his ability to compel her away from him. It was a revelation that she approved. She definitely did not want to share him with anyone else sexually.
Angela said, “All the staff can handle their duties as usual. You only communicate orders to them. They do all the work. I will enjoy telling them what to do. I was born for this.”
It was a bit more complicated than that. Part of it was designing menus for the foods that were available. It was not possible to grow enough foods to make a consistent menu. Isabelle and the cooks were creating meals out of whatever they managed to grow. It changed every day. And someone, usually Isabelle had to come up with attractive recipes using whatever was in the gardens. Sometimes she really had to pluck things almost out of thin air and extend the ingredients to feed all the people who wanted and needed to eat. She and the people who cooked could never really relax. Additionally, their paying customers were demanding and many people who lived in the castle also had to be fed and with too little food.
The entertainments were difficult, too, especially since Isabelle was not cut out for thinking up raunchy stuff to entertain low company. She also cared little for gambling. Maybe Angela could handle those parts of it, she thought.
“I don’t really have any notes,” Isabelle said. “Our menus change every day and other things are handled on a case by case basis.”
Angela spoke again. “I want you to stay and advise me this weekend. You can leave on Monday so you will be here to help me with any problems that come up. After that I’m sure we can manage without your constant nagging. Additionally I want some of those slackers who hide in the dungeons to make themselves available for our customers’ pleasure.”
“Those people have tasks that are essential for the success of the parties,” Isabelle said mildly, but she thought it could quickly turn into a disaster. Angela had no idea how much work was required to keep the castle reasonably clean, food coming at all the times customers wanted it, along with plenty of hot water. She also had to oversee other tasks that were both complicated and labor intensive. Clean sheets and other bedding were needed for many rooms more than once a day. Clothing had to be washed, too. The tasks were never ending. Sometimes things happened that no one could anticipate.
“We need not do some of the things you have been doing, Angela said. “Men are pigs. They don’t need fancy meals or clean bedding every time they mess up the sheets a bit. They also don’t care whether the room is clean. We don’t need all these people waiting on them. They are just more mouths to feed. Your Uncle wants sex workers and people to draw customers to gambling, not waiters and cooks and cleaners. He would like for many of the people here to just leave.”
Isabelle knew that was what Uncle wanted and there was obviously not much she could do to protect the employment and the rather insecure existence of all the people who lived in the castle.
“It might not please the customers,” she said. “They want the comfort as well as the sex workers and cards and other gambling. It’s part of their expectations. We have offered some luxury that is unavailable anywhere else.”
“The men just want sex,” Angela said. “It’s what they all want and they will be happier with more of it and less pampering with other stuff. Believe me, I know men. It’s the sex that makes them come here.”
Isabelle did not have the heart to argue with her. “Is there anything else right now?” she asked.
“No, nothing,” Angela said, turning away from them. “I have set up an office in a room next to this one. You can help me with
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