Aden and Mark were trying to get Emi to tell them what we had been doing. Eliza and Kalvin were doing the same with Helen. "Good morning, Eliza, Mark, Aden, I told them not to tell until I got back so quit harassing them. You will be told as we eat. So sit." I went to the kitchen to help with breakfast as I had delayed it. Tilly had a large pot of porridge waiting for us. Emi and I gathered enough bowls and spoons, cream, honey, butter, diced fruit and pots of tea for the nine of us. Three of us carried it all out to the table, passing out the bowls and spoons then setting the condiments out, finally dishing up the porridge.

As we ate, I told them of Helen asking about hair styles, of Emi not being able to imagine the hair style, of me asking Sophia if dream space could be used to test out hair styles without damaging the real hair, of us going to test the styles and finally our fantasy flight. They looked sad at not being included in the fun at the end. I looked at Sophia, thinking at her,' Could we do one with all of us tonight?' She nods. I tell everyone,"Tonight, after dinner we can all go to dream space and fly or what ever you want."

As we finish eating Aden excuses himself as he is late. He dashes out the door. I ask what everyone is doing today. Eliza has illustrations to do, Sophia as a couple more pages to copy, Emi has some maid work, Mark has some business to attend to, Kalvin will train unless I need him to do some thing and Tilly will be cooking. Helen says she is going to go to her shop and being back some flax to spin into yarn. I suggest that as we missed doing T'ai Chi at our normal time we do it before we scatter.

We clean up the remains of breakfast and retire to the patio to do T'ai Chi, which get us loosened up and ready to face the day.

When we finish T'ai Chi, after picking up some paper and charcoal sticks, I walk out to the stable, looking for Tobias. I find him finishing his breakfast in his room in the back of the sable.

"Good morning, Tobias. Are you well this fine morning?" I greet him.

"Good morning, princess. What brings you here?"

"I have questions as usual, which I think you can answer or can find someone who can. I need to know the distance between the plants in the fields. I want to build a seed planter and need to know how far apart to place the seeds and how deep. If I can get this to work like it should it will save seed, prevent the loss of seed to birds and increase yields."

"How would something like that work?"

"A small plow share would open a furrow, a seed would drop from a hopper into the furrow, a pair of wings would cover the seed and finally a wheel would lightly pack the soil down. Depending on the size of the machine, one to five rows could be planted in one pass, though the first machine will only be a two row model."

"Which crops do you need to know about? I assume wheat and barley."

"And chickpea, lentil and flax."

"To start with, flax is such a tiny seed, I don't know if your machine will work with them. And flax is densely planted. Pease are planted about this far apart," his hands are about 20 cm apart, "in rows this far apart," his hand move out to 30 cm apart. "Depending on how wet the soil is they are planted from this," two cm," to the this," seven cm," deep. Grains are all planted about the same," fifteen cm, "apart, in rows this far apart," twenty cm, "and about this deep," two to three cm.

I had written down what he said. "This will help immensely, thank you. On a different subject, I feel that I have been ignoring you. Most of the others that know who I am have shared meals with me and have enjoyed each others company. I wish to talk with you more, I feel you have wisdom to share and you can't share it when you are out here in the barn. So you now have an open invitation to dinner and supper starting at noon today. Please come join us."

"Do you really want an old farmer at your table, your majesty?"

"Tobias you are the oldest person that I could call friend. Remember what I told you when you figured out I wasn't just the princess any more? It's true, every word. You are the grandfather Rufina didn't have. As Rosa I had two grandfathers, who I loved, who taught me many things and guided me to the person I am now. Our elders are suppose to guild the young so please, come guild us, we need you."

"Very well, princess. I could never say no to you."

I jump up and give him a hug," Thank you Tobias. You know I love you, don't you?"

"I didn't but I do now. And I love you too." His is get teary eyed as he says that, returning my hug.

"Come, walk with me." I take his hand and lead him out behind the stable. I hadn't been out here before so was curious. I asked about the chickens, the horses and the orchard. We walked east around the palace grounds, examining the well, the fruit trees and the paddocks where the horses were kept.

We looked at the wall at the east end of the garden, where the bath drain should come though. Tobias told me that though the walls looked like stone they were actually wood covered in white washed mud plaster. He told me the history of the palace. How my seven times great grand father had arrived on the island with five ships of solders and settlers, had built the watch tower and started the town. How his son had started the old portion of the palace and his grandson finished it. Three times great grand father had start building of the new section of the palace which was finished ten years later by his son. Great Grand father had started the wall around the garden shortly after starting his reign which was long. Grandfather's reign was short as he was in his sixties when he was crowned. Father was in his early thirties with he took the crown, had married a couple of years later and was in his late fifties when he died.

By the time Tobias had told me all that we had arrived at the west gate of the garden. I thanked him for the history lesson and gave him another hug, reminding him to come to dinner. I was checking the bricks when Emi found me.

"There you are. Sophia and Eliza need more of the instruction booklet, Tilly was asking after you, Helen was asking about the designs for short pants and I was worried about you. So what were you doing?"

"First, you need a hug, sorry to worry you." She got a hug and a kiss, "As to where I was, I was talking with Tobias about plants, then we walked around the palace grounds. He told me of its history, who had what built. He will be joining us at meals from now on."

We had entered the palace heading toward the kitchen, I would talk to Tilly then see to Sophia and Eliza before talking to Helen. When we got to the kitchen Tilly handed Emi a bowl asking her to get a bowl of sauerkraut from the crock with the number two on it. After Emi left Tilly asked me if a seafood boil would be alright for the beach party. It would be wonderful, what would be in it? Crabs, shellfish, turnips, carrots and onions. That sounds good, I will look forward to it. I tell her that Tobias will be joining us for dinner and supper from now on.

I then went to Sophia and Eliza, who were caught up with the Go instructions. I read over what was completed, then sat and finished the scoring instructions. I hand the pages to Sophia then turn to Eliza, doing rough sketches of the illustrations for the scoring section. I leave them to it, going in search of Helen, who I find in my sitting room where she has a pair of my trousers spread out on the table studying them.

"Rufina, do you want your shorts to have pockets? And how long are the legs? Do you want this style closure? Should they be loose or tight? Help, please." She is looking frazzled.

"First, calm down. Here," I take her hands, pulling her away from the table, "assume the vertical centering position and relax. Getting in a tizzy isn't going to help. That's it, relax." I can see her becoming calmer as I speak.

"Alright. Of course I want pockets, pants without pockets are a crime. They should snug at the waist but not too snug, they need to expand with my breathing. The leg should come down to a hand width below the crotch. And you can lose the double front on them. Let me draw how to make the front closure." I start drawing a pants fly for her, put in a couple of buttons. I explain the importance of making the button holes go the correct direction and the reason to hem the hole. She got the hemming right away but the alignment of the hole took her a while to figure out. I tell her that men's pants would have a longer fly for access to their organ. She got a thoughtful look before nodding.

"Do you need some measurements?"

"Let me check." She got a document folder out, flipping thought the pages. Pulling one out she studied it, muttering. "I need the top of the legs, I have all the others." I dropped my skirt as she pulled the measuring tape from her pocket. After measuring the top of each leg her hand lingered, caressing the skin. "Does Emi shave you here, too? Would she do mine?"

"Yes, she does and all you have to do is ask. I recently bought a razor so we don't have to borrow one anymore."

She leaned in and kiss me just below my pantie line, "Thank you for last night, to felt so good." She was looking up at me, "Can we do it again?"

I help her to her feet, kissing her, "We will do it again, I promise. Now let's make some shorts." I put my skirt back on. As we worked on the first pair, I told her that these were mid length shorts, there were longer ones and shorter ones. The long ones came to just above the knee and the short ones were almost like Aden and Kalvin's swimsuits but even shorter. We made a paper pattern, pinning it together then put it on. I pointed out that with pockets they would need to be extra loose or you couldn't put much in the pockets.

When we had progresses to the sewing point, I went to my wardrobe and took out several pair of drawers, a couple of chemise, a couple of my oldest dresses and a skirt and blouse. I folded them into a bundle using the skirt. as a wrap. "Call me when you are ready for me to try them on, I'm going to give these to Eliza."

When I got down stairs, Eliza was just finishing the last of the illustrations. "Looking good, Eliza. Here, for you." I hand her the bundle.

"What is this?"

"Some things you need that I no longer need, so I am sharing with you."

She opens the bundle, "I can't accept these."

"Why? I can't have my artist in residence going around in the same worn out clothes everyday. If it's pride, that you didn't earn them then consider them part of the your pay." She starts to cry.

"Eliza, remember what I told you when we first met?" Sophia reached out, touching Eliza's hand. "To love and be loved. When someone loves you they share with you, all the good things and the bad things. Rufina loves you, so she shares what she has. Love her back by accepting her gift."

Darn it Sophia, now you have me crying. Eliza jumps up, wraps her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder, soaking it with tears. My tears are streaming down. I stroke her head with one hand while hugging her with the other. She releases me, taking a step back, "Thank you, your majesty. It's has been so long since someone loved me, I have forgotten how to love back."

"You may have forgotten how to love back but you have never been unloved. Think of all the people who helped you over the years. I pretty sure Kalvin has loved you for a long time, probably since you were both children. We'll help you remember how to love, please let us help you."

"Alright, I'll let you help me." She smiled then kissed my cheek, then realized what she did and blushed. I smiled back then hugged her.

"Now, take your clothes, go up to my rooms and have Helen check the fit. Now scoot." She head up stairs at a run, "And be careful, the stairs are steep."

"There she is, the thirty seven year old acting like a mom, which is funny coming from mouth of a twenty year old." Sophia was grinning.

"Oh, lord, I'm my mother." I sit where Eliza had been sitting. "They were right, we grow up to be our parents. Well I love my parents so that is a good thing. So what do I do now, Mom? Any advice? Nothing? Too, bad, I could sure use some." Sigh.

"Take heart, love, you're doing fine."

"Rufina, I have the shorts finished, come try them on." Helen is on the balcony, calling for me.

"Come on, let go see if Eliza fits those clothes and if I have a pair of shorts to wear." we head up stairs, to try on clothes and girl talk.

Sophia and I climb the stairs to my rooms, where Eliza is stripping down to her underwear to try on clothes. Looking at her I notice something, "Eliza when was the last time you bathed?"

"Does swimming count?"

"Not really. Sophia would you be a dear and fetch a pitcher of hot water, our girl needs to bathe before trying on her new clothing. And if you see Emi, bring her along. Now young woman, if you live in this house a certain level of hygiene is required so come along. Bring your clothing." I open the door to my bed chamber, fetching the candle sticks which I light off the ones in the room. "You can put the clothing on the bed then sit on the chest, please."

While waiting for the water to arrive I drop my skirt and try on the mostly finished shorts. They fit well, I can even put a hand in a pocket with them buttoned up. The legs aren't too tight, over all the fit is just right. I bend over, touching the tops of my feet, lift a leg up as high as I can, no binding. I tell Helen they are good to go. I slip them off so she can finish them. As I do that Emi and Sophia arrive with the water.

"What's going on, your majesty?" Emi wants to know.

"Apparently Eliza has not bathed in a while. So it's bath time." I am taking my blouse off, no need to get it wet.

"Ah, full body scrub?"

"Yes, and hair."

Looking at the subject of the discussion she asks, "Beard?"

"That is up to her."

"Beard? What beard?" Eliza is looking a bit worried, now.

"Later, sweetie. Now remove the rest of your clothes, please." Emi is preparing the water, Sophia is removing her skirt and blouse, I decide to lay a towel on the floor in front of the chest to control the water. When Emi has the water ready, she removes her skirt and blouse too. Eliza is shy, covering her breasts and crotch with her hands. Emi, Sophia and I each take a cloth, wetting it then soaping it. I stand behind Eliza, Emi on the right front and Sophia to the left. We start scrubbing, we can see some imbedded dirt on her skin so are not too gentle on her. When I finish her back and bottom I sit her on the chest and start washing her head and hair. Her hair is straight hanging to her shoulders with a slight curl at the end. As I soaped her hair I massaged her scalp, she started moaning. I glanced at the other two, they each had a foot in their hands, giving a foot massage. I rubbed her scalp, working around to her temples then her forehead then to her neck.

Sophia had moved up to her arms and hands, washing then massaging them. Emi produced her tiny knife trimming her toe nails then cleaning under them. When Emi finished her feet she moved up to do her hands. "Would you like to have the hair in your underarms removed?" I asked her.

She moved her hand that Emi wasn't working on to feel her arm pit, "Yes, I think I would."

"How about the hair at the top of the legs?"

The hand reached down stroking her thighs, "Yes, Please."

I stopped massaging her head and got out the razor for Emi. Emi examined the edge, "May I have the strop, please." I hand it to her. As she is honing the razor I start soaping Eliza's under arms.

She giggles, "That tickles."

I have her stand, arms over her head. Emi quickly shaves her. I have moved to her front having her sit again. I soap the top of her legs, "Would you like to have this removed also?" tugging on some of her pubic hair.

"I don't know, why?"

"Several reasons, it's easier to keep clean, there isn't hair sticking out of your underwear or swimsuit and sex is better."

"Really? Do it, please."

I started soaping her pubes, being careful not rub in a sexual way as I didn't know if she would like it. Emi replaced me between her legs. She soon had her bald. Emi reached up taking one of her hands, guiding it down, letting her feel her smooth crotch. "Oh, that does feel better."

We stood her up, rinsing her off then drying her. I hand her some clean under wear which she put on then sat back on the chest so Emi could brush her hair. When her hair was finished we all put on our skirts and blouses. I put the razor and strop away, while Emi cleaned up the basins, and Sophia picked up the towels.

"Feel better Eliza?" I asked her.

"Yes, that was wonderful. I think you could make a business out of bathing people like that, though it is embarrassing it be naked in front of people like that."

"On Earth there are places that sell massages while others wash and cut hair though not the shaving. Intimate washing is for friends, family and lovers."

"Lovers? Humm," both Emi and Eliza say, getting looks on their faces. Eliza observes, "That would be fun."

As Emi is closest to me I can hear her murmurer, "Yes it is." I give her a grin.

"Here are your shorts, Rufina, all finished." Helen hands me the shorts.

"Could we see them on you?" Emi and Sophia say. Eliza nod agreement.

I duck back in my room, remove my skirt and don the shorts. I decide to show them something different, undoing the frogs holding the bottom of my blouse together, I tie the tails in a knot below my breasts, tucking the back up under my bra strap. "What do you think?" I say as I walk out. Some of their months fall open. "What? Too risque?"

"What ever risque means, that shows a lot of skin." Helen says.

I reach down and unbutton the top button, which makes the waistband open, showing my navel. Eliza and Helen blush, Emi gets a interested look on her face. Sophia is just observing it all. "You think your man would enjoy it if you wore an outfit like this?"

"Gods yes." Emi, Helen and Eliza say in unison. I untie the knot and lower my blouse tucking it into my shorts. "There, is that better for public viewing?" They all nod. Emi and Eliza turn to Helen, "Please make me a pair," both say.

"You will have to pay for the cloth, buttons and help with the making. Then wear them in public." Oh, she is thinking of sales, free advertising.

"Alright." "Yes." is the answer.

Helen winks at me, I smile back.

Tilly says from the doorway, "If you wear those in public there will be trouble. Dinner is almost ready and Tobias is downstairs so get dressed."

I go to my bedchamber to get my skirt, putting it on over my shorts, then head for the stairs.