Introducing Pallene to the Family Chapter 17.1

After fourth bell waiting at the front gates of the Academy, I was soon approached by a very beautiful and graceful young women with blue eyes and long, straight brunette hair down to her waist.  Today Pallene was wearing a tight fitting, navy blue mini dress that brought out the color of her eyes, with thin spaghetti straps, a V-shaped deep neckline accenting her lush chest, and a mini skirt, barely covering the hips, showcasing her perfect gorgeous legs.  Today was the day I was going to escort her to our family’s mansion in the city in order to introduce her to the family as my wife and have her stay the night.

When we arrived, Pallene was amazed by the large glass windows of the front of the house and complimented on how beautiful the blooming flowers in the stuccoed stone planter boxes under them were.  Leading her in the ornate front porch and doorway she was also impressed that the Andron entry room had a ceiling above the second story rather than being an open-air atrium.  She also admired the ornate decorations of the large rectangular room and the mosaic pattern in the middle of the floor.

First, I looked to the right into the kitchen and dining room, both were empty as the maids hadn’t started working on making dinner yet.  Then looking over to the left I noticed Alcyone sitting on the couch engaged in some needlework.  Approaching with Pallene in tow, I announced “Alcyone, I’m home!” causing her to look up at us with a smile.

Having heard us come in, Aethusa came out of the hallway from the gynaeceum female quarters in the back of the mansion.  Addressing both women, I introduced “I would like both of you to meet my fiancé Princess Pallene of Thrace.  She is here today to meet Father and the rest of my family at dinner time!”

Standing up from her seat on the couch, Alcyone stepped forward doing a little curtsy and greeted “I’m the Lady of the house and Mistress of Lord Xanthippus, Alcyone, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

With a respectful bow, Aethusa also spread her skirt and gave a little curtsy, greeting “And I am Lady Aethusa, Pericles’s Mistress, it’s a pleasure to meet you!”

Happy to see their more relaxed demeanor today, I smiled and asked “Hopefully you ladies have as delicious a meal planned for tonight as you did last night, I’m looking forward to it.  I’m going to give my fiancé a guided tour of the house and grounds.  Aethusa, can you meet us for tea and treats up on the deck again today?” evoking a response that it would be her pleasure.

After that I showed Pallene the washroom, pointing out the flushing toilet, which also fascinated her.  Then I led her into the kitchen followed by the back rooms of the house where we ran into our three Thracian maids.  At first surprised, all three maids jumped up with the head maid proclaiming “Princess Pallene, your Royal Highness!” while all three curtsied.

Holding her hand out with palm up, indicating them to stop, Pallene chided “Now, now, I appreciate that as Thracians you remember and respect me, but this isn’t Thrace, and I’m just a visiting dignitary here in Athens.  So, no need to stand on ceremony.” With a warm smile on her face.

As if what Pallene said was irrelevant, the head maid responded “Yes, Milady!” bowing her head, and evoking a sigh from Pallene.

After that, I took Pallene out onto the back patio and into the back yard.  She was especially taken with rubbing the horse’s nose and neck in the overly extravagant horse barn.  I showed her the cistern watering system for the horse, which I was more taken with than she.  I almost got jealous when she started hugging the horse who seemed to be laughing at me.

Next, I took her over to see father’s garden beds and did a thorough dissertation of his method of crop rotation and the advantages behind it, explaining that I intended to introduce such a system in the Thracian agricultural system.  Without the distraction of my rival the horse, Pallene attentively listened.

Tea Party for Pallene

Afterwards we went up the outside steps up to the deck to find Aethusa waiting for us sitting at a patio table with a teapot, teacups, a plate of Koulourakia butter-based cookies hand-shaped into decorative twists that had an orange scent and brushed with an egg wash, that were perfect for dunking in tea.  Next to that was another plate of Melomakarona soft and syrupy cookies flavored with cinnamon, cloves, orange, and honey, soaked further in a honey syrup and topped with walnuts.

Joining us at the patio table, Aethusa poured us all tea and everybody started munching Melomakarona cookies, and dipping Koulourakia cookies into their tea.  I then started the conversation “So what did you think of the house and its layout? I asked Aethusa, Helen and Argia this same question yesterday.  For my part I would like to build something similar, just larger to accommodate everybody.”

At that point the girls began chattering, as they expressed their ideas and opinions of what the house should be like along with talking about the ideas Helen and Argia expressed yesterday.   As the conversation wound down, we helped Aethusa clean up the empty plates and cups before she excused herself leaving with the serving tray.