A Very Victorian Education Part 2

Below is the next part of AVVE I had intended to keep this to approximately the same length as the first episode(4000 words) but it didn’t turn out that way and went on a bit longer than I expected so hopefully the extended version works.

As I mentioned in the last post writing a serial is much more time consuming than a once off piece or the text for an illustration. I know I sound like a broken record but unlike Bea or other writers this stuff doesn’t flow naturally for me and I really have to put a lot of time into it. Don’t get me wrong  I really enjoy it and it is a labour of love but the reason I say this is that recently after a prolonged period out of work I have re-entered the workforce and this will entail retraining which will also involve some  studying (something I’m a bit unused to).

As a result I will probably not be able to spend as much time writing a continuation of the story in long episodes so what I propose to do is post an illustration with an accompanying short story. These would be ‘stand-alone’ scenes from Aubrey’s life with Lady C and Felicity and not necessarily be a strict continuation of the story. I hope readers who are following the story will not be disappointed with this but otherwise there could be many weeks if not months between chapters and for me that would be unacceptable.

Readers of this blog have been very kind and supportive of the material I post and the Victorian slant on forced femme seems to have struck a chord with many readers. Knowing others share my passion for this and other past eras is wonderful and gives me encouragement to continue posting similar work.

Thanks again for your marvellous support and I hope you like the latest instalment of Aubrey’s  fate at the hands of Lady Charlotte.

   

Carrie

A Very Victorian Education Chapter 2

 Illusion Is The First Of All Pleasures. – Oscar Wilde

“Stay exactly where you are.” Lady Charlotte de Winter snapped as the confused and now disoriented youth tried to make for the door, the weight of the unfamiliar and heavy petticoats he had been forced to wear greatly impeded his progress as he stumbled clumsily across the bedroom floor. Her daughter Felicity anticipating such a move quickly positioned herself between the boy and his escape route. Dressed in her ruched and pleated purple heavy satin gown she barred his exit with arms folded across her ample bosom and considering the youth’s lack of any meaningful strength she made a formidable obstacle.

“And where exactly do you think you are going young man” Felicity said as if speaking to a naughty child even though she herself was two years younger than the wretched petticoated male in front of her.

Aubrey St Clair stood motionless in front of the assured statuesque figure, his petticoats still gently swaying from his dash across the room. The sudden realisation of his dire predicament had proved too much for him, he knew overcoming these women in a physical confrontation was now impossible due to his current weakened condition. Nevertheless despite being dressed in female undergarments he still retained a degree of masculine pride, from deep within his being he mustered what little vigour he had and putting his hands on her shoulders he attempted to remove her from his path. His futile attempt was immediately dealt with as Felicity grabbed his arms and effortlessly lifted them above his head.

“Oh my word, you are such a weakling” she laughed and continued in her extremely patronising tone “ Now young man, I thought we had already established that you are incapable of any type of significant physical exertion and certainly not enough to overcome any female in this household.”

“Please …please Felicity” he pleaded, now almost on the verge of tears as Felicity easily restrained him, his petticoats still swaying gently from side to side he struggled manfully against her grip. It soon became clear to him his exertions were to no avail and as his feeble effort to overcome her subsided he stamped his foot and shrieked in a most unmanly voice “This is not fair.”

“Although” she laughed and ignoring his supplication “there may be a few of the junior girls at my school that on a good day you may just possibly beat. Mother, I’m afraid our little prince still does not realise who is in charge, he really needs to understand that disobedience will not be tolerated in this house.”

She lowered his arms and still retaining a strong grip on his wrist forced him towards the bed and in an instant had him face down and comfortably restrained him with her left hand.

“Please …Lady Charlotte…I ..”  he appealed to the older woman as he felt the tears begin to trickle down his cheek.

“Mother please hand me the hairbrush.” she said as she easily lifted his petticoats and bustle to expose his silk covered pantaloons “you are a very lucky boy it would be too much trouble to remove your bloomers.”

“I am afraid you only have yourself to blame Aubrey.” Lady Charlotte finally addressed his plea and ignoring his request to halt his punishment she handed the ivory handled hairbrush to her daughter “you said you would be an obedient and well behaved girl but clearly as with all males you are completely untrustworthy. Now please remain quiet while you receive your punishment unless you wish annoy Felicity even more….. and I really don’t think that would be wise.”

He howled as the first blow hit his plump cheeks and kicking his legs in a less than masculine fashion he wriggled and twisted and despite summoning all his strength he could not escape from under her firm hand. Felicity laughed loudly as she observed his futile attempts to break free and delivered another hard slap of the brush which brought another yelp of anguish from the prone figure. She allowed this to subside before she applied one more stroke. Over the sound of his wailing she called to her mother,

“Just look at his pathetic effort Mother.” as she dispatched yet another loud whack to his backside.

“Yes dear.” .” her mother replied casually as the boy whimpered face down in the soft satin of the quilt. “How very girlish of him.”

He cried out once more as Felicity executed yet another blow to her victim’s derriere.

“Please Felicity…..please stop ….please…..” he sobbed the tears now in full flow.

“Will you promise to obey from now on.” she said patting his silk covered cheeks before administering another sharp slap.

“Yes…..yes…..please stop…please…I’ll…. obey….”he wailed

“And….?” she asked while threateningly caressing his bottom threateningly with the hairbrush.

“And…. be a very good…… girl.” he sobbed as he surrendered unconditionally.

“Good I’m glad you finally understand.” Felicity cooed as she waved the hairbrush “because if you do not………. the next time it shall be Miss Bristlestrap or maybe even Dora or Hilda. And they shall not be as gentle as me.”

This further demonstration of his physical frailty, that- as Felicity had so cruelly put it – he was now weaker than a girl meant he was completely at the mercy of Lady Charlotte and her horrid daughter. Any hope he had of trying to escape or even convince them to abandon their vendetta against him had vanished. It was a ghastly situation and he was trapped.

He now knew that both Lady Charlotte and Felicity were determined to continue with their outrageous proposal to dress him as a girl and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. As it was impossible to escape and any attempt to do so would lead to greater pain and humiliation, he quickly concluded that he had no option but to concede their authority over him and hope that in the coming days he could convince them that he had learned his lesson sufficiently for them to relent.

Felicity eased her hold over him but he remained face down on the bed and motionless out of sheer fear of another stroke being administered. He heard her hum to herself as she rearranged his petticoat and bustle.

 “You may get up now.” Felicity said as she released her hand completely.

His new, unfamiliar and cumbersome underwear caused him some difficulty as he tried to move himself from the bed. His eyes were red from the tears and his face crimson with yet another layer of embarrassment.

Lady Charlotte settled his petticoats to her satisfaction and adjusted the bustle at his rear end as Felicity ensured his new bust was secure inside the cups of his corset and while they were preoccupied with their task he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He felt his heart race, the false bosom and corset had given him the figure of a girl and the petticoats and chemise gave him a decidedly feminine appearance. His inability to grow facial hair in order to conceal his boyish, almost androgynous features was always a source of annoyance to him and now dressed as he was he was appalled to see that his countenance seemed to gain a more feminine aspect to it.

“Much better.” Lady Charlotte declared as she gave the finishing touches to his petticoats, she regarded his face for a moment or two and stroked it gently with the back of her hand before adding “not as comfortable as male clothing, is it my dear?”

He shook his head and could feel the tears returning, as Felicity took her place beside her mother she could not conceal her delight at the sobbing petticoated boy in front of her. Lady Charlotte spoke first.

“Now you know what we ladies have to endure, the unwieldly and bulky petticoats, the restrictive corsetry and that is before we even put on our gowns.” she paused and with an elegant movement of her hands she gestured to her own exquisite gown before continuing “You see my dear Aubrey a major flaw in the masculine persona is impatience which if left untreated eventually leads to arrogance and then to a false sense of superiority over the female sex. I think we can agree that over the last few days you have manifested this disagreeable trait on many occasions. Is that not so?”

It was patently obvious that Lady Charlotte expected only one answer, both women looked at him with an intense gaze  waiting for his reply and he knew what the consequences would be if he failed to give the correct response. As if to confirm his suspicions a wide grin broke across  Felicity’s face and still holding the hairbrush she stroked the back of it with her other hand. He felt queasiness in his stomach at the prospect of once more being forced face down onto the bed.

“Yes Lady Charlotte.” he lied, confirming Lady Charlotte’s accusation and hoped he sounded convincing enough.

“I am so glad you agree and now that you have seen the error of your ways you will obviously wish to correct them?” Lady Charlotte said tilting her head slightly and arching her eyebrows in an inquisitorial way.

His eyes were fixed on Felicity, who was gently slapping the hairbrush into the palm of her hand, an action which disturbed him greatly.

“Aubrey! are you listening?” Lady Charlotte said in a sharp voice and he quickly returned his gaze to the older woman. The sound of the Felicity’s hairbrush slapping into the palm of her hand meant that once more there could only be one answer.

“Yes Lady Charlotte. I wish to correct my ways.” he repeated in a low and shameful voice..

“Excellent I am delighted you have come to your senses” the tone of her voice softening noticeably at his answer, she ran her hands down her bodice and over the skirt of her gown as she continued her lecture “You see, ladies bodies over generations have been restrained by voluminous and restrictive clothing and this has forced us to develop a more strategic view of life in order to achieve our long term aims. We have also acquired a more gracious, polite and courteous perspective on life and many of us believe if the male sex had a fraction of feminine sensibility the world would be a far better place. So fear not my dear boy, once you are confined in similar garments to ours your behaviour will undergo a most beneficial transformation both for you and your dear mother.”

Aubrey swallowed hard as he watched Felicity remove a satin gold coloured gown from the dress frame.

“Once you are in this” she beamed as she held the heavy gown up to him and unable to control her excitement continued “there will be no more strutting and stomping about the house in that horrible masculine manner of yours.” she gloated as her dress brushed against his petticoats “oh no, from now on you will be taught how to move gracefully in your skirts and petticoats, how to sit and rise form a seat gracefully, how to curtsy properly and many other elegant and charming feminine gestures. Now raise your arms like a good boy, mother and I wish to put you into your very first gown.”

Like a frightened child he meekly obeyed and remained silent as the two women slipped the heavy material over his arms and head. Felicity arranged the skirt over his petticoats while her mother pulled back the bodice and began buttoning him into new satin prison. He gasped as Lady Charlotte tugged at the buttons and felt his torso being squeezed once more.

“Yes it is rather tight fitting my dear” she said hearing his sharp intake of breath “almost like a second corset but this style is all the fashion these days. If we mere women can tolerate such minor inconveniences then I’m sure this will pose little difficulty to a rugged and macho boy like you.”

Felicity finished arranging the skirt of the gown and arrayed the substantial train to her satisfaction.

Both women then stood back and surveyed their work.

“Oh Mother he looks divine.” Felicity blurted as she clasped her hands to her bosom.

“Yes my dear simply delightful but then I always knew he would.” her mother replied, she stepped forward and took his face in her hands “you have such delicate features my boy, just like your dear mother. With a little powder, a touch of face cream and some colouring for those wonderful lips of yours I am sure you will look even more feminine.”

Aubrey winced at the remark but this went unnoticed by the ladies and after a few minutes of making minor adjustments to his gown Felicity made her way to the dressing table where she busied herself choosing various cosmetics.

“Well come along boy” Felicity snapped as she stood holding a jar of cream “we have to get you powdered and painted, we can’t have our new girl going about without her make-up.”

His stomach, even though laced into a confining female corset, lurched at her comment. He had witnessed his mother having her face made up by her maid and was vaguely familiar with the various jars and bottles arranged on the dressing room table and dreaded the result.

He began to walk towards her but after a step or two forgetting that he was now restricted by the unfamiliar long and unwieldly layers of petticoats and skirts he stumbled, luckily there was a chair close by and he was able to stop himself from falling over. Seeing his difficulty Lady Charlotte came to his aid.

“Not as easy as we ladies make it look, now is it?” she said taking hold of his arm and steadying him. “I see you shall require a great deal of instruction with all aspects of feminine deportment. The gown may be a fraction too long, sit down and I will change your boots to a higher heel.”

He tried to sit down but found even this simple act difficult as his bulky skirts and large train conspired against him. Felicity observed his  comical attempts at the manoeuvre with a mixture of contempt and disappointment.

“You really are a silly goose.” Felicity admonished him as she left the dressing table to render assistance. “You gather your skirts and train in your left hand and draw them around your left leg and then slowly lower yourself onto the chair.”

She demonstrated the movement herself and the silence was broken as the swishing of the satin, silk and taffeta of her gown and petticoats filled the room like an aural perfume, the ease and gracefulness  with which she performed the action somehow managed to make him feel even more foolish. After a number of failed attempts which both amused and exasperated his new teacher he eventually managed to seat himself on the chair although his bustle and corset made his usual masculine reclining posture impossible and he was forced to sit bolt upright in a very ladylike fashion.

“Now arrange your skirts and train neatly around your feet.” she continued his lesson and watched him carefully as he carried out her commands.

“That’s a good boy.” she said her voice dripping with condescension and as if to emphasise her superior status she patted him on the head “a little more training and you shall make the most adorable girl. Isn’t that so Mother?”

“Yes dear I’m sure he will but please remember it not about him being “adorable” as you put it, the real purpose of the exercise is for the boy to acquire a far greater appreciation of and respect for the female sex.” Lady Charlotte answered without raising her eyes from inspecting various items of footwear which she had retrieved from the large walk-in closet. Having chosen a pale pink pair of buttoned-up ankle boots with a three inch heel she sailed across the room and addressed him directly “You may not realise it now Aubrey but this really is for your own good, mark my words in the coming days and weeks you will receive an education that will benefit you more than anything you will ever learn at university. You will gain knowledge and understanding that eludes the vast majority of your sex, you will learn what life is really like for a woman of our class and breeding. It is a life that demands we set an example to the lower orders and  the servant class and as such our appearance and manners must at all times be impeccable

Aubrey sat stiffly in his corset listened quietly and respectfully as she delivered her lecture, his hands resting on his satin covered lap. To interrupt or protest would only invite Lady Charlotte’s ire and by now he was only too well aware what that would lead to and he had no wish to reacquaint his buttocks with her or Felicity’s hairbrush. So despite his anger, resentment and shame at being punished by a mere girl and forcibly dressed as a member of the opposite sex he swallowed his bitter pill and remained silent while Lady Charlotte continued but not before reprimanding him,

“Aubrey please keep your knees together you are dressed as a lady not a tart.” she chided him, under his skirts he quickly obeyed and drew his knees together, Lady Charlotte resumed her sermon,

“We live in a modern age and for the past number of years women have been allowed to own and control their own money and property and as such are independent of overbearing, controlling and chauvinistic male family members. As I said yesterday your recent behaviour indicates that you are in danger of becoming yet another despicable and obnoxious example of the male sex. We need to save you from yourself.

 Your mother and I are part of a large circle of such ladies, our experience of men has been abysmal and we have no wish to either repeat this experience or allow our daughters suffer the same fate. The men we married were reprobates, scoundrels, womanisers, ill-mannered, and occasionally violent beasts. Now you would not want your daughter to marry someone like that now would you?”

He could see her demeanour and colour had changed and despite her calm exterior he detected she was barely containing a deep sense of repressed anger. The warm cheeks of his derrière instinctively prompted him,

“Oh no Lady Charlotte.” he squeaked, hoping he sounded genuine and after a moment or two she  quickly regained her composure.

“I’m glad you agree.” she said now suitably assured of his deference to her views, her voice a little calmer now she smoothed a minor wrinkle in the skirt of his gown before resuming “so you see Aubrey a male who is considerate, respectful, courteous, genteel and above all one who has empathy with women would have an outstanding advantage over any other male. You would be welcomed as an enlightened and modern thinking male in the houses and estates of the most powerful, influential and wealthiest ladies in the country. You would be the toast of female society, the envy of most other members of your sex – the world would be your oyster and your mother would be extremely pleased at the prospect of her only son being so highly thought of by such ladies. So I’m sure you can see why you need to be educated in all aspects of the feminine realm.”

Aubrey was very well aware that his mother, like all matriarchs, was constantly trying to introduce him to the daughters of her friends something up to now he had managed to avoid. The mothers were ghastly, overbearing and oppressive ladies, not badly unlike Lady Charlotte and he doubted if their daughters were much better. However under his present circumstances he was certain to utter such opinions would only invite a swift, painful and a most humiliating rebuke. He swallowed hard and nodded.

“Yes ….”he said quietly “I think so Lady Charlotte.”

“Splendid! I am so glad you have come to your senses and there will be no need for another lesson with the hairbrush.” she replied warmly however he noticed Felicity looked a little disappointed. “Now my dear let’s get your face made-up”

 Felicity and her mother set about their task with relish, they talked at length about what powder would best suits his colouring and there was a slight disagreement about the best colour for his eye shadow Lady Charlotte overruling her daughter’s choice saying it looked too garish. For what seemed like an hour but was probably considerably less both women debated various colours and styles until finally the colour of his lips was the last question to be decided.

“Well Mother at the very least you must agree his lips should be scarlet red.” Felicity said.

“Felicity” her mother gave an exasperated sigh “we wish the boy to look like a lady of breeding not a streetwalker.” her mother argued “I feel a rose pink would be a much more appropriate colour for such a dainty creature. What do you think Aubrey?”

He had long ago ceased listening to the women as he fretted about what he would look like. He could sense the texture of his skin change as the various creams and powders filled every pore on his face.

“Aubrey!” Lady Charlotte said in an exasperated tone “are you listening?”

He looked at both women blankly before she continued.

“Your lip colouring, my dear? Scarlett Red as Felicity suggests or the Rose Pink which in my view would be far more discreet and ladylike. Which would you prefer?”

After all the humiliations they had put him through now they wanted him to humiliate himself by picking a colour to decorate his lips. He knew from his own experience that women with red lips received more attention that those who painted their lips a more subdued colour- and more attention was the last thing he wanted. He knew he had to pick one quickly if he wished to avoid Lady Charlotte’s ire, he also knew the older woman was the more powerful of the two and he felt it more prudent to agree with her.  

“The Rose Pink………. I think.” he said in a hesitant voice.

“And why is that?” Felicity snapped, obviously annoyed that he agreed with her mother’s suggestion.

Aubrey immediately recognised Felicity’s displeasure and at this moment he felt he needed to make friends and not enemies. Being forced to wear ladies clothing was humiliating enough but now he was being compelled to justify his choice of ladies cosmetics.

“I feel the Rose Pink suits my colouring better.” he lied, a burning shame ran through his body as he heard his own words.

“Well……” Felicity began as she examined his face and after a few moments said grudgingly “perhaps you are right, you may make a reasonable girl after all. Now pucker those lips like a good girl.”

He winced at her assertion but obeyed and she expertly brushed the liquid onto his pouting lips, both then stood back to admire their handiwork.

“Mmmm….. reasonably acceptable I suppose.” she declared “ but you are a lucky boy, you have inherited your mother’s wonderful cheek bones such a pity your hair is not a bit longer but that can be easily overcome if required. Now lift your petties and raise your right foot.” Lady Charlotte instructed him as she took his new boots in her hand and positioned a foot stool in front of him.

The boots reached almost halfway up his calf and it took several minutes for them to button the boots when they had finished he felt as if his lower legs were now also in corsets.

“Stand up.” Felicity ordered as she removed the stool and spoke to her mother “Mother, he really should have his own maid for dressing and undressing. We cannot be on hand three of four times a day to dress and undress him and it is servant’s work after all.”

Aubrey became alarmed at her suggestion but was afraid to voice his protest, the thought of a maidservant witnessing his dilemma was excruciating and as he raised himself from the chair he once more felt several kilos of female clothing weigh him down. He stood there in front of them while they continued their inspection and made suggestions as to improvements they could make.

“Yes I suppose you are right, he really does need a girl to look after him, perhaps one of the housemaids for the time being but we can discuss that later with Miss Bristlestrap.” her mother answered as she fussed with his gown. Again he wanted to object but felt this was not the most opportune time. Lady Charlotte took his shoulders and turned him around. “Now have a look at yourself in the mirror I think you will be pleased.”

Pleased was not the word Aubrey would have used, he had caught glimpses of himself in several mirrors while they forced him into his new feminine clothing but now standing in front of a full length mirror he was faced with the full horror of their work. He barely recognised his face, he was not a girl but nor could he be described as a boy as not only had the cosmetics transformed his face the corset and false bosom gave him a decidedly feminine figure. They continued to gaze at him, inviting a response to their artwork. He smiled weakly which did not go unnoticed by his tormentors.

“As your education in the art of femininity continues dear boy you will discover that we ladies are mistresses of illusion.” Lady Charlotte said “we make our waists smaller and our bosoms larger by corsetry, our hair lighter or darker by dyes, our faces turned into works of art by powders and creams and many other feminine artifices which you will soon have the pleasure of learning. A little bit frightening to the male perhaps but we ladies greatly enjoy it, as my dear friend Mr. Wilde is fond of saying “Illusion is the first of all pleasures. Now let us see if your new boots have made a difference, walk to the door and back.”

He began his journey across the room, Felicity had given up her post guarding his escape route but it did not matter as he finally accepted that even if he could escape there was no hiding place now that he was dressed in such feminine finery. He was trapped and everyone in the room knew it, this realisation seemed to increase the weight of the gown and unwieldly petticoats. He tried to make his way across the room with as much dignity as he could muster however the drag of the gown’s heavy train combined with the height and tightness of his new footwear caused him to mince in a most unmanly fashion. The sound of rustling petticoats merely served to amplify his new feminised state. Once at the door he almost toppled over trying to gather his train behind him.

“Simply dreadful, Mother.” Felicity shook her head and snorted derisively at his feeble attempt.

“Now dear.” her mother gently rebuked her daughter “remember just a year or two ago when you graduated to long dresses and corsets, it took you a few days to come to terms with the intricacies walking in a graceful and feminin way.”

Felicity looked slightly sullen but said nothing, her mother glided gracefully across the room, her hips under the heavy silk of her exquisite gown rolled gently like a ship in a gentle ocean swell. Once she came alongside her protégé- for that is what she now considered him to be- she showed him how to gather his skirts in a deft and polished movement and arrange the train before turning his body.

“It will take you some time to grasp the finer points of parading in a gown with a train, in retrospect perhaps it was not the wisest selection for your first gown. Something a little less complicated would be better. Come along Felicity I think the ivory silk which I wore last year would be a better choice.”

The women began the process of unbuttoning the boy from his gown and soon left him standing in his hated petticoats. He now felt even more vulnerable and insecure and perversely he wished they would quickly put on his new gown.

“Oh yes Mother it is delightful, so soft and feminine.” Felicity squealed in delight at her mother’s choice. He felt mentally drained and exhausted from his ordeal and it was still only late morning, as Lady Charlotte approached such was his mental state that without having to be instructed he meekly raised his arms allowing her to place it over his head.  

“I’m so glad you are being co-operative.” Lady Charlotte said clearly impressed with his submissiveness as she and Felicity placed his new gown over his arms and settled it over his corseted torso.

“He finally seems to have learned his lesson.” her daughter said in a triumphant voice as she helped smooth the ivory silk of the gown’s skirt over his petticoats.

 “This really is the most gorgeous gown Aubrey, you will simply love it.” her mother gushed as she adjusted his sleeves. “and as it does not have a train it will allow you much more freedom.”

Freedom he screamed to himself I’m imprisoned in these horrible clothes and trussed up like a doll in a shop window and she thinks this is freedom.

“Now let me see you try walking once more.” Lady Charlotte said interrupting his thoughts.

He set off once more towards the other side of the room, the absence of an unwieldly train made his trek much easier however his new high heeled boots necessitated him taking a more cautious and shortened stride than a male would normally take. Once he reached the door he managed to turn around without any of his previous problems but because his petticoats extended his gown so much he had to wait until they settled before resuming his return.

“Oh dear!” Felicity sighed in a scornful voice.

“Felicity!” her mother snapped a rebuke to her daughter. She approached the boy with a supporting smile on her matronly face, their dresses meeting in a cackle of soft feminine fabrics as she held out her arms to embrace him and in a very soft voice said “Pay no attention to her dear boy, you did remarkably well under the circumstances.”

As they embraced she patted him gently on the back and then kissed him tenderly on the cheek before asking,

“You found the gown easier to manage without a train?”

He could only nod his agreement. Even in his confused and disorientated state he could see that she was very genuine in her appreciation of his efforts, he also took comfort that she reprimanded her own daughter so sharply. He became overcome with emotion and began to sob.

“There…there., dear boy” Lady Charlotte comforted him offering him her lace handkerchief, “it’s all right to cry, something else men should learn to do more often.”

“I think we should also change Felicity. Why don’t you get your delightful pale green gown from your room, the one with the ruffled lace at the neckline and cuffs , we can dress together.” Lady Charlotte said as she rang a bell on her bedside table.

Moments later a uniformed maid arrived, Aubrey recognised her as Lucy Lady Charlotte’s personal maid.

“You rang m’lady.” the maid said as she bobbed a curtsey

“Lucy as it will be lunch time shortly, Miss Felicity and I will change before we go downstairs.” Lady Charlotte said as she turned to walk into her closet to choose an afternoon gown leaving Aubrey alone with the servant girl. The maid, in her smart black uniform of a high necked black dress with a ruffled white collar and cuffs and the small frilled apron that separated a lady’s maid from a housemaid, regarded the strange sight of the boy in the beautiful silk ivory gown, a gown  she had dressed her mistress in several times.  Although the maid did not say or do anything that indicated any amusement or even surprise at his humiliating plight, Aubrey could plainly see that her eyebrows were visibly raised at the sight before her and he was sure he detected a nascent grin form at the corner or her mouth.

“Come along Lucy.” Lady Charlotte called to her maid from the closet “……and bring Master Aubrey he has a lot to learn.”

“If I may say that gown suits you wonderfully……Master Aubrey.” the maid said, her voice dripping with contempt as she stepped forward  her eyes now dancing with laughter and smoothed an imaginary wrinkle in the dress  and whispered “You look almost as pretty as the mistress did when she wore it to the Embassy Ball last month.”

He burned with humiliation at her remarks but did not respond.

“I really don’t think you need a valet to dress you now.” she whispered sarcastically in his ear referring to his refusal to let her attend him when he first arrived. “a well-trained lady’s maid will have you looking like a proper young lady from the moment you wake up in the morning until the moment you retire. Whomever the mistress’s chooses to be your maid will be a very lucky girl. Now I think we better attend the mistress…don’t you?”

Lady Charlotte had chosen a light silver gown of silk with a delicate pattern of tiny flowers with a deep pleated peach coloured hem and as she laid it on the bed Felicity entered carrying her own gown.

“Lucy will undress me and you will assist her.” Lady Charlotte informed Aubrey who was still becoming used to the restrictive nature of his new feminine attire.

“But… I ….” Aubrey stammered

“Aubrey if it is a question of male embarrassment at seeing a lady in her underwear, please banish that thought from that tiny male brain of yours.” Lady Charlotte said “I no longer consider you a vile, licentious, unprincipled male- you may well have been that up to recently- but as we have agreed you are now committed to changing your ways and becoming a more civilised, considerate and  gracious person. In short – I now look on you as a second daughter. Now please hurry up and unbutton me, we do not have all day.”

“Start here at the top Master Aubrey.” Lucy helpfully said pointing to the button at the nape of her mistress’s neck. “and when you have finished you may unbutton the sleeves.”

As he began his task he could see Felicity and Lucy grinning at him in the mirror, Lady Charlotte unaware of this continued speaking to him.

“You can learn a lot from assisting a lady to dress or undress, you become aware of their little idiosyncrasies....” she said as he finished unbuttoning her sleeves “that’s a good girl, now pull own the gown over my petticoats so I can step out of it.”

His corset ensured he had to lower himself slowly and his bulky petticoats made his task even more difficult, Lucy placed Lady Charlotte’s new gown over her head and instructed Aubrey to button up the back and as he did so Lady Charlotte continued,

“As I was saying Aubrey the act of dressing and undressing a lady is a very intimate process and must be undertaken with great care and delicacy. Participating in this…this … I suppose you could describe it as a… ritual, will greatly enhance your understanding of the gentle sex and increase your empathy and appreciation for the preparation we undertake in order to make ourselves presentable.”

“Almost perfect m’lady, I’m not sure any of the housemaids could have done a better job, he has very nimble fingers …for a male. Lucy said smiling sweetly at him as she made some minor modifications and corrections to the skirt of the gown.

Aubrey blushed at her remark, convinced that it was not meant as a compliment but a well disguised gibe.

“Yes mother he is quite adept at such a feminine task perhaps with the proper training he would make an excellent lady’s maid.” Felicity giggled as she agreed with the maid.

Aubrey’s cheeks became quite crimson from a mixture of humiliation and anger…….and fear. Did they know something of his past only a few people had knowledge of?  If their remarks had been made the previous day when he was dressed as a man he would have berated his two persecutors with a tirade of abuse or perhaps even a physical assault but now dressed as a girl and with little appreciable physical strength to assert himself he had little option but to suffer their sneering and scornful remarks in the silence of his feminised humiliation.

This exchange did not go unnoticed by Lady Charlotte who held her arms outstretched inviting him into the comfort of her embrace.

“Pay no attention Aubrey there is no need to feel ashamed you were wonderful, they are only teasing you.” Lady Charlotte consoled the boy in a most sympathetic tone “That’s what girls do when they are jealous of girls who are more attractive. Now come here dear boy”

Aubrey did not know whether it was their mocking, his total helplessness due to his forced imprisonment in female clothing or lack of male vigour and assertiveness  but he suddenly became emotional and could feel tears welling up inside. It was all becoming too much and he began sobbing like a girl, the girl they had forced him to become. He ran girlishly to the comfort of her arms and she held him close, the skirts of their gowns merging as she guided his head onto the softness of her ample bosom.

“There…there…, you just let it all out.”  she consoled him as she stroked his hair, she dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief “it’s all part of your learning experience. Ladies often feel frustrated, disheartened and even angered by perceived slights and insults from the opposite sex.”

“But…..I ……they said…..”he blubbered as she  continued,

“Our gender has developed wonderful strategies to deal with life’s little trials and tribulations. And a little cry now and then will allow you to cope with your continuing education in all things feminine. Now don’t you feel better?”

He nodded but still felt angry, annoyed and humiliated but for some strange and illogical reason had to admit that he also felt calmer and sensed that his little breakdown may have endeared him further to Lady Charlotte and this may work to his advantage. Perhaps, as he thought earlier, if she feels he is making progress he may even escape with only a day or two dressed in these ridiculous clothes?

After comforting him Lady Charlotte left him for a few minutes to check on Felicity who was being dressed by Lucy.

At least when they go downstairs I will get some peace he said to himself as he watched Lady Charlotte fuss over the bustle of Felicity’s gown.

“Much better.” he heard Lady Charlotte say as she finished her inspection of her daughter.

Both she and Felicity glided elegantly across the room and positioned themselves either side of the boy.

“Well come along Aubrey.” Lady Charlotte chirped as she smoothed the skirts of her gown “time to present you to the domestic staff.”

Aubrey felt a sickening lurch in the pit of his corseted stomach. Having the servants see him dressed like this would be mortifying in the extreme.

“Oh …no please…please not that.” he snivelled as mother and daughter grasped him firmly by the elbows and firmly guided him from the room. Felicity whispered in his ear,

“Careful you don’t trip on your skirts and look foolish in front of the servants.”