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.”
