I thought I would have had this chapter finished sooner but
it took much longer than I had expected, getting a few hours together to write is becoming more and more difficult -so
thanks for your patience. As always, I am grateful to those who were kind
enough to comment and also to those who ticked the more box, it’s great to know
that people share a similar taste to mine and enjoy what I post.
It’s wonderful to see readers like Guinevere’s debut piece,
not an easy thing to put your own work in front of the public so I’m delighted
it’s got a positive reaction and rightly so because it’s a really good story.
I’m not really sure if this chapter will live up to your
expectations as it probably goes on too long (I rewrote it twice and I’m still
not sure it’s right- nothing new about that I suppose) but as usual I have no
clear-cut plan for Aubrey and as such this process tends to take on a life of
its own.
The poor boy is suffering so much I may put him out of his
misery quite soon.
I’ve only had the chance to re-read t this once and I think
I’ve caught and corrected all the typos and other errors if not apologies, so
hopefully you’ll enjoy this chapter and the accompanying illustration.
Take care.
Carrie
A Very
Victorian Education
Chapter 7
I see it all perfectly; there are two
possible situations- one can either do this or that. My honest opinion is this:
do it or do not do it – you will regret both.
Soren
Kierkegaard
Sleep had now become
Aubrey St Clair’s best friend, his place of refuge, free from a world where he
was now subjected to a humiliation that no youth should ever have to endure. It
was in this unconscious state that for a few hours each day he could escape the
reality of his new life, a life that bore no resemblance to that of any other young
man. For these few hours he lay peacefully in the embrace of Hypnos, here he could gain a little but by no means total
respite from the persecution of female clothing, from silk chemises and
restricting corsets to rustling petticoats and satin gowns. For these were the feminine garments he was
now forced to wear on a daily basis. Mortifying as wearing these clothes were,
it was only one aspect of his torment, being subjected to the authority of a
Governess who revelled in what she referred to as Petticoat Discipline was even
more of a humiliation. To add insult to injury this horrible state of
affairs was being played out in front of the exclusively female domestic staff
all of whom were well aware of the plight and discomfort of their mistress’s
guest and took every opportunity to subtly add to his ignominy with their
barely disguised snide and sarcastic remarks. This bizarre and outrageous turn of events had
been instigated by Lady Charlotte de Winter who just very recently had been
installed in locum parentis by his
mother while she was away visiting relatives.
While asleep however,
he was free of these torments and he looked forward to entering this blissful
state but even before he could avail of this temporary relief he had to undergo
a ghastly night-time beauty regimen- which his Governess had informed him -
every lady regardless of age had to adhere to. But sleep never came quickly
enough, the soft folds of his silk nightgown enveloping his body acted a
reminder of the loss of his masculinity. This night like all the others since
his arrival in this house he laid awake tossing and turning, watching the
shafts of light from the streetlamps move across the ceiling as he tried to block
out some of the worst excesses of recent days. He really could not decide which
part of his day was the most mortifying.
“Why do they have to oversee every part of my life?” he said
quietly to himself as he recalled the almost military-like ceremony that took
place every night before he was allowed to retire.
This always began by stripping him to his chemise before his
hair, which was almost shoulder length (a fashion choice he now deeply
regretted), was brushed one hundred times by one of the maids after which she
would then supervise him as he moisturised his hands with scented lotion for several minutes. He
was then instructed to sit in front of the dressing table mirror and apply
various creams and balms to his face, a procedure he was assured would greatly
benefit his skin. The maid always took great care in instructing him how to
best to perform this routine and despite her obvious amusement she nevertheless
took her duties very seriously and was most conscientious in helping him carry
out this process. A different maid would attend him each evening and each
servant had a similar yet distinct approach, Hilda was very businesslike and
forceful when she brushed his hair whereas Sarah and Rita were less overbearing
and though remaining quite formal they did show him a little kindness.
Much as he hated to admit it he did enjoy having his hair
brushed particularly by Sarah who was always gentle while using the solid
silver brushes and when his Governess was absent for a few moments she seemed
most sympathetic to his predicament. He squirmed with pleasure at this
recollection, his hands ran over the extremely soft silk material of his
nightgown and he writhed with what he knew was an extremely shameful pleasure.
This made him blush with guilt and he was glad the lamps had been extinguished.
These sensations also triggered a conflict in the boy’s head and he felt a
rational male voice inside struggling to gain ascendency over the sensuous
current running through his body.
“Idiot!” the inner male voice barked. “You are beginning to like
the feeling of this material, no man should enjoy this ultra-feminine material
caressing their body- you are being pulled into their feminine orbit. Get a
grip-It is vital for the sake of your very masculinity that you resist
these temptations.”
“But I am.” he replied quietly, almost afraid that he was
not alone and someone might hear him talking to himself.
“It doesn’t seem like that to me.” the reply came back
“Lying there luxuriating in your silk and satin nightgown just like a girl and
enjoying having your hair brushed
...again like a girl. And another thing........”
Aubrey sighed as the masculine voice in his head raged on,
“You have showed almost no male pride, you should have
resisted from the start. Remember that first night..... you could have least
have tried ......”
Of course the voice was correct, he closed his eyes and
recalled the events of recent nights.
***********************************************************************
He wasn’t sure if this
particular occurrence was on the second or third night, his experiences since
he arrived at this house had distorted his sense of time but in reality- what
did that matter now? All that now mattered was that he should strive to retain
some semblance of his masculinity while giving the impression that he was
conforming to Lady Charlotte’s aspirations for him and his Governess’s
enforcement of her perverted desires. Lady Charlotte had enacted a fiendish
scheme which robbed him of his male strength and he was now physically
incapable of resisting these women as they forced him to dress and behave like
a female.
The most humiliating
of these nights began as usual,he had gone through the ritual of moisturising
and then cleansing his skin, removing all traces of the lotions with a soft
cotton cloth. He tried to stand up and make his way to the bed but Hilda firmly
kept him seated at the dressing table, her strong hand on his shoulder easily
restraining him..
“Not so fast young man.”
Alice, his Governess, said sharply as she signalled to Hilda “You should know
by now that your hair needs to be brushed the before retiring for the night.
You seem to be forgetting some of the basic principles of the feminine beauty
regimen. Now tell me how many times should a lady’s hair be brushed before bed?”
Perplexed and more
than a little unnerved by his Governess’s brusque reprimand the boy desperately
tried to remember what he had been told about this particular part of his
nightly ritual.
“I ...ah ... emm.
..I ”he stammered.
Alice momentarily
closed her eyes and gently shook her head from side to side in an unmistakable
demonstration of her dismay, deep inside he knew he had committed some obscure
offence. He felt a familiar panic begin to take hold. After looking at the forlorn
boy for what seemed like an age his Governess finally addressed him.
“Oh dear.” Alice
sighed, the sound of disappointment in her voice was clearly evident. “After
all my efforts I really had hoped you would have absorbed at least the most
elementary aspects of a young lady’s hair and beauty regimen. I fear you have
not learned anything under my tutelage and furthermore you are either being
extremely lazy regarding your lessons or being deliberately obstinate, her
ladyship would be most displeased if this was the case.”
“Some of them tend to
rebel after a day or two Miss Alice.” Hilda added unhelpfully before he had
time to defend himself.
Both women pressed
closer, so close that that the sound of his Governess’s rustling petticoats
overwhelmed his aural senses. Even now, as fearful as he was and much to his
eternal shame, he knew her accusation that he had not learned anything was
false. During the many arduous hours in her company he had been subjected to
the sound of her -and as much as he hated to admit- his own swishing
petticoats. He could now tell with the assured certainty of a natural female the
material of a woman’s petticoats from the distinctive sounds made as she made
her across the room. He even felt confident enough to accurately guess the
number of petticoats worn by said female, this particular skill was acquired
from knowledge Alice had implanted in him in lengthy lessons on female
deportment and fashion. He wished he could
speak up and tell her this, but now as she stood beside him, the rich
velvet of her gown distended by three petticoats of fine linen, silk and
taffeta brushing against his silk chemise- he was once again lost for words. The
last few days had taught him that if there was one thing worse than being
dressed in female clothing in the presence of women it was being in a state of
undress- attired in only a corset and chemise. He sat between the two imposing
figures nervously fingering the silk material of his undergarment, a look of
utter subjugation etched on his boyish face. There was not the merest hint of
rebellion from the confused and bewildered young man, he so desperately wanted
to tell her he had learned many lessons but his anxiety would not allow the
words to form. His only thoughts now were to avoid any punishment that his
Governess may wish to impose.
“But
....I’m....I’m...not....”he gulped
“Yes Hilda, they may
be inclined to resist the efforts of
their tutors.” Alice agreed with the maid’s observations “but it changes
nothing and only causes more unnecessary hardship for the poor darlings.”
Her fingers caressed
his cheek as she tilted her head slightly and her eyes gazed intently into his.
“I do hope you are not one of those boys
Aubrey? A boy who fails to heed his Governess? A boy who refuses the help and
support to become a better person? ........A disobedient boy?”
“Oh no Miss Alice.”
the fretful youth blurted, the panic swelling within him.
He was only too eager
to please her as his mind immediately recalled his first day under her control
when she had produced a horrible thin cane. She had said nothing but merely stroked
it before laying it across the satin quilt on his bed. A very subtle message of
course and one which was not lost on him, so much so that the image now loomed
large inside his head.
“I am so glad to hear it.” she replied,
giving him a gentle smile as she continued to stroke his cheek, however he was
far from reassured by her smiling countenance as she quickly added “I find there
is nothing more disagreeable than an unruly ..........girl...........”
She stopped for an
instant, allowing the word ‘girl’ hang in the air before patting his cheek
gently as if to emphasise her point before continuing.
“Yes.... an unruly and
obstinate girl will severely test her Governess’s patience, such conduct in a
young lady is most disappointing .......naturally
such behaviour should and must be discouraged. Do you know how I discourage such
girls Aubrey?
From nowhere a cane
appeared in Hilda’s hand, wordlessly she handed it to Alice who tapped it
gently against her bulky skirts. The only sound to be heard in the room was the
clock ticking and the gentle swhish of the cane against her skirts. He looked at
the cane and a horrible vision immediately flashed into his brain. In his
mind’s eye he could see himself being
forced to bend over the bed wearing nothing but his silk chemise, his face
pressed into the satin quilt as his Governess applied several strokes of the
cane to his buttocks with only the soft silk material of his chemise protecting
them. He had been caned many times at his school and he could still hear the
whistle of the cane as it whipped through the air and landing with the most
fearsome crack on his bare flesh. The pain and humiliation were seared into his
brain and such was his fear that he would do anything to avoid a repetition of
the experience.
He gazed beseechingly
at his Governess, the dread he now felt far outweighed the shame of being
dressed as a girl and he was prepared to do or say anything to avoid such a painful
and humiliating punishment. The words formed in his mouth.
“With the...the...
cane , Miss Alice.” he said quietly as the sound of his heart beating in his
chest now competed with the ticking of the clock.
“What a clever girl
you are Aubrey.” she replied as he looked at her blankly, his eyes transfixed
on the cane being gently tapped against her skirts. “I do hope you don’t mind me referring to you as a girl.”
He hesitated briefly,
her eyes narrowed and the cane in her hand suddenly became more agitated. His
knees became weak and he felt his heart quicken as he saw Hilda draw closer.
“Oh no... not at all
Miss Alice.” he blurted.
“Excellent I’m so glad
to hear that.” she said. “it will make things so much easier for all of us.”
The smile returned to
Alice’s face, her head tilted slightly and her eyes widened a little as she fixed
them on his with an intensity he had not experienced before.
“But I suppose the
real question is.......... are you an obedient
girl Aubrey?” she asked as she bent down and gently stroked his face with her
handle of the cane. Her warm sweet breath wafted onto his face and her delicate
floral perfume invaded his nostrils, both could sense the coup de grâce was
imminent and utterly unavoidable.
Aubrey’s brain was in turmoil, he had hoped she would have been
satisfied with the answer to her original question, mortifying as it was, and finally put an end this ghastly interrogation.
But no! his shameful admission only served to reinforce his position and
sensing his vulnerability now required yet another humiliating acknowledgement of his new status.
It was indeed yet another horrible situation he now found himself in but the
look in her eyes and the feel of the smooth cold cane on his face quickly persuaded
him that shame and submission was by far preferable to the alternative. The
only way to prevent a painful and ignominious punishment was to profess his
submissiveness as her docile and feminised pupil.
“I am.....”he hesitated momentarily and swallowed hard before continuing “.... an obedient girl Miss
Alice.” he breathed, his dread of the cane yet again conquering the
mortification he was enduring.
An unmistakable broad smile of satisfaction broke out across Alice’s
handsome features, the same face which moments earlier had instilled panic and
foreboding in the boy was now one of restrained triumph.
“I am delighted to hear you say this Aubrey.” Alice said softly, her
voice now light and easy.The cane had already disappeared from view as quickly
as it had appeared. His admission had its intended effect, the atmosphere the
room was completely transformed as she continued “I... we all have become very
fond of you and it would be such a great pity if there was
some....unpleasantness. Now let’s get you ready for bed.”
The youth felt a surge
relief as she withdrew with a rustle of petticoats and watched as she and Hilda
busied themselves at one of the tallboys. After a minute or two Alice returned
and took both his hands in her own and smiled gently at him.
“Your acceptance of
your situation is most agreeable and shows a sign of your progress, I am
impressed and as a gesture of my confidence in your new found commitment to changing
your attitude I will allow you to choose your own nightwear.”
She gave him an encouraging
smile and returned to join Hilda, his heart skipped a beat he could not believe
his ears- finally he was to wear male clothing even if it was only a nightshirt.
They actually believed what I said, maybe
that’s all she wanted to hear the thought flashed through his mind and he
quickly tried to revaluate his situation. He felt a measure of confidence
return, now that he had managed to stave off her threats he tried to convince
himself perhaps he really did not make such humiliating admissions and even if
he had - they really did not mean anything. Maybe if he continued to feign submission to
her methods he may, just may, convince her and Lady Charlotte to abandon this
outrageous and bizarre experiment and return his male clothing. Maybe now that
Alice had humiliated him enough she would be content, maybe she and Lady
Charlotte had realised he had been tormented enough, maybe his mother was
returning tomorrow, maybe, maybe , maybe .....
“Come here Aubrey.” he
heard his Governess say, rousing him from his thoughts.
He made his way to the
bed and despite the soft silk of his chemise brushing against his legs his mood
was a little lighter in the knowledge he would at last have some male clothing
to wear, even if it was only a nightshirt.
As he arrived at the
bed both women parted and his face fell. Spread out on the deep satin quilt was
not a masculine nightshirt but several unmistakably feminine nightgowns, one
more feminine than the other.
“What’s wrong Master
Aubrey don’t you like them?” Hilda asked
a sly smile creasing her mouth. “They are simply gorgeous, her ladyship’s
favourites.”
Aubrey was speechless,
these are Lady Charlotte’s nightgowns. He stood there gazing at the ultra-
feminine nightwear, his mouth wide open as his brain tried to process this
unexpected turn of events.
“But.. I ....I
....thought I...you said....I mean.....”he babbled.
“Oh you thought you
were to choose male nightwear?” his Governess interrupted his gibberish
“whatever made you think that......you
silly girl! Before that can happen we
will require a lot of convincing that you have changed your ways, jettisoned
your abrasive and macho personality...and acquired a more feminine perspective.
Naturally we hope you will come to this conclusion of your own volition and through the education you are receiving,
just now I thought you were progressing but perhaps I was wrong and you require
a more........ physical approach. Should I have Hilda fetch the cane?”
“Oh ..no ..I was just.....I thought.....”he
blubbered, he could feel his heart racing and his palms beginning to sweat as
the spectre of the cane was raised once more “I am progressing Miss Alice....I really am.”
His Governess gazed at
him intently and he felt as if her eyes were burrowing into his mind and
reading his thoughts.
“You really should be
grateful and honoured that her ladyship is allowing you to wear one of her beautiful
nightgowns.” Alice said, not taking her eyes off him.
The threat of the cane
was now paramount in Aubrey’s mind and his priorities had changed once more to
avoiding being bent over and trashed by this imposing figure.
“Oh I am grateful.” he quickly replied,
putting every ounce of sincerity into his voice.
“Mmm I wonder ?” Alice
said not sounding too convinced but her face did not carry that dark look it
had earlier and she motioned to the bed “Very well I suppose I will give you
the benefit of the doubt, now choose your nightgown. Her ladyship says she
would like to see you before you retire for the night.”
Standing in his chemise Aubrey knew that he if
he did not display sufficient enthusiasm in choosing his nightgown he would
suffer the consequences. As he was now doing on a daily basis he swallowed his
pride and approached the bed where the maid had laid out three nightgowns with
matching peignoirs. So as not to arouse his Governess’s suspicion he studied
the garments and held them up to his body and tried to display sufficient
enthusiasm to assure Alice he was a reformed character. He finally choose what
he thought was the least worst option- a simple silk nightgown with pale blue
lace at the bodice and hem and the most hideously wide sleeves.
“I think this one is
really nice.” he lied and for good measure added “it’s a lovely colour.”
“Hmmm....” Alice mused,
her eyes scanning him for signs of insincerity “what do you think Hilda?”
“An understandable choice Miss Alice, it is very pretty,” the maid answered as
she inspected his preferred garment but he noticed her eyes were drawn to one
of the others, she picked one up and presented it to Alice “However I think
this salmon pink satin one would suit the young master so much better. It has a
much better cut around the bosom, don’t you think?........ and the yards of heavy
duchesse satin ....well...... it would be impossible not to feel extremely feminine in such a beautiful nightgown.”
Aubrey’s heart sank,
of all of them it was the one he most wanted to avoid.
“My thoughts exactly
Hilda.” Alice agreed and her eyes met his.
He knew immediately
his plan to avoid the hideously feminine nightgown had been easily detected by
both women and worse still his attempted deception had caused a crimson glow to
appear in his cheeks.
His Governess’s eyes
burrowed deep inside him. The room was quiet the only sound was the clock
ticking as loud as a military drum beat.
“I ...em...it is ....”
he tried to backtrack, his voice stumbling over his words.
“How could you not
choose this one!” Alice said in an inquisitorial tone “I do hope you are not
merely giving us the impression you have changed your ways – just to fob us
off.”
“Oh no Miss Alice,
it’s just that I was too hasty in choosing.” he said earnestly, it was a
statement that was largely true as he was now extremely fearful he would incur
her displeasure and her dreaded cane. “I’m just not used to choosing between
such beautiful garments.”
“Perhaps you have a
point.” Alice answered “but you should be aware that if I even suspect you are
not genuinely attempting to change your attitude and commit fully to Lady
Charlotte’s programme I will know
it. The male’s ability to mislead and deceive the female sex is greatly
diminished once he is stripped of his clothing and petticoated.”
Petticoated! The word
hung in the air and echoed in his brain.
Petticoated- He
silently repeated the word. It was a
horrid, dreadful and an excruciatingly demeaning phrase to be used about a
male, if you were that male of course. Naturally he had heard the term before
and even knew of a few boys who were subjected to the ghastly process. Indeed,
he had laughed derisively at the very idea of a male being forced into women’s
clothes. It was a preposterous notion and any male who allowed this to happen
to him deserved to wear – just like his newly acquired petticoats -this badge
of shame and humiliation. Like his friends he mocked and ridiculed these youths
but deep inside there was always a deep anxiety that one day he may become the
victim of such a appalling and nightmarish procedure.
This had now come to
pass and he really was living this nightmare. And out of this nightmare his
Governess’s voice called out brusquely.
“We are waiting.”
“The pink one” Aubrey
said weakly, his eyes fixed on the floor “I would like to wear the pink satin
one Miss Alice”
“A wise choice.” Alice
replied before addressing the maid “strip and milk him before her ladyship
arrives. It would be most unfortunate if he could not control his male
clitoris, it would cause serious embarrassment to the mistress.”
Hilda stepped forward
and led him to the bed, he remained still as she removed his chemise over his
head. He knew what was about to happen but also knew it would be useless to
protest. She sat him on the bed and looking him directly in the eyes fondled and gently squeezed his sexual organs with her
soft right hand, he was powerless to halt his member from growing and when it
had attained its full glory Hilda began squeezing it gently with a soft satin
quilted mitten. It only took a matter of seconds before he erupted into the
glove, she expertly drained every drop and cleaned the residue. The entire
shameful episode was over within a minute.
“So little self control.”Alice
sneered.
“Typical of the male
sex.” Hilda agreed in a disdainful voice as she inspected his penis to ensure
it was completely dry before disposing of the soiled mitten.
Aubrey was completely
subdued and obeyed the maid’s instructions as she slipped the heavy satin over
his head and helped his arms through the sleeves of the nightgown.
“Now once more, how many
times should a girl have her hair brushed before retiring for the night?” Alice
asked sharply.
“One hundred Miss.” he
answered quickly.
“Excellent.”Alice
trilled before instructing the maid, “Proceed Hilda.”
The maid led him back
to the dressing table and began brushing his hair with long steady strokes as
he called out the number and a broad smirk broke out across her face as she
performed her task with obvious glee.
After the hundredth stroke she stopped , quickly and
expertly she pulled his hair tightly into a bun. He watched as the figure of
his Governess appeared behind him in the mirror’s reflection and gasped with
horror as she produced the most hideous item.
It was a frilled pink satin hair bonnet she then proceeded to place it over
his head and tie it securely with an intricate knot. He was unable to conceal
his feeling of absolute horror.
“Yes it is such a wonderfully prissy
garment.” Alice said “but most effective for keeping one’s hair in the proper
and correct position. I suppose it also has the added feature of reminding the
wearer of just how feminine she is.”
As he knew only too
well any resistance to wearing this awful item would be futile and would merely
serve to inflict further and more painful punishment. He could only drop his
eyes in shame as Alice continued,
“You must remember
what I said earlier, once divested of their clothing males tend to lose the ability
to deceive the female sex. You should be aware I can hear it in a male’s voice when he is
lying, I can almost smell their deceit-
yes, even when I am not in the same room so you have to be extremely clever to
fool me, young man. Of course I really should punish you with the cane but I am
not completely hard hardhearted nevertheless you really need to be taught a
lesson, so you will wear this feminine headwear as yet another symbol of your
subjugation to the rule of the petticoat.”
As she adjusted the dreadful
bonnet she informed him it was to remain in place for the duration of the night
perhaps even longer if she was not satisfied he had learned his lesson, he was
told in no uncertain terms that if this item was interfered with his punishment
would be more severe . He could see that the knot the maid had tied was so
unusual that he would never be able to replicate it correctly so he could not
remove it even for a short time without being detected by his Governess. He
would be forced to wear the dreadful bonnet throughout the night to keep his
hair securely in position, naturally he felt this was a totally demeaning for a
young man and he actually felt like crying – but then again everything he was
now forced to wear was designed to be humiliating. As if he had not endured
enough humiliation for one evening the maid steered him to the full length
mirror where he could view the ghastly sight for himself.
“Splendid!” a familiar
voice called out from across the room.
He had not heard the
door open, the majestic figure of Lady Charlotte glided into the mirror’s
reflection the sound of her petticoats rustling like autumn leaves under her navy
taffeta gown.
“Such an adorable
vision!” she cooed clasping her hands to her breast “I just wish I could get
Felicity to wear something so sweet...so darling.”
“Aubrey.” Alice said
in a slightly brusque tone of voice.
With the threat of
further punishment still echoing in his head the boy knew exactly what was
expected of him and taking both sides of his nightgown in his hands he
curtsied.
“Thank you Lady
Charlotte.”
“Your Governess tells
me you are making progress and gaining knowledge of the feminine domain.” she
said smiling at the ridiculously clad male figure she then turned to Alice and continued
“he is familiar with all aspects of dressing and undressing?”
“Yes m’lady.” Alice
replied “As he will be wearing female clothing for the immediate future I have
instructed him such matters including the basic procedures in how to button and unbutton a gown as well
as lacing a corset. Obviously he requires much more time to become as
proficient as a natural female or a lady’s maid but he has potential and with
time I’m sure it will become second nature.”
“Very impressive
Alice” Lady Charlotte said as Alice curtsied, glowing in the praise of her
mistress. Lady Charlotte turned once more to Aubrey and slipped her arm under
his “I really must hear more of how you are progressing, my dear. My maid is
away for the evening and it would be a wonderful opportunity to put your new
knowledge into practice. I’m sure you don’t mind undertaking her duties and helping
me undress and prepare for bed.”
Aubrey was lost for
words and looked to his Governess for guidance. Alice merely smiled and said
“Make sure you lift
the skirts of your nightgown, we don’t want you to trip and make a fool of
yourself.”
With her arm now
firmly linked to his Lady Charlotte gently guided him towards the door.
“Shall I wait here and
put him to bed after you have finished with him m’lady.” Alice said as they
reached the bedroom door.
“That won’t be
necessary Alice.” Lady Charlotte said as she noisily gathered her bulky skirts
“there are certain aspects of his education that I should like to take care of
personally.......and in a more intimate setting.”
“I understand
perfectly m’lady” his Governess answered
The boy noticed a
knowing smile begin to form at the corners of Alice’s mouth and a look of
barely suppressed amusement on Hilda’s face. As he contemplated what this meant
he felt Lady Charlotte’s arm steer him out of the room.
“Now come along Aubrey
my dear, you have a lot to learn and I am just the woman to teach you.”
