Afternoon Tea with the Ladies

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

I know I’m very late posting this time but life has been so hectic both personal and work . I’m blessed with a patient readership so hopefully you will understand.

I hope the very short story below will do until the next post.

I had begun the next chapter of AVVE and was making decent progress but the idea of a prequel to An Hour in The Life kept popping into my head. And as you probably know by now I have the attention span of a fruit fly. So I suspended the AVVE chapter and began the prequel   which I thought would be about 3k words (approx double the original) at the moment it’s north of 7.5k but on the plus side it’s very close to completion. I had hoped last week end but realistically it will be next week end at the earliest as I have yet to begin the illustration.

However I resurrected a discarded illustration from A Suitable Position (at least I think I didn’t use it- if I did please let me know) and wrote a few hundred words to accompany it. The women are far too young but I didn’t have time to change them hopefully it won’t detract from the story.

Thank you once again for your patience.

Take care

Carrie

Afternoon Tea with the Ladies

By

CarrieP

William enjoys the benefits of living with his wealthy aunt as her companion but this comes at a price. He is never left out of her sight, is forbidden any contact with other males and must accompany her to every social function, like today when she is having afternoon tea at a friend’s house. As always her friends make a big fuss over the only male in the room.

“I must say Agatha,” Miss Hardcastle said settling into her seat “William’s complexion has improved greatly since he first arrived with you.”

“And growing out his hair has made him appear so angelic.” Miss Fitzsimmons added.

“His deportment is most becoming in a young man.” Mrs Bardell contributed “My daughters could learn a thing or two from him.”

“William!” Aunt Agatha snapped.

Her rebuke had its effect.

“Thank you ladies.” he said in a meek voice, knowing if he irritated his aunt he would suffer the consequences later. It was a misdemeanour so it would probably mean being put to bed before six. Hopefully she would be lenient this time but another lapse would definitely mean some form of punishment.

“It is most kind of you to notice.” he added for good measure.

“And his posture is excellent, unlike my own niece.” Mrs Nightingale said.

William prayed that his aunt would not reveal the reason for his upright bearing.

“Good corsetry is the key to good posture.” Mrs Hardcastle said as all the ladies agreed.

“But I’m sure with such good posture you don’t need such formidable foundation wear William like us ladies.” Mrs Bardell said and smiled knowingly at the other women.

William’s face immediately turned crimson and he was sure they could see the straps of his corselette under his silk shirt.

“Ladies. Miss Fitzsimmons said which thankfully diverted their attention “I have called you here to discuss my servant problem. As you know I have been having difficulty with one of my new maids she is a good girl but is the only female in a family of six brothers so unfortunately has acquired some dreadful masculine habits not to mention a manly gait.  I have tried everything I can think of but her unfortunate her masculine quirks are difficult to rectify. She needs to be taught how to behave more like a female, like a proper housemaid and not some farm labourer. My grand aunt suggested a most unusual solution.”

“Which is?” Mrs Hardcastle said.

“She proposes that the girl be dressed in the uniform of the Victorian era.” Miss Fitzsimmons replied “Of course she would also have to wear the corsetry of the time which would have the added advantage of restricting her movements. It would instil in her a more disciplined attitude and ensure she comported herself in a manner more becoming to that of a female servant.”

This was greeted with an excited chorus of approval by the ladies. William, aware that he was under observation also joined in with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.

“I was hoping that my niece Gertrude would be here today to model the uniform but alas she is indisposed.” Miss Fitzsimmons sighed “So I can only show you the uniform rather than have it paraded for you.”

There was a collective groan of disappointment

“Gertrude?” Aunt Agatha asked her hostess“The girl I met last month?”

“The very one.”Miss Fitzsimmons nodded.

“I know this may sound a trifle unorthodox. “ Aunt Agatha said “But William is of a similar stature as Gertrude, perhaphs…”

“Are you suggesting…” Mrs Badell asked “He is dressed in the uniform?”

All the ladies became very excited at this novel idea.

“A male housemaid!” Mrs Hardcastle giggled.

William paled significantly  wondering if he had heard correctly.

“Are you sure he won’t mind?” Miss Fitzsimmons asked after the chatter died down.

“After all it would mean him dressing as a girl.” Mrs Badell said. “And in a housemaid’s uniform at that.”

“Yes, I’m sure the poor boy would feel most uncomfortable, if not mortified.” Mrs Hardcastle added with a degree of sympathy. “Particularly with the restrictive Victorian corsetry.”

Four pairs of female eyes rested on William.

“Aaah…”he let out a low whimper at the prospect of such an appalling vista.

“William will do as he is told. He is such a well trained and obedient boy.” Aunt Agatha informed her friends. “Isn’t that so William?”

 “Aaah…”he mewled once more.

As the group stood and Miss Fitzsimmons said to Aunt Agatha .

“I hope he won’t mind wearing the four petticoats that are part of the uniform.”

“Perhaps we can braid his hair also?” Mrs Badell added excitedly.

Mrs Hardcastle and Miss Fitzsimmons slipped an arm each inside the arms stupefied young man and led him from the room.

“As I said. “ Aunt Agatha said “William will do as he is told.”