Suitably
chastised from Miss Geraldine’s rebuke and appropriately attired as she
suggested I humbly submit the next chapter of Aubrey’s struggle for your
approval.
I’m
not sure what readers will make of this chapter, I am very much aware that
Aubrey has spent quite a few chapters in Mrs Cockshott’s home and some readers
probably find that the story has stalled but – SPOILER ALERT- at least by the
chapter’s end readers will see that the story is progressing albeit at a
glacial pace but then events did move at a more sedate pace in the Victorian era.
I
have also had to alter Aubrey’s dress in the second pic – due to a problem with
an external hard drive I lost a lot of pictures so there is a slight continuity
issue, hopefully it will not irk readers too much.Aubrey's face has changed too but then I suppose that is to be expected due to the levels of anxiety he has been experiencing.
Usual
thanks to all who commented and tick the more box- I greatly appreciate it.
I
hope you enjoy this chapter and as always glad to get any feedback good or bad.
Take
care
Carrie.
A Very Victorian Education
By
CarrieP
Chapter
15
Firmly secured once more inside his heavy navy velvet dress the
soft material of his petticoats brushing against his silk stockings with every
step, Aubrey St Clair felt a creeping and insidious femininity begin to embrace
him like ivy around a tree. He sighed as he slowly made his way across the room
to where Roberta stood gazing mournfully at the various garments laid out on
the bed.
“I thought I was finally free of these dreadful feminine clothes.”
she lamented as she took up a peach silk chemise with a look of utter disdain
and threw it back onto the bed.
Aubrey stifled the urge to agree and thought it best to
remain silent.
“Petticoats!” she snorted derisively as she fingered a white
taffeta petticoat with a large flounce at the hem before discarding it and
taking up another one of cream silk.
“How many does my mother insist I wear?” she asked Aubrey in
a plaintive voce.
“At least three Miss.” he replied recalling the conversation
he’d had with Mrs Cockshott before he had tried to leave.
“At least three.” she repeated in a dejected tone.
“Well, I suppose we better get started.” she said
despondently.
Aubrey was very well aware that since leaving the family home
for university Roberta had been dressing in male attire to the consternation
and annoyance of her mother. She had made it clear to him and her mother the
only reason she had agreed to dress – as her mother put it- in a clothing
appropriate to a young lady of polite society was to ensure she could have him
as her maid. It was obvious she, as much as Aubrey, hated the very idea of once
more donning the trappings of femininity. However much as wished to agree with
Roberta he knew to do so would only draw unwanted and unnecessary attention to
him. He was now thought of as her maid and after being caned by her, with the
approval of Lady Charlotte de Winter, he instinctively reverted to his ghastly role
as a docile and compliant young female servant. It was an abominable position
but one that was necessary if he was to avoid his true sex being discovered
which would undoubtedly lead to life- long disgrace and ignominy.
Months of being dressed as a female meant he had a
familiarity of a lady’s toilette on a par with any female of the privileged and
cultured class and this long servitude in female clothing had also made him
extremely well acquainted with the function of the female servant and how she
should act in the presence of a lady of superior birth. This knowledge was now
invaluable in his new role as lady’s maid to Miss Roberta Cockshott. Roberta’s
continual curiosity regarding his appearance had been a source of anxiety for
Aubrey and he was astonished but extremely relieved that she did not discover
his secret when he was forced to stand in front of her in his female underwear.
Now that he was once more fully dressed, albeit in a velvet gown, he felt less
vulnerable.
He stood opposite her as she gazed at the various items of
clothing arranged on the heavy satin quilt. He could see that she was too
preoccupied with her new clothes to question him further on his vaguely
masculine appearance and although he was still nervous, having just escaped his
secret being exposed, he felt confident he could perform the duties of a lady’s
maid without raising her suspicions. In the few seconds that he observed her it
occurred to him that her distaste and aversion for such feminine clothing was not
a charade for his benefit but was indeed real and appeared to mirror his own
loathing for such feminine finery.
Aubrey saw that a number of items were missing from the
collection laid out on the bed and without being told he moved to one of the
tallboys. Such was his knowledge of the bedroom of a young lady that he knew
instinctively where her lingerie was kept and it took him only seconds to
locate the correct drawer. Before he chose the items he required he looked once
more at the cheerless face of the young woman who now considered him her lady’s
maid or perhaps as she jokingly intimated, her personal slave. A curious thought
entered Aubrey’s head.
She is far more vexed than
me at having to wear these clothes.
Of course he hated the clothes he wore, they were a constant
source of humiliation but he had resigned himself to his current predicament
knowing at some stage he would eventually be free of them. After all, his
mother could not stay away forever. He took consolation from this and
remembered how he had been humiliated by being forced into these clothes by
Lady Charlotte. He remembered the look of triumph on the faces of the maids and
Alice his Governess. Another thought suddenly struck him.
I am now in that position,
aiding and abetting her humiliation.
Now looking at a disconsolate Roberta he felt a strange
feeling, a frisson of excitement at the idea of being part of her discomfiture
and he allowed himself a very discreet smile. It was the first time in months
he smiled and it felt good. It was true that Roberta had shown him a degree of
kindness and affection but much in the same way one would treat a favourite
servant or family pet. She would be benevolent of course, in that Patrician
manner ladies reserved for their lapdogs, showing them consideration and fondness
and in Aubrey’s case passion. He knew that like a lapdog she would keep him on
a short lease and punishment would never be too far away if he displeased her.
This was the way ladies of high social standing treated their servants, most
girls of an inferior class would gladly accept such an arrangement after all
they would be well treated, well most of the time, and the constant
humiliations would be far more preferable than the drudgery of life as a
kitchen or scullery maid. Of course Aubrey was neither of these but for now he
had no option but to continue his charade. However he could take comfort and
some pleasure from this demeaning role as not only was he responsible for her
capitulation to her mother’s demand that she wear these feminine frills and
flounces but would also witness her helplessness as he enabled this
transformation. He felt a sudden surge of satisfaction and realised what a
thrill Lady Charlotte’s maids must have experienced.
“Perhaps we should begin Miss.” he said as he returned with
the items, the tone in his voice sounded deferential but masked the schadenfreude he was experiencing. Roberta
winced as he held out a pair of long powder blue silk bloomers and a matching
chemise.
“Uuugh!” she blurted.
“Is there nothing plainer there?”
“I’m afraid not Miss.” he replied adopting his best
impression of a dutiful lady’s maid tone as he held them up to her showing her
the frills on the bloomers and the delicate lace on the chemise and seeing her
expression he added for good measure “they are very popular among young ladies.”
“Well not this one.” Roberta snapped.
Aubrey sensed the stirrings of a change of attitude, he knew
if Roberta reneged on her promise it would reflect badly on him and he would
surely suffer the consequences. He recalled how the maids in Lady Charlotte’s
house would subtly cajole him into obeying them.
“Please Miss.” Aubrey said softly “Lady Charlotte and your
mother will not be pleased and may blame me.
“Oh very well then.” Roberta said in an exasperated voice and
undid the sash on her peignoir and shook it from her broad shoulders allowing
it to slip down her body to the floor.
She stood in front of him naked, he could not help but gasp
at her statuesque body. He had seen her naked before of course but only in
parts, and in particular her most intimate part which he was forced to
kiss. But this was different, now he saw
her in all her magnificent glory. Her breasts firm and perfectly rounded stood
proudly above her slightly plump stomach. The dark triangle of pubic hair, framed
by her wide hips and sturdy almost athletic thighs transfixed him and he had to
shake himself to regain some degree of composure. He lifted his bulky skirts
and arranged them around him as he knelt at her feet and held out the silk
underwear for her to step into. She sighed as she reluctantly stepped into them
and he slowly drew the delicate material up her soft thighs inhaling her
womanly scent and as he did so he felt his heart racing under his heavy breast
forms and felt something stir inside him. Hands trembling slightly he tied the
string and try as he might he could not resist allowing his hand to linger
across her splendidly plump posterior. It did not go unnoticed.
Roberta smiled but said nothing.
Aubrey blushed furiously, like a child who had just been
found with his hand in the biscuit tin and quickly removed his hand but his
erection under his voluminous skirts remained intact. He was relieved he was in
a kneeling position but even if he stood he was sure his substantial skirts
would hide his erect member.
“I knew I made the right choice.” Roberta said as she gently
stroked his cheek “but a servant girl should not be so forward, remind me to
punish you later.”
“Yes Miss.” he answered, still burning with embarrassment at
being caught, he quickly rose to his feet and resumed his duties, his erection
slowly subsiding he lifted the chemise over her head and smoothed the soft
material over her torso.
“It’s not that I disapprove of your attentions, she said and
stroked his cheek once more “but you really must understand that it is not your
place to act on these impulses. In this
relationship as in every other area of life you need to realise I am the
predominant partner and you will not instigate any advances unless of course I
explicitly encourage it. Do you understand?”
“Yes Miss.” he replied quietly
“You see,” she continued “I have had enough of males making
unsolicited approaches and when alone their horrible groping hands touching me
in a most inappropriate manner.”
Aubrey felt his heart race, the thought that she had
discovered him immediately flashed in his brain. Maybe she had seen the bulge
under his skirts, he clutched them anxiously as Roberta continued,
“Of course as you have probably guessed I have no interest in
males, well not those dreadful macho types that seem to inhabit the usual society
circles. As a woman of intelligence I have no wish to become any male’s chattel
so my relationships are exclusively with females.”
She paused and looked at him before adding,
“Or soft effeminate males although they are harder to find, so
much better don’t you agree?”
“Y…Yes Miss.” he answered and thought she could hear his
heart beating like a bass drum.
“But,” she continued her voice becoming more serious“ and you
really need to understand this relationship can have only one dominant partner.”
She gazed intently at Aubrey, it would have been absurd for
him to contradict her, after all what servant girl- and he was very much aware
that was how he was seen- would argue with her mistress.
“Yes Miss.” he answered in a weak voice.
“Are you all right you look quite pale?” she asked.
“No Miss it’s just a little hot.” he replied.
Roberta then began to lecture him on various issues regarding
what she expected of him, obedience, loyalty, deference, the list seemed
endless after a few minutes he sensed that this speech was an attempt on her
part to postpone the inevitable. Despite the panic he felt he knew he had to
regain the advantage and from somewhere deep within he plucked up what little
courage he had decided to test his theory.
“Please Miss.” he said as Roberta paused in her rambling
speech “Madam and Lady Charlotte may become a little impatient if we do not
appear shortly.”
Roberta remained silent, she knew her maid was right. Aubrey
seeing his opportunity moved to the bed.
“Your corset Miss.” he said as he picked the heavy silver
satin corset Mrs Cockshott had chosen for her daughter.
Roberta grimaced and let out a mournful sigh. Aubrey could
see she he had clenched her fists in what appeared to be a mixture of alarm and
abhorrence. He recognised this only too well as this had also been his reaction
when he was first forced into such feminine clothing. He felt his spirits rise
once more.
For once he could ignore his own shame and as he approached
her corset in hand he barely noticed his skirts and petticoats rustling his
constant companions of humiliation, indignity and disgrace were now cast aside.
He had recovered from his fright and now had a strange feeling he could not
quite understand, a feeling of satisfaction bordering on smugness that he was a
participant in Roberta’s obvious extreme discomfiture.
Much as she tried she could not hide her dread at the sight
of the garment and he saw her visibly flinch as he held up the corset. Gone was
the hauteur of just moments ago, now replaced by barely concealed alarm at the
thought of being encased in such a constricting yet everyday item of feminine
apparel.
Strange he thought I’ve become used to wearing mine, I don’t
like it but it is necessary if one
is compelled to wear a dress.
The sight of her apprehension allowed him respite from his
own humiliation. He grew emboldened.
She froze as he approached her with the corset, her face
mesmerised at the sight of the monstrous garment. Recalling his own experiences
at the hands of Lady Charlotte’s maids and without asking or being told he
quickly and deftly wrapped the corset around her torso and before she could
protest or argue he swiftly began tugging gently at the long laces.
Roberta appeared to be in shock as he nimbly pulled on the
laces, her body jerking with every slight wrench.
“Oooh” she exclaimed painfully after he worked his way up the
corset tugging the laces a little tighter
Aubrey smiled discretely as he glanced at the mirror and saw
her face contort in discomfort with each little pull on the laces. He, a male,
had endured this every day for months at the hands of female servants and for
years Roberta, who as a female should have been wearing stays, was strutting
proudly about dressed as a male. Life was so unfair.
If I have to be humiliated
then so should she. he reasoned to himself.
“Aaah” she bleated as she struggled against each tug of the
laces.
With each whimper he felt a surge of delight and had almost
forgotten he too was wearing a similar constricting garment. It was music to
his ears and he grew more confident with her every groan.
“Oh it’s not that bad…”he said in a dismissive tone echoing
the maids that had gleefully imprisoned him in his own corset, cheekily he only
belatedly added, “…Miss.”
Seeing the merest hint of a smirk on her maid’s face Roberta
tried to gather her composure and self confidence.
“Don’t be impertinent, girl” she snapped with as much
conviction as she could muster.
Another time, being called a girl would have subdued him but
seeing Roberta’s obvious annoyance at her hopeless situation he felt it easy to
dismiss the insult and besides, to deny or contradict her would only expose his
secret. He realised the only advantage to wearing his humiliating attire was
being allowed to not only witness her irritation but be a part of it, he answered
her as a maid should.
“I’m sorry Miss.” he said in a faux docile voice and curtsied
for good measure “I did not mean to be disrespectful, you have been very kind
to me, I only meant that you will soon get used to the tightness after a few
days.”
“Maybe like every other girl you have got used to it.” she
moaned, her annoyance with him softened by his apology “I will never
get used to these awful clothes.”
Her distress at being forced into these clothes continued to
lift his spirits and he returned to his task.
“It won’t be much longer Miss.” he said as he resumed pulling
the laces.
“Do they really have to be that tight?” Roberta whined as her
body jerked once more.
“Unfortunately yes, Miss.” he replied warming to his role as
maid cum tormentor. “Otherwise I will not be able to close the buttons on your
gown.”
He quickly tied the laces into a neat bow and tucked them
neatly into the bottom of the corset like Lady Charlotte’s maid’s had done with
him.
“Such a beautiful figure Miss.” he said positioning her in
front of the mirror.
“Ugh!” Roberta grunted as Aubrey turned away smiling.
“Your stockings Miss.” he said picking up a pair of grey silk
stockings and gesturing her to sit on the bed.
“How do you sit down in this ghastly contraption.” she
whinged as she gingerly lowered herself onto to the bed.
Aubrey suppressed a smirk as he knelt on the floor, arranging
his skirts around him he expertly slipped on one of the stockings on her right
foot and eased it up her leg feeling a tingle of excitement between his legs as
he did so. A pale blue ruffled satin garter quickly followed and mindful of her
rebuke his hands did not linger as he manoeuvred it into place. He repeated the
process with the other leg but his excitement made it difficult to concentrate
on his task.
“Oh do hurry up girl” Roberta snapped “this is becoming so
tedious.”
“Yes Miss, sorry Miss.” he replied slavishly.
After he finished he stood up, grateful his bulky skirts concealed
his erect member. Struggling to keep his
mind off her soft corseted body he retrieved the first of her petticoats and
lifted it over her head.
He heard a slight sigh of dismay and could sense her unease
as he tied it in place on her hips, without comment he quickly had the second
one over her head.
“Taffeta is such a lovely material.” he said as he arranged
the petticoat over her hips.
“I hate it.” she hissed, much to Aubrey’s delight.
“And the last one,” he said as he slipped it over her head “is
a beautiful silk one in a slightly lighter shade.”
He could see she really despised such feminine underwear and
from his own experience he suspected she was about to throw a tantrum and
perhaps threaten to remove the offending items. Such a scenario would cause
trouble with her mother and Lady Charlotte and he knew this was something to be
avoided at all costs. He reasoned once she was buttoned into her gown she would
find it too difficult to remove much as he wanted to tease her further he felt
it was better to put her into her gown first. Again from his own experience in
being confined in such a gown he knew she would eventually accept, however
reluctantly, her fate.
“Oh I almost forgot.” he said and busied himself in one of
the drawers returning to her side moments later.
“Oh no.” Roberta said wearily “Not that ridiculous thing. Must I
really wear that?”
“I’m afraid so Miss.” he replied in a deferential but
determined voice “It is considered de
rigueur for fashionable young ladies.” and hastily manoeuvred the bulky
bustle onto her hips and secured it around her waist.
He could see that she was getting agitated at this latest
addition to her cumbersome and increasingly feminine toilette.
Afraid that she would refuse to continue he decided to act
decisively and without asking her permission or opinion he picked up one of the
gowns her mother had laid out on the bed, a heavy silk satin creation of navy
blue with chenille embroidery and swiftly placed it over her head. It was so
heavy he felt his arms would not be able to hold it if she struggled against
him but luckily she seemed to be so debilitated by her confinement in her new
underwear she put up no resistance.
Just the way I was. he said to
himself and for a moment or two he felt
an empathy with her but this was quickly decided this was no time to be weak
and girlish.
Roberta seemed utterly dazed as he arranged the heavy skirt
over her petticoats, he gently placed her hands inside the tight sleeves and
pulled the bodice into place and quickly began buttoning the back of the gown.
He could see her face in the mirror as he worked, she looked quite bewildered.
I never thought of a girl
hating these clothes. he mused to himself as he studied her out of the
corner of his eye, She is quite
attractive but not in a conventional feminine way and she does look quite gauche and ungainly. Mrs Cockshott will have a lot of work to turn her into a young lady.
Her downcast demeanour renewed his confidence and recalling the
way Lady Charlotte’s maids particularly Sarah had teased and taunted him
without being overtly insolent he decided to torment her in a similar fashion.
“Such a beautiful dress Miss.” he said as he straightened the
narrow skirt and fussed with the geometric pleats.
She remained silent, her face becoming irritated.
“And your bustle gives your
train such a wonderful shape, almost like a sculpture.” he gushed with false
admiration.
“Oh stop blathering about this dammed dress.”Roberta snapped.
“I feel like an idiot.”
Aubrey enjoyed her little outburst and as he turned to fetch
her boots allowed himself another smile.
Roberta remained sullen as he buttoned her boots and he
restrained himself from making further comments. Suddenly he thought of a way
he could annoy her a little more and at the same time ingratiate himself into Lady
Charlotte and Mrs Cockshott’s favour.
“If you sit at the dressing table Miss I can arrange your
hair.” he said as he finished and before she could refuse he quickly added
“Lady Charlotte will expect it.”
“Get on with it then.” she barked and tottered most inelegantly
to the dressing table, grumbling as she went “These ghastly heeled boots.”
Arranging her hair posed few problems for the young man, hours
of boredom in Lady Charlotte’s house had meant that when Sarah had suggested he
help her try new hairstyles on some of the other servants he enthusiastically
agreed. It alleviated the monotony and
allowed him out of his bedroom for several hours and under her supervision he learned
the basics of hair arrangements which although simple proved to be quite
elegant.
He held out the chair for her as she approached the dressing
table.
“How in heaven’s name am I supposed to sit in these ghastly
clothes?” she growled in an irritated voice as she lifted the cumbersome skirts
whilst trying to manoeuvre herself onto the chair. “This really is
ridiculous.”
“Let me help you Miss.” Aubrey offered insincerely as he
fussed about her lifting her skirts and arranged them on the chair and added in
a faux sympathetic tone “It will take a little getting used to, after all you
have not worn lady’s clothing in such a long time.”
As Roberta shifted from side to side trying to make herself
comfortable on the chair it was quite evident that these clothes particularly
the bustle and corset were a source of great annoyance and much as Aubrey
wanted to continue touching this obviously raw nerve he did not want to push
her too far. He held his tongue and began brushing her hair. This seemed to
calm her a little.
“You have lovely hair Miss.” he said offering a neutral compliment
as he parted her hair and began braiding it as Sarah had taught him.
She grunted a reply as she watched him in the mirror, he was
aware of her gaze and concentrated intently on his task.
“I don’t want anything too fussy, my girl.”Roberta said
sharply trying to reassert her authority as she continued to shift
uncomfortably in her seat.
Aubrey retaliated with a small but sharp tug on her hair as
he continued to braid.
“Aaah” she squealed and snapped at him “Are
you trying to pull my hair out? You clumsy girl”
“Sorry Miss.” Aubrey replied in his faux meek voice “your
hair is a bit short here.”
“Well be careful girl.”Roberta reprimanded him.
“Yes Miss.” he replied, smiling inside.
Unperturbed by her scolding he gave a few more slight jerks
before he finally rolled the braid into itself and made a bun which he secured
with pearl topped hair pins.
“Much more suitable Miss.” he ventured holding up a mirror to
the back of her head so she could view his handiwork.
“Harumph” she
snorted in disgust.
“Some face powder and lip colour would complete the look
Miss.” he said aware of what her reaction would be.
She scowled at him in the mirror indicating what she thought
of his suggestion.
He allowed himself another secret smile but in reality
genuinely did think the application of cosmetics would enhance her appearance.
After all and much as he hated to admit it he was a prime example of the
transformative properties of such creams and powders.
“Just a little Miss.” he said, knowingly raising her ire once
more.
“No!, you annoying
girl.” she barked “Do you want to feel the cane again.”
“Oh no Miss.” Aubrey
baulked at the threat, cursing himself for pushing his luck, she was more
powerful than him and at this point she was so annoyed she was capable of
carrying out this ultimatum.
“Now help me out of this chair.” she snapped as she struggled
to get up.
Moments later they were walking along the wide corridor
skirts rustling in unison and as they reached the top of the staircase Aubrey
could see that Roberta was becoming vexed once more. Putting her foot on the
first step she almost stumbled, catching her boot in her skirts.
“Dammed absurd clothing” she spat as Aubrey came to her
assistance. “Is it any wonder I stopped wearing such preposterous costumes?”
“If you lift your skirt and petticoats Miss.” he advised and
gave her a demonstration on how to descend stairs in bulky skirts, “like this.”
“A man can descend a stairs without such trouble.” she
snarled “Am I not right?”
Her sharp reminder that he was the exception to this caused a
ripple of shame to rise up inside him but he quickly dismissed it, reasoning
that this was not the time to dwell on such issues. Putting her remark to the
back of his mind he expertly lifted his skirts with one hand and such was his
expertise in descending stairs in full feminine attire he extended his hand to help
Roberta as they gingerly made their way down the grand staircase.
“Thank you.” Roberta said graciously as they reached the final
step. “You are obviously more used this than I. Now I suppose I had better get
this over with.”
Aubrey followed her towards the door and could not believe
how awkwardly she moved as she plodded across the expansive vestibule almost
stumbling once or twice.
How inelegant, she walks
like a pantomime dame he snorted to himself blissfully unaware of the irony
as he sashayed gracefully behind her.
He knocked on the door and hearing the response opened the
door allowing Roberta to enter.
Mrs Cockshott and Lady Charlotte sat on the large couch and
Aubrey could see Roberta’s mother was clearly delighted by her daughter’s new
feminine appearance.
“How enchanting!” Mrs Cockshott squealed with delight and
turned to her friend “Your girl has done wonders. I hoped she could get her
into a gown but a corset and bustle also? Quite remarkable. And her hair… such
a difference, she really has the feminine touch.”
“Yes she has done well.” Lady Charlotte conceded with a
smile, much to Aubrey’s relief.
“Oh do come here darling.” Mrs Cockshott
gushed, indicating Roberta to sit on the smaller couch opposite.
With a most ungraceful gait Roberta trundled her way to the
couch.
“Oh dear.” Mrs Cockshott sighed at the sight of her daughter’s
lumbering movement and turning to Lady Charlotte whispered “She never was the
most dainty of girls.”
“You look delightful my dear.” Lady Charlotte said as Roberta
made several unsuccessful attempts to manoeuvre herself onto the couch before
Aubrey came to her assistance and helped her settle comfortably onto the seat
and remembering how servants should act withdrew to the window just behind
Roberta.
“I’m glad she has your girl to help.” Mrs Cockshott murmured
to her friend as both women observed the scene, their faces unable to conceal
their disappointment.
Mrs Cockshott then turned to Aubrey.
“Please sit Aubrey my dear.”
Roberta gazed at her mother and Lady Charlotte in total
surprise, such a request to a servant was most unusual. She looked at Aubrey, a
puzzled look on her face.
“Oh do sit Aubrey.” Lady Charlotte said impatiently as Aubrey
hesitated, his nervousness plain to see, “Mrs Cockshott is aware of your
situation.”
Aubrey’s heart quickened dramatically and his legs refused to
move.
“Sit…girl.” Lady Charlotte ordered brusquely.
Her use of the work ‘girl’ combined with a flash of her eyes
calmed him somewhat, he lifted his skirts and gracefully lowered himself onto
the seat next to Roberta whose expression was one of bewilderment at this
breach of protocol.
“Mother, what exactly…”she began only to be interrupted by
Mrs Cockshott.
“Hush Roberta.” Her mother ordered before continuing “It
seems your maid is not what she appears.”
Aubrey heart quickened once more and he grabbed his skirts to
steady his hands.
“It also appears I was a little too hasty in assuming that
this young lady was Lady Charlotte’s maid.”Mrs Cockshott said rather stiffly
looking at Lady Charlotte as she smoothed an imaginary crease on her satin
skirt.
“Well I did try to warn you Leonora.” Lady
Charlotte said barely suppressing a laugh.
“Yes I suppose you did.” she conceded “but really Charlotte
you could have…”
“Oh it did not do the girl any harm.” Lady Charlotte
interrupted her friend “In fact she needed a lesson in humility.”
“Would someone care to enlighten me?” Roberta said sharply
shifting uncomfortably on her seat as she clumsily tried to rearrange her
unaccustomed bulky feminine attire.
“Please keep your knees together Roberta.” her mother rebuked
her “you are not at a music hall in the
company of those mannish friends of yours. Charlotte, would you inform Roberta
of just how we have arrived at this farcical and most embarrassing juncture.”
Being economical with certain facts and names Lady Charlotte explained
to Roberta that Aubrey was left in her charge by his mother and went on to explain
how through Mrs Cockshott’s confusion Aubrey came to find himself in her
mother’s house as her maid.
“So you are not a servant girl?” Roberta exclaimed.
“No Miss.” Aubrey said quietly and submissively still
mentally chained to his role as Roberta’s maid and extremely nervous as to how
she and her mother would react.
“My dear, there is no need to address Roberta as ‘Miss’ any
longer.” Mrs Cockshott said in a tender tone, it was a tone as a maid Aubrey was
not accustomed to.
“You mean she is no longer my maid.” Roberta addressed both
women.
“Yes darling I’m afraid so.” her mother answered. “And as
such she will return with Lady Charlotte.”
Although Aubrey- despite being forced to wear girl’s clothes-
had enjoyed participating in Roberta’s discomfort he was extremely humiliated
at been treated as a maid. If he had continued in this role he was sure Roberta
would have used her power over him to humiliate him even further and despite
being returned to Lady Charlotte’s home still dressed as a girl he was glad to hear
he would finally escape Roberta’s clutches.
“This was the only reason I agreed to wear these ridiculous
clothes.” Roberta said angrily, stamping her foot “I have no intention of remaining
in them a moment longer.”
She made a clumsy attempt to stand up but got tangled in her
skirts and fell back onto the couch.
“Now darling,” her mother said calmly “Lady Charlotte and I
are of the opinion that there is no reason why you cannot continue your friendship
with Aubrey.”
Aubrey swallowed hard.
What! He screamed
inside his head.
Roberta remained silent as she assessed the various options.
“Of course that is contingent on you remaining in the
appropriate feminine clothing as we agreed earlier.” Lady Charlotte quickly
added.
“But I entered into this arrangement with the understanding
that she would be…” Roberta answered trying to choose her words with care and
gazed at Aubrey with a look that made him even more uneasy.“… er… close by at
all times.”
Now it was Aubrey’s turn to shift uncomfortably on his seat.
“And so you will.” her mother said, both Roberta and Aubrey
looked at her quizzically. “While you were upstairs getting dressed I received
a note that my great aunt in Cambridge is quite unwell and has requested my presence.
Lady Charlotte has suggested that you stay with her and Aubrey until I return. It
could be a day, a week or a fortnight I will not know until I arrive.”
“I really don’t think…” Roberta began, her irritation clear
in her voice but her mother immediately cut short her protest.
“Or perhaps you would like to accompany me to Cambridge?”
“Roberta, my dear,” Lady Charlotte said softly “You wanted to
spend some time with Aubrey, now you have the chance.”
This seemed to clam Roberta and she looked at Aubrey and
smiled.
“Of course you will have to obey my rules.” Lady Charlotte
said.
“But this was not part of my bargain with Mother.” Roberta
argued as she clumsily adjusted herself on her seat. “Why should I have to
continue to wear these outlandish fashions.”
“I have no intention of arguing with you young lady.” Lady
Charlotte replied dismissively and gracefully rose from the couch and addressed
her charge, “Come along Aubrey.”
Aubrey arose from the couch in an equally elegant fashion,
instinctively straightened his skirts much to the delight of Lady Charlotte before
moving to her side.
“Such a pity, Charlotte.” Mrs Cockshott sighed as she too
lifted herself from the couch and with a flurry of skirts and petticoats joined
her friend. “They could have been such good friends.”
“Well I suppose Roberta feel she has her principles.” Lady
Charlotte answered before turning to Aubrey “Why don’t you kiss Roberta
goodbye.”
As Aubrey walked over to Roberta he felt conflicted, he
enjoyed securing Roberta into the feminine clothes she clearly hated and then
goading and irritating her but he also knew he was playing with fire. She
already had suspicions as to his true sex and because of his loss of manly
strength and her larger physique she could, if she was determined enough,
overpower him quite easily and discover his secret. He quickly decided it would
be safer to leave and it was with relief that he stood in front of her for the
last time.
He was afraid to meet her eyes and closed them as he bent down
to kiss her on the cheek, he suddenly felt a hand on his face redirecting it.
His eyes opened as she kissed him on the lips her tongue briefly entering his
mouth aggressively. He pulled back immediately.
“Thank… you… Miss.” he blurted the fright quite audible in
his voice and forgetting his newly restored status he reverted to his servile
role.
“Once a maid, always a maid.” Roberta whispered so only he
could hear.
“Come along Aubrey.” Lady Charlotte said “I would like to get
you home as quickly as possible.”
Flustered and blushing he quickly rushed to Lady Charlotte’s
side.
“Now hold my hand Aubrey.” Lady Charlotte said smiling as she
added “Like a good girl.”
“Goodbye Roberta.” Lady Charlotte addressed Roberta “You dear
mother is right it is such a pity you could not accompany us but perhaps it is
for the best. You seem to like Aubrey, she is usually a good girl but has an
unfortunate tendency to be a little feisty and stray from the straight and
narrow. She could be a bad influence on you.”
“Oh don’t be so hard on the girl.” Mrs Cockshott said
stroking Aubrey’s increasingly reddening cheek “she just needs a little
discipline. Isn’t that right my dear?”
Aubrey blushed furiously; he had no option but to nod,
lowering his eyes as he did so.
“Yes she does need a firm hand.” Lady Charlotte said as she
walked towards the drawing room door with Aubrey gripped firmly by the hand.
They were so close their full skirts brushed against each other filling the
room with that peculiar feminine sound. As they entered the hallway Lady
Charlotte continued,
“Roberta was quite mature in the way she punished her
upstairs I was most impressed but I suppose her Governess will see to that aspect
of her education now. I feel she needs female companionship of her own social
class to encourage her to grow into a proper young lady and express her
femininity.”
“Roberta is so very stubborn.” Mrs Cockshott replied and
looking at Aubrey added,“Lady Heathcoate’s daughter or perhaps Mrs Millington-
Shaw’s niece would make a good companion.”
“I had not thought of them” Lady Charlotte replied “Yes they
are rather pretty and Aubrey is quite susceptible to a pretty
face. I will ask them to call tomorrow.”
“Perhaps I could call on you tomorrow.” Roberta interjected.
“You have had your chance Roberta.” her mother
said sharply as she opened the door for her guests “And Lady Charlotte does not want
someone, even her goddaughter, arriving at her house in that dreadful male clothing that you wear.”
“That is not what I…” Roberta began but was immediately
interrupted by Lady Charlotte who spoke directly to her mother
“We will probably call on you when you return Leonora.” Lady
Charlotte said as she kissed Mrs Cockshott on the cheek and repeated the
gesture with Roberta before adding “I’m sure Lady Heathcoate’s daughter or Mrs
Millington- Shaw’s niece would love to come to tea. I will invite them
tomorrow. Now we really must go. Goodbye Roberta it was wonderful to see you
again.”
Aubrey looked at Lady Charlotte with his mouth agape.
“Come along Aubrey.” Lady Charlotte said as she stepped out
into the afternoon sunshine “And do close your mouth it’s so
unladylike.”
Aubrey blinked in the strong sunshine as he heard the door
close behind him.
