summoned Smith, who glanced at me somewhat curiously, I thought, which caused me to have a little anger at her, though I did not show it. She was about twenty-three and reasonably comely, having a fresh country complexion, a narrow waist and good hips.
“Her bottom is fair to be caned or at least leathered,” my stepmother remarked after she had instructed the maid to bring up wine. I was flattered to be handed such remarks and even more so that I was to be allowed to tipple. Smith returned as quickly as she could, perhaps wishing to overhear something she should not, but in that was not successful and, departing, banged the door a little which caused my stepmother to say that she would pay for that.
I hugged myself at that remark. Perhaps it was that Papa had been too weak with us that I turned the more eagerly to Julia, whose strength and strength of purpose was apparent. She, knowing this, took less advantage of it initially than she might have done, for in such scenes as followed, I-being seemingly impressionable and indeed even submissive-might have appeared as a more central character if such had been her wish. I wanted to ask desperately whether she had been lovey-dovey with Sarah as with me, but as moments went by there was no need. The very inflexions of her tone told me that I was her chosen one and of course I gained great pride from this.
“Why did I cane Sarah? I would not reveal such a confidence to anyone but you, my pet, nor must you think that anything we say or do together will ever be revealed to a living soul without your knowledge. I required to know of Sarah two things: whether she has been handled yet and whether she has seen a cock. I know you have not and believe you. Sarah very foolishly took umbrage and was impertinent. She is overproud, Clara, but thus also easier to handle than she thinks. I had some trouble in putting her over and removing her drawers.”
I tried to imagine such a thing. Sarah was slender but taller than I. Unconscionably I giggled and asked if she struggled much.
“The discipline I brought to her was not as I might have wished it for it was needful to grasp the nape of her neck and hold her down. The cane did not have its proper reach. Even so, she knew its sting all right. As to Robert, it may be another matter.”
“R… R… Robert!” I exclaimed involuntarily. He was approaching nineteen and a fair, muscular boy.
“I have not dealt with him yet, darling,” I was told and was softly kissed. “I shall do so in quite another manner. Do you wish to share a secret?”
I nodded eagerly. There were too few secrets in my life, except those I pretended that I had, and the question met my youthful yearning neatly. My hand was taken and warmly clasped. To my pleased astonishment it was even raised to her lips.
“I am taking such a chance with you,” she sighed, to which I responded vehemently that she was not. She laughed and asked slyly, “Does your bottom feel nice now?” I nodded, for it was true-there being a most pleasant and electric tingling now-and by gently squeezing my cheeks together I gained a most delightful sensation. Side by side we sat on the bed with her arm around me. “When I fingered you, you did not jerk away as Sarah would have done. I was so pleased, Clara.”
I blushed and bent my head, but did not answer. Had it been anyone other than she it might have seemed horrid, but I had to confess to myself that the subtle titillation had really given me pleasure.
“I did not mind,” I said shyly.
“You know that your Papa does not actually share this room now, for I found it not always convenient. Of course it does not mean that I do not love him still. I can be quite ardent when the mood takes me, I promise you,” she said frankly, “but having separate bedrooms does provide certain conveniences of privacy. I do realise that you have not thought of such things, but it is best to make you aware of them and besides, we are going to do a lot of things together now, are we not?”
“Oh yes,” I replied eagerly, for I was utterly flattered at such confidences and being treated as an equal. Again my instinct told me that I was alone in this, though having greater innocence than might be suspected from my narrative, I did not suspect what was to come.
“Listen carefully then, for all hangs initially upon your confidence and your co-operation. This evening I am going to handle Robert as I believe he needs, for I will not have your sister, nor he, nor your sweet self go into the world untutored. Immediately after dinner your Papa will be playing cards with some friends of his. I have given him permission so to do. You will excuse yourself and come up here. The dressing room adjoins and I will leave the door ajar. You will place yourself within and observe all that passes through the crack in the doorjamb. You will make no sound nor betray your presence until after I have dismissed him. Should you do so all will fail. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I breathed. All doubts as to our complicity in such matters had vanished.
“Very well then, I believe you. I shall be an anchor and refuge to you, Clara, in the months ahead,” my stepmother averred solemnly, “but you had best go down now or Sarah will become inquisitive. Say that we have been discussing needlework.”
I giggled and put my hand to my mouth. The wine had gone down very pleasantly within. “I promise,” said I and moved to the door, whereat she rose and stayed with me.
“You will see Robert’s prick tonight,” she said gently. I gaped. My hand slid from the doorhandle.
“Wh… aaat?” I gasped, but received only a laugh in response. Her hand smacked my bottom lightly.
“Go on with you,” she smiled and pushed me out. There upon the broad landing I stood in a daze. All seemed as but an hour before-the cypress trees framed through the window where the stairs turned, the polished bannister, the almost cathedral like quiet of the house, its many rooms mainly empty and with closed doors. A scent of lavender came to me from a china bowl on the windowsill. Sarah, who was reading in the garden, would ask me pettishly what I had been at. For a moment I turned my head back but my stepmother’s door was shut and looked forbiddingly so.
In what a mood I waited for the evening! Having no trepidation for my brother in our stepmother’s hands, I felt safely detached from what was going to pass and very excited. Indeed I found myself looking very naughtily at that part of his person where his trousers hid his cock, which was certainly something I had never done before. There is a special thrill in being made an accomplice in such matters, but withal I was calmer than I thought I might be.
At the appointed hour then, I slipped upstairs and hid myself as I had been told. There was no fear that Robert would at any time touch or open the door to the dressing room which gave immediately on to the bedroom. I had not been in there before and was fascinated by the several chests it contained together with two wardrobes, a couple of armchairs and various items of my stepmother’s clothing laid casually about. There were patterned stockings of black and grey, several corsets with lace frills, long boots, garters, and much else to tempt my fingers. While waiting in the silence that surrounded me I lifted a chemise and a corset that were crumpled up together and saw beneath to my profound curiosity a small black whip that had not one thong but many-like snakes, I thought. The thongs were thin and plaited, being no more than some twenty inches long and attached to a handle of ebony which was serrated for grip. It looked strange and alien and yet I could not help but touch the handle and wonder a little that it should lay so openly there.
Then footsteps sounded and my stepmother entered alone. I wondered if the venture were not to proceed for she moved about the bedroom for a moment and then opened the door where I stood.
“Be quiet, be still and do not move no matter what is said or done,” she said and with that all but closed the door again in such a manner as left a gap for me to peer through. The bed ran parallel to the wall where the door was and she seated herself upon the side of it in such a position that I could not fail to see her. Then almost immediately came a knock to which she responded in a clear voice.
Robert entered then and closed the door which added to the fraughtness of the moment for myself at least. Then, as she patted the bed beside her, he came fully into view, looking I thought a little pale and his face full of wonder.
“Sit!” my stepmother said sharply and, as he did so, adjusted her posture so that her curving hip touched his. His complexion flushed then and his hands clasped themselves together nervously. He knew not where to look and seemed to wish to avoid her eyes. Smiling, with no little condescension in her face, she laid one hand upon his upper thigh, making him start. “Are you nervous?” she asked. A perfect thrill shot through me then for I divined instinctively that something had been said and done between them before and that I was about to share in a secret that would otherwise have been hidden from me. As she spoke she used her other hand to raise two fingers beneath his chin and draw his face around to hers, at which he most distinctly blushed.
“No,” he quavered, but I knew him to be lying.
