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She appeared to me as if an angel at Mr Marchington's ball at the great hall at Thrimby, I was at once bewitched and dangled helpless in her thrall, as I beheld an angel with ringletted golden hair, with eyes of blue and a merry laugh that lightened even my poor dour soul.
And I was not alone, everyone else that claimed to be male and of the red blood lusted after this angel, the very epitome of beauty and grace, as she glided swiftly across the dance-floor in as swish of flouncing lace, as if held aloft by suspension from the clouds not mere mortal legs, while I possessed of two left feet, metaphorically you understand not physically, thus felt compelled to remain upon the side lines.
"Who is the angel!" I asked Barrington a new friend I had but recently made after our move from Berkshire to our new home at Gatesby Hall at Hibblethwaite near Gatesby.
"Why the honourable Camilla Oakes," quoth he, "Fresh from mourning her poor Mama."
"Fresh?" I asked.
"Oh yes enforcedly so," said he, "Her father has married a widow, precipitately I fear, Mrs Parsonage, though a less Christian soul it is had to envision."
"This Oakes, he was widowed?" I asked.
"Indeed nine months since at the outside," he informed me, "Precipitately do you see?"
I allow I am no great charmer where wenches are concerned, always the compliment falls flat or is misconstrued, and dances had become a purgatory, although when I look in the mirror I see I have but one mouth, a single nose and two each of ears and eyes, and not a hint of horns or forked tail.
She evaded me, this Camilla did, easily, for suitors queued to dance with her to the dismay of those with her I must admit, the dark haired sisters Lilla and Catherine Parsonage with whom I dared to speak briefly, when misguidedly I asked about Camilla, I enraged the pair immensely.
It remained with me that image of Camilla, and it was entirely ridiculous, she was beautiful, charming, chaste, healthy everything one could wish for in a wife, I believe she was in the top ten of my fathers shortlist of suitable brides for me and yet I could not bring myself to speak to her.
"How went the wenching?" my father asked as I returned that very evening.
"Pleasant enough, Father," I suggested.
"Did ye sample the goods John?" he asked, "Chaste kiss perchance?"
"I spoke to Miss Lilla Parsonage." I explained.
"Talking won't get an heir my boy," he offered, "You have had twenty three summers already, all the good ones will be gone before you get round to bedding them!"
"Yes Father," I agreed.
"Then do something about it my boy!" he insisted.
Now my father unlike myself was regarded as being in the first rank among exponents of wenching, I knew that half the maids and more on our old estate had he sampled, and as a consequence mother now resided with aunt Matilda in Brighton so that she should be spared the humiliation of my father's dalliances, and the pain he inflicted with his constant demands even though I was their own surviving child he never restricted his demands that she should bear "A Spare," or second son, something of which she seemed incapable neither son nor daughter being conceived.
Miss Camilla I rapidly discovered had the eye of Gerald Handley, the protege of our prime minister no less, and thus, for practical purposes she became out of bounds, not through rank but because he was beautiful with beautiful manners and a command of English second to none whereas I it is well said that pedantry is my forte, the law, figures, balance sheets and facts not flowered prose and elegant lies.
It was not to be, a romance between Camilla Oakes and I, and that was an end to it.
The season dragged on, this ball and that until I own I should rather have a tooth pulled than attend another, "Mr Hunstanton," Camilla addressed me on one occasion, "My dear sister Lilla has no partner shall I ask her for you?" she said crushing my spirit like a grape under a cows hoof.
Poor mean dark haired Lilla, all latin promise, dark hair and a faint tan to the skin always, pretty enough but not a candle to Camilla's sun.
"I have an ankle sprain," I lied and thereafter limped.
"Mr Hunstanton," Camilla said again in passing later, "I would ask only that you remember which ankle is sprained that you may limp with the same leg always," and my deception was shown in a trice, though I rejoiced that she had at least noticed me.
I had a fort-night training with the Militia which thankfully meant I missed the next ball. My father had sought the rank of Major for me but I sneaked away and bought a Lieutenancy instead, that way I had but ten to twenty lads to control and could know them as men not numbers and I enjoyed every second with Sergeant Riketts and Corporal Munn who ran my platoon.
Of course that did not suit my father either, "Damned Lieutenenant, taking orders form Batty Boulders and the like, you are a disgrace to my name!" He stormed, though I think he realised that by so doing I learned something from my time, when as Major I should have been in essence messenger boy from Colonel to Captain, and I could always buy a promotion if I so desired..
I came home from our training camp to a terrible situation, there was a court case among the Oakes, Miss Camilla had been found in flagrant undress with a servant, first the servant was to be tried and when afterwards when he insisted it was of Camilla's instigation so Lady Oakes had insisted Camilla be made an example of lest her debauchery corrupt Lady Oakes' own daughters Lilla and Catherine who were of an age with her.
It fell to be heard at the Gatesby assizes, one John Raiment was to be charged with indecency since Camilla was but nineteen years old and not yet of majority, that age of 21 years whereby she may marry without consent.
"The Oakes' girl's a flighty one John," my father told me at breakfast, "Been caught in flagrante with a servant, he shall be up before old Wobbly Wibblethwaite's bench this forenoon shall you come and see the shenanigans?"
"Ah no" I demurred, "But did you say Catherine?" I asked, "Or Lilla?"
"Camilla," he said, I think I jumped, certainly my china tea leapt from my tea-cup and deposited itself upon my shirt and breeches.
"Camilla!" I gasped, "The angel Camilla!" I could not believe it, "No surely not," I spluttered, "What purpose would she have with servants with Mr Gerald Handley on his knees at her beck and call?"
"Ah but it's too dammed late John," my father admitted, "This will ruin her, old Oakes will disinherit her if 'tis true." and he peered at my with a sort of amused smirk as if he was already plotting something.
"Then we must go," I insisted, "And offer what assistance we may."
We took carriage to Gatesby, to the Court house there, It was as father said, the trial started at ten, we were late as always with father, it was ten minutes past the tenth hour when we sneaked in and as we had no seat reserved so we were compelled to sit in the third rank which displeased my father slightly as by this Lords and common fellows had the appearance of precedence.
The Oakes' servant John Raiment was sworn in and ready to answer as we sat.
"Oh the charge of Indecency how do you plead," the court clerk, Adams, a mean fellow of threadbare appearance, threadbare grey coat and hair to match, or so I thought asked him.
There was a pause and then came an astonished gasp as he said "Guilty."
"Oh," Judge Wibblethwaite exclaimed as he woke from an apparent slumber, "Not, Not Guilty, but Guilty?"
"Indeed sir." Raiment averred.
"And have you any mitigation." the Judge asked.
"Merely that I had no choice sir, Miss Camilla is in essence my mistress sir, when she asked that I, ah, pleasure her sir , and thus had I had no option sir." he said but awkwardly as if reading from a Shakespeare play.
"Really, am I expected to believe that?" the Judge asked.
"Ask her yourself," Raiment suggested, and that is what the Judge did.
"Stand down Raiment, call Miss Camilla Oakes." he instructed.
She came down from an ante room like an angel, so gloriously enchanting that no man might resist her and she stood all golden ringlets and red gown as swore on the bible that she would be truthful.
"Tell the court what happened between you and Raiment." the Judge asked.
"Yes my Lord!" she said, "He was in my room when I returned from my walk, and he tried to kiss me, then Step Mama came and she believed I had seduced him."
"Tried to kiss?" the Judge asked, "I have it in writing you were undone, bare indeed and that your pleasured moans attracted the attention of Lady Oaks, do you deny it?"
"Indeed, that was not what transpired at all," Camilla insisted.
"But Lady Oaks, Mr Raiment and your sisters all say by word and in writing that you seduced him." the Judge insisted. It all seemed most irregular but Wibblethwaite had conducted affairs thus for twenty and more years.
"Then they are not truthful." she insisted.
The Judge sighed, "But I say again we have here sworn testimony from Lady Oakes and her daughters and from Raiment both spoken and in writing that that is what occurred."
"Then they lie!" she insisted.
"And your Physician," the Judge enquired, "Why does he aver that you are no longer chaste?"
A gasp hissed around the courtroom.
"No!" she wailed.
"Cannot be disputed," the Judge insisted, "No it is clear you are a wanton strumpet and unfit for decent society, but that aside perjury you have committed even after your lover hath confessed, this may not be left unpunished," he announced with considerable seriousness, "Have you anything to say in your defence?"
"It is lies all lies!" Camilla exclaimed.
"Father," I whispered, "This is most irregular, tis Raiment on Trial not Camilla, and Mr Haynes treatise upon English Law says." I explained.
"Shut up!" Father hissed, "Just listen you fool."
"Oh for pities sake wench," The Judge snapped, "Lord Oakes, sir are you present, if so please stand."
The Noble Lord rose steadily to stand unsteadily from one of the seats set aside for those of quality, "Sir may I be of assistance?" he asked.
"Yes sir," the Judge continued,"It is my intention to bind over your daughter Camilla in the sum of two hundred pounds that she shall be of good character until her majority."
I saw the Lady Oakes whisper and then the Lord spoke, "I shall do no such thing, she brings my name into disrepute and confers shame on my darling Katerina and her sweet gentle children, no I should rather cast her out in the gutter."
"Father!" Camilla cried.
"Do not speak to me as father!" the Lord Oakes snapped, "My lord will suffice henceforth because you are no daughter of mine."
"Oh can it be that even you have betrayed me now!" Camilla railed.
I stood inadvisedly it must be admitted, "I'll stand surety," I said.
"Sit down you fool," my father hissed, correctly as it turned out as he had a far better appreciation of the ways of women what effect my outburst would have upon Camilla.
"You!" Camilla railed, "I should rather be incarcerated the whole twenty months."
"Don't be too hasty Miss Oakes for that is an alternative expedient," the Judge interjected, "Sit down Mr?"
"Hunstanton sir!" I said quickly.
"Ah yes, Hunstanton, well sir when we have a need of a village idiot, I shall send a communication," he said and the entire court laughed at me, Camilla included, and then I sat down, red faced and angry beyond measure.
"So Miss Oakes," the Judge enquired, "Why should I not have you incarcerated for your lies?"
"They are not lies!" she insisted.
"Come this is not some girlish jape," the Judge reminded her,"This is of the utmost seriousness, I offer you the chance to repent, not to repeat your lies, you are upon oath remember." he repeated.
"I speak the truth." she said.
"Then you shall remain in Gatesby Jail until surety is found or perhaps a menial position is secured," he thought a moment, "Indeed if you are dispossessed then a menial position is all you may hope for," he thought, "So, yes, you shall attend the hiring fair, that is the Mop fair and see if you may secure a position, and if so your master or mistress may apply to me for your release.
"Menial position, I am daughter of a Nobleman, never!" Camilla railed her anger lighting her face showing her character, such beauty, such perfection!
"Silence or I shall have you whipped!" the Judge insisted, "Show some respect."
"But I am innocent!" she protested.
"Ten lashes," the Judge declared.
"That is beyond your power," Camilla snapped, "I am a Noblewoman!"
"Twenty lashes, you have been dispossessed do you not understand?" the Judge retorted.
"That is immaterial!" Camilla argued.
"Forty Lashes," he suggested, "Shall you try for the round hundred."
"May Satan have mercy on your soul for you are truly evil!" Camilla replied.
"One Hunded lashes one more out-burst and I shall have you transported to the Antipodes."
"Ohhhhh!" she railed but finally stilled her tongue.
"Take her out master Jailor, have her brought to the market square on the morrow, ten of the clock if please," the Judge instructed, "And learn some manners Miss Oakes."
Camilla stood down, the anger radiating from her made her ever more beauteous in my estimation and thankfully somehow she held her tongue, and allowed herself to be taken away.
"You bloody fool," father said quietly, "You can't buy the wenches' affection," and raising his voice to be heard more generally he said , "And you have a position to maintain, how should such a creature stand as wife, mother to you children, my grandchildren?"
"Wife, oh, no, I," I stuttered, "I meant not to buy her for a wife, just to have my regard for her acknowledged."
"Then Wibblethwaite is right and you are admirably qualified to be village idiot." he insisted, "County idiot in fact," he laughed, and then said more quietly, "For heaven's sake John, with your fortune girls should be chasing you, not rushing for cover at your approach!"
"I know," I agreed, "But well,"
"You're not bad looking John," my father continued, "But I own you are a tedious pedant when it comes to conversation, and why you cannot read Shakespeare instead of Mr Haynes treatise upon English Law is complete mystery to me."
We hushed at the Judges instruction, "All in attendance for the Oakes' trial may step down and quickly so, that I may proceed with Mr Allinson,"
Quickly and our society were two incompatibilities, and ten minutes must have elapsed before all were ejected, my father sought to remove ourselves with promptitude, but the Oakes were before us, not Camilla of course but the Lord and Lady and Lilla and Catherine, all blocked our exit.
"Ah Edward," the Lord Oakes greeted father, where really with father being Earl Norchester it should have been 'Your Grace', "And who is the buffoon with you?"
"My son John Hunstanton," my father explained inadequately.
"Son eh?" he chuckled, "Then you must come to dine, dine I say what say you my dears," and he turned to his wife and her daughters.
"Oh, son, indeed?" the Lady queried, "Indeed dine, yes most certainly dine with us Mr Gerald Handley, is invited already," and it was settled, and my contempt for them redoubled tenfold.
The day passed interminably, and then before dawn I was away to Gatesby Jail, "I have come with surety for Miss Oakes," I said when at length the Jailor was roused and came to the door.
"And who are you?" he asked.
"John Hunstanton!" I said.
"Oh the village idiot," quoth he, my reputation having preceded me, "Be gone fool before I lock thee in additionally." he said and slammed the door.
I waited until a half past nine and then through the Jail yard gate came a cart carrying Camilla still in her gown of the court appearance, crimson with the inevitable white trim, yet caged like a lion in a cage, a cage be it noted deficient in height and by far too low for her to stand erect so she stooped inelegantly. It halted briefly while the driver leapt aboard from leading the team.
"Miss Oakes," I said as I rushed to her.
"Be gone you fool," she quoth, "You have no business here,"
"But they will whip you?" I said.
"Better by far that than to be behoven to you." she said, and with that the carter cracked his whip and the cart sped away at a good lick.
I followed to the market square, the stage for the Gallows was set up but the Gallows themselves were missing, and as I stood impotently so Camilla was removed from the cage and manhandled to the stage where Mister Gibbons the gargantuan weather beaten hangman Wibblethwaite always employed was there, waiting menacingly, his grizzled face and muscled arms near the same tan colour as his leather waistcoat and twice and a half the weight of poor slender Camilla, and there in his huge hand he bore a whip, an evil device neither cat o' nine tails nor horse whip but somewhere between the two made of leather but with a rope wound carved bone handle.
I took up a position at the back of the watching throng, "Bare her back if you please Mr Gibbons," I heard Judge Wibblethwaite order, and as I looked across I saw him there, presiding at the edge of the stage, "Bare her then, man!" he insisted impatiently.
"No!" Camilla cried but Gibbons advanced, "Beg pardon miss," he said quietly and went to undo her hooks and eyes but Camilla hit him with her hands, I say hands because I saw her hands were tied together at the wrists with a rope before her.
"Aw," Gibbons wailed and recoiled in shock.
"Cut it man, use your dagger!" the Judge insisted and thereupon Gibbons drew his dagger and inserted the pointed end against the collar of poor Camilla's collar gown, sharp edge outermost I prayed, and then with a rending tearing sound he drew it down and jabbed and hacked at the material and her gown and under things just parted in twain revealing the genteel pink softness of her her bared shoulders, and then the spine of her backbone was revealed for the amusement and gaze of the throng and then as her gown was brutally hacked away her corsets were revealed all black and whale boned and laced in tapes of reddish hue, and there he paused in certainly.
"Cut man, bare her, we have not all day," the Judge shouted to spur him on.
So Gibbins took the dagger again and he cut and hacked through the tapess until they fell away one by one in a fluttering cascade of red fragments and then finally and unnecessarily he ripped the whale boned carcase of the thing from her revealing all her sweet unsullied pink softness of form and yet even without the restraint of corsetry her girth expanded no more than an inch, so perfect was her form so girlish yet womanly, the very epitome of an angel, more beautiful by half than the angels in Mr Samprini's depictions or Mr Da Vinci's I own. I wanted so much to rise up and spirit her away from this crudity yet I could no more do so than fly to sit upon the moon.
But Gibbons was but started upon his crude humilliation of the angel, after throwing aside her corset he set about her things with renewed vigour, robe and under-things were together cut separating and all the time widening the expanse of her which appeared freshly naked for all to gaze upon, and he cut away that which covered her loins and buttocks, yes, indeed, leaving her very buttocks naked and pink and quivering as she shook now with fear and trepidation in utter humilliation.
Even her most privateness must have been available to the gaze of the nearest as Gibbons admired his work having left her bared but for the mass of bunched gown around her arms and so after setting his dagger in his waist band once again he took up his whip swung it back and with a mighty forehand over the arm motion so he struck her.
For me, I own time near stood still as I tracked the wicked leathered straps of the whip from backswing to the impactation of harsh brown leather on soft pink flesh and I swear I saw her flesh yield instantly to leave an arrow straight groove which swiftly regained its former shape but with the faintest blued tinge of bruising.#
The violence of the assault astounded her, her beautiful face contorted with the pain yet this was but the first of a century of lashes, "Ahhhhhhh," she wailed high and pure like a soprano at the opera house and then another monstrous blow Gibons delivered, thwack!
Again the flesh yielded and again recovered yet faintly bruised and then again the whip flashed down and "Ahhhhh," Camilla wailed, and all of a sudden the parallel trails of the whip's passage were there upon her, livid and red upon her alabaster skin for all to see, and with each blow another angry weal was added, and another but her poor abused shin was not only bruised now but so flayed that each slashing agony brought forth a rash of tiny bloodied spots which mingled and merged to form a bloodied mass upon her poor, soft innocent pinkness until there was no spot left anywhere upon back or backside that was unsullied.
"For pities sake!" I cried but my cry was not noted among Camilla's own screams and indeed the hubbub of cheers and jeers from the throng who expressed their delight with whoops and jeers and cat calls at one of the aristocracy being brought to their level, and indeed below as stripped bare was she flogged and then the judge called a halt.
I thought he was showing mercy, but no it was expediency, "Free her hands," the Judge ordered, and as Gibbons slashed through the ropes so the remains of her gown fall away to the floor leaving her to try to hide her charms with her hands but to no avail as Gibbons once again took up the whip and began slashing away at her, this time her breast the target, her perfect mounds that no one but her husband and infant children should know, and the perfect teats thereon, now stiffening and darkening as they were sorely abused, with livid bruising and the red of blood where the skin was broken, and when the mounds were likewise a mass of stripes such the each fresh assault landed upon a previous mark so he began slashing at the front of her elegant legs and when she sought to protect the aforementioned legs so to the breast did he return taking a delight in striking her teats time after time, and even on occasion did he strike right on that part usually kept the most private and her writhing thereafter displayed that supposed privateness in all its soft glorious golden haired and pink glory to all that craned and strained to view it.
.
Even when she fell to the floor so Gibbon's assistants Firkin and Hallows, and a more disreputable pair one could never expect to meet in three lifetimes, took hold each of one of Camilla's arms and dragged her up again..
"For pities sake," I cried, but my entreaty was drowned among a host of chants, "Ninety!" someone chanted, I had counted but seventy six but I joined immediately and the hubbub grew, "Ninety One, Ninety Two, Ninety Three," They chanted and in a crescendo, "Ninety Eight, Ninety Nine, One Hundred." wherepon Firkins dropped Camilla and Gibbons missed her and slashed Hallows across the arm, whereupon Hallows punched Gibbons who kicked Firkins and the whole descended into farce.
I pressed to the stage, climbing under some and over others in my frenzy and I gained the platform and climbed thereon, Camilla was insensible, dead as I thought as I grasped her and slid off my Jacket to lend her, and I gazed at her beautiful countenance all creased with pain and I vowed to avenge her and the very next thing I knew was that I woke an hour and more thence with a splitting headache and an agonised jaw lying athwart a table in the back room at the Ramsbottom Arms public house
It seemed Gibbons took exception to my intrusion and removed me from the platform with a left jab to my chin, whereupon I slept soundly as I travelled through space for a few feet before landing, as father explained upon that strongest part of my anatomy, my unusually thick skull.
Father's faithful servant Dawson stood by as I woke, "Ah awake at last," he said, "His Grace says to try not to induce a riot and to get home instantly!" he added as he showed me his injured knuckles.
"Oh, what happened." I asked.
"I hurt my hand rescuing your jacket," he said, "But it hurt Hallows jaw more I'll wager, but please sir., I entreat you please do his Grace's bidding and slip away home."
"But I must see Camilla!" I protested.
"Very well, if you must," he agreed, and we went to the jail as I requested, but we were kept at the gate, "She has left instructions that you may not visit her," the jailor's man insisted.
"But it is I that tried to help her, I John Hunstanton." I explained.
"Indeed sir, that is what I told her sir," he said
"What I?" I asked.
"Yes you sir, you particularly, sir," he explained, "Miss Oakes wishes none but her former governess Miss Daley to attend her." he said pompously.
"But how is she?" I asked.
"Oh middling," he replied insolently, "She's lying in a cell in a pool of her own blood crying" he continued, "But she says she wants nothing to do with you."
Dawson thereupon grasped me firmly around the throat before I had a chance to assault the insolent oaf and then he, Dawson, set me firmly on the way home.
Father was in surprisingly good humour as I returned, "So Prince Charming how is your Princess?"
"She won't see me," I admitted, "She wants none but her governess."
"Why am I not surprised, now set aside thoughts of Camilla and we shall dine with the Oakes' no less tomorrow evening, we have an invitation the two of us."
"No," I insisted.
"Yes!" he insisted, "Find out about the father, why does he not believe his flesh and blood Camilla, over his lover or wife as he calls her, for you have aroused their interest, so quiz them as they quiz you," he said reasonably,"And if you do not find the girls enchanting then I own I should not decline a gallop." he added outrageously.
So it was we dined with the Oakes, father was his usual suave ebullient self whilst Mr Gerald Handley dazzled with his superior wit and I struggled to insert a single word so poor am I at polite conversation, "So Edward, I knew not John was your son." Lord Oakes declared.
"Yes, a happy accident," he explained, "As you will know my dearest has made a home at Brighton," he explained as he was wont to do, I thought it was to diminish me in peoples estimation but he was far more wily than that!
"So John is your son?" Gerald Handley asked, "And what of Edward your son and heir?" he asked.
Father was playing games, he called me John because we shared the first name of Edward, and it suited me not to be known as Lord Farmingham to which title I was entitled as heir, could you imagine a Lieutenant the Lord Farmingham, no of course that would never do.
"Oh tolerably useless, bound for parliament I'll wager," which wounded Handley who thought to enter Parliament was the holy grail which every man jack strove to attain.
The evening dragged Lilla and Catherine were charming and definitely uninterested in a second or bastard son of an Earl but instead fluttered and tittered and in every way sought to ensnare Mr Handley, while he cared not which one he wooed as it was her dowry from Lord Oakes' fortune that was his interest in the Oakes' girls. Meanwhile my father had absolutely captivated Lady Oakes, I fully expected the pair to sneak away somewhere and return looking flushed but exhilarated as was father's wont, but he restrained himself.
Father though eloquently steered the conversation around to Camilla.
"Awful girl," Lady Oakes averred, "Took an absolute dislike to me from the very first as I tried to comfort my Lord as poor Jemima wasted away."
"It must have been a sore trial," Father sympathised, "John says she absolutely and ruthlessly demanded every beau danced with her at the Marchington's supper dance, did you not John?"
I nodded, "Except you!" Lilla tittered inelegantly.
"Indeed," Father enquired, "No wonder you strive to enter her affections?"
"Yes, indeed," Mr Handley agreed, "Most creditable under happier circumstances, though I own I owe her a great debt of gratitude for enticing me away from Miss Filby and introducing me to her charming sisters."
I peered at him swooning at Lilla and Catherine whom he would have given scant regard had Camilla been present and understood in a trice why they had told such lies about her conduct.
"I suppose that had it been a son with a serving wench no note would have been taken." Father queried.
"Indeed not!" Lady Oakes said, "Such is expected of a healthy gentleman, but a young lady it was such an affront to decency,"
"Still a fine example was set this morning," Lady Oakes said, "So now my girls may take their proper place in society their reputation un-sullied!"
"But let is talk of happier things," Father asked, "Are there sufficient dances and receptions in the county or should I hold one at Gatesby Hall?"
"Oh but you must," Lady Oakes insisted, "We all have the date for the Gatesby Ball, in our diaries, we all shall be devastated if it doesn't occur."
The conversation continued in like vein and then as the mid night approached we accepted the offer of a bed for the night, "But there are three of us and the coachman!" Father protested.
"You shall have the blue room, your Grace, and Mr Handley you shall have Miss Daley's room and your coachmen may bunk in the butler's quarters," Lady Oakes agreed, "And the boy, well I suppose you may use Camilla's room."
"Capital!" my father agreed, "But what of Miss Daley?"
"Oh she was Camilla's governess, and dismissed as of no utility when my sweet Katerina came," Lord Oakes said, "She is seamstress now at Mrs Price-Wright or was it Mr Matthew Allen's establishment."
We proceeded to bed and in the morning Father sought me out, "Look at the door," he said in a whisper,"See it is hinged away from the wall, the chest prevents it opening more than a square angle, so," he paused, "The bed cannot be seen from the hall."
I nodded, "So let us slip away," he said, "Say nothing,"
We slipped away before breakfast, and Father insisted I say nothing about the bedroom until he made enquiries, "But let us await the Mop fair," he said, "We shall have our sport there."
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The days passed, I attended the Jail but was refused entry, but unbeknown to me father had Dawson seek out Miss Daley and had furnished her with funds for salts and bandages and all such things for Miss Oakes, that her wounds should be healed with the inference that Mr Gerald Handley was her benefactor.
Sadly believing that her looks should be her downfall Miss Daley persuaded Camilla to hack away her now soiled golden locks so that devoid of lip and cheek rouge she might appear at the hiring fair as a serving maid, and not, as some might construe, as a whore.
The day of the hiring fair dawned crisp and cold and my father had me woken well before it was reasonable to be abroad, and indeed there were barely a single soul abroad as we left our home of Gatesby Hall passed through the village of Hibblethwaite and hamlet of Markham in our carriage and entered the market place of Gatesby.
The fences were all set up, pens for humanity, for general workmen and farm hands, indoor staff, milk maids, housemaids and every sort of maid, all penned like cattle and prodded and peered at like animals or chattels but as was tradition no bids could be made before ten of the clock, so we waited and wandered and awaited both Camilla and the tenth stroke of the Town Hall clock.
It was beyond nine when the Gatesby Jail sent Camilla, Miss Oakes to offer herself for menial duties, as ordered by Judge Wibblethwaite as punishment for her perjurious statements when Mr Raiment was tried for debauchery. She came with Manston a jailor, who while charged with her security also carried the canon ball which was chained by a clasp securely clamped around her ankle.
I stared, they had shorn her golden ringlets, crudely shorn and and as she stooped the markings from her lashings could be seen on her bare arms and legs which her crude prison smock left unclothed. She stood among the lower classes shivering in her thin servants robe, unaccustomed as she was to the cold, her bared feet unaccustomed to the cold hard stone of the market place and all the time the humiliation of being stared at like a curiosity by all that had heard of her sentence which was of course every single person in the county.
"Hold your tongue boy!" Father said, when I saw her but I paid no heed and sought the Judge immediately, but he refused to receive me.
I went back to Camilla, "Fear not." I said, but she sneered, her timidity evaporating as her anger rose upon seeing me
"Go away." she pleaded "I should prefer a twenty months imprisonment to an evening with you!"
I hoped it was bravado not honesty, but I retained my resolve that she should be vindicated.
It therefore fell to us to wait for the sale, the Judge was it seemed not about to let Camilla be situated with any common personage, and so it came that the Church clock struck two and still Camilla shivered, though the market was almost devoid of hirelings, and then the Judge came to see Camilla and her jailor Manson, while I attended also.
"Ah Hunstanton, the Village idiot, "The Judge laughed, "Are you offering surety again?"
"Yes sir!" I agreed.
"Oh send him hence!" Camilla cried, "The fool has not the means, his brain is addled." she added helpfully.
"Do you know I am tempted to let him stand surety," the Judge admitted to my father.
"Actually there was a gentleman around who had an interest," Father admitted, "There is his man," he said, "I say you, Lord Farmingham's man," Father addressed no other than Dawson his own Butler.
"My Lord," Dawson answered.
"Tis Your Grace, but no mattter," Father insisted, "Did you say Farmingham wished to employ the wench.
"Indeed sir, as upstairs maid sir," Dawson said, "He left the arrangements to me sir, I can go to ah."
"Twenty pounds surety sir, refunded when she returns unharmed." The Judge explained, "Lord Farmingham eh," he said, and when Dawson agreed he said "Yes that should suffice."
"Then I have that amount exactly sir." Dawson agreed.
"And how say you Miss Oakes," the Judge enquired, "Lord Farmingham's upstairs maid or prison cell?"
"Anything but that idiot or prison," Camilla said thinking Dawson was Farmingham, and with twenty pounds safely deposited in his purse Judge Wibblethorpe ordered Camilla released into Dawson's custody.
It took a while, Father who was no fool made me remain silent throughout and even when Camilla was released Dawson made her wait an whole hour before our carriage arrived to take her away, the hour it took for us to be whisked home and the carriage to return.
Camilla travelled to Gatesby Hall in considerable agitation, she could not accept her disinheritance and hoped to enlist the mysterious Lord Farmingham's assistance in establishing her innocence.
But suddenly she realised, that the carriage had turned from the highway at the gatehouse to Gatesby Hall, "This is Gatesby Hall," she commented, "What is this, have you tricked me!" and then she saw my father, and me.
"Ahhhhhggghh," she screamed, "You monster!" and she leapt from the carriage and assaulted me vigorously with her dainty fists.
"Girl!" Father shouted, "Stop, Miss Oakes you must realise you are a servant now, you must learn to take orders."
"Just keep that idiot away from me," she insisted.
"John, leave Miss Oakes alone, please." Father insisted and using all his charm he coerced her into the house.
Six of the clock brought high tea, at eight we took dinner and at ten over supper I broached the subject of Camilla.
"Oh she will make an admirable upstairs maid," father averred,
"But Father," I protested.
"No, let her go about her duties and settle in before you broach the subject of her innocence." he insisted, "And get to bed early there is much to be done on the morrow."
He was acting strangely, my father, he came upstairs with me as I went to bed, he stood with me as I entered my bedroom and he came inside with me and, "Nooooo!" I heard a scream. It was Camilla, in my bed, she was lying in my bed,
"There you are my son, one upstairs maid, someone to practice the art of love upon ready for marriage," he suggested.
"Father!" I protested.
"Now I have gone to a deal of trouble for you John, so ravish her, that is an order, do you understand!"
"No please not that!" Camilla protested.
"And if you don't I shall," he averred.
"Camilla," I explained, "I had no idea!"
"Oh no of course not!" she said in complete dis-belief, "You knew nothing of your father tearing away my shift, leaving me with nothing to cover my nakedness," she said and then the door shut behind me and the key clattered in the lock.
"Father," I protested, but he was gone.
"I really am sorry," I protested.
"You lie sir!" she averred, "Oh what is the use," she cried and she held her head in her hands.
"He tore your shift?" I asked, "Then you may borrow my shirt."
"Such generosity," she said with a level of sarcasm that reassured me.
"Oh be quiet," I scolded, "Twas not my idea!" I protested again and I found a freshly laundered shirt which I handed her.
It was late, I needed to sleep, so I undressed, put on my night shirt and climbed abed with her, and she slapped me with the palm of her dainty hand.
I held her by the arms to still her, no more, but her warmth enticed me, her anger and her passion inflamed me and it was such a short step from holding her arms to holding her down with my body and then my knee slipped between her knees and then a second knee and then I spread her legs and even as I held her I sensed the warmth of her beneath me, and with that sense my appendage grew .
"Camilla," I said softly, "Forgive me," and I aimed my appendage at the soft wetness that led to her womb.
"No!" she protested, "If you have any consideration," she protested, and then she moaned as the tip of my manhood entered within her, "Please you are tearing me asunder, what have I done to deserve this!".
"My father has assured me that the pain will pass," I sought to reassure her as an inch more slipped within, "But I love you!"
"Ahhh, please Mr Village idiot you are rending me asunder, it is surely too monstrous to fit there." she said but my appendage was easing forward within her, stretching her sweet soft innermost parts by increments as I advanced, stretching her, moulding her to my own shape, and as she protested so I eased right inside her until my hairs crushed her hairs, and then I started to pleasure myself rocking gently fore and aft as walls of gossamer softness engulfed my most precious part.
"Were you not already ruined?" I asked, "The physician?"
"By his fingers only," she said, "So are you satisfied?" she asked, "Now you have truly defiled me?" she asked but I heard her only as an echo as I drifted my way to paradise among clouds of green marshmallow upon the wings of a pink swan.
"No!" she protested, "Stop you must not," she entreated me, "It is unreasonable," but now I was lost in her, my mouth sought her neck and I kissed and sucked at her, and then her arms were around me, "Just finish that my agony may end." she said, "John please withdraw I say!" she implored, but I was galloping now,
"John for pities sake, I am on fire," she said, "John I cannot stand the," she said, "Oh John!" she wailed and at once I was casting my seed within her, pumping and gushing, and grinding myself into her.
"You monster!" she railed, "You complete idiotic monster, you have defiled me utterly."
"Thank you," I said to her, "For that was paradise." I kissed her forehead and then I slid from her.
"Paradise!" she exclaimed, "For you maybe, for me it is sheer agony, agony I say and I am ruined utterly, utterly I say and that slime why I never wish to experience the same ever again."
"Father says there is no pleasure for the girl until the third time or more," I explained, "That was your first?" I asked.
"And last," she insisted.
"Then sleep sweet Camilla." I insisted, "Good night."
"No, you cannot sleep here!" she insisted, "We are not man and wife."
"Well the bed is warm the floor cold and hard." I said reasonably, "And it is my bed."
"Ohhhh," she protested, and then she decided to choose the warmth.
I woke in the midst of the night, the church clock struck one, a quarter past, half past, one o'clock I knew not but I was aroused, my appendage reared against the warmth of Camilla's slumbering body, inflamed indeed by her physical warmth, to such an extent that I resolved I should not be denied my satisfaction.
"Camilla," I asked, "Are you awake?"
"No!" she protested, "How can I sleep, wracked with the pain you inflicted?"
"I wish to conjoin again," I said.
"And I have no doubt that you shall, for I am to weak to resist," she said, "Just be swift," and so she made herself available to me, her legs spread ready for my insertion, and in the darkness moved around and climbed over her that I might spear her again.
"John," she whispered in the darkness, "Did your father say the third time?" she asked, "That I should derive pleasure the third time."
"Indeed," I said.
"Did you ever consider that as he is a man he might have not a single clue?" she said, in resignation, "Pray finish your fumblings and allow me to sleep." she requested and then she yawned, not the action of one in agony I determined.
"John," she asked sleepily, "Will you marry me if I fall with child?"
"Or if not!" I added.
"So perform away mister Hunstanton, or is that Lord Farmingham, and let me sleep."
"Both," I said "Now hush my lover," I insisted and the bed springs began to creak with renewed vigour.
I woke with the dawn, to feel a small hand upon my appendage, "Are you rested?" she asked,
"Indeed," I asked, "Why?"
"Your father came whilst you slept," she said, "He brought break-fast."
"What!" I sat up, there was a huge plate of shell fish, oysters and the like and a magnum of sparkling wine, "Oh for heaven's sake!" I exclaimed, "He believes they have aphrodisiac properties."
"Well I am starving," she insisted and she expertly flipped the meat from an oyster shell and wolfed it down.
"I suppose he will let us out eventually," I agreed.
"A week," she said, "He said we must conjoin fifty times and then we shall know if we are compatible."
"Fear not, I'll get us released." I insisted, "If you prefer the Jail then so be it."
"Well, perhaps," she said, "Perhaps there is a soft bed here, and no manacles or ball and chain."
"Indeed, such can not be denied," I agreed.
"And you are undeniably warm." she said, "Have an oyster."
We ate oysters and drank wine, "Miss Oakes," I said at length when we had finished our repast, "Shall we rest a while?"
"I think perhaps we should conjoin if we have to do so fifty times before we are released," she suggested.
We kissed like lovers and she pulled me to her, guided me within her and cooed and sighed as I pleasured her with great exertion, finally gasping as I filled her with my seed that third time.
"Ah," she said, "It is easier certainly, perhaps your father is not entirely ignorant, I own it was not entirely unpleasant."
"Perhaps we should persist with our endeavours," I suggested.
"Indeed, when you are recovered," she said, "Rest awhile," and she kissed my forehead.
I dozed awhile and then I woke to her dainty hands fondling my manhood, "If you are recovered then perhaps it is time to conjoin once more," she said, "We won't be released until we fulfil your father's quota."
"No," I agreed and reached out to hold her to me.
"Not cuddle conjoin, make ourselves one John," she insisted in a remarkable change of attitude, "And let me feel you inside me, your heart beating next to mine."
"Indeed," I agreed, "Conjoin," I kissed her, "Are you prepared?"
"Yes, yes, indeed, now sir to your duty," she said urgently and as I moved to cover her, so she guided me inside her once more, "There, now that is number four," she said "And I am completely ruined!"
"Completely?" I asked.
"Indeed, your appendage enters with barely discernable discomfort," she said contentedly, "I do own that I could lie with you quite contentedly, tis the days I dread," she said, "Your appendage can I endure but your wit, oh dear."
"Then converse with others and conjoin with me." I suggested.
"I do believe I shall," she said, "So tell me you love me and I shall be content for now."
"I love you," I said.
"I do believe you do." she said, "I will admit to a desire for a husband of higher station, but, John, if you'll have me, then you will have to do."
"I suppose I shall suffice for the present," I agreed, "But what of when you shall be restored."
"Indeed yes, Mr Idiot, dream that dream, I am ruined so I shall take you, as you have taken me," she said, "Wife to a second son is not what I had hoped for," she admitted, "But it will have to suffice."
I bit my tongue. "How are your lashes?" I asked/
"More bearable when we conjoin," she said, "In all honesty I had forgotten until you raised the matter,"
"How?" I asked
"Hush, just love me," she husked, "Show me your passion!" and then she was pulling me down on to her, and I found myself floating once more drifting on a cloud, "Oh yes!" she said "Show me, show me."
I was looking at he gazing lovingly into her eyes, gently kissing her forehead when I heard the door lock click as I thought and then the door creaked and swung open slowly.
Father put his head around the door and beamed widely at me before quietly closing the door behind him.
Camilla heard nothing, she was too far removed in her own pleasure to notice but I knew my father would soon be knocking our door once more.
He gave us an hour and knocked with a flourish, "Ah luncheon is at twelve," he said as he swept into the room, "I have a gown and some underthings," he said depositing a large parcel upon the bed, "I trust they will fit."
"And the fifty?" Camilla asked. "The week?"
"I fear for John's well being if I left you two together any longer," he said with a laugh, "Now dress and face the day!" he said and he swept away again.
"It's new," Camilla said as she unwrapped the parcel, "Oh John, it's very fine, look"
I own I liked her better bare, but she dressed in her gown certainly looked the part of a lady except the gown was very tight laced with no cleavage nor shoulders bare, indeed there was no sign that she had been whipped at all.
"I have Lady Forster's hair dresser coming," Father said as we assembled for luncheon, "Shall you like being John's consort?" Father asked Camilla.
"Ah," she said.
"I own she will tolerate the nights but find the days tedium indeed." I said.
"Then breed children for a pass time!" he suggested, "They are a pleasant enough diversion, but for now," he said, "Plot your revenge."
"What?" Camilla announced.
"It was lies," my father averred, "The witnesses could not have seen what they said they saw, and I have made enquiries about Mr Raiment but for this after-noon, my little love birds, it is to Mr Haynes treatise upon English Law that you should direct your efforts."
"Is that not as dull as ditch water?" Camilla asked.
"Indeed, unless a reprieve and apology have no appeal to you," I agreed.
"Then we shall peruse it directly," Camilla agreed, "Once we have eaten," and she whispered, "And conjoined again."
"If you wish?" I agreed.
"Do you not desire me?" she said affronted.
"Indeed, indeed I do, shall we conjoin now?" I asked.
"Yes!" she agreed, "Yes please!"
"John," my father protested as we rushed away, "Luncheon!"
It was more pleasurable than ever, we didn't manage the sanctuary of the bed chamber, the linen cupboard had to suffice and standing not lying and with her gown held up to bare that which needed to be bare whilst I merely dropped my breeches and seeing by the copious moisture emitting from her that she was ready for love so I drove deep inside her and took her to heaven once more.
Luncheon consumed we retired to our room once more, my father' s maid Rebekah attended, "Beg pardon Ma'am but my Lord sent a maids uniform," she said, "Tis easier to slip on and off Madam, and to wash!"
"Oh, yes indeed, how thoughtful!" Camilla replied, "John, how thoughtful!" and she slipped off her gown whereupon I mounted her once more.
"John, I shall be sore," she said, "But I shall bear it!" and so to Mr Haynes did we turn our attention.
She professed herself entirely disinterested in the law until I pointed out that Judge Wibblethwaite had exceeded his powers greatly in her trial.
"Show me!" she demanded. I pointed out the passage, "Shall be judged by twelve in number of his peers," she read. "Is there more?"
"Yes," I agreed, "Look, 'Sufficient notice shall be given of the charge with which the person is accused to allow a defence to be prepared!"
"Indeed," she agreed and she grabbed the book and read avidly for an hour or more, I waited for her to finish, and when she continued to read I stood behind her and caressed her mounds.
"John," she said, "There is a time and a place," and then after a time she added, "I think I understand."
To be continued.
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