Chapter 7. Arrival Studenhall
Over breakfast the following day, (or was it over one and a half centuries
later? Eric was still very confused over the time scales) they discussed the
events and matters of more practicality. If Violet was to live in 2001 she would
need more clothes and other items. At the moment she had her one and only
Victorian dress and underwear. Money was no great problem but Violet couldn't
very well go into a shop dressed as she was. Eric would have to do it for her.
Never in his life had he ever tried to buy women's clothes but he couldn't see a
way round it. Fortunately a mail order firm continually sent him catalogues
which were largely devoted to women's wear with only a relatively small section
for men, and from the catalogue they were able to determine Violet's dress and
shoe sizes. He drove to the nearby shopping mall and was able to get a basic
outfit consisting of a couple of shirts, pants and underwear as well as a pair
of trainers. Wearing these she could buy anything else she needed for herself.
The items were all laid out on the counter ready for packing when a familiar
voice said, "Morning Eric. I didn't know you were into ladies clothing." It was
Freida, the wife of a friend who lived in the same village.
Knowing it would soon be common knowledge that he had a woman living with him,
Eric replied, "Morning Frieda. How are you? How's John? No, I'm not going to
wear them, a girl I met on holiday looked me up and she's going to stay for a
while. She had her suitcase stolen on her way so she hasn't much to wear."
"And I thought you were just into computers and things. You are a sly one. I'll
have to bring John round and see her for myself." Freida good naturedly
interrogated him about Violet until his parcel was ready and the two parted.
"Damn," muttered Eric, "Now we will have to concoct a whole life story for her."
He returned home and together they worked out a sort of believable story. Violet
had lived in North London but moved away to Cornwall. She had met Eric on the
last day of his holiday in Inverarry in Scotland. It was no problem for her to
slip back in time and see what Eric did on the week he was there and she could
spend a bit of ghost time in Cornwall to be able to make up some story. They
could adapt the real story of how she was disfigured by saying the oil lamp was
being used because of a power cut.
With this unexpected problem solved, they could turn their attention to writing
the story so far. It took two days to type in the text and work through the
corrections and alterations until they were satisfied with the draft. Freida and
John did come round one evening. Freida of course tried to probe Violet's past
but Eric said firmly but laughingly, "Frieda, stop being so nosy. You'll
embarrass her with your questions and then she might want to go back."
John backed him up. "Yes, Freida, it's about time Eric found himself a nice
woman, so don't you go upsetting things between them. If they want to tell us
all the gory details of their past, then they will in their own good time."
Next morning, Eric asked if Violet was going to show him the next part of the
story. They were sitting side by side in the conservatory in revelling the
warmth of the late September sunshine. Violet paused for a long time before
answering. "Eric, dear Eric, I don't know if I should show you more. In the
short while we have been together, I have come to love you dearly. I don't want
to do anything to upset our love. You got quite upset when you saw the beating
Millie took. I could show you many other thrashings given to servants but
Millie's was the worst. If we are to progress with the book, you will have to
witness my beatings and my degradation. The very disgusting things I was forced
to perform might really upset your stomach. Do you think you could handle that
and still wish to be with me afterwards?"
Eric was silent for a while. In the end he replied, "I really don't know Vi, I
really don't but if we don't try, we will never know and may regret it for the
rest of our lives. In a few years, when our lives together have become more
routine, you may inwardly at least, think of me as a wimp for not going. If we
go and it doesn't work out, that is something we will probably both regret. But,
as I said, we won't know unless we try it."
"When would you like to go?"
"Later today. We ought to make the most of this beautiful day. Let's walk the
railway and you can set the scene for me.
As they strolled along the footpath that was the old railway line, Violet spoke
of her life at her father's mansion after the Thompson and Cook incident.
"I remained living at my father's house keeping more and more to myself. As I
grew and my body developed, I became very ashamed of my face and tried to cover
it even to the staff. Millie became my personal maid until she married and left
our service. Two other young girls were taken on in succession but they left
after only a short while. I told myself it was because they couldn't stand the
sight of my face. Certainly I didn't expect any man would want to marry a
disfigured woman like me."
They arrived at the tunnel entrance and sat on the bank at the spot where they
first met.
"Father, I know worried about it too. He didn't want me to become a spinster. An
old maid. He was also a self made man. An industrialist. A wealthy one who
yearned to associate with the real aristocracy and tried to cultivate
friendships with anyone with a title. Thus it was that he was invited to a
shooting party with Lord Theyer. At a drinking session afterwards I must have
been mentioned because a few days later he came to the house and father insisted
I be present. I was 28 years old and still a virgin although I had witnessed
copulating couples on a number of occasions since Millie's rape and I found a
very rude book one of the stableboys had hidden. In theory I knew some of the
things men did to women but had no practical experience.
Lord Geoffrey Theyer seemed quite presentable but I had heard whispers of what
he did with his serving girls and Jane, one of the new maids, directly warned me
against him but wouldn't say why. He looked at me strangely and rarely in the
face. He was definitely more interested in my breasts and ankles. My long dress
hid my legs. I was very shy and reluctant to speak with him but that didn't seem
to bother him too much. He stayed for most of the afternoon and then shock of
shocks, he asked me to marry him. He said he needed a wife that could run his
household but was afraid a real beautiful woman would be tempted to flirt with
other men behind his back. Father blinded by the opportunity, could see his
daughter becoming a Lady and he would be getting me off his hands as well as
into Society, which I know he would spell with a capital S. He said he would
give me a dowry of £1,000 which was a great deal of money in those days when few
people earned more than £50 per year. When I hesitated to give a reply, father
answered for me."
"Of course she will be honoured to marry you, M'lord."
"So it was that two months later, I became Lady Theyer and my life changed for
the worse. It started directly we arrived at his home from the reception. The
wedding was a small affair with only close family present ostensibly because I
didn't want to show my face in public but I later found that his Lordship didn't
want to be seen with such 'an ugly bitch' as he put it."
*****
Ghost Violet shook as she and Eric watched the closed carriage arrive at the
main entrance to Lord Theyer's mansion at Studenhall. A burly man in a faded
uniform stepped forward and opened the door and helped the bride down. "Welcome
to Studenhall, M'Lady, I'm Beyers." She was introduced to each of the staff,
lined up on the steps.
"I was very surprised at the revealing state of the girls dress and apart from
the two big women at the start, all seemed very young," Violet spoke to Eric as
unseen they followed the newly weds.
Lord Geoffrey paused in front of one young maid. His hands took hold of the top
of her dress and pulled it open and down to below her nipples. "Mildred," he
said sharply, "You should know by now that tits like yours should not be
covered."
"Sorry, Sir."
Geoffrey turned to one of the large women, "Grace, give Mildred's tits six with
the strap and make sure she works bare breasted till this time tomorrow."
Grace curtsied, "Yes Sir. Do wish to see her afterwards?"
"Yes, Grace, bring her straight to me when you have finished. No, on second
thoughts it would be better if my wife and I watched." Tears ran from Mildred's
eyes. The young Violet turned a shocked look on her face. Seeing it Geoffrey
added, "Don't worry dear, I shall pay full attention to yours as well and you
might as well find out immediately how I like this house to run."
The young Violet started to protest vehemently about the cruelty but Geoffrey
gruffly told her to shut up otherwise she would receive a taste of the strap
too. Not believing he would do this to his new wife, Violet continued to protest
but this only resulted in a slap across the face, a slap made all the more
humiliating because it was done in front of all the staff.
"I told you to hold your tongue! Now come with us, and the rest of you too," he
added as the maids and men staff were about to leave and return to their work.
All now realised they were going to have to watch Mildred's suffering and
because the master was there, Grace would have whip her very hard, not that the
cruel bitch wouldn't hit hard anyway.
The group made their way down stairs to a large room equipped with various items
to facilitate the application of any desired punishment. Violet cried out in
horror at the scene but was quickly silenced by a sharp word from her husband.
"Take off your dress, Mildred," Grace ordered. Knowing she no choice but to
comply, Mildred lifted her dress over her head. She was completely naked
underneath.
Geoffrey turned to his wife, "That's how you are to dress in future except as my
wife you can chose your own dress but like Mildred and everyone else in this
room, you are not to wear anything under it. I want your body readily available
for my pleasure or my punishment. Like all the other women, you are to show a
good part of your tits at all times. Do you understand?"
Violet started to say "No" but changed her mind and just nodded.
Fastened to the floor was a solid oak high back chair and Grace indicated
Mildred should sit in it. Taking the girl's wrists she fastened them behind the
chair, then pushed a cushion between the chair and Mildred's back forcing her
breasts forward. Tears flowed down Mildred's face and dripped over her breasts
making them shine in the flickering candle light. Grace picked up a well oiled
leather tawse an inch wide, two feet long and split into two thongs for about
nine inches of its length. She showed it to Geoffrey who nodded approval. "Did
you intend six to each breast or a total of six strokes Sir?"
He'd only intended a total of six but given the choice and knowing how sadistic
Grace could be and that the lash would strike both globes each time, he
answered, "Six to each of course Grace. Lay them on well. There's plenty of
flesh to cover."
Standing to Mildred's right she laid two hearty strokes to the underside of the
right breast. However, the ends of the long tawse bit deeply into the left one
too. Mildred screamed pitifully but this seemed to delight her tormentor. Two
more marked the breast tops. Mildred's head rolled forward in agony.
"Keep your head back," Grace ordered, "If you don't want your nose hit as well.
Mildred hardly stayed conscious as the next two went across the sensitive
nipples. Grace moved to the other side and repeated the whipping. It was too
much for Mildred. She didn't feel the last one as her mind blotted out the pain.
Water was thrown over her and as she opened her eyes Violet decided to make a
run for it.
"Hold her Beyers and you Martha." Violet was easily held by the two powerful
individuals. Geoffrey returned his attention to Mildred. His hands mauled the
tender flesh, his lips suckled a nipple before nipping it between his teeth.
"You are to keep them on full display like this until teatime tomorrow and then
you will come to me and ask permission to wear your dress. Until then anyone is
allowed to inspect and feel them to test their tenderness. Understood."
Through her tears Mildred whispered, "Yes, Sir."
