Forever M'Lady

Forever M'Lady.

Chapter 1 Barton Court

The day after my fourteenth birthday, my father took me to Barton Court, the local 'big house', where I was to be taken on as the most junior servant. Daddy patted me on the head and said he would see me on Sunday. He left me there in my Sunday best with just a change of clothing in a package clutched to my chest. A girl, who told me her name was Faith, took me in hand and led me first to the Housekeeper's door. She was just a year or two older than me.

We entered her office when called in; Faith bobbed a little curtsy and hissing at me to copy her. Mistress Sharp was a tall, imposing woman wearing a starched, tight white blouse and voluminous black skirts. Around her waist was a wide belt from which hung a large ring of keys. "Well?" she almost barked, glaring at the intrusion.

"Please, Mistress Sharp, this is the new girl, Jane Fairfax," said my guide.

"Harrumph," Mistress Sharp grunted, looking down her long nose, which was as sharp as her name. "Come here girl, I do not bite. I want a proper look at you." As she looked me over, motioning for me to turn this way and that, she continued, "I am in charge. You will always address me as Mistress Sharp or just Mistress. I am Lord Barton's Housekeeper and so control his domestic staff." She finally gripped my jaw and looked straight into my eyes. "I will not tolerate misbehaviour. Understand?"

"Yes, Mistress Sharp."

"Faith, take her to the Linen Keeper for a uniform, then to the still room. Then return to your own duties."

"Yes, Mistress." We both had to curtsy again before we left.

That was four years ago. In that time I had made my place in the big house until, one day, Mistress Sharp summoned me. It was with some trepidation that I went. My only other visits to her office had been to be disciplined for infractions of the rules. I left each time with a very sore bottom imprinted with the marks of a large wooden spoon and tears flooding from my eyes. However, this time I knew of no reason to be summoned.

I entered her office, dropped a curtsy and stood before Mistress Sharp and Master Johnstone, the Butler. I had learned in my time that Master Johnstone was even the Housekeeper's boss, only one-step below God, so I was even more nervous. It was almost like having the clock turned back when I was instructed to turn my head and my body this way and that, this time for Master Johnstone's inspection. "Show me your legs, Jane. Lift your skirts." I did as bidden, holding up my skirts and turning to give him views all round, until he told me cover up again.

"Yes, Mistress Sharp," he turned to the Housekeeper. "She's a comely, buxom wench. M'lady told me to bring her although I cannot think where M'lady saw her. She has been kept downstairs?"

"Master Johnstone, last week, Faith was ill in bed and Jane was sent to empty the chamber pots. Perhaps M'Lady saw her. I trust she has done nothing wrong?"

"I think not, Mistress Sharp. M'lady did not seem annoyed or distressed when she instructed me." Turning to me, he said, "Come." He walked out of the door and I had to rush to keep up with him. "When did you last bathe, Jane?" he demanded over his shoulder.

"All Souls Day, Sir," I responded. Without breaking his long stride, he turned to a side passage and took me to the large bathing room. He called for hot water and within minutes, four maids had filled the bath, meanwhile I had been ordered to strip. I obeyed reluctantly but I could have been a marble statue for all the attention he paid to me. A quick glance up and down, an almost imperceptible nod and then he turned to speak to one of the girls. She was to run and get me a new uniform. "And I mean 'new'," he finished.

I scrubbed myself everywhere, yes everywhere, with carbolic soap until my skin was almost sore but felt tingling and glowing. I then dried with a big white towel and stood there shivering for a minute until my new uniform arrived. I quickly dressed myself and brushed my hair as best I could until Master Johnstone was satisfied. Finally, I was taken into the Family part of the house and it almost felt like hallowed ground. At the door from the servants' area into the Family area, he stopped and told me, in a very soft voice but his tone was hard as steel, "Whatever you see or hear beyond this door is Private. You will never tell anybody, not your friends, not your superiors, not even me. You will obey any orders M'Lady gives you instantly. If you transgress, you will be severely whipped and taken to prison. Is That Absolutely Clear?"

"Yes, Master Johnstone."

His face softened with a friendly smile. "Jane, M'lady has not told me why she wants to see you but I think your fortunes are changing for the better. Mistress Sharp has given me good reports on you so I am confident you will fit in. Good luck. Now, chin up and come with me."

He led me into another world where everything was beauty and elegance. Up a grand staircase, he led me, and along a couple of passages until we stood outside a large, heavy door. He rapped loudly then opened the door and ushered me in on command from within.

"M'lady, you wanted to see Jane."

"Ah, Jane is a nice name. Come in girl, come in. Carry on, Johnstone."

"Yes, M'lady." He closed the door as he left.

I did not know what to expect so my heart was in my mouth as I curtseyed deeper than I had ever done in my years of service.

"Come here, Jane. I want you to stand right there," she pointed to a spot just in front of her seated form. "Remove your clothes and set them down there." Again, she pointed, this time to a nearby chair. Twice within 30 minutes, I had been ordered to remove my clothing. I was nervous and embarrassed as I slowly removed my clothes and stood there in my birthday suit. I could feel my face burning and blushing and, as I looked down at my bosom, I saw the same deep red flush spread down there as well.

I was not allowed to cover myself with my hands. I was turned round, bent over at all angles, touching my toes and any other position M'lady required. She touched me all over, examining every secret place with her fingers and hands, even her mouth on my nipples, which tingled and gave me a strange feeling very new to me. I went weak at the knees as her finger tried to push inside my privates. What was happening to me?

I felt disappointed when she withdrew and ordered, "Kiss me, Jane."

How was I to know what she meant? The only people I had ever kissed were my parents and my siblings so I leant forward, pursing my lips and kissed hers and withdrew.

"No, no, Jane. Kiss me as if I were a boy who is courting you down behind the lake."

"Please, M'lady, no boy has ever courted me. I'm a good girl."

"I'm sure you are, Jane," she said, ringing a little hand bell.

A maid appeared within scant seconds. "M'lady?"

I had to look twice before recognising my dear friend, Faith, the very first girl I met at the Big House and with whom I had shared a room for two years. But my, had Faith changed since. Her hair was prettily brushed and tied back behind her cap. She was always a slim girl and it seemed that the only bits which had grown with her age were her breasts and hips. The rest, if anything, had slimmed down even more. Her bosom seemed about to break free of her very tight blouse and seemed almost freakish against her narrow waist, not much more than eighteen inches round, flaring out to child-bearing hips. Her uniform seemed tailored to fit her like a tight skin. She looked beautiful. I smiled in friendship and in admiration for her beauty.

"You know Jane. You will be training her until you leave. First, teach her how to kiss properly."

Faith stepped towards me smiling reassuringly. I did not know what to do so I just stood there as she put one hand behind my head and latched her mouth onto mine. Her lips were apart and very mobile. It seemed quite exciting and made my privates tingle, but when her tongue tried to push between my lips, I resisted at first then allowed it to invade my mouth. Her tongue was trying to 'play' with mine and I found myself liking it so I tentatively pushed my own tongue forward and it was hungrily sucked into her mouth. Faith held me in her embrace, our mouths glued together and our tongues entwining and exploring. Exciting feelings were coursing through my body and, for some reason unbeknown to me, there was a trickle of liquid on the top of my thighs. My breathing was heavy by the time Faith finally released me.

"You may go, Faith. Now, Jane, come here and try again," instructed my Mistress. Her hand went straight between my legs as soon as I was close enough and I became more aware of the slickness as a finger easily penetrated my privates. She pulled my face close to hers and her mouth mashed onto mine. I tried to match her enthusiasm, kissing as Faith had taught me. M'Lady seemed happy with my new skill and I felt so good and tingly all over as her finger played around inside my privates. Strange new feelings were taking over my body and I yearned for ... for something. M'Lady's spare hand took a firm hold on my breast and pinched my nipple very hard and, as she did, I felt wave after wave of warmth spreading from my privates, through my belly, taking over my body. I tried to suppress it but I found myself calling out "Oh, Oh Mistress. Ooooh."

I was almost senseless and my legs felt like one of Cook's jellies. Suddenly I realised that I was hanging on to M'Lady's shoulders. "I'm sorry M'Lady, I don't know what happened." I made to step back from her but she did not release me. She made me look at her, for my head was bowed. She was smiling, her eyes shining and her own breathing was speeded up.

"You learn fast, Jane. I am very pleased that you climaxed quickly and I do not mind you calling out. Was that your first climax?"

"If you please, M'Lady, what is a 'climax'?"

"You just had one. It was when your body felt wonderful all over."

"Yes, M'Lady, I have never felt like that before. I did not know what was happening but it felt so good."

"I am quite sure," M'Lady chuckled, "you will have many, many more climaxes. You have a lovely body for me to play with and you will come to worship my body. Now come, lay across my lap."

Nervously, I complied with M'Lady's instruction and found myself face down staring at the rich colours of the rug. M'Lady pressed my legs apart and her hand cupped my private parts. I could feel much wetness down there and soon her hand was spreading that wetness over my buttocks. The good feelings were coming back with each caress of her hand and each caress spread more of the fluid leaking from me.

Suddenly, M'Lady's hand smacked my left buttock. It did not hurt too much, not after Mistress Sharp's discipline, but I flinched from the shock. Then I received another smack on my right buttock before her hand was once more dipping into my private parts. I made so bold as to whisper, "That feels nice in my privates, M'Lady."

I received another, harder slap then her finger invaded me again. "You will call this your pussy. What is it Jane?"

"Please, M'Lady, it is my pussy."

Her finger nudged at the entrance to my back passage. "This is your arse." Her other hand grasped my breast: "These are your tits. You will use these words. So, you like me feeling your pussy?"

"Yes, M'Lady."

With that, she started spanking my bottom, very fast and hard. I felt my bottom cheeks getting warmer and warmer with each smack. Her strokes were stinging now, which made me squirm on her lap. She stopped smacking me and her hand went to my pussy again again. The glow from the smacks travelled to my pussy and, once again, the warmth spread itself through my body. Once more, I could feel those marvellous sensations building in me. My breaths were coming hard and fast and I felt a very hard smack on my bottom, and for some reason, the pain of that made me lose my senses again.

I was given a minute or two to gather my wits then I was told to kneel between M'Lady's legs. She lifted her skirts and told me to kiss her cunt. "Cunt is another word we use for pussy," she told me when I hesitated. "Kiss my pussy."

It seemed like a disgusting thing to do but I followed my orders. I kissed her pussy lips, which were open and wet. The taste was a little salty, but sweet. I instinctively started to lick up the delicious juices, which made my Mistress push my mouth harder onto her pussy, which she ground over my teeth until she gave out a loud cry and slumped back in her chair.

I had been given no further instructions so I continued to kiss and lick M'Lady's pussy, which caused her to start bucking against my mouth again and in a few minutes she was throwing herself back in her seat and calling out, "Yes, Yes! Oh keep doing that."

Eventually she stopped squirming about and pushed me away from her cunt. I was strangely reluctant to lose the wonderful taste and smell of her. She made me kiss her again, it was a slow and languorous kiss, without the fervour of our earlier kisses, but soft, and tender, until she sighed and had me kneel at her feet.

"Listen carefully to your duties while you are with me, for you will be staying here as my personal servant. Faith is leaving me in two weeks and she will teach you what you need to know. My husband will summon you on occasion: Faith will tell you what you must do. You are a virgin. Yes?"

"Yes, M'Lady, I have lain with no man."

"Lord Barton will enjoy taking your virginity so you may expect him to send for you soon." She tinkled her little hand bell once again and Faith appeared within seconds.

"M'Lady?"

"Take this delectable creature, have the seamstress come and take her measurements for a set of appropriate uniforms for her new duties, which you will explain to her in full. She will sleep with you until you leave for your new position. You must play with each other so she will learn how to pleasure me. Now go, both of you."

Faith told me to pick up my uniform and led me through a door and across the passage to her room. She took me into her arms and flooded my face with kisses. "Oh, I am so happy for you, Jane. I suggested to M'Lady that you might be a suitable replacement for me and she seems to like you." Her voice took on a serious note: "M'Lady likes to hurt her maid." She turned me around and inspected my bottom. "I see you have already been spanked. Well, girl, you will get many spankings, and worse, should M'Lady feels so inclined. Sometimes she will whip you, just for her own pleasure.

"Lord Barton will also want to use you, but he is altogether different. He will want you to whip him and he will then want to fuck you in your cunt or your arse or your mouth. Whatever he tells you, you must do it, no matter how strange you find his orders."

Faith dropped her voice until it was a conspiratorial whisper. "He married M'Lady for her family's money and she married because she wanted the title. It is a marriage of convenience but a happy one although they do not enjoy 'marital relations': that is where you come in. You will have to take care of both their needs. Get yourself dressed now, while I bring the Seamstress to come and measure you."

Faith left me alone so I slipped into my uniform and sat waiting for her to return. As I was sitting there thinking about my new position and what duties I might have to perform, I heard the tinkle of M'Lady's bell. As Faith was missing, I felt I had to answer the summons.

"If you please, M'Lady, Faith has gone for the Seamstress. How may I help?"

"Very good, Jane. Through that door is my bedchamber. There is a robe on my bed. You will bring it here."

I opened the bedchamber door and was entranced by the beauty of the room. I saw a deep red silk gown laid on the bed so I retrieved it and took it to my Mistress.

"Undress me."

I opened all the buttons on her blouse and eased it off her shoulders, folding it and setting it to one side, on the same chair where my own uniform had been placed earlier. Her breasts were firm and stood proudly underneath her shift. I loosened the buttons on her silky skirt and steadied her as she stepped out of the garment. I removed M'Lady's underclothes, getting a good look at her slim body, then held the robe open for her to put her arms into the sleeves and I wrapped the robe around her and tied off the belt at her waist.

"Take those away," she indicated her discarded clothes, "Faith knows what to do with them. Tell her I wish to bathe as soon as she returns. If the Seamstress is with her, she must wait until I have bathed because you must help Faith. Go now."

"Yes M'Lady." I bobbed a courtesy and took the soiled clothes with me. I did not have to wait long before Faith and the Seamstress arrived. I relayed M'Lady's message, which sent Faith rushing back out again, presumably to summon hot water for M'Lady's bath. Again, I had to respond to the tinkle of her bell: M'Lady told me to bring before her the Seamstress who was instructed to make my uniforms tight around my body, accentuating my breasts. We were then dismissed.

When Faith returned this time, two strapping boys carried a large tub into the suite and deposited it in a room in which the floor was covered with tiles. They placed it on the floor and left quickly. Soon there were four scullery maids, each struggling with two large pails of water yoked across their shoulders. They emptied those into the bath, but one pair was just set on the floor still full, and scurried away with the empty pails.

"Tell M'Lady her bath is ready," said Faith as she checked the water temperature and added a little cold water from one of the pails. I went quickly to M'Lady's chamber and gave her Faith's message. She rose slowly from her bed and, with me following respectfully, repaired to the bathroom. Faith was standing by the bath, wearing nothing but a smile. "You must undress too, Jane. Whenever you bathe me, you will remove your uniform."

I complied, thinking that I seemed to be naked as often as not around here. Faith removed M'Lady's robe folded it and placed it to one side while I was once again getting out of my clothes. I had to stand on the other side of the bathtub and assist M'Lady into the water. Faith started washing M'Lady's body and I was instructed to do the same. As the water splashed all around, I realised why we were naked: our uniforms would have been soaked.

We were drying her off when a snagged nail caught across her breast. M'Lady immediately slapped me very hard across my face, bringing tears to my eyes. "Trim your nails, girl. Faith, make sure she does."

"Yes, M'Lady," we said in unison and continued our task, with me making sure my offending nail did not hurt her again. When M'Lady was quite dry, we had to powder her everywhere then we returned to M'Lady's bedchamber. We had to dress our Mistress in a foundation garment, which seemed cruelly tight and then over all, we helped her into a beautiful gown. I had the task of brushing her long dark tresses but I was cautioned by Faith to be very careful not to tug on the snags.

Meanwhile Faith was powdering M'Lady's face and applying very delicate colouring to enhance her cheeks. Faith then showed me how to pile M'Lady's hair onto the top of her head and pin it there. When we were quite finished, M'Lady looked so beautiful. She seemed to glide elegantly out of her apartments, leaving Faith and me alone. "Time for our bath," said my companion with a smile. "We must always bathe after M'Lady."

We returned to the bathroom where Faith added some hot water to the tub and stepped into the water. I bathed her then she made me get into the tub and I was scrubbed for the second time that day. When we were bathed, dried and dressed, we collected M'Lady's soiled clothes and Faith led me out of the apartment. She found Master Johnstone whom she told that our Mistress had finished bathing. We then had to take M'Lady's clothes to the laundry room and collect yesterday's washing, including Faith's own uniform which she changed every day.

We returned to our room to find the Seamstress waiting patiently. Again, I had to strip as she took all my measurements with her tape measure. "I'll bring your first set in the morning." She informed me before scurrying off to her tasks. Four strong youths arrived and took away the bathtub then we made ourselves busy tidying up the apartment. Faith then showed me how to clip and file my fingernails so they would not cause any more problems, and instructed me to be sure always to keep them short and smooth.

My friend showed me how to tie and pin my hair, although our hair was not so intricately coifed as our Mistress required of her own. She then sat me down and gave me a lecture on my duties: how M'Lady might want to use me and how to cater for M'Lord's peculiar demands. I would be expected to spank his bottom, much as M'Lady had spanked mine. Sometimes I would have to strap him to his bed and whip him, very hard. I would be required to suck his cock when he so desired and he would want to fuck me in my cunt and my arse.

"That will hurt," she told me, "but you must not complain, however he wants to have his way with you. Make sure your back passage is clean - I will show how to do that - and it will need greasing. You should do this before you go to him because you will not get a chance to do so later. Even though it will hurt for the first few times he does that, you will find that you will enjoy him fucking you there. I know I enjoy it and often I have a climax. However, Jane, you must always remember that your pleasure is not the object, only theirs, our Master and Mistress. Sometimes you will have to sleep with him or her. You will always be unclothed when you do so and may be woken up during the night to give service, as they require. Another thing, Lord Barton has very bad breath but you must never show any revulsion when he wants to kiss you. You must ignore the unpleasantness.

"I'm not trying to frighten you," she continued, "just make you aware of your duties. To speak the truth, this is a good position: much better than working in the stillroom or anywhere else 'downstairs'. You will frequently have to deal with the senior members of staff as you relay M'Lady's messages and instructions, so you can, you should, walk proudly through the house as befits your new position. You should not have any more dealings with your old friends downstairs, which is why I have not seen you for two years.

"During the day, our Mistress will take her meals here in her apartment: it will be your duty to collect her food from the Cook and serve her. Most evenings, however, she will dine with Lord Barton and you will often be present to attend to her needs. Ignore the serving staff, even though they may tease you. Mr Johnstone is in charge of them and he has a keen eye for any misbehaviour on their part. His beatings for their infractions are much worse than any that Mistress Sharp administered.

"Well," Faith said, finishing her lecture, "that is how your life will be from now on. In two weeks, I will be taking up a new position as Lady Cynthia Smythe-Jones' maid, I am very excited about that, and you will take my place here. I am sure you will do well." With that, she hugged and kissed me. Now let us get your back passage clean for I'm certain Lord Barton will call for you as soon as he learns you are a maiden."

"It is called an enema," my friend informed me, "and you really need to do this every day after you have moved your bowels, because you never know when M'Lord may want you and he usually has you sucking his cock right afterwards." With that, she produced a fierce-looking metal contraption, which had a large plunger on one end and a narrow metal tube, bent in an 'L' shape, at the other. She showed me how to fill that plunger with warm water and a special soap. I had to lay on the floor, on my side with my knees pulled up. Faith greased my arse and pushed her finger inside a short way, and then she carefully pushed the little tube into my arse and started depressing the plunger.

My belly was swelling and I felt very full as she continued to pump more water into me. She made me wait and told me to endure the cramps, which soon started. I had to hold it all inside me for ages before she let me evacuate the smelly mess and then she did it again, and a third time and by then the water passing from me into the pail was clean.

When I was dressed again, Faith took me to the kitchen where we were given our meals. We ate quickly in case M'Lady came back earlier than expected.

Chapter 2 Entertaining M'Lord and M'Lady

In fact, it was more than two hours before M'Lady returned to her chambers. It's not my place to say so, but she seemed a bit tipsy, from the wine at dinner, I assumed.

"Take Jane to Lord Barton then return to me immediately," my companion was instructed. I quickly returned to our room and made sure my arse was well greased then followed Faith along the corridor with my tummy churning. What would my Master be like? What would he require of me?

"If you please, Sir, this is Jane, Lady Diana's new maidservant."

Lord Barton dismissed her and turned his attention to me. He was not a big man, smaller than I was, and he was quite portly. He was perspiring heavily and seemed more in his cups than had been M'Lady. "Don't just stand there, gel, undress then undress me," he instructed.

Once again, I stripped and followed M'Lord to his bedchamber. As I was removing his clothes I realised that Faith was correct: he had very bad breath and I almost gagged from the stench. "So you are still a virgin?"

"Yes, M'Lord, I have lain with no man."

He was fondling me as I undressed him, gently caressing my breasts and gripping my buttocks, his fingers probing my private parts, front and back. "Nice tits, gel, nice arse too." When he was naked, he lay back on the bed and I was instructed to suck his cock. I forced myself to take his limp member into my mouth as he held my head. Before too long, as I continued to service him, his cock grew and hardened and soon he was trying to force my head further onto his flesh until it was trying to push into my throat.

He pulled back and I saw, for the first time, a fully rampant male member. Surely, it was too big to enter my body, I thought, it will split me apart. I was more than a little fearful when he had me lay on the bed with my legs apart. He knelt between my legs and I felt his cock probing at my cunt and pushing its way inside me. M'Lord gripped my hips and thrust himself forward. I think it was fortunate that I had moistened his cock with my mouth, because I was quite dry down there but he did not care. He just pushed into me until he came to my barrier then moved slowly in and out. That gave me feelings similar to those M'Lady had given me and I felt my body reacting by flooding my pussy with liquid. This helped a lot but, when he thrust himself savagely past my barrier, I felt a sharp pain that made me squeal aloud. M'Lord ignored that, building up a rhythm of pushing in and out, as my pussy tried to adapt to this invasion.

As he continued to drive into me, my body took over and I felt that nice warm feeling my Mistress had given me. His thrusts became more and more urgent and he was grunting with each push until suddenly he rammed his cock all the way into me and I felt a throbbing and his seed pumping into me. This made me almost faint with the pleasure I felt and I experienced an empty feeling as his softening cock withdrew.

I was made to take that cock into my mouth again. It was covered in my blood and I could taste my own juices and his seed. I must admit to enjoying that. After several minutes, the flesh in my mouth grew back to full size and he was trying to force it down my throat, with only limited success as it made me gag, but M'Lord persevered until I felt my throat being forced open by his cock.

I was just becoming accustomed to this assault when he pulled out. "In that drawer, gel, find the paddle. Get it and sit there." M'Lord indicated a solid upright chair. I retrieved the paddle and sat as instructed. M'Lord bent over my lap and I was told to spank him. My first stroke was tentative as I was not sure just what he wanted. "Spank me like you mean it!" I was told, so I started spanking much harder until he was squirming on my lap but I was instructed to continue. His bottom was very red and looked sore by the time he had experienced enough. I was then thrown back onto the bed and he fucked me again, roughly. He had made me bring the paddle with me and I had to use it as he fucked in and out. It was quite difficult for me to concentrate on my task as once again, my body was overcome with another climax and his seed flooded my pussy again. He flopped out of my pussy, rolled over, apparently exhausted, and dismissed me to return to my Mistress.

As I dressed, he pulled on the cord on the wall behind his bed and, while I was still half-naked, Johnstone entered the bedchamber. "You rang, M'Lord?" he said, ignoring me. I hurried out of there and walked back to M'Lady's chambers, trying to let myself in without disturbing my Mistress, but she must have heard me and called for me to attend her.

She was on her bed with Faith, both of them naked and Faith's face was very wet as she looked up from her position at M'Lady's cunt. "Did my husband fuck you?" she demanded.

"Yes, M'Lady, he did that twice."

"Strip and onto the bed with you, Jane. Faith, clean out her cunt. I don't want to taste him at all." Again, I found myself with my legs spread and Faith ministering to me, giving me more of those lovely feelings through my body. It was helped by my Mistress playing with my breasts, pinching my nipples and taking them between her teeth, all the time requiring me to tell her all about my evening. I felt Faith's tongue penetrating me, seeking out all my Master's deposits. She was everywhere, even pushing her tongue into my arse, which was curiously delightful.

When I got to the part where I had to clean him after he had fucked me, I told M'Lady that I tasted my own blood on him. "Did you like that taste?" she asked.

"Yes M'Lady, I think I did.

It was not too long before M'Lady changed her place. I was still in the same position with Faith between my legs but now my Mistress was kneeling over my face and she sat down and smothered my mouth with her pussy. She tasted delicious and I needed no orders to start servicing her with my tongue and lips. I was in heaven with my friend servicing me as I was doing the same to M'Lady. For more than an hour we all played together on M'Lady's bed, giving each other many climaxes.

At one stage, M'Lady had me on my back with legs spread as much as possible while she pushed a finger up my slick pussy. A second finger was introduced and the two fingers moving inside me found sensitive spots which had never been touched before. Faith was told to play with my clitoris which made me gush more. The third finger hurt at first but it was a nice pain which faded slowly and soon felt wonderful as they all moved in and out, giving me another climax. Then we two girls spent the next hour just pleasuring our Mistress with our mouths and hands before she finally ordered us to towel her down and dress her for bed. We then left for our own bed spooned together with my hand resting gently on the huge swell of Faith's breast.

Chapter 3 Faith's last night

The next two weeks seemed to fly past. Faith showed me all I needed to know about my new position. It was mainly to keep M'Lady's apartments clean and tidy, carry messages to the Housekeeper or Butler, ensure M'Lady's clothing was properly washed and pressed, dress her as required, bathe her ... all those little tasks occupied much of my time. And, of course, to be on hand to meet any of M'Lady's requirements and frequently that meant satisfying and abating her passions. M'Lady seemed almost insatiable, demanding that one or both of her maids service her at any time, day or night. Truth be told, we both enjoyed that side of our life and even liked to have our own pleasures once M'Lady dismissed us for the night. Lord Barton sent for me three more times in that period and fucked my arse each time. Faith was correct, I did learn to enjoy having my back passage fucked and being clean inside myself made the task of sucking his cock afterwards less unpleasant. Because M'Lady did not like the taste of her husband in my arse and pussy, Faith taught me how to douche and cleanse myself inside before attending my Mistress. I had my bottom spanked by M'Lady several times: I was getting used to these and found the pain very exciting, much to her pleasure. I was surprised by the attitude of Mistress Sharp and Master Johnson: they both seemed to have a greater respect for me and if I had business with either of them, they attended to me right away.

It was Faith's final night before she left M'Lady's service to travel to her new position. My Mistress surprised us maids by ordering a couple of bottles of wine to celebrate. She insisted that we both had three glasses of the stuff and M'Lady drank the rest. I had never drunk any alcohol so three glasses of wine, while delicious, had me feeling more than a bit dizzy. But M'Lady was in a fine mood and decided that tonight I was to be the plaything of them both. I think Faith enjoyed paddling my bottom as much as I enjoyed it: my mouth was clamped on M'Lady's pussy and Faith had to spank until our Mistress had a climax.

When she had recovered, M'Lady told Faith to get the whip. My friend went to a certain drawer and brought out a horsewhip which she presented to our Mistress. I was told to stand in the middle of the room, legs apart and with my hands clasped behind my neck. M'Lady walked round my body, touching it with the tip of the whip. Suddenly she flicked the tip over one of my nipples. Ow, that stung and made me suck in my breath before the other nipple was struck. She circled me some more, trailing the tip of her weapon over my skin, before standing in front of me, she whacked right up between my legs, aiming the vicious strike at my pussy. I squealed through clenched teeth as this new wave of pain hit me. Satisfied with my reaction, I saw M'Lady's eyes glistening with pleasure. She stepped close to me and kissed me sexily, the while rubbing the staff of the whip between my pussy lips and over my clitoris.

"Tonight, Jane," she panted in a whisper, "I am going to hurt you and hurt you. I'm going to make you scream and cry. I was going to beat Faith as well, but we can't send her off with the bruises so you will have her share as well as your own."

Faith was told to kneel behind me, hold my pussy lips apart to expose my clitoris which M'Lady whipped several times. It was agony but I did not get any time to absorb the pain before she lashed across the soft flesh of both my breasts, catching across my nipples. I looked down at my breasts to see a dark bruise starting to form against the pale skin. She put the whip to one side briefly then took one breast in her hand, pinching the sore nipple before taking it into her mouth and biting harshly on the hard nub. This was repeated on the other breast before she slapped both breasts with her hands several times and then picked up the whip again.

Walking back and forth in front of me slowly, she picked out target after target with the whip until my front was crisscrossed from shoulders to thighs with dark stripes and I was screeching with each stroke and blubbering like a baby but she was relentless until I moved my hands to try to protect my body.

"Straps," she ordered and Faith produced a set of leather bindings. I was put face down on the bed while Faith proceeded to bind my wrists and ankles to the corners of the bed until I was spread out and helpless. M'Lady just let rip on my back, striking repeatedly with the whip. Oh god, how it hurt from my shoulders to my thighs. Eventually Faith was told to release the straps and I was made to turn over, face up.

M'Lady knelt between my legs and insinuated a finger into my pussy which was leaking copiously. A second, then third finger soon joined the first, all of them moving and massaging me from the inside. That was nice but then she pulled back and before long four fingers were trying to enter me, stretching my poor pussy almost unbearably. Eventually M'Lady pulled out then shoved all four fingers as far as she could. I screamed and writhed, trying to close my legs, trying to pull back, away from the relentlessly thrusting hand. She stopped all the movement and just ran her fingers over my pussy but told Faith to strap me again. The straps were pulled taut until I was stretched and helpless again.

M'Lady's four fingers penetrated me again, but more slowly, allowing me to adjust to the pain as they tickled right up inside my pussy, twisting this way and that until I found myself raising my hips to meet each penetration which sparked off little bush fires racing through my body.

M'Lady withdrew her fingers and brought her hand to my mouth. I had to lick it all clean while Faith bent down to nibble at my clitoris. I could not see what was happening 'down there' with Faith's head blocking my vision but I felt M'Lady's fingers once more entering my stretched pussy. Oh god, I felt her curl her hand and her thumb joined the fingers as she pushed them further into me, I felt I would surely be split wide open but she eased it back and forth a few times.

M'Lady whispered something to Faith who swung her legs over my upper body and I saw her pussy descending onto my face and mouth, dripping as it came down. My mouth was smothered and I used my tongue to go inside her. Suddenly I felt a whole hand powerfully, relentlessly, enter my passage. My screams of agony were muffled: Faith's pussy was grinding into my mouth as M'Lady's hand repeatedly violated my pussy. Then suddenly, I found myself on a plateau on which all the pain transmuted into pleasure and Faith moved so she was back at my clitoris.

I was gasping for air and squealing in pleasure as M'Lady thrust right in and Faith bit hard on my clitoris. The most massive climax completely took over my body and I was thrusting back at the hand that was pleasuring me so much. I do believe I lost consciousness for a short while and came round to see both my torturers smiling down at me. Faith's hand massaged my clitoris gently as M'Lady slowly pulled her hand out of my pussy. There was another painful stretching as the width of her hand passed out, then only a feeling of emptiness and soreness.

I was totally drenched in sweat as Faith loosened the straps but that did not stop my Mistress crawling up my body to kiss me passionately, her hands moulding my breasts and pinching the nipples hard which, after the pain my pussy had suffered, was just a pleasure. When I was free of the straps, I was ordered to towel myself down then rejoin M'Lady and Faith. Now it was my friend's turn and M'Lady told me we had to spend the rest of the night pleasuring Faith before she left us in the morning. It was well into the night when we finally dressed our Mistress and put her to bed before we both retired, exhausted and glowing from the night's activities.

We overslept a little and then it was a scramble for Faith to get ready for her new life. M'Lady had ordered the Seamstress to run up a small trunk of new clothes for her and a carriage would come to take her away but she had to dress very quickly. When she was ready, we both entered M'Lady's bedchamber for Faith to say her goodbyes. Even our Mistress was tearful as we all kissed. Faith left me to dress my Mistress as she walked out of my life. We did meet up later but in very different circumstances, as I will relate.

"Well, Jane," M'Lady said after I had dressed her, "it's just you now. Come, kiss me." She hugged me close and I flinched because of the painful bruises all the way up and down my back. She immediately released the hug and took my face in her hands as her tongue pushed insistently into my mouth. "Undress, Jane. Let me see how you look." I complied and M'Lady inspected the damage she had inflicted upon me. "You will be sore for a few days, Jane, but you were very brave last night. I will not let my husband have you for a day or two. Now go about your duties."

"Yes, M'Lady. Thank you, M'Lady."

It was about four days later that M'Lady started menstruating. I was horrified when she ordered me to lick her clean until she reminded me that I liked the taste of my own blood. Although reluctant I touched my tongue to the ooze of blood and tentatively drew my tongue back into my mouth. Not as bad as I thought. I will try some more. Yes I think I like this metallic taste, was my feeling as my mouth closed in on its target.

"Oh, that's nice Jane. Why I always want more sex when I'm bleeding, I just don't know, but you may neglect some of your duties because you will be spending much more of your time right where are for a few days. Ah yes, just there girl, harder. I can't wait to taste your blood."

Two days later she got her wish when my own bleeding started and, now I had learned the joys of sex, I too felt almost insatiable. We were fortunate in that our times were close together because we could both go on forever. Within a couple of months, our cycles matched exactly. One month we spent four days in her bed doing nothing but pleasing each other, broken only by my visits to Cook for trays of small foodstuffs, like some of Cook's own pork pies, or sausages or a cheeseboard and bread and butter. We hardly slept, we did just about everything that two women can do to each other, always seeking that time out of time when climax merged into climax.

Faith was right, this was about as good a position as a serving wench could get. M'Lady did not give me too many tasks, I think M'Lady was a little bit in love with me and I had the temerity to feel the same about her.

Lord Barton required me to attend him about three times a week. As well as having his pleasure with me, he sometimes had one of the page boys, whom he liked to bugger join us. I am glad Robin Farrer, the page, also kept his back passage clean because I would have to suck Lord Barton's prick after he had buggered Robin, and I sometimes had to pleasure Robin with my mouth. Robin was as sweet as our master was foul.

The only other times I enjoyed my evenings with M'Lord was when I had to beat him. M'Lady knows I enjoy being beaten and it gets her very erotically charged to whip me, and maybe that is why she loves me a little. Sometimes she really lays into me with her horsewhip and I have a climax just from the exquisite pain. So, I thought, one time when M'Lord was telling me to beat him hard, if I can make him climax like that, maybe I would not have to lay with his stinking body on and in me. Therefore, I kept on hitting him as hard as I could. Now I knew why M'Lady liked doing this to me. I watched the welts appear across his back, buttocks and thighs and then, glory be, his body was jerking as his tool was spurting its cream onto the bed covers. I was right, he was too spent to want to use me again so I was dismissed.

M'Lady wanted to know why I was so excited when I returned to her chambers so I found myself telling her what had happened, how her husband had spent on the bedclothes when I beat him mercilessly. M'Lady wanted me to tell all the details and I could tell from the juices leaking from her pussy that she was getting very excited too. I finished my tale across her lap while she gave me a really good spanking. When I had finished telling her. She had me retrieve the whip from its drawer then bend over the back of her chair. "I know what we both need, Jane," she whispered before the whipping started. It was amazing that she had a climax, without being touched, at exactly the time of my own.

There was an added bonus for me. M'Lord did not send for me so often, only once or twice a week, but after about a month I would have to beat him again. Afterwards, I was usually whipped by M'Lady to the extent that we both climaxed together. Oh, they were lovely, those nights.

Chapter 4 Lord Percival Underweir

Three times each year, Lord Barton and M'Lady travelled by train to other cities in connection with his business interests and as a holiday for her. Their personal servants travelled with them. Master Johnstone and I would travel in the luggage car to each destination. It was almost a year after I had taken up my position as M'Lady's maid that I was sleeping in the strange servant's quarters on one of the journeys when I was shaken awake by our hosts' housekeeper, told to dress quickly and instructed to follow her. Eventually she knocked on a door and I was ushered in.

M'Lady was laying across the bed lasciviously, wantonly naked. Her pussy was open as if she had just been fucked and leaking a cream which I recognised. A strange man, as handsome and comely as I have ever seen, who was also unclothed, was kneeling next to her playing with her breasts, tweaking at her nipples which I knew she loved. "Jane," said M'Lady, "Clean this gentleman's prick with your mouth. Undress first, girl."

I stripped quickly and took hold of the man's almost-soft prick and licked the tip for a while then sank my mouth over it. I could taste my mistress on him, and the saltiness of his sperm. It was such a lovely tool, I was enjoying taking it into my mouth and, as it grew hard with my ministrations, I took it into my throat, as I had been forced to do by Lord Barton. But this time I was doing it willingly and the gentleman took hold of my head and fucked my mouth and throat.

I was enjoying myself and was disappointed to hear M'Lady say, a little impatiently, "Now come and clean me girl." But I moved from one pleasure to another as I worked assiduously to savour the taste of everything in her pussy. I know she had two climaxes before she was satisfied for the moment and my face was pushed away. All the time I had been pleasuring M'Lady, the gentleman was fondling my breasts, playing with my nipples. He leaned over and whispered something to M'Lady.

"Of course you can. Use Jane any way you like. Spank her if you wish: that always gets her excited enough to go wild and willing for anything. It will be interesting for me to watch her reactions."

"Thank you Diana," he spoke aloud for the first time. A deep voice which rumbled, the sound seemed to penetrate my flesh, vibrating in my depths. He spoke again, "Jane, that's a pretty name for a pretty wench. Come, let me look at you." Standing, he held my face between his hands and stared at me with his big liquid brown eyes. I felt almost shameless, staring at this very handsome man. I tore my eyes away from his and cast my gaze down but he shook my head gently and raised my face to look at him again.

His hair was a deep red, as was the goatee and bushy moustache. The long forehead led down to those intoxicating eyes. He had high cheek bones, an aquiline nose and the generous lips were slightly opened in a smile. Pulling my face to his, he kissed me, so soft and gentle it made my heart melt like ice on the hot stove. We both gasped as he pushed our faces apart.

"Indeed, Diana, she is a delectable creature." He seemed just as delectable to my sight and had sparked a fever in me I had never known before. I desperately wanted to kiss him again so, bold as brass, I did. His lips were very mobile and his mouth opened with his tongue starting to probe. I held his tongue between my lips and sucked it hungrily into my mouth as if I were sucking his cock.

As we were kissing so passionately, his hands were roaming all over my quivering body, tweaking my sensitive nipples, squeezing and fondling my breasts, brushing lightly over my abdomen, fingers running through my bush then penetrating my slit. I gasped into his mouth when he touched my pleasure button, my body became limp in his arms and he laid me gently on the bed. I welcomed him between my legs, I welcomed his hard tool teasing up and down my pussy lips, I welcomed that tool into my body and had a climax as soon as he thrust himself right into me, stretching my pussy, taking control. He plunged deep in heavenly long, slow strokes repeated endlessly, seemingly touching places never before discovered. He was driving me out of my mind as he speeded up his thrusting, making me squeal aloud with each stroke. I knew he was close to shooting inside me so I tried to squeeze my pussy around his prick until finally he cried out, "Jane, oh Jaannnne ..." as I felt him pump into me and that lit the wildfires coursing through my soul. We clung to each other, gently kissing as we recovered from the intense passions of the past few minutes. I closed my eyes, relishing the feeling of his tool softening in my pussy and felt bereft when it finally left me.

I was startled by the touch of a cool hand wiping away the tears of sheer joy from my face. I opened my eyes to see that it was M'Lady hand performing this service. Her eyes glistened with pleasure. Turning them to my lover she said, "That was beautiful and so exciting to watch, Percy." She was on one side of me, he on the other. M'Lady kissed him passionately over my body.

He broke the kiss with M'Lady, bent down to kiss me briefly then said in that deep voice, "Jane, I think your Mistress should taste our juices."

"Oh no Percy, I won't do that," she cried.

He put a finger in my pussy, stirred it around then brought it to M'Lady's lips but she held them clamped shut, refusing him with a shake of her head. Undeterred he bathed her lips with his wet fingers, until she relented and opened her mouth to suck his finger clean. He dipped his fingers in my pussy again and brought them back to her mouth. This time she needed no urging. It seemed she liked the taste after all. Twice, thrice and four times he repeated his actions. Then he smiled at me and told me to sit upon M'Lady's face.

Again M'Lady defied him, saying, "No, Percy. She is my servant."

"Trust me, Diana," he coaxed, "you like the taste on my fingers, I promise you will enjoy licking her cunt for more of the taste. Jane, sit on her mouth. She wants it but is afraid to admit it." I looked at her to check for her permission but she said neither yea or nay so, urged by the man, I presented my pussy to my Mistress. He spoke truly. Not long after I felt M'Lady's first, tentative, licks, her tongue was penetrating my pussy, performing the service that had been mine to her, as her maid.

His smile was mischievous as he asked me, "Jane, you like a spanking, don't you?"

"Yes, Sir, I like to be spanked."

"Then I'm going to warm your pretty little bottom before I fuck it."

That thought set me all-aquiver again as I enjoyed the tongue licking out my pussy with enthusiasm. Then M'Lady made to lick her tongue firmly over my clitoris which propelled me to another climax. As she was coping with the extra flood, he was making free with his hands on my breasts and his mouth on mine. I reached down to feel his prick growing in my hand as I stroked it up and down. As it leaked from the top, I spread his own juice all round, making it slippery in my hand.

After many heavenly minutes of this, he decided it was time to spank me so I was bent over the side of the bed as he stroked my bottom, the calm before the storm. M'Lady saw her chance and manoeuvred her body until her cunt was in my face so I started to lap at her juices. Then Percy's hard, horny, hand came down for the first of many times. It was as good a spanking as I had ever had, with soft caresses after every few strikes. He then used his hand and my juices to lubricate his prick and my arse, positioned the hard flesh at my back entrance and pushed right in. Oh, that lovely burning pain as my arse was stretched to accommodate him and he was in full heat as he thrust himself into my arse relentlessly. He gave me two climaxes like this before I felt him give a final deep thrust and hold it there as his sperm pumped my back passage full.

When he was finally spent, he presented his softening tool to M'Lady's mouth. She did not hesitate for long before she reached her tongue out to taste then took the tool between her lips and sucked. Well, we three played around until my Master and Mistress were satiated. He had been very persuasive and had M'Lady do things she had never considered before but she always relented and seemed to enjoy whatever he suggested. So it was that I was eventually dismissed. I left them still entangled in a passionate kiss and found my way back to the room I shared with a maid from our hosts' household and pulled the blanket over me as I fell, exhausted, to sleep.

I attended M'Lady the next morning to wash and dress her and had to start by using my mouth to bring her to a couple of orgasms before completing my usual tasks. She seemed thoughtful when I served her breakfast and finally said, "Jane, you will join me and Lord Underweir this evening. He finds you very attractive wants you with us again."

"Very good, M'Lady," I replied, thrilled with the prospect as I liked him so much.

So it was that, as M'Lady walked to Lord Underweir's chambers that evening, I followed her. When we arrived, our host kissed M'Lady first then turned to me, took me in his arms and kissed me deeply and passionately. I hoped my Mistress would not get jealous that he was kissing me much more than he kissed her but she did not seem to mind and soon we three were on the bed naked and setting about the business of giving and receiving pleasure together. This state of affairs continued each evening for about a week until one day M'Lady said I was to go to Lord Underweir's chambers on my own, without her. I had an evening of loving with Percy, as I was instructed to call him and we spent the night in his bed, although we did not get much sleep. The following evening it was M'Lady who went to Lord Percy alone. She returned to her own rooms at the end of the evening and, as I prepared her for bed, she kept looking intently at me with an enigmatic smile playing about her lips.

After M'Lady broke her fast, a page arrived and asked M'Lady if I would attend Lord Underweir so she instructed me to go to him. Little did I know that my life would be turned upside down in the next few minutes but I knew something was different when he told me to sit with him. He took my hands in his and just simply asked me to marry him.

His proposal, coming out of nowhere like that, caused me to swoon. I came round in his arms to see the concerned look on his face as he stared down at me. He sat me upright again and said, "Well Jane, what do you say? Will you marry me?"

M'Lord, how can I marry you, I am a simple serving wench, a lady's maid."

"If you say 'Yes', Lady Diana will teach you how to be a Lady. We will all talk about it shortly and arrange how this is to be done."

I stared at the man, saw the love in his eyes and realised that I was deeply in love with him. "Yes, M'Lord, I will marry you, if you can make it possible."

His put a finger to my lips. "Not M'Lord, Jane. I am Percy and you must call me so."

"Yes, Percy."

He took me into his arms once again, kissed me thoroughly then we both returned to M'Lady's chambers. Over tea, we discussed how I could be introduced to him officially. I did not have much to add to the conversation, still wondering about this momentous change in my life. Soon they had a basic plan laid out. Diana, as I was told to call M'Lady, would teach me the ways of an English lady. I was to have basic schooling and various tutors to coach me in all the skills I would need. Percy would provide me with a complete new wardrobe which would befit my new status. We spent the whole morning making plans for my future. I think Diana was as excited as I was at the prospect of taking me under her tutelage. We all had lunch together and then Percy left us to take care of his business.

Chapter 5 Mistress Jane

Now Diana (I still felt uncomfortable calling her that) and I talked about our return to Barton Court. She would introduce me to our neighbours and her friends as a distant cousin and install me in the suite next to hers. When Diana thought I was ready, I would be introduced to Percy as her cousin. There would be a long courtship as my training progressed until, finally, we would be wedded and I would become Jane, Lady Underweir.

Lord Barton was, naturally, acquainted with Diana's plans and guffawed loud and long when he was first told. He was amused by the whole affair and, give him his due, he never again treated me as his wife's maidservant except the second day after we arrived back at Barton Court, he asked me - asked, not ordered - to attend him and give him one final thrashing 'for old time's sake' as he said. Robin was there, too, and Lord Barton was buggering him while I turned M'Lord's arse black and blue before he finally ejaculated into Robin's back passage. M'Lord actually thanked me and wished me well for the future.

The promised suite adjoining Diana's was made available to me and I was given a small wardrobe of some of Diana's clothes to see me through until Percy's wardrobe came. I felt so strange in M'Lady's - no, Diana's - gowns but they fit me with just a little adjustment.

Lord Barton summoned me and Diana to his office then rang the bell for Johnstone to attend. He was informed of my change of status. Johnstone was to instruct the whole household staff that there should be no gossip about my change of status but that I was to be treated with the same respect Lady Diana commands. She was to have a new maidservant and one would also be allocated to me. Johnstone had a twinkle in his eye for me as he left to carry out M'Lord's instructions.

My final task for Diana would be to train her new maid, as I would also have to train my own girl. Lord Barton insisted that either or both new girls should also be available to him when he so required. It was I who suggested that Eleanor, who was currently working in the linen room, might suit Diana's needs. She had the sort of figure Lady Diana preferred and she had a happy nature. My choice for myself was Annie, a pretty girl just turned eighteen with a sweet disposition and comely body and who had shared my room when Faith became Diana's maid. Annie had also been with me in the still room I had left just over a year ago. I joined Diana in her chambers as Johnstone was instructed to bring the two girls to us.

Here I must digress to tell you how my parents learned of my change in status. After my unofficial betrothal, and I had started learning to become a Lady, M'Lady sent a message to my parents, inviting them to take tea with Diana Lady Barton at three of the clock on Sunday. The messenger was told to assure them there was nothing amiss. As Annie knew my parents she was to meet them at the gates and bring them to M'Lady's sitting room. Diana and I, me in one of Diana's loveliest gowns, sat side by side and there were comfortable arm chairs for her guests. Eleanor was standing to one side by the Welsh dresser. Annie knocked and entered when called. "Mr and Mrs Fairfax, M'Lady."

"Take their coats Annie," instructed Diana, rising to escort my mother to one chair and indicating the other for my father. She sat back down next to me. They were both staring at me sitting by a Lady and dressed like I was one, too.

"Eleanor, tea for Mr and Mrs Fairfax. Annie, the sandwiches."

"Yes, M'Lady."

"Mr and Mrs Fairfax, I am sure you are puzzled about why I might invite you. Just as you are puzzled to see Jane looking as she is. She asked me to tell you because you may not believe her, indeed she has difficulty believing it herself. Cutting to the truth, Jane's position in life has changed enormously, she is to become a Lady. Now I must ask something from you, Will you both solemnly swear not mention anything else you hear to anybody, not even your family? Please believe me, your daughter's future depends on your silence."

He looked over at my mother, she nodded so he replied, "Yes, we both swear not to say anything."

"Jane, you tell them."

"Thank you, Diana. Mummy, Daddy, it's really true. Lord and Lady Barton were staying with another peer, a friend of his. I travelled with my Mistress as her maidservant and one day our host saw me serving M'Lady and tried to spend as much time in M'Lady's company as he could, just so he could see me. Then one day, he asked me to become his wife. Oh, Mummy, he is just a little older than me, he's so handsome and loves me dearly so I accepted his proposal. It's clear he could not marry a servant so Lady Diana has graciously agreed to train me in ladylike ways. I have become her guest and I am to be known as her cousin. When I am ready I will be introduced to my Lord, he will court me, propose to me. Then we will be officially betrothed to be married and I will become his Lady." I shrugged. "I have a long way to go before I walk down the aisle."

"Who is this Lord?"

"Daddy, I too am sworn to secrecy. I may not say until we have been introduced to each other socially."

"That is true, Mr Fairfax. She and her unofficial fiancé know, of course, I know and Lord Barton must know because Jane has her own apartment next to mine, even her own maidservant, that's Annie behind her. To the world she will be my social equal. My husband will be escorting her to many social functions so her position here must match her life and her expectations."

I stood up and pulled my Father to his feet and hugged him. He was trembling a little. Mummy next. I threw my arms around her and she hugged me to her breast. "Oh Mummy, I'm so scared. I don't think I can do this."

She gave me a squeeze, put her hands on my shoulders and gave me her most serious look. "Jane Fairfax, you weren't brought up to give in. I am proud of you. You always deserved the very best. Now you hold your head up and don't let me hear what you can't do. You can be what you desire. My dearest child, I think this will be goodbye for us. Go to your new life with all my love and blessings."

She turned to Diana, "M'Lady, would you excuse me and Mr Fairfax. We won't take up any more of your time. Thank you for the tea and particularly thank you for the wonderful news you have given us." Now she hugged me close and kissed me. They both turned and walked towards the door.

"Annie," M'Lady quickly summoned her, "Their coats, then walk with them to the gates."

I called after them, "Goodbye Mummy."

Diana put her arm around my shoulder, hugged me then used her handkerchief to wipe away the tears streaming down my face.

Chapter 6 Annie and Eleanor

I could see their nervousness as the two new maids were brought in by the Butler. Both curtsied deeply when ushered before us. They had clearly been subjected to the same bathing routine I'd had so were freshly scrubbed and with their carefully brushed hair still damp, in new uniforms. Eleanor was told to remove hers as soon as Johnstone left about his duties.

It was almost a repeat of my own introduction to personal service as Diana first examined her everywhere then required of her new maid a kiss. She tried, poor girl, but I could see she was as inexperienced in such things as I had been. Diana looked over at me with a shrug and a helpless smile and told Eleanor to ask Mistress Jane to teach her to kiss.

"Please, Mistress Jane, will you teach me how to kiss?" Her lips were soft and fulsome against mine, but static. I quickly introduced her to the more exciting ways of kissing, using her lips and tongue while I played with her large bosom, which was one of the reasons I had suggested her, knowing Diana's predilection for over-sized breasts. Happily, she responded quickly and I soon passed her back to her Mistress and was pleased to see that Diana was enjoying kissing those luscious lips and that her new servant was returning the favours enthusiastically. Eleanor was on her knees learning the taste of M'Lady's pussy when Diana suggested that I take Annie to my own chambers to start her training.

Annie followed me through the door connecting my and Diana's rooms. My first action, when we were alone, was to kiss her. She too was inexperienced in that department, as I had thought, but she was a quick study and soon our kisses became more passionate. I had her remove her clothes and examined her closely. She had lovely soft skin and I took much pleasure in touching her everywhere but she flinched when my finger entered her virgin pussy. She was quite dry down there so I supposed my finger pushing in was a little uncomfortable. She was also blushing furiously at the invasion of her private parts.

"Annie," I said firmly, "you are now my personal maidservant. I can, and will, touch you wherever I want. You must get used to it and learn to like it because I will often take my pleasure with you. I have a large sexual appetite and you will satisfy my needs." With that, I reached for her breasts and pulled on her nipples to bring her body closer to me. I kissed her sexily, one hand playing with her breasts and nipples. Tthe other massaging the mound above her pussy and before too long I was pleased to notice her juices starting to trickle onto my fingers and her nipples popped up with the treatments they were getting. That was a good sign. I remembered my own first climax at the hands of my then Mistress in just these circumstances and wanted this to be Annie's. Sure enough, her breathing became heavier, panting as my finger slid, now easily, inside her.

"Mistress Jane, oh Mistress, what is happening to me?" By now my finger was stirring around inside her pussy and I took an engorged nipple into my mouth and sucked it hard. When I rubbed a thumb over her clitoris, Annie let out a loud shriek and collapsed into my lap. I let her lay there until she came back to her senses, I looked at her lovely body, her high and pointed breasts, her slim waist, her flaring hips. My finger was still gentle pushing in and out of her pussy when she moaned softly, shuddered and muttered an apology, saying she didn't know why she collapsed. I assured her I was not annoyed.

I brought my fingers, slick with Annie's juices, to her lips but she shrank away from my hand so I licked my fingers and was pleasantly surprised by the taste of my maid. She was as sweet as a honey pot, so delicious, I dipped my finger into her pussy again and brought a fresh supply to my mouth. Annie's eyes were as wide as saucers when she saw me obviously relishing her taste from 'down there' so when I brought my fingers to her lips again, she nervously let the fingertip touch her lips which she licked to taste the juices then, seemingly wanting more, she took my finger into her mouth and sucked avidly.

"See, Annie, you taste very nice, don't you?"

"Yes, Mistress Jane. You gave me feelings I have never had before."

"Did you like those feelings? Would you like more?"

"Oh yes, Mistress," she responded with her eyes shining.

"Then I promise you that you will experience those feelings many, many more times as you satisfy me. But, for now, get dressed and kneel here by my side, there is much for you to learn about your new position.

"Annie," I continued when she was on her knees, "you know that I was in just your position when M'Lady took me on as her maidservant? Yes, well I know exactly how you are feeling right now. You are nervous, you are wondering just what you may have to do for me. Perhaps you are worried that you might do something to annoy me and that you might sent back to the stillroom. Or that I will be a harsh Mistress. Let me tell you that my time as M'Lady's maidservant has been the best year of my life. So, you must relax, you must learn your tasks and duties. Some of them are pleasant, as you have just experienced, but I must tell you that some things that will be required of you are not so nice. More of that later, but you must do the best you can and I'm sure your time in my service will be much better than working in the still room. And remember that I am as new to my new position as you are. We must help each other."

"Yes, Mistress Jane, I will try my hardest."

"I know you will, Annie." I patted her bowed head. "You and I were good friends when we worked side by side. It cannot be quite the same now I'm to become a Lady but I will always think of you as my dear friend."

"Thank you so much Jane." She put her hand to her mouth when she realised her transgression. "Forgive me, Mistress."

"Hush, girl, you are forgiven, but you must always call me Mistress, especially before anybody else."

Chapter 7 Janice learns a lesson

There was a knock on the door connecting my room to Diana's. "Enter," I called.

It was Eleanor, wearing her uniform again. "If you please, Mistress Jane," she said, bobbing a curtsy, "M'Lady would like you to come and bring Annie."

"We will be there directly," I responded, and told Annie to get to her feet.

Diana had that certain look about her which I recognised as that of a woman satisfied. "Jane," she greeted me with a kiss. I could taste what I assumed to be Eleanor on Diana's lips so her new maid had obviously been learning to please her Mistress. "I think we should have the Seamstress make these girls new uniforms." She smiled. "Eleanor, tell the Seamstress we require her services."

"Yes, M'Lady." Eleanor left us to fulfil her task.

"She can make a start on a couple of pretty gowns for you, too. The rest will have to wait until Lord Percy's gift arrives."

In the past year there had been a change in the household staff. Mistress Sharp had been rushing about organising the preparation of food for a large party Lord Barton had arranged when she suddenly keeled over, dead. It was the Seamstress who took over the Housekeeper's position while her assistant assumed the role of Seamstress.

When I had worked in the stillroom, Janice, for that was the name of the new Seamstress, had always treated me with disdain and often downright unpleasantness. It was she who had gleefully reported an imagined infringement of the rules to Mistress Sharp and caused me to have a sore bottom. When Janice arrived, followed by Annie, she gave me a seething look of hatred and jealousy and she barely concealed the smirk on her face.

Diana was quick to notice her attitude towards me and her face coloured with rage. "How dare you behave so? Eleanor, bring the Butler and the Housekeeper to me immediately. You," she said, pointing at Janice, "Do Not Move One Inch." For several minutes, until Johnstone and Roberta Black, the new Housekeeper, joined us, the atmosphere in the room was seething.

"Mistress Black, I required the Seamstress to run up new uniforms for our new maidservants and she deliberately and flagrantly insulted Mistress Jane. That I will not tolerate. Johnstone, did not Lord Barton give instructions that Mistress Jane should be treated with the same respect given to me?"

"Yes, M'Lady, he did so instruct me and I delivered his order to all the staff."

Turning to Janice she demanded, "Did you receive that order?"

Gone was that smirking grin, replaced by a look of sheer terror as she realised she had badly overstepped the mark. Hanging her head, she mumbled, "Yes, M'Lady."

"Speak up child, and look at me."

"Yes, M'Lady," she sobbed, with tears forming in her eyes.

"I will not stand for any, I repeat, any disrespect towards Mistress Jane," said Diana, addressing all three of them. "Is that absolutely clear?"

"Yes, M'Lady," they chorused.

"With your permission, M'Lady," the Housekeeper added, "I will ensure she is properly disciplined."

Diana looked over to me with a mischievous smile on her face. "No, Mistress Roberta, I think we will do this another way. Mistress Jane had been insulted, I think Mistress Jane should administer a punishment suitable to assuage the distress that creature has caused. Jane, would you like to retrieve your whip? You, what is your name?"

"Please M'Lady, I'm Janice Bairstow."

"Well Janice Bairstow, you will bend over the arm of that chair and lift your skirts right up over your back."

"Please, M'Lady, forgive me."

"Do as I say. Now! Johnstone, hold her down."

Soon Janice's skinny bottom was presented to me. All the years of Janice's unpleasantness towards me, all the insults, all the indignities to which she had subjected me gave my arm strength as I whipped her mercilessly, her bottom, her lower back and her thighs were all covered in welts and a couple of bleeding wounds by the time I had finished. I think it was only Diana who knew that I had climaxed with my final stroke right on the torn flesh of her buttocks.

Johnstone released her when I was finished. He looked at me with some kind of admiration. Janice just collapsed to the floor sobbing uncontrollably, no longer caring that her body was still on display.

"Stand up girl" barked Diana, "and stop that stupid blubbering." Janice managed to get to her feet, allowing her skirts to fall back into place and tried to control her sobs.

"Mistress Black, you will reduce Janice to the lowest position in the household. I thought of sending her packing but I think perhaps she will better serve as a sharp reminder to the rest of the staff. You, girl, just one more insult and I will instruct the constable to take you before the magistrate. Is that absolutely clear? Go now."

"M'Lady," Mistress Black said when Janice had hobbled away, "I will personally ensure your new maids get their uniforms. Will there be anything else?"

"Mistress Jane will need her own small wardrobe. You will consult with me and her about her needs but that can wait for a day or two. For now, take these two and measure them up properly. You know how I like my maids to look."

"Indeed, M'Lady." Roberta gathered up Eleanor and Annie with a glance and the three left us alone with Johnstone.

"If I may be so bold, Mistress Jane, you wield a fair whip hand." He dipped his head in salute and retired.

"Oh, Jane," whispered my former Mistress when we were alone, "I do believe you enjoyed that beating you gave her."

"That I did, Diana. In all my years in this household, she has made herself my enemy. Revenge is sweet." I giggled behind my hand, "Especially when I climaxed. Oh, yes, I enjoyed it."

"Watching you beating her has made me quite excited. Will you join me in bed?"

By the time our maids came back, we had both given each other several wonderful climaxes and only just got dressed in time for their return.

"Lord Barton may require one of the girls tonight. I know Faith told you how you should prepare yourself. Perhaps you would deign to instruct Eleanor and Annie."

"Of course I will, Diana, but I rather think Lord Barton will be satiated for a day or two after my last visit. Come with me girls." I led them to my old room in Diana's apartment and told them of their Master's peculiar demands and shortcomings, showed how they should prepare themselves and demonstrated the enema machine on Annie.

Chapter 8 Learning to be a lady

So it was that I slipped into my new life with much help from Diana, from Reginald, as I was told to address Lord Barton, from Mistress Black and Johnstone and especially from Annie who had the knack of always being cheerful about the apartment, humming as she worked, and instilled a measure of confidence in me when I became discouraged with all I had to learn and remember. Strangely, it seemed to me, even Janice went out of her way to be helpful and there was no trace of insolence or rebellion in her attitude. Indeed, it was she who went far and wide to find a particular cloth Diana thought would make a lovely summer robe for me. I even asked Diana if she could see her way to reinstating Janice, if only to the position of assistant to the new Seamstress, so Janice regained much of what she lost. I never had any disrespect from any other member of staff except once, which I will relate later for the rest of my time as a guest at Barton Court and Annie reported once that Janice had vehemently defended me when a kitchen drudge made a disparaging remark about 'that upstart, Jane Fairfax'. Diana and I both agreed that our maids had taken up their duties well, including our erotic needs.

My mornings were all taken up with lessons from an array of tutors. I learned to read and write, I learned about geography, etiquette, deportment, dancing, horse riding ... so many things to learn, sometimes my head was spinning before it was time for me to share lunch with Diana. I would spend most afternoons with my ostensible cousin; we became close friends quickly and she relished her task of creating a lady out of a serving wench. When the weather was clement, we would stroll together in the extensive gardens of Barton Court. There was a delightful walk through an old stone quarry with trees and bushes lining the pathway, which sometimes zigzagged through the maze of canyons from which the stone had been quarried to build a Roman Fortress a mile away on top of Longset Hill. Sometimes we would ride our horses around the Estate, either ambling gently through the trees or racing at top speeds across a meadow. That was fun. It was after one such ride that I retained the horsewhip so that I would not have to borrow Diana's, should I need one.

Diana admitted me to any discussions about household management with the Housekeeper. "Jane," she explained, "When you have to run your own house, you will need to know about your duties in that direction."

"Tell me, Diana, I notice you always call Roberta 'Mistress Black'? You do not use such terms to the rest of the staff."

"Jane, this is a large household and we employ many staff. Your household at Tradiscombe will be even bigger and you could not possibly manage alone. If you look at Barton Court, we have Johnstone who attends Reginald. He acts as Reginald's second-in-command as far as the rest of the staff are concerned. To help him he has Roberta Black who looks after the everyday running of all the services they provide.

"We can ask for whatever we require or desire and we communicate with the Butler and Housekeeper, often via our maids, and it is their task to ensure that we are served with all expediency. Tell me, when you were my maid and I sent you to Mistress Black or Johnstone, did they ever keep you waiting?"

"Never, Diana."

"No, of course not because they know that the whole household exists to keep me, my husband and our guests happy. Those two run our household and maintain discipline just so we get what we want. I often consult Roberta Black about our needs, any important changes I want made, or perhaps to organise a party. I could not do without her so she deserves the respect from me that using her honorary title gives. If another member of our staff hears my respect, then she gets respect from her. So it is little enough for me to call her Mistress Black."

"Yes, I see, Diana. Thank you so much for explaining these things, I had not truly realised their importance."

Diana and I would often call upon her friends, some of whom became my friends too. We would go into the city to look around the shops, stopping for tea at the best hotels. Sometimes Reginald would escort us to a dinner and dance party and Lord Barton arranged our own parties. They were fun. Diana and I wined and we dined and we danced with all the handsomest men under the benign eye of her husband. We would go home in a gay mood but exhausted, to be greeted by our faithful maids who pampered, undressed and put us to bed, sometimes I would have Annie join me for the night. She always brings me sweet relief and has a lovely body to hold when I have her sleep with me.

Our social life included the church. We walked there every Sunday but rode in the carriage in inclement weather and it was at the church that I widened my small circle of friends. Two or three times each week Diana and I would visit one friend or another or we would receive them in our apartments.

My new wardrobe took about four weeks to arrive in a cart. Before I left Percy, his Seamstress had carefully taken all my measurements and had, I learned later, devoted all her time to looking through the latest fashions and recreating the loveliest gowns, petticoats, undergarments. Everything a Lady would need. We all had so much fun opening each carefully wrapped package and examining the wonderful contents. One gown was a deep purple velvet with gold braiding, so lovely that I held it to my body daydreaming of Percy dancing me around the room.

Percy wrote letters to me two or three times a week. At first I had to get Diana to read them to me and write my replies, which made me learn to read and write much faster, I wanted to read for myself my lover's messages of his devotion to me. One of my lover's epistles to me, before I could read them myself, described in very explicit detail what he would like to do with my body. "Oh, Jane. I wish he would do that to me, you lucky girl."

I know he kept and treasured all my letters, and especially those in the childish fashion of a learner. I, too, have all his letters bound in a red ribbon, pressed in rose petals and saved in the ottoman under the window of my apartments in Tradiscombe, my home as Jane, Lady Underweir. Even now, I often spend happy hours sitting on that ottoman in the sunshine reading Percy's precious letters.

It was after I had learned to read that I discovered the pleasure of books and I devoured Reginald's library, reading everything from translations of the old Latin philosophers and historians to the latest novels by Mr Charles Dickens and anything in between. I became a voracious reader and one of my greatest pleasures was to sit in my chair reading a romance aloud while Annie was beneath my skirts, slowly lapping at my pussy. I taught Annie the basics of literacy so that she, too, could enjoy the huge wealth of literature available. Annie's preference was the romantic stories.

Some afternoons Diana and I would play canasta in her rooms then one day I had an idea. I gave Annie her instructions in the morning, before my session with Brother Dominic who was teaching me geography. That afternoon, we both took our seats at the card table. I watched Diana's face as she dealt the cards. Suddenly her eyes widened. I knew why because my legs were being parted at the same time and I felt Annie's tongue licking its way to my pussy. Diana quickly realised what was happening so she and I opened our legs as wide as the smiles on our faces to give our girls full access. I don't remember which of us won the card game. It didn't matter because it was interrupted several times by the girls exchanging places. Diana asked if that had been my idea and I confirmed that it was.

"Thank you my dear friend," she said, hugging me, "for such a lovely surprise." Her voice changed to a whisper although we both knew that the girls under the table could hear. "When did I last whip you?"

Her words gave me that deep gut feeling of a long-denied craving. "Not since Lammas Day, Diana, when Percival asked for me one last time." My nipples were tingling, my heart was thumping in my heaving chest, my knees felt weak. By all the gods in Olympus (yes, Ancient Greece was one of my studies) I needed the release I had not had since I stopped being her maid. Annie had tried to satisfy me but her heart was not in the task; she did not want to hurt her Mistress. I looked at Diana with a plea in my eye.

She had an enigmatic smile playing about her lips and a twinkle in her eye when she leant over the table and stroked my cheek as she said, "Come to my rooms after dinner. Bring Annie. And you, Annie, don't stop what you are supposed to be doing right now." I think Eleanor had difficulty coping with the sudden flood from my pussy when Diana told me to come to her rooms.

We played another couple of hands of canasta but my thoughts were elsewhere so Diana chuckled and told me to return to my rooms as I was in a different world. I told Annie to go about her duties as I sat in my chair and picked up the book Brother Dominic had left me that morning but the olive groves of Italy could not hold my attention, not with all the little erotic daydreams spinning through my mind.

Annie was currently brushing the carpets around my feet when she looked up at me.

"Forgive my impertinence, Mistress Jane, but do you really enjoy what M'Lady says she is going to do? Does it not hurt you terribly?"

I took her face in my hands and kissed her. "Bless you, Annie. Yes, it does hurt very much. That is the whole point. Nevertheless, your Mistress has needs, the pain is a powerful thing and I find that the more I get the more I want. There comes a time when the pain seems to go away and it is as if I am in the middle of a warm glow, my Golden Place. I feel every stroke as just more flame which burns through my body, I feel the heat in my pussy, in my breasts. My nipples are on fire. Truly, I like it so much that I climax."

Her eyes were wide open, looking at me as I saw her trying to digest what I had told her, trying to believe it.

"It is true, Annie. Tell me, what do you feel when I spank you?"

"As you say, Mistress, I feel a warmth in my pussy which makes me want to achieve a climax but surely, Mistress, I don't think Janice enjoyed it or had a climax when you whipped her."

"Different circumstances, Annie. Janice was just getting punished, she knew it and all who were there knew it. It comes down to what is in your mind. A punishment just hurts, as we both know from the Housekeeper's wooden spoon but pain in the bedroom is entirely different because it is a matter of the pleasure which the pain gives. As far as Janice was concerned, it was a very harsh punishment but let me tell you, Annie, I really did enjoy beating her. You know how she used to treat me? Yes, well she made my life a misery and I enjoyed every stroke of that whip. Did you know I had a climax when I beat her?

"You see, some people want, even need, to be whipped; other people get much pleasure from using the whip. I happen to like both sides of the coin. And do you know what I like best? To give somebody a good whipping then have Lady Diana do the same to me. This evening you may see that I like being whipped."

There was awe in her wide open eyes. I took hold of her head and kissed her then looked straight into her eyes. "Tell me Annie, truthfully, what did you feel when you saw me punishing Janice?"

"I suppose I felt a bit excited at the sight, Mistress Jane."

"So you have some idea of what pain can do."

"Yes, Mistress, perhaps I do."

"All this talk about what is going to happen this evening has made my cunt wet. Put aside that brush and dustpan and get to work down there, there's a good girl."

I really don't know how I managed to eat my food at the dinner table, especially as Diana kept fixing me with her stare and knowing smile. Thank goodness, I thought, for all those petticoats or my gown would have a large damp patch. Eventually Diana and I bid Reginald 'Good night' as he sipped at his port, Diana instructed Johnstone to send a bottle of Scotch whisky to her rooms and we left in silence.

I had Annie undress me and bring me the pastel-blue light cotton robe. I knocked on Diana's door which was opened almost immediately by Eleanor to reveal Diana wearing the red robe I knew she loved, nipples poking small hills into the silk, and with wide open welcoming arms.

I moved into her embrace and we kissed long and sweet until she whispered very quietly into my ear, "Are you ready for this? It is just for you tonight."

"Yes, M'Lady, I'm ready," I whispered back.

"Hush Jane, not 'M'Lady' in front of the servants." Diana had Eleanor pour us all a generous measure of the whisky which we all swallowed straight down, followed by a second measure which was treated the same way.

"Now," said Diana to us all, "I want you girls to undress. Eleanor, bring me the whip." When Diana had the whip, she ordered the maids to face each other. "Annie, you will slap Eleanor's breasts as hard as you can. I want to see a big red hand mark."

Eleanor saw Annie's apologetic look and accepted it as the slap was delivered. "Now the other breast, but even harder. Keep slapping, both sides, hard."

Eleanor's breasts were soon bright red when Annie was told to stop. Now Eleanor had to repeat the slapping on her friend. I think both of them were a little surprised when Diana felt their pussies and said, "See Jane, they are both wet."

It was true, they were both becoming excited. We all had another measure of whisky so, none of us being really accustomed to alcohol, we were all more than a little tipsy. Diana was clearly in charge of things when she told Eleanor to put her hands behind her head, push her breasts out and remain absolutely still. She handed the whip to Annie and told her to whip her friend's breasts. Eleanor squealed at the stroke but I knew Diana would not be satisfied with the blow. She took the whip back and made Annie assume the same position as Eleanor then lashed as hard as I knew she could. Annie screeched and I saw the familiar welts appear across my maid's bosom but Diana made her stand firm and accept the pain. When she had herself under control again, she was given the whip and told to try again. This time she did her best, leaving that tell-tale red mark across the pale flesh.

Eleanor screamed and brought her hands down to comfort her the pain and ward off further pain but Diana insisted she stand straight and put her hands behind her head again. She eventually overcame her fear and stood there when Annie was instructed to aim for her nipples which were puckered, sticking out well beyond the softer flesh. Again Eleanor screamed but she fought bravely to keep her pose as Annie was told to deliver several more strokes. Eleanor was panting heavily between sobs and we all saw that her thighs were wet with the juice from her pussy.

Then it was Annie's turn to stand with hands behind her head. Eleanor did not make the same mistake and her first stroke was full on. As if she didn't want to show that it hurt, Annie let out just a little gasp then chewed on her lip. It must have worked because she remained in position to accept the stroke across her nipples and all the subsequent blows. I was proud of her bravery. After that first gasp, she uttered not a sound until Eleanor was stopped, then she let out an enormous sigh as she lowered her hands. But her hands went to her pussy and she crossed her legs, dancing around.

"M'Lady, I need to pass water. Please may I be excused for a minute?"

At that, Diana got a devilish gleam in her eye. "Stay where you are. Eleanor, on the floor, face up. Annie, sit on her mouth and let it go."

Annie started dribbling as she opened her legs to squat on her friend's mouth, splattering Eleanor's face with her piss. The look on Annie's face was one of pure relief as she let go and Eleanor tried to swallow it all but some leaked to the floor.

Diana stood behind me, her fingers twiddling my nipples. "This is fun, isn't it?" she said, nuzzling into my neck.

"Yes, M'Lady," I whispered very quietly and kissed her.

"I don't know about you, Jane, but I need a climax. Your choice, which of them will you have?"

In reply I ordered Annie between my legs. She knew all my little triggers by now and soon gave me the climax I needed. I had her sit upon my lap and asked her if she enjoyed peeing in her friend's mouth. Both Diana and her maid looked up to hear her affirmative answer. "Did you like it," was Diana's question to her maid.

Eleanor looked a little embarrassed to admit it but she said "Yes, M'Lady. You took me by surprise but I liked the taste."

"I think Annie will have to learn to like it too." I announced as my maidservant shivered a little in my arms.

"So far we have all had some fun but this is what is now going to happen. Remember, tonight is for Mistress Jane's pleasure and you girls will play your part. We will all have another glass of whisky - pour them, Eleanor - to give us courage for this." We emptied our glasses and swallowed the fiery spirit before she continued. "I am going to give you, Eleanor, a whipping you will remember, while Mistress Jane watches. Then she is going to do the same to Annie while I watch." She looked over at me and smiled. "Then you two will go to your room and play together as much as you wish."

Now she whispered very quietly, "And Mistress Jane is going to get what she has been missing."

I settled back in my chair and exposed my breast, telling my maid to suckle. I turned my body so that she may do this and watch Eleanor standing in the middle, hands back behind her head. Diana stepped up close and held Eleanor's eyes in her gaze as she took a nipple between the fingers of each hand and squeezed cruelly and lifted, making her stand up on tiptoes. Then the Lady stepped back a pace or two and looked over Eleanor's trembling torso, selecting her first target. I was not surprised to see that it was the nipples. She has a thing about breasts and particularly nipples. Diana's next target was lower down and soon her servant had half a dozen welts crisscrossing her abdomen. The front of her thighs had more of the same before Diana turned Eleanor so that her back was turned towards us. Starting at the top, Diana striped her back all the way down to behind her knees.

She was then turned again with her Mistress standing right in front and told Eleanor to open her legs wide, tapping them further out with the whip until she was satisfied. That first stroke was right up between her legs, smack bang on her pussy. Eleanor cried out in agony and I felt Annie pull harder on my tit when she witnessed it. But Diana was not satisfied with just the one. Time and time again the lash caught her pussy and clitoris until we all heard her calling "M'Lady, M'Lady, oh M'Lady, yesssss." As her whole body was taken over by a massive climax. I looked over to Diana and saw that she was also in her own world. Eleanor's pussy and thighs were just dripping so Diana brought the leather tip and inserted it into her cunt then, with a smile, brought it over for me to taste.

"You see, Annie. That is how it can happen, do you think you could climax like that?"

"Oh, Mistress Jane, I cannot take that. Please no, Mistress."

"Yes, Annie, you must take that and now, for see, Lady Diana has finished?" Eleanor was now on her Mistress's lap having her breasts played with and waiting, watching, for her friend's turn. "Come now, Annie. Be brave for me, be as brave as Eleanor."

"Now, Annie," I said when she was in position, "I have another two rules for you. First, you shall not utter a sound until we are finished."

"I will try my best, Mistress."

"Good girl, that is all I can ask. The second rule is that you may not climax until I say you may." I planted that little seed in her mind hoping it would grow and come to be an obsession with her body wanting to climax but her mind saying no, she may not.

My technique was unlike Diana's. She concentrated on one area then moved on to the next but I just walked around Annie and used the whip here and there as the fancy took me, her legs were wide open so her pussy was often struck from front or back. She was brave and only the slightest grunt could be heard when I hit a particularly sensitive spot. Eventually I put the whip aside and kissed her.

"Do you need to climax, Annie?"

"No Mistress, yes Mistress. I don't know Mistress."

Kissing her again, I found her clitoris, slick with secretions, so I knew she was close. I clamped a thumb and forefinger on her sensitive button, digging in harshly with my nails and whispered, "Now Annie, now." With a loud wail her, whole body flushed and shuddered, her pussy gushed and she almost collapsed in my arms even as I was recovering from my own volcanic explosion.

"Well done, Annie. You were very, very good. You made me proud." Now you run along with Eleanor and the two of you enjoy yourselves."

"Yes, Mistress." She turned to leave then faced me again. "Thank you, Mistress Jane, for that experience. I never thought it would happen but you made it so." She and Eleanor gathered up their uniforms and left just me and Diana standing, facing each other.

Chapter 9 Lady Diana has a bad time

She had a full tumbler of whisky in each hand, at least as much as we had already imbibed. The bottle on the table behind her was empty. We looked each other straight in the eyes with love as I reached for one of the tumblers. We sipped and sipped again, then a larger sip. She sat on the edge of her bed and, with a gesture, asked me to sit beside her. I did so and again our eyes locked.

She raised her glass. "Jane, I need this spirit to help me. I am very nervous so you need to help me. I was a little surprised when Eleanor climaxed, and even more when Annie climaxed on your command. I saw in both of them what I see in you, you reach a point where the pain doesn't matter, you smile through the pain until it all seems to explode. Seeing that is so exciting. I want you to take me to that place, Jane, but I'm scared, so scared, so this:" she took a gulp from her tumbler, and I copied her, "will give me the courage." I sensed she had more to say and was curious.

She took a deep breath, exhaled it slowly and said, "Tonight, Jane, under the influence of alcohol, we are going to do whatever we want. I want to fuck you with my fist and you must treat me the same. We will hurt each other very much, I want to drink your piss and give you mine. I want you to do anything you can think of and I will do the same. Will you drink to that with me?"

I raised my glass and threw the contents down my throat saying, "Let the Devil take the hindmost!" It made me cough a little but I watched Diana downing hers. Both of us were wearing just those simple robes. She opened mine and pushed it off my shoulders; I did the same to hers and we stepped away from the robes piled at our feet. She grabbed me and her kiss was almost savage in its intensity. Good, I wanted her as excited by the prospect as was I. Her hand sneaked between us and reached for my groin. Taking a good hold on my bush, she tugged very hard, almost lifting me off my feet. Oh, that was what I needed, some really rough treatment before the beating started. She knew me so well. The two beatings she had already arranged had served to get me ready for anything and I knew that Diana was also ready for anything.

She blew her warm breath in my left ear then nibbled at the lobe, kissed her way round to my lips then, just as gently nibbled and kissed back to my other ear. Then she stepped back and slapped my face, left, right, left, right, left, right and again. I bent down and bit her nipple, grinding it between my teeth. She tried to pull away but my teeth were firmly clamped and her pull served only to elongate her breast.

The liquor I had drunk was now acting on my bladder so I had an idea. I gripped her nipples and led her to her bathing room with its tiled floor upon which I made her lay down. She realised what I was doing when I squatted over her face and started pissing. She opened her mouth and I filled it then continued pissing all over her face until I finally settled down over her mouth and made her drink the rest. As soon as I had finished, she turned the tables on me and very soon she filled my mouth. I didn't get much of her flavour until she sprayed my face. I could then lick my lips and I discovered that I liked her taste.

Diana took me to the bed and I was told to get on my hands and knees and to wait for a minute without moving. I heard the door open and, a minute later, close again. Diana got on the bed behind me and I felt my arse being greased as far inside as she could manage to push the stuff. She started with just two fingers in my arse, soon to be joined by a third. These she kept working in and out, turning round, stretching me down there until she deemed I was ready and four fingers pushed into me. She kept working her hand round and round until I felt her withdraw slightly and I knew her thumb had been added. I remembered back to when Diana, then M'Lady, had done the same in my pussy and surely my arse could not take that much but she persisted until with a quick push, it was in me. Her whole hand in my burning arse, pushing further in until it would go no further. At that point, she pulled her hand all the way back until most of it was outside again then with a hard push, right up into me again. Then she just fucked my arse with her hand, making me climax several times until she tired of the game. Oh, the cruel woman, she pulled her hand from deep inside me all the way out in one swift motion. I screeched in pain before I collapsed on the bed. My arse felt wide open - and very empty.

I rested for a minute, gathering my strength then sat facing her. I raised my right arm in a fist and just asked, "Arse or cunt, wench."

I think somehow she relished being called 'wench' in these circumstances because she replied, "Mistress Jane, in my cunt if I must. I have never had anything more than a finger in my arse."

"On your back, servant," I ordered.

"Yes Mistress." I got the straps out of her drawer and soon had her ankles strapped to the bedposts over her head, exposing her cunt and her arse to anything I decided. The flickering of a candle in the corner of my eye for some reason got my attention. I glanced idly in that direction and noticed the long, slim shape. Things clicked in my mind and I went over and plucked the candle from its holder. I could not get my finger and thumb round it by a good half inch. Yes, this will do, was my thought. I brought the candle to the bed, blowing out its flame on the way. I thought it might be better if I moulded the wax while it was still soft to give it a round head. As I did so, a trickle of still-molten wax spilled over my finger and dropped onto Diana's inner thigh. I felt the wax stinging me where it dripped and saw how she flinched. I put the thought at the back of my mind and noticed the maids' pot of grease. Diana must have retrieved it when she left the room earlier. I greased up the candle, then her arse.

"No Mistress, please not my arse."

"Be quiet, wench." I pushed the candle against her arse, just nudging against the hole. It looked like a huge prick poised ready so I pushed it right in all the way until no more would fit. That was in one swift movement and I felt a thrill to hear the scream which came from her mouth. I love that burning pain when something is forced up my arse, like when Percival used to do it. I left her moaning and squirming as I retrieved another candle but this one I did not extinguish. The flame had built up a reservoir of molten wax which I dribbled slowly down her thigh and watched it solidify. Diana just twitched a little as I allowed the flame to refill the little bowl. This time down her other thigh, allowing the wax to get perilously close to her pussy.

"Are you enjoying this, wench?"

"Yes, Mistress. It gets me excitaaaahhhh." I had poured the next lot of wax straight onto her puffy cunt lips. My spare hand spread the lips and exposed the nub at the top. I rubbed that for a second or two then dumped more hot wax right on target. That made her squeal and leap to try to get out of the restraints but they held fast. She jumped when I picked away the congealed wax from her clitoris and jumped a mile again when her privates were once again flooded. I put my candle to one side and gave the one up Diana's arse a slap, making it rock inside her. I was a little envious of my 'maid' at that point. I think I would like that candle rocking inside my arse.

I cleared the wax from her pussy again, getting my fingers soaked in her copious juices. She was as ready as she would ever be. I went for the big start with four fingers thrust in hard. She screamed and struggled but I kept my hand firmly in place, pulled back just enough to get my thumb into the picture and let her have the lot as I bored my hand inside her. I rested it there so she could get used to it. When she was relaxed enough to want to roll her hips for more was when her clitoris was again doused in hot wax. Her body went rigid, her cunt clamped itself round my arm, her hips bucked up and down as she let out a loud wail then went limp.

I allowed her a moment of respite before I started my hand stirring and moving inside her cunt again. "Oh Mistress, not again, no more, I'm so sore."

"Silence, you baggage." She was soon matching my movements in spite of her earlier plea. I started sliding my hand back and forth inside her, clenching and unclenching my fist.

"Mistress, please fuck me, fuck me harder. Oh Mistress yes, here it comes ... yeeessss, yesyesyes, ahhhhh." Then, shortly afterwards and more of a grunt, "Oh now that feels good, Mistress."

I had given her no rest this time and partially withdrawn my hand before ramming it back home. I pulled further out and again thrust. Next I pulled all the way back until just the tips of my fingers remained between her cunt lips, paused and plunged. Pull back, pause and plunge, again and again. The whole bed was rocking as she tried to release her hands and legs but I was relentless, ignoring her pleas of, "No more Mistress Jane. Oh, not again." Another shuddering climax went through her and I decided she had had enough fucking. For now.

I noticed, as I withdrew my fist, that her cunt was gaping, wide open. It was such a tempting sight that I reached for the candle again. "Let the Devil take the hindmost," I said, almost mockingly as I poured the hot wax straight into her depths. She just shrieked and shrieked, enough to rattle the windows, it seemed. I took a firm hold on the candle still in her arse and pulled it straight out. Another gaping hole! For a final time my candle dropped its load, right in her arse. This invoked more screams. Oh, I was enjoying myself, even knowing it would be my turn soon.

I released Diana from her straps and gave her time to stretch the kinks out of her muscles. She had never endured the cramps from being confined and strapped before this evening. "I need to pee, wench. Come!"

She beat me to the bathing room and was on her back, mouth open, when I arrived. I straddled her head, facing her feet and let my piss flow onto her face and hair. I made little steps down her body, making sure she was wet all down then I settled onto her face, making her drink all the rest while massaging the piss into her skin. "Thank you Mistress. You taste nice."

I bent down and started lapping up my own piss from her body. She was right about the taste.

"Are you ready for your beating, baggage?" I didn't wait for an answer but returned to the central clearance in the bedroom. Diana followed like a good servant. "You know the position," I said, retrieving the horsewhip and slapping it in the palm of my hand. "Wider." I lashed the whip against the inside of her thigh and she spread as wide as she could.

I stepped in close and kissed her hungrily until she was panting. "Are you ready for this, you little slut?"

"Will you hurt me, Mistress Jane?"

"Yes," I replied with a smile while twisting her nipples cruelly. "Yes, bitch, I am going to whip you as you deserve. You know my rules: you will stand still, keeping your breasts pushed out. You will not make a sound and you will not climax until you have my permission." I gave her nipples even harsher treatment, making her squirm.

"Be still," I ordered and watched her control her body. "Do you understand my rules?"

She just stood there with much fear in her eyes.

I slapped her face. "Do you understand, wench?"

"Yes, Mistress. Please don't hurt me."

I stepped back a pace and looked over the lovely, trembling body before me, deciding upon my first strike. A dark brown nipple was surrounded by a disk of dark pink set on the pale skin of the breast. It reminded me of an archery target. Very well! I lashed down aiming for that nipple and was pleased to see bruise running from the swell of her breast to the tip. I looked into her eyes again, they were almost popping out on stalks as she made a valiant attempt to control her movements until her breath came out in a long low hiss.

"Well done, wench." I complimented her control then lashed the other nipple and stepped to the side to take aim at both nipples. I started walking around her, keeping her waiting and guessing. I saw her pussy lips everted, pink and glistening. I rubbed between those succulent lips with the tip of the horsewhip then flicked it upwards, not too hard this time, more of a reminder about how vulnerable, how sensitive, she was down there.

I switched tactics now and started to strike all over her body, hard enough to bring red stripes everywhere. I surveyed my 'artwork' then had her bend at the waist and I laid into her soft bottom with a vengeance, working my way from the small of her back to her thighs. Next, my 'servant' felt the full power of the whip between her legs as I continually lashed her lovely pussy from behind. I had her stand again.

"Are you enjoying this, wench? I am."

"Please Mistress, no more. I cannot bear any more."

"But Diana, there is much more to come. Believe me you can bear it, you must bear it." I whipped her nipples again. "You will bear it."

Now, I knew instinctively, was the time to bring her to the peak. Systematically and without pause, I lashed her everywhere and, by the time her body was striped with black and blue welts, I knew she had entered what I called the golden place. She flinched with each blow but there was smile on her face which was wet with her tears. Now for the final stroke and give her release.

"Let it go, wench, you may climax," and I lashed her pussy with all my strength and my own climax burned through me.

For many seconds, her body shuddered, her mouth was open and calling oh, and ah and wheeeeeee as her legs buckled and she sank to the floor holding her tortured pussy and rocking forward and backwards as she tried to compose herself. I knelt next to her, stroked her face and hair and held her in a cuddle.

Even through the tears she hugged me back and whispered, "Thank you, Jane. I never knew. Gods above and below, I've been in your 'golden place' and never ever had a climax like that. Thank you, darling, thank you."

After her climax, there was a shift in our relationship. I was no longer her Mistress, she was no longer my serving wench. We were just loving friends. We sat on the floor for many long minutes, letting the passions subside then, as we both relaxed, it changed again. M'Lady was back in charge and I was her maid again. There was a glint in her eyes as she said, "Now it's my turn, bitch."

Chapter 10 Diana's revenge

"I think I need some more whisky," M'Lady said. She pulled her robe, somewhat gingerly, about her body and tinkled her little bell.

A few seconds later, Eleanor appeared, straightening her uniform. She was perspiring and breathing heavily, something had obviously been interrupted. "M'Lady, you wanted me?"

"I want another bottle of whisky. If Johnstone has retired, find out who is on duty. Go girl." She gave us both a quick curtsy before disappearing on her task.

"Are you afraid, Jane?"

"I am a little, M'Lady."

"You should be because it is going to be a long, very painful journey for you."

I had been honest, I was a little afraid. I knew M'Lady would take me to the limits of my endurance before giving me my release. I craved that release, what made me afraid was what would happen between now and then.

It was several minutes before Eleanor reappeared bearing the required bottle. "Forgive me M'Lady, I had to find Master Johnstone's assistant and he had to get the cellar keys."

"That's fine Eleanor. I want you to get Annie and you will both undress and sit here on the floor and watch me work on Mistress Jane, perhaps help me."

There was a look of surprise on her face but she said, "Very good, M'Lady," and soon the two girls, the marks all over their bodies clearly visible, were sitting there.

"Annie, pour us all some whisky. You and Eleanor may have so much." She indicated with her fingers about one inch. "Mistress Jane and I will have this much." Her fingers measured almost a full tumbler for us. The girls just sipped but we Ladies gulped down much more. I was like Diana that evening, I needed the extra bit of courage it would give me: I had a feeling that she was going to be rough with me.

"Let me tell you girls, I know you are discrete or you would still be Downstairs but what you are going to watch must never, ever, go outside this room. You have already realised that Mistress Jane loves pain and I think you two will also want more after what happened to you both this evening."

"Yes, M'Lady." The two girls looked at each other and smiled. Annie spoke for them, "We will both want to experience that again M'Lady."

"I thought so," my friend responded, then she smiled at them and at me, "I know just what you mean because Mistress Jane has just taken me there and I know I will want to go there again. Not now, not soon," she shivered, "but sometime in the future ...

"It may seem strange to you but it works for me and Mistress Jane, you will hear me calling her my serving wench or other terms of abuse and she will call me M'Lady. Since you left us, I have been her servant and she my Mistress, but it is only a game we play. Isn't it, wench?"

That last question was aimed at me. I bobbed a curtsy and answered, "Yes, M'Lady."

Turning back to our maids, she went on, "You may wonder why I brought you here for this. I want you to learn, you especially Annie, but you too Eleanor, because Mistress Jane may want you to hurt her. Probably not as much as you will see here, but when you see me with her you will know that just a little is not enough."

"Yes, M'Lady," they nodded.

She turned again towards me and raised her glass. "Devil take the hindmost?" There was that glint of mischief in her eyes.

Undeterred by the challenge, I drained my tumbler and said defiantly, "Yes, and the Devil take the hindmost."

"Take off my robe, girl," she ordered. I stepped across and removed her garment. There was a gasp from the girls to see their mistress marked so with the bruises at all angles from her upper chest and back, down to calves, but she ignored it. "Stand in the proper position."

My hands were behind my head and my legs spread as wide as possible, inviting that first lash, longing for it to start, but it did not come. Not then, not there, for first she used a strap to tie my hands together in place. It was during the first tour of my body, my breasts received the first, right up, underneath them. "Chest out, slut." (Another gasp from the audience.)

"Hmmm," she said to herself, "I think I'll play with her a little." She looked me up and down then poked my tit with her whip, watching the soft flesh give way. She lightly flicked the nipple. "Hmmm." She balanced the whip on my shoulder and took hold of my breasts as if assessing something, squeezing and kneading. "Hmmm." Over her shoulder she called, "Eleanor, bring my sewing basket."

"What on earth ...?" I wondered.

Diana took the basket behind me so I did not see what she was doing. In the corner of my eye I saw Eleanor standing at my shoulder when Diana stepped in front of me, coming close, lifting my left breast in the palm of her hand. She reached towards Eleanor with her other hand and was passed something, I knew not what. Diana made me look into her eyes when I felt something very sharp being pushed into the very flesh of my tit, at the top swell. She reached again and this time the sharp pain was underneath. Again on the inner surface then the outside. I chanced a look down and saw, sticking out of the top and each side of my breast, the head of a pin. The shank of the pin was buried in my breast. The pain, although unusual, was after all just a pin prick and no longer hurt. She realised that the pins were not successful so pulled them out.

M'Lady took hold of my breast again, fondling it as if trying to find inspiration. She made a wide circle with both hands and put them round my breast and, as she narrowed the circle my breast looked fuller and firmer. Diana played with my nipple, flicking a finger nail over it. Of course that made the nipple stick out even more. She was deep in thought for a moment then got the two girls together. I could not hear her whispered instructions to them but one went to a drawer and produced M'Lady's jewellery box. Annie was a little later coming out of M'Lady's shoe cupboard with some long black strands of what looked like string until I saw that it was the leather laces from her winter boots. What was she doing? What was she going to do?

She started with a shoe lace and tied a simple slip knot, passing the loop around my tit as far back as it would go, she then pulled the loop tight and my breast bulged out so she tightened further and further, as tight as she could get it then wound the rest round my breast, getting tighter with each of the four turns until she tied it off. It felt very tight and my breast was swelling and turning colour. It was very sensitive to M'Lady's fondling as she admired her handiwork. With a happy smile on her face she proceeded to truss my other breast, and the pressure started to build up there. Both breasts were aching now as they swelled against their bonds, I felt they would burst. Now they were very sensitive, even M'Lady's stroking hand hurt and a suddenly squeezed nipple was an agony which seemed to be directly connected to my clitoris.

She picked up her whip and rested it against my nipples so it would remember the target.

"M'Lady, no, please no, they are too tender."

She just looked at me with an evil grin and lifted the whip. Her weapon did remember its target, three times. I closed my eyes tightly trying to accept the pain as I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. I looked again when M'Lady took hold of my tit again and suckled on it, now and then using her teeth. Painful, yes, but a nicer kind of pain because my nipples always like a little loving. My other nipple received its fair share and I felt the first vague stirrings in my loins. I felt good. I knew there was much more to come but I sensed the light at the end.

M'Lady stood before me, Annie behind her, holding something, I could not tell what. She reached out and tenderly stroked my hair, smoothed my forehead and wiped away the tears. She stepped close, her breasts pushing into my swollen pair as she hugged me tight, and we kissed, a long, slow build up but we finished up mashing lips against teeth and tongues half way down each other's throat. We broke apart, panting, lust in both our eyes. She smiled - she has such a pretty smile - and said, "For a baggage, you are very lovely. I think you should wear some jewellery. I have a brooch you may borrow." M'Lady reached behind her and Annie placed something in her hand which opened to reveal a large, diamond encrusted butterfly, one I knew to be amongst of her favourites. "Here, let me pin it on for you."

It was only when she brought the point of the pin to the back of my nipple that I realised what she meant. My mind screamed Noooo as she tried to push the point in, but my nipple was too rubbery for it to break the skin. It just slid away. Ever inventive, she told Annie to bring her uniform and pack it in on the other side of the nipple and to keep pushing in. Now the pin did not slip, now it made a deep indent in the flesh which in turn would not give. The pain kept going on as she pushed and pushed harder until came the searing pain of my flesh being ruptured. Having got through the tough skin, she rested her arm for a few seconds which allowed me time to control the pain. But she soon started pressing again and it felt like it was grating its way through. She hit the barrier of the last layer of skin from the inside. I felt her increase the pressure again, trying to break through but the skin just stretched and strained into a long point. M'Lady herself was panting with exertion until, with her yelp of victory, the point of the pin showed through. Hold it, Jane, I told myself, just hold the pain. The rest was easier, just that grating as half the pin passed through the channel it had forced. She fastened the safety catch and looked at my face, giving me a huge smile.

"There you are, look at your pretty brooch, wench." She flicked the jewellery up and down, reigniting the fire I had just quelled. "I think my opal flamingo would be a perfect complement, don't you?" I just hung my head, knowing she was in a fey mood tonight and she would do it whatever I said.

Then the spark lit in me again. Let the Devil take the hindmost, I told myself. I stood proud and pushed my breasts out tauntingly. "Yes, M'Lady, your opal flamingo would look fine. I would be proud to wear your brooch if you would be so kind as to pin it on." I gave her a quick curtsy, which jiggled my butterfly. A nice pain, now I was getting used to it. I hoped she would jiggle it some more for me.

She did, but it was coincidental; her arm kept brushing against it as she was pressing the opal flamingo through, from top to bottom. That disturbance of the butterfly made a lovely kind of counterbalance to the other pin trying to bore through my other nipple. I felt the triumph myself as the journey was completed.

M'Lady recognised the signs. She knew it was time for the whipping her servant deserved. What had gone before was just playing around. I saw it in her eyes and welcomed it. "Please, M'Lady, kiss me first." The kiss was soft and tender with just the gentlest nibbling at my lips. I was fully charged.

"Eleanor, another drink for us all." While her maid went about her task, M'Lady released the strap on my hands and allowed me to walk about and swing the kinks out of my muscles. As I passed the open jewellery box a plan came to my mind.

It was like we had rehearsed it many times but we both knew what to do. I raised my glass, she raised her glass, I tossed it down my throat and said, "Let the Devil take the hindmost, M'Lady."

She downed her whisky and called back, "Let the Devil take the hindmost, you insolent trollop. Get in position."

Now I faced the final stage and welcomed the pain of the first strike, predictably on my swollen breasts and not neglecting my cruelly pierced nipples. I think, perhaps, she was concerned about damaging her jewellery because she took a minute to pull them both out of my nipples. The extra pain of the removal was just a little more for me to deal with. They didn't matter, they had done their job. With my nipples clear of encumbrance, they became a major target which was hit frequently and M'Lady came back to them time and again as she methodically lashed and whipped all down the front of my body. My pussy became her next major target, the whip across the back of my shoulders served only to bring me close to my golden place. The internal golden glow was now my fortress and I laughed through my tears.

"Yes, M'Lady, more."

"You bitch," she said, laying into my buttocks with increased force until she finally stood in front of me. We both knew it was time.

With all her force her aim was unerring. "Now, you slut, Now!" she cried as my pussy lit a wildfire through my body.

"Now," I screamed back and, holding off my collapse by sheer force of will, I brought the hat pin that I had picked up from the jewellery box and hidden in my hair, between us and drove it with all my strength into the flesh of her tit and glory be, we had our climaxes simultaneously and collapsed to the floor hugging each other, laughing and crying at the same time.

It took a minute or two for us to come back to the world we had briefly left. She looked at my breasts swollen and bruised and told Annie to help her Mistress by loosening the laces. I told Eleanor to remove the hatpin skewering M'Lady's breast. For each of us, the removal was painful. The blood flowed back into my tits giving me another minute of agony and Diana grimaced as three inches of hatpin was pulled clear.

We kissed, lovingly and gently, totally satiated and totally exhausted. I told Eleanor to get the whisky bottle and share the rest of the contents between us all. So it was that Annie helped me stagger to my bedroom and laid me on my bed. She left for a minute or two and reappeared, now back in her uniform, with a bowl of warm water with which she tenderly bathed my wounds and washed away the perspiration. I was half asleep as she tiptoed out of my bedroom, extinguishing the lamps and candles on her way.

It was Diana who gently awakened me the next morning with a soft kiss. I groaned as my body remembered last night's hurts but she told me that the girls were organising a warm bath for us both. Annie knocked and entered, gave us a curtsy, saying, "M'Lady, Mistress Jane, your baths await you." She found me another robe to wrap around myself and followed us to the bathing room. Eleanor was already stripped and Annie quickly removed her uniform. Bless them, the girls had made sure the water was not too hot for our bruised and battered bodies. We were both tenderly bathed, patted dry and powdered before Annie escorted me to my rooms and dressed me with equal care before asking to be excused. "Yes, Annie, go and take your own bath. You need it too."

I returned to Diana and we sat in contemplative silence. I don't know about her but I was going through yesterday evening in my mind, particularly when I had driven the hatpin into her breast. That was a glorious memory, surrounded, in my thoughts, by the fire of my own climax.

I sighed audibly and Diana smiled at me. "Thank you for last night, Jane," she said. "You were magnificent but where did you get my hatpin? That really surprised me and my climax was an incredible experience."

"Dear Diana," I reached across and stroked her hand, "thank you, too. You fulfilled everything I needed."

"Oh, but you were wicked last night. You took me to your golden place and all the pain went away. What a beautiful feeling to burst with fire inside."

I smiled at her. "Some day I promise I will take you there again."

Annie returned to us, now bathed and in a new uniform. "Please M'Lady, Eleanor is getting the tubs removed. May I be of service?"

"Yes, Annie. Find Johnstone and tell him to inform Lord Barton that Mistress Jane and I will stay in our apartments for the rest of the day."

"Very good, M'Lady."

"Then you must bring us some of Cook's fresh bread with butter and cheese and a pitcher of milk. We will break our fast here. How do you feel after your beating last night?"

"Oh, M'Lady, I was so afraid when Mistress Jane started to whip me. I could not understand why she liked it. Forgive me Mistress Jane, you hurt me so very much but at the finish I wanted more and you gave me that. I have never had such feelings before."

Chapter 11 Reginald wants an heir

One afternoon Diana came into my room and told Annie to leave us. "Jane," she said, as if unsure about how to continue. She took a deep breath, exhaled it slowly and said, "Reginald wants an heir."

"But that means you must ..."

"No, no, I will never lay with him, he knows I won't: that we agreed after we consummated our marriage, my part of the bargain was to let him use my maid, as you know. He knew that Lord Underweir and I were intimate when we visited him and he had no objections to the liaison so he said if Percy were to get me with child, he would acknowledge the child as his. But Jane, my friend, you are to be betrothed to him, how can I do that to you?" There were tears forming in her eyes.

"You would be happy to carry his child for Reginald?"

"Yes, I would love to have a child, his child. Three or four of them would be so nice." Diana sighed wistfully.

"My dear friend, I think Percy would not love me one bit less if he were to bed you." I chuckled. "I might even join you. If you truly want this, then open your legs and let my Beloved put a baby in you with my blessing."

"Oh, Jane, you are so truly kind to me." I think the tears were now tears of happiness.

"M'Lady, no shush, for you will be forever M'Lady, look what you have done for me. You have raised me, Jane Fairfax who used to muck out the pigs every morning, from a mere serving wench to be your bosom friend. You have found me a wonderful man who wants to marry me and make me his Lady. We have had so much passion together. My heart can scarcely contain the happiness you have given me. Even if it pained me to see you with my Beloved, I would still give you that. But, dearest Diana, it does not pain me, it fills me with joy to know that it will make you happy. And, my dearest friend, if you want more children, it must be Percy again, as often as you want. Wherever I may live in the future, you will always be welcome in my home, you will always be welcome to have him make another baby with you. Always."

We clung to each other as we hugged. We kissed and the kissing became more urgent until we were soon playing with each other. "I have an idea," I suddenly giggled. "Let us get both maids in. You and I can sit on their faces and kiss like we've never kissed before while they bring us to climax."

"How splendid, Jane."

I rang my bell and Annie arrived soon after. "Get Eleanor and both of you come back quickly."

The girls returned and were soon undressing their Mistresses before disrobing themselves, shortly afterwards they were both face up on the bed. Diana and I settled, each over her own maid's face, and they knew exactly what to do. We kissed deeply, passionately, our tongues having a mock fight. She kisses so wonderfully.

"I have another idea," my lover said, and I recognised that mischievous glint in her eye. "If we both move back a little - girls, you move with us ... and now we play a little game." She slapped my left breast and stuck her chest out, saying, "Your turn"

I smiled and delivered my slap to her tit. This could be exciting, I thought, and it was exciting as we slapped each other in turn. "First one to cry 'Pax' loses." I called.

"And let the Devil take the hindmost!" she cried back with a huge grin at the challenge.

From then, we slapped and slapped until our fingers were stinging. An added bonus was that, each time we slapped, our bodies twisted on our maids' mouths, producing wonderful feelings, although it caused the girls to splutter now and then. I felt myself getting close and knew Diana was not far off either so, instead of another slap, I just grasped her nipples and squeezed. Diana realised what I was doing and soon had my nipples in vice-like grips. I just leaned back, still gripping Diana's nipples, she did the same and, with tits pulled way out of shape, we both wailed and hit our climax at the same time.

Chapter 12 Reginald wants a full house

At the dinner table, while Reginald was enjoying a balloon of brandy and we were sipping our sherry, he announced, "Diana, I think I will invite some guests for Christmas, I think for two or three weeks. The Thorntons will come, I'm sure, General and Mrs Devereaux, and that young couple who just bought the Brimley's old place."

"That would be Peter and Susan Archden, Reginald. They took over that house. They seem to be spending a lot on the renovations. He is a partner in a very successful merchant bank, something to do with all those diamonds they're finding in Africa, I believe."

"Hmph, yes, that's the fellow. Pity Ted and Martha Brimley went within a month of each other. A fine couple."

"But Reginald," Diana cautioned, "the Archdens have five young boys and a little girl baby."

"Easy: tell Mrs Archden to bring her own nurse. It would be nice to have some children under our feet. I think Percy Underweir may like to spend Christmas with us. You wait until you meet Lord Underweir, young lady," he chuckled and raised his glass towards me. "He's a big handsome young man. Fiery, too with his red hair and all. Sweep you off your feet if you don't watch yourself."

We all smiled at his deliberate obfuscation. I glanced around the room at the various members of staff. Only Johnstone and Eleanor got his meaning.

"Talking of children, I'm going to invite Mrs Barnes. She is out of her widow's weeds now. Her three girls are a pleasure to watch at play and the poor woman must get lonely. I wonder if Jonathon Must is abroad at present. Mrs Must would like some spice in her life, poor thing, with him going off all over the world."

"I was talking to Mrs Watkins just last week. He is on the boat back from New York right now."

"Thank you Diana, we'll ask them. Do you think your parents might like to come, Ma chérie?"

"I think not, Reginald. Mama has not been at all well this year and Pater is rather concerned for her."

"Jane, what about your mother and father?"

"Thank you, Reginald, but they would never be comfortable here. I know how difficult it is to make that change. Even if my mother were to wear my best gown and father your best suit, they would feel so out of place ..."

"Of course," he replied. "Silly of me to suggest it. Forgive my thoughtlessness, dear."

I bowed to accept his apology, saying with a rueful grin, "I forget myself sometimes."

He snapped his fingers. "Almost forgot, the Smythe-Joneses. Life and soul of any party, Cynthia. Anybody else?" He looked around the table. "Oh, do you think the Bishop would come?"

"Christmas is a busy time for the Church, he may be booked already, Reginald."

"Hrumph, well I'll ask him anyway. Since he retired, he won't be so busy. He could celebrate the Christmas Eucharist, or preach the sermon. I will check with Canon Walters. Be nice to have his Lordship here. Good company, don't you know. Tales from his time in India. Very entertaining, what the natives get up to. Wife's a good soul, too."

"Enough, darling. I don't know where I'll squeeze everybody in as it is."

"Right you are, dearest Lady. I'll leave that to you. Now we need to plan a time. I think maybe from a week before Advent until the day after Epiphany." He received nods of agreement all round but I was a little puzzled by the frown on Diana's brow until I realised how much more work this would mean for her. And Mistress Black, was my afterthought.

With that, Reginald suggested that the Ladies retire while he smoked his cigar with another brandy.

"I have much work to do and just six weeks to do it in, you must help me, Jane. First thing tomorrow we have Mistress Black up here and make some tentative plans. There will be food to order and store, there will be so many rooms to be thoroughly cleaned. We will have to make a tour to see if the curtains and hangings need repair or replacement. We will need more help in the kitchen, we can get some of the villagers in for that and other jobs. At least we won't have to find somewhere for them to sleep."

Diana was working herself into a nervous wreck so I put my hand on her arm and squeezed gently. "Don't worry, I'm sure we will all cope, between us. Think on the bright side, Percy is going to fill your belly." That brought a happy smile but my own was bigger. "I am going to be introduced to Lord Percival Underweir who is ... what were Reginald's words ... who is big and handsome with fiery red hair and he is going to sweep me off my feet."

"Oh, Jane, I really don't know where I can squeeze them all in. All I have thought of so far is lodging Percy in one of Reginald's rooms, you will move in with me and the Smythe-Joneses will have your rooms. Don't worry about Cynthia and John, we have had many a romp together. Where do you think she met Faith? We'll be seeing Faith, too and won't that be fun? She can sleep with Eleanor and Annie. See, it's perfect. Reginald is Percy's chaperon and Cynthia will be ours."

"I know what we both need," I said, ringing her little bell. Eleanor appeared. "Tell Annie to get us a pot of tea and she had best bring enough for us all, Eleanor. I think we may have a long night ahead of us. Oh, and some of Cooks little pastries. Off you go, girl. Diana, do stop pacing around the floor like that, you are making me dizzy and it does not solve the problems. Now Eleanor, I want you to undress Lady Diana and get her into a robe. Diana, you must relax. Go with Eleanor and get yourself comfortable."

I looked around the room for some kind of inspiration. We need to start making some firm plans. 'Get something on paper,' I thought. I cleared away the papers on the table, retrieved some writing paper and pencils from Diana's bureau and set them neatly on the table. Annie arrived with our tea and I instructed her to pour a cup for us all. "Then stoke up that fire, Annie. Let us keep warm while we work."

I picked up a chair to move it to the table when Diana and Eleanor returned. "Let me do that, Mistress Jane," said Eleanor, rushing over to take the chair out of my hands.

"Over by the table, and that one, too. Good girl." I smiled my thanks to her. "Diana, sit yourself here. Draw up some plans. Start by writing down what you have already decided. Don't worry, we can change our minds later, if needs be. Eleanor, I want you to stand behind your Mistress's chair and massage her neck and shoulders."

"I don't know how to massage, Mistress Jane."

"It's simple. Like this." I smoothed the skin on Diana's shoulders and started pressing my fingers gently into the tense muscles. When I was a girl, my four brothers would tease me. Sometimes Noah, the youngest and a little monster, would keep it up all day and I would slump down in my chair, exhausted. Mummy would stand behind me and soothe away the day's troubles. She taught me to massage her shoulders, to do just what I was doing to Diana. "Now you carry on with that, Eleanor, your Lady may tell what feels best. Diana, I'm going to undress, you start writing and I will back in a minute. Come, Annie."

I had my maid quickly undress me, then help me into my robe and we returned to Diana. She was leaning back in her chair with eyes closed, face now much more relaxed. Eleanor's fingers had done the trick. She had written down two columns. The first was for names and the second for lodgings. Percy and the Smythe-Joneses were already pencilled in.

"How about the Primrose suite for the Archdens?" I suggested. It is out of the way in the West Wing, enough for the children not to be a nuisance and the Primrose is big enough for them all, their nurse can use the box room opposite. We can put more cots in for the children. I'm sure Mistress Black will have some in a store room. Annie, would you massage my neck like Eleanor is doing." Her fingers were soft and soothing as Diana and I looked at the plan so far.

"Splendid, Jane, let me write that in. Good thinking to have the children out of the way. Yes, Mrs Barnes and her three girls can use the Opal Suite along the same corridor. They are all females together so don't need so much extra space. Now, what do you think of putting General and Mrs Devereaux in the Red Rooms? Mrs Devereaux will need to be near the Dining Room: with her legs she cannot manage the stairs."

"Yes, that would be best for her. And the Bishop is getting a little frail now, do you think we could get the renovations in the Pastel Suite speeded up? Then he and his wife can have that. Write it down, Diana."

"Splendid, I think that's everybody. Jane you are marvellous, thank you. Eleanor, if you stop what you are doing for just one second, I will beat you to within an inch of your life. That feels so good."

"Mon Dieu!" said Diana, slapping her forehead, "We forgot the Thorntons. I must check with Reginald tomorrow if he will invite all the twins. Elizabeth bore Marcus two sets of twins, Jane. A boy and a girl, I think about twenty years old now and the same combination a year later."

I sat in thought for a minute, with the layout of Barton Court running through my mind. "Diana, I've never been in there, but how big is that annex to the West Wing?"

"Oh, I forgot about the Annex. Good grief, that place hasn't been opened for years but yes, the Annex would suit Liz and Marcus. Well done, Jane. Now, what about the twins? Mmmm, yes, that little spiral staircase next to the Annex leads down to two rooms we have used as storerooms, if I recall. They would need clearing out and we would need some hangings on the wall. We'll sort the details with Mistress Black. The Thornton girls could go in there, now what about the boys?"

Suddenly inspiration hit me. Grabbing Diana's hand, I pulled her out the door to the corridor outside. There was the rooms our maids used but at the end of the corridor was a small suite. Again it had been used for storage. "The boys sleep under their parents' rooms, the girls can be here. We can keep an eye on them and our maids can see to their needs."

"Perfect, Jane. I don't know what I would do without you." She gave me a hug then put her hands to the small of her back and stretched backwards with a groan.

"My dear, I know just what you need. Leave all this stuff here, it won't vanish before morning, and we will all go to your bedroom. No, dear, not that but something else you will like."

We all trooped into the bedroom. "Take your Lady's robe, Eleanor, then bring me that large bottle of hand lotion on your Mistress's dressing table. You Diana, on the bed, face down. Now, girls, pay attention and learn this because I'm sure Lady Diana will want many more massages, which is what I'm going to show you, and what you, Annie, will be doing for me before the night's out."

I sat on the side of the bed, poured some of the lotion onto my palms then started on Diana's shoulders, smoothing over the muscles beneath her skin. "Feel here, just under my finger, Eleanor. Can you feel that little hard bump? You too, Annie."

"I feel it, Mistress."

"And I, Mistress."

"What we have to do is get rid of that lump and any more you find, and you do it like this." I demonstrated teasing the bump back into the muscle. "Now, can you see how all the muscles fit together across her shoulders here, then these here." With my hand I indicated each set of muscles in turn. "Those are what you will work on, just as I have shown you. Then you can push into the muscle a little firmer, try using the side of your hand like this, or your knuckles, so. You'll find a different set of muscles when Lady Diana turns face up so you must attend to them all, and don't forget about her arms and legs, they are all muscle. By the time you are finished, your Mistress will be feeling very relaxed ..." I bent very close to Diana's ear and whispered, "...and very erotic." Now asking the girl, I continued, "Do you think you can carry on from here, Eleanor? Good girl. Come, Annie, you have work to do before you sleep." I kissed the back of Diana's neck, bid her 'Good night' and returned to my rooms.

Annie helped me remove my robe then asked, "Should I get your hand lotion Mistress?"

"Yes, you will need it. Heavens above, why did I not teach you this sooner?" I was soon on my bed, eyes into pillow, when I felt Annie sit by me then waited a second or two before feeling the cool lotion being spread across my shoulders as her fingers got to work. As I relaxed, I was back home in my thoughts, with Mummy doing just what Annie was doing and telling me how she had learned this from her mother, who learned it in turn from her mother, back for seven generations that she could count. Annie was going to be good at this, I thought. Nice sensitive hands. Mmmm, very soothing. I could feel the tension just draining away until I was vaguely aware of Annie stripping out of her uniform. Bless the girl, she was now on my lower back and pushing her fingers into my buttocks. That caused stirrings in my pussy, nothing urgent, just pleasant. I drifted away and it was my Beloved's hands on my buttocks, pulling them this way and that. I almost jumped when his fingers passed over my arse and spread my legs. Now he was rubbing the backs of my thighs and I was hoping for more before realising that they were Annie's hands, not Percy's.

I sighed and relaxed under her ministrations and then she had me turn over. Her hands did not take long before moving to my breasts. Her hands, slipping round in the lotion, and over my breasts were definitely more than a simple massage. Well, my precious maid must have realised the erotic effect of her work and when she reached my crotch, her fingers were deliberately slipping between my pussy lips, stroking over my clitoris, finger tips probing inside my pussy then my arse.

Annie never did get to massage my legs, certainly not below my knees, but every stroke brought her to my pussy and with one particular stroke, her hand penetrated me. She needed no hand lotion now, my pussy provided all the slickness which she was putting to full use as four of her fingers slid inside me and another finger pushed right up my arse. The dear girl knew how to touch all my buttons and it was not long before I felt the warmth of a small but intensively satisfying climax. Annie recognised the signs and began to disengage her hands from my body, now just a restful stroke up my belly, over my tits and smoothing over my face. I was drifting half way to sleep when she rolled me under the blankets and started to snuff the candles. "Annie," I whispered, "sleep here in my bed tonight. I just want to cuddle a warm body."

"Yes, Mistress." A few seconds later the last candle was extinguished and I felt her slip in beside me. My deep yawn transformed into a long sigh as I snuggled into her back and rested my hand over her lovely breasts.

Chapter 13 Everything ready for Christmas

I awoke the next morning to the sun streaming through the curtains. I felt totally relaxed and wide awake as Annie brought me a cup of tea. Just what I needed. "Tell me, truthfully, Annie. How do you really feel about being my maid after all that time we spent together polishing silver pots. We were friends but now I have risen so far above your station, I get dizzy sometimes. Do you not feel jealous of my fortunes?"

"Dear Jane, Mistress Jane, jealous? No Mistress, never that. Oh, in my dreams I would love to become a Lady as you will be, but it is not to be."

"No, I don't think miracles like mine happen too often."

"But Mistress, you remembered me and asked for me to be your maid. Thank you, Mistress. My life since I came to serve you has been much more exciting than polishing those pots half the day. You have been very kind even though I am your maid. You have also taught me to enjoy what the Vicar might call the ways of the flesh. Truly, I am just so happy that my dear friend is to become a Lady. I am very happy in my position, and ever grateful to be with you."

"Bless you, Jane. You have been a good friend and a good maidservant; I'm so pleased that I chose you. Perhaps you don't know how much help you have been to me since you came. I promise you this: wherever I go, you will be with me. You will be a Lady's maid, and I will be your Lady. Now, if you give me your solemn promise never ever to forget, you may call me Jane, not Mistress but, and this is important for us both, only when we are completely alone. I say this because you are still my friend and I want you always to be my friend. But if you call me Jane in anybody's hearing I will give you a thrashing to remember."

"Ooo, that might be nice, Jane."

I slapped her playfully across the face. "Enough of your sauce, wench. I must get dressed, come help me up. Do you know if Lady Diana has awoken yet?"

"I believe she has for it was Eleanor who gave me the message to wake you, but not too urgently. Eleanor says that Mistress Black will be attending M'Lady at ten of the clock this morning. It is half past eight so you have plenty of time but Lady Diana would like to speak with M'Lord before the Housekeeper arrives. Come, Jane, let me give you a good wash down and get you dressed. I brought some bread and cheese for your breakfast."

Annie stripped my bed while I was breaking my fast. She picked up the bedding and my soiled clothes and said, "I'll take these to the laundry if I may, Mistress."

"Carry on, Annie. Bring me some more tea on your way back."

With her hand on the door knob, she faced me again. "Jane, thank you so very much." And she was gone while I was still swallowing a piece of cheese.

Reginald was sitting behind his desk when Diana and I arrived in his study. He immediately rose to welcome us both and told Johnstone to bring up two seats for us. "Good morning Ladies. Straight to business for I'm sure you have much to do, too.

I had a blank sheet of paper before me so I prepared to make notes of Reginald's instructions. Diana reported that we had managed to find enough room for them all, but that one or two locations will need some inspection and probably some clearing. "I will be speaking with Mistress Black this morning. Have you planned any entertainments for our guests, which I need to know. Oh, will you invite the Thorntons' twins?"

"Very efficient, dear, well done. Tell me if you need anything, no expense spared. The Thornton twins, yes old enough to join the adults. Formal dinner for everyone the day they arrive, bid them 'Welcome'. Older children too. Get to know everybody. Each Saturday a formal dinner and dance in the Great Hall. Get some music in the house. Another, Christmas Eve. Christmas Day lunch I think all the children can join us. Will you arrange for little presents for them all? Good, thank you. Boxing day we can follow the Hunt, those who wish. Got all that down Jane? Good. Masquerade Ball on the last night. Send them off with a bang."

"I think informal meals for the rest of the time," suggested Diana, "but we can change that, even day by day if we need. If I get time I'd like a good ride out on Boxing Day. Follow the Hunt. Jane, you should be able to go, you will love it. We will need to get the orders out for supplies very soon, but that is for Mistress Black. I'll deal with that side of things. And the extra staff we might need. May I call upon Johnstone for men to help clear out those store rooms?"

"Whatever you need, Diana. Is that all? Yes? We have work to do, ladies. Let's get to it. Good day to you both. Meet again tomorrow morning. Get Johnstone and Mistress Black, too."

With that he stood and bowed to me and Diana. We returned to her apartment, talking all the way about what we would need. Mistress Black arrived on the dot and soon we were all seated at the table with our pages of notes.

"Eleanor, bring us a pot of tea. Mistress Black, has Master Johnstone informed you of my Husband's plans?"

"Yes, M'Lady. We are to have a houseful of guests for three weeks around Christmas but we do not have any details."

"Good. Tentative plans are for them to arrive one week before Advent until the day after Epiphany. I will give you the exact dates tomorrow, after I clarify them with Lord Barton. Here is a list of proposed guests and where I think they may be accommodated. We will be sending out the invitations in the next day or two and I will inform you of any changes to that list. When we are finished here we can see how much work will be required to get the rooms ready. Ask Master Johnstone if you need men to do the heavy lifting and do not hesitate to tell me of anything you need, I or Mistress Jane will always be available. Now, Lord Barton wants a grand dinner on the day they arrive. Ah, good girl, Eleanor. Pour the tea for us and Mistress Black."

Mistress Black was making her own notes as Diana continued. "A dinner and dance each Saturday evening and a grand Masquerade Ball on their final night at Barton Court. Informal meals for most of the time unless Lord Barton and I decide to change. You will know in plenty of time and this is just the bare bones at present.

"Now, food. You will draw up a set of menus with Cook and let me see them. You may start ordering whatever you need. Spare no expense, Mistress Black, Lord Barton wants this to be a Christmas to remember. Will the local tradesmen be able to supply what you will need? No? well go as far afield as you must. Hire any extra drudges you need from the village. Mistress Jane and I will need some new gowns for the parties. We will have the Seamstress up here later. What else do you need?"

"I think we have covered the basics, M'Lady. These notes will get me started until we have more details."

"Very well, Mistress Black. Let us go and look at those empty rooms and see what work needs doing."

Our tour showed just how much work was needed to make all those rooms fit for our guests but Mistress Black assured us it would be done and in time. She would get some bodies in there to make a start this morning. At the end, Diana thanked Mistress Black and told her to go and get things moving, and to expect to join us, Lord Barton and Johnstone tomorrow.

It seemed like the work was endless, even for me and Diana. Mistress Black must have been driven frantic but she, in turn, drove her staff to exhaustion. The day before our guests were due to arrive, we three toured Barton Court one final time. Everywhere was spick and span. Clean fresh linen on all the beds, freshly cleaned hangings and curtains.

"Well done, Mistress Black. Truly wonderful. Are your larders well stocked?"

"Thank you M'Lady. Yes, my larders are overflowing and Cook has started preparations for tomorrow's dinner. The butcher will be supplying my meat fresh before each major event so everything is in order. I'm ready."

"Splendid Mistress Black, splendid. I had my doubts that we could get it all finished in time. You can expect a nice bonus in your Christmas Box."

"No need, M'Lady. I was just doing my job." She curtsied to her Lady

"Nevertheless, Roberta, you shall have it. These past few weeks have been above and beyond the call of duty."

"Thank you, M'Lady. May I be excused, please? There is still much for me to do."

"Of course Mistress Black. Carry on. Ask Johnstone for a bottle of sherry just for yourself and you relax this evening."

"Very good, M'Lady. Thank you M'Lady."

"We did it Jane!" Diana stretched in relief. "And we shall also relax this evening." She kissed me tenderly. "I think we will have Eleanor and Annie entertain us. Oh I would love to give you a good whipping. I can see the signs that you are starting to crave my attention again, but we must not show any marks. Oh, Jane, tomorrow you will be introduced to Lord Underweir officially and he will be putting a baby in my belly. Are you not excited?"

"Dear Diana, I can scarcely contain myself. But what if he does not like me anymore when he sees me again?"

"Percy will adore you. All those love letters he has sent you, and yours to him? What did he say in his last letter? How he aches to see you? How can he not love you? He will sweep you off your feet into bed, Reginald told you so, you just wait."

"I can't wait."

"Patience my dear. Just one more day and you will be in his arms, I promise you. Look, it is a lovely day outside and the sun is shining. Let us get well wrapped up and walk around the Lake. That will help calm our nerves for I am as nervous as you are. Come, let us get dressed."

She tinkled her bell and Eleanor was instructed to dress Diana in her warm clothes. Annie did the same for me and soon Diana and I were strolling around the lake in the crisp winter air, our breath steaming as we watched the young stags in play fights, clashing their newly growing antlers. We made our way back to the house where our maids served us luncheon but I was too nervous to do much more than play with my food and Diana was just picking at hers.

That evening we brought the girls into our bedroom and gave them a good spanking to commence an evening of fun and games. We exchanged maids for the night and Eleanor slept with me. Well, she spent much of her night with her tongue in my pussy.

Chapter 14 Percy and Faith

Next day we were up and about at the crack of dawn. We both bathed then dressed in our finest, ready to welcome our guests. The entrance hall at Barton Court seemed half full of staff waiting for our guests. Maids to take their outer clothing and offer refreshments as desired. More maids to show them to their respective rooms, page boys to carry the luggage. All were kicking their heels waiting. The Smythe-Joneses were first to arrive with my old friend Faith bringing up the rear with Cynthia's small bags in her hands. She didn't notice me because she was struggling with a hat box which was slipping. I wanted to rush and hug Faith but waited until later before greeting her. I had conspired with Annie and Eleanor that they would not say who their Lady's guest was and how I was to surprise her.

All our guests had responded with an acceptance note so the house was soon busy as they arrived over the next couple of hours. I had just returned from showing the Marcus girls to their rooms when I heard Diana calling for me. "Jane, there's somebody you must meet."

My heart leapt into my mouth as my Beloved stood before me with a twinkle in his eye. "Lord Percival Underweir. Lord Percy, may I introduce my cousin, Miss Jane Fairfax."

He clicked his heels, bowed to me and took my hand to his lips. "Charming, Miss Fairfax. It is a pleasure to meet you."

I curtsied. "Good day to you, Lord Underweir. My pleasure entirely. Welcome to Barton Court." Again he bowed as he moved on. "Reginald," he cried, espying Lord Barton and striding to his host, hand outstretched. Leaving me alone.

I think, perhaps, I was not much use to Diana as the rest of our guests were introduced, my mind was elsewhere. Eventually she told me to go and rest quietly. Annie was, as always, humming to herself in her usual manner whilst working, when I walked into the room and slumped down into a chair.

"Is something wrong, Mistress Jane? Has He arrived yet?"

"Nothing wrong, Annie. My Lord is here, we have been introduced but he left me to speak with Lord Barton. Oh, I do not know what to do with myself. Do get me a cup of tea, Annie, there's a good girl."

"Right away, Mistress." She was back in just a few seconds. "I asked Eleanor to get your tea. Please, Mistress, is Lord Percy still as handsome?"

"He is beautiful, Annie. Wait until you see him yourself. Oh, what shall I do?" She moved behind my chair and her fingers were soon easing the tension in my neck. I was feeling much more settled and calm when Eleanor arrived with my tea, which helped even more. Then I suddenly stood up. "Annie, is Faith in your room?"

"Why yes, Mistress."

"Hurry, Annie, bring her in. Remember your line?"

I could barely contain myself for the few seconds it took for Annie to fetch Faith. I turned so that my back was all she would see. I heard that familiar voice, "How can I help you Mistress?"

Annie said, "Lady Diana wants you to teach her guest how to kiss."

It was like we were all posing in a tableau with Faith totally bewildered by the order and the girls were just waiting for the denouement of my little trick. I turned, and held my arms wide. "Yes Faith, you must teach me to kiss, as M'Lady told you."

Faith just stood and stared, looking at me up and down in my gorgeous formal gown. She peered at my face and recognised me. "Jane? Is that you? How can it be? Oh, I'm so sorry Mistress. Forgive my impertinence."

"Faith Catheryn Evans, if you don't come here and kiss me right away, I'll whip the skin from your slack arse."

That broke the spell, Faith closed the gap and gave me as good a kiss as I knew she was capable of delivering. "I don't believe it. Jane, who I picked up at the gates of Barton Court, Jane who washed pots all day, Jane who was M'Lady's maid, the same Jane is now a Lady? How can it be?"

"Annie, pour us all a cup of tea. Come let us all sit down, you, Faith, sit down before you fall down. You start, Faith, tell me how are you? Do you like your Mistress, is she good to you?"

"Jane ..."

"Always 'Mistress Jane', Faith. And I feel as uncomfortable about that as you do. You will understand soon."

"Mistress Jane, before I left M'Lady's service to go with Mrs Smythe-Jones, she was a regular visitor at Barton Court and she and her husband used to stay in this suite. We all know what Lady Diana likes so the connecting door was used most nights. One evening, M'Lady sent for me and told me to join them. Well, you know me, J...Mistress Jane, that was not a difficult task. We all had lots of fun and my now-Mistress and I seemed to pair off while M'Lady and Mr Smythe-Jones had their own fun. Mrs Smythe-Jones took a liking for me and told me to join her alone one afternoon. It continued like that for the rest of their stay. They returned about two months later and their visits became regular. They all followed the same fashion, mainly me and Mrs Smythe-Jones together while M'Lady entertained Mr Smythe-Jones. Then one day M'Lady asked if I would like to be Mrs Smythe-Jones' maid. She knew I liked her because I had confessed so much to M'Lady. I would go with her blessing, she said.

I didn't know who to choose. M'Lady was good to me but two things I hated. When M'Lady got one of her moods and whipped me. You enjoy it Mistress Jane, I hate it. And those evenings I spent with M'Lord. I still gag at the thought of his breath. Either of my Ladies would spank me sometimes and I don't mind that so much. I chose to serve the Smythe-Joneses and never regretted it. Now you must tell me how you come to be sitting there."

"Where do I start, Faith? I settled in as M'Lady's maid and I loved my position. She liked me because I could match her in the bedroom, including the whippings, which I need too. It is just a coincidence but my story is similar to yours. Did you ever visit Tradiscombe?"

"Yes, it is a lovely house."

"I accompanied M'Lady to Tradiscombe. She brought me to Lord Percy Underweir's bed and M'Lady shared me with Lord Percy and we all had much fun. One thing led to another then, one day, he proposed marriage to me. Honestly, it is true. I had also fallen in love with him but I asked him how he could marry a serving girl. Well, M'Lady agreed to teach me how to be a lady and that I would be formally introduced to Lord Underweir as soon as she considered I was ready. I am known as her cousin. One of the main reasons for this Christmas affair was for the introduction to him. I am to be courted, officially betrothed, wed and installed as the Lady of his house. I was officially introduced to him not above an hour ago."

"Mistress Jane, I am so happy for you."

"Thank you, Faith. Perhaps you now see why it must always be 'Mistress Jane', no matter how close we were. My background must never be revealed by such a slip. I am M'Lady's cousin and that is all that is to be known. Lord Barton, knows, of course. He loves the idea and his help has been vital. I also have the full support of the whole household staff."

"Of course your secret will be safe with me, Mistress Jane, you have my solemn word on that. My friend is going to be a real Lady. My, my, my."

"Yes, and if I get a chance, I am going to ask Mrs Smythe-Jones if I may borrow her maid and give her the spanking a saucy wench deserves."

I hugged her to my chest and kissed her. Just then Diana walked in, looked at the four of us, nodded and smiled. "I think you must have been exchanging news, Faith, it is good to see you, girl. Let me hug you."

Faith stood and went to her former Mistress. "It's good to be back, M'Lady. You are as lovely as ever. But just look at Mistress Jane, she is positively glowing."

They hugged and kissed like old intimate friends then Diana said, "We'll get together soon, Faith, but your Mistress will need to dress for dinner and we must do the same, so go now."

"Yes, M'Lady."

Chapter 15 Dinner and passion

Oh, that corset felt particularly cruel today as Annie and Eleanor both pulled on the ties, but I would not get into my gown without it. Mistress Black informed me that Janice insisted that she must deal with all my clothes and had spent many hours of her own time sewing my new gowns by candlelight. The bodice emphasised my bosom without stepping outside the bounds of decency. It hugged in tightly at my waist and flared over my hips. The skirt was voluminous with six layers of petticoats underneath to keep it flared out. All was in heavy shot silk in deep purple and pink and shimmered with every little movement. Annie announced that I looked beautiful and Eleanor gasped when she saw me.

Annie brushed, twisted and braided my hair, piling my tresses high upon my head. My face was powdered and coloured subtly, my lips bright red. I felt like a princess from the old fairy tales when my maid was finally finished. I could scarcely believe that the woman looking back at me in the mirror had been just a Lady's maid eighteen months earlier, and now here she was in beautiful clothes with heart pounding in her chest as she waited to see her Lord once more.

Diana had prepared the seating arrangements, never letting me see her secrets. When Diana and I entered the Great Hall, it was a hive of activity with maids scurrying about on the last minute touches, Mistress Black was there issuing instructions to all her girls in their fresh new uniforms. The pages, looking splendid in Barton livery, were also rushing about under Master Johnstone's directions. The whole room was brightly lit with candelabras all the way down the centre of the table and around the walls, their flickering lights glinting off the polished glasses and cutlery. It looked magical.

Suddenly Lord Barton arrived and the room fell silent. Mistress Black gave the room one long look with a critical eye, nodded her satisfaction, curtsied to Lady Diana and me and led the surplus girls out to start the food moving from kitchens to an anteroom ready to be brought to the table, Johnstone sent his extra boys after Mistress Black to help. Reginald stood behind his chair at the head of the table and invited us to join him. Diana was at his right hand and I was at his left. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed that the place next to mine had a place card labelled "Lord Percival Underweir." At the appointed time, the guests started filtering through the door. The ladies were all dressed in fine gowns, looking beautiful. The men were all so handsome in their formal black and white. Each was announced with full titles by Johnstone and the table started to fill up but the place next to mine remained unoccupied and I started to panic. Where was he? Was he coming? Oh, when will he be here?

Reginald reached a friendly hand and touched my arm. "Patience, Jane. Calm yourself."

Just then I heard Master Johnstone's stentorian voice announcing, "The Lord Percival Underweir." As he took his position beside me I could not breathe. I could not look at him for fear my heart would burst. The guests were all finally assembled around the table when Reginald spread his arms wide and announced, "My Lords, and all you beautiful Ladies, welcome one and all. Please be seated and enjoy yourselves."

Reginald moved behind Diana and seated her. The Lord Underweir seated me whispering in my ear as he did so, "You look beautiful, Jane." Then speaking normally he greeted Miss Fairfax and I thanked Lord Underweir. When we were seated he turned to me, with one eyebrow raised and a twinkle in his eye, his smile had a hint of mischievousness which, at once, made my heart beat faster again.

Soon the pages and maids were scurrying around serving us. Cook had excelled herself, the food was so tender, cooked to perfection and elegantly displayed on the huge silver salvers. The wine flowed freely, the conversations were lively and I felt like I was floating on a cloud. Percy and I talked in whispered tones when not joining in the general conversation. He kept me laughing with some his anecdotes which, at times, bordered on the salacious. And his leg kept brushing mine, not accidentally, all through the meal.

At one point there was the sound of a plate being dropped and smashed. The table went silent for just two seconds then the buzz of the several conversations resumed. I half whispered to Percy, Reginald and Diana, "Somebody will be going to bed tonight with a very sore bottom."

"You speak truly, Jane?"

"From experience, Percy. Painful experience." I caricatured a rueful face. Reginald roared with laughter and Diana was trying to hide her giggle behind her napkin.

"Do tell more, Jane. Do the staff really get beaten?"

"Reginald's Butler and his Housekeeper maintain the strict discipline necessary to run the household. I would suspect your senior staff do the same. Punishments might be a fine on their wages, demotion to a lower position or a taste of the Housekeeper's wooden spoon on their backsides. Believe me, Percy, it hurts."

"I have never given much thought to the matter but I must suppose that Jordan, my Butler, maintains discipline in his domain."

"Truly, Percy, it is a completely different world Downstairs. They have their own social structure, their own status rankings just as complex as we have, with status vehemently defended."

"Really? I didn't know."

All too soon, it seemed to me, the meal was finished and the ladies were invited by Lord Barton to withdraw while the gentlemen took their port. Diana led the procession with me bringing up the rear behind the stragglers.

When all was finished, everybody went their separate ways. Cynthia Smythe-Jones and Freddy, her husband, walked with us to our wing. They went to the rooms I had vacated for them, Diana and I passed on to her apartment.

"Jane, you realise of course that Reginald invited Percy here for two reasons. For you, obviously but also for me. I must be impregnated during his stay."

"Of course you must, Diana."

"Well, then, this is what I propose: tonight he is yours. Reginald will bring him to you later and I will join Cynthia and Freddy but Freddy will not have me. I'm keeping myself for Percy's deposits. So, after tonight I am going to be entirely selfish and will have Percy as much and as often as possible. Sorry, Jane, but this is important for me and Reginald. I must give him an heir."

I was disappointed, of course I was disappointed, but I owed my friend so much and I would have Percy for the rest of my life so I told her, "Diana, I agree, you must give Reginald his heir and I won't stand in your way. How could I not let you have him after you have given me so much?"

She hugged my neck and thanked me effusively. But that did not ease the pain. Still I would have my lover for tonight at least. We called for our maids. Diana emerged from her bedroom wearing just her favourite silk robe, kissed me and walked through to Cynthia. I had Annie remove all my clothes - oh, the relief of getting out of that corset - and give me a quick massage. I then had her dress me in much lighter simple, gown with lots of buttons down the front to give my lover the pleasure of undressing me. I wore nothing underneath that gown. I dismissed Annie for the night and waited for my lover. Sitting on my chair, I had a book open on my lap but the words flowed before my eyes without any meaning penetrating my excitement. I almost jumped when there was a knock on the door to admit Reginald and Percy. Reginald stayed only long enough to greet me then retired, leaving me alone with the most handsome man in all of England.

I rushed into his arms and at last tasted his sweet kisses. When we disentangled ourselves, I led him by the hand to my bedroom and started working at his buttons to undress him. His prick was already standing to attention so I took it lovingly into my hands but he made me stop and I had to stand while he opened my buttons one by one, slowly revealing my all to his lustful gaze. He picked me up and laid me gently on the bed then lay next to me using his hands and mouth to make love to me.

We kissed, putting all our passion into it before he cupped a breast and started suckling. I pressed his head onto my tit as his suckling got harder, it felt like he was trying to get all my breast into his mouth. I reached down for his manhood and felt his slickness coating my hand so I spread it around and under the foreskin. But his needs were becoming urgent so I lay on my back, opened my legs and welcomed my lover into my body. We were both ready - I felt like I had been ready all week - and he fucked me to a glorious climax.

Now the urgency was out of the way, we started again with many tender kisses and caresses and I climaxed again with his fingers slipping in and out of my pussy, frequently brushing over my clitoris to bring me to my peak. To thank him I made love to his tool, tasting his flowing juice and myself as I lapped all the way from his balls to the glistening tip before I closed my mouth around it, sucking and licking until I felt him starting to jerk and throb. Then I pushed my head down and took my lover into my throat for him to spend himself there. I loved feeling each little pulse along my tongue as his seed rushed past, I love the wonderful taste of my Beau and was happy that he would spend himself in my mouth many, many more times in my lifetime.

We again luxuriated in just being together, holding each other, exchanging soft kisses, whispered loving words until he discovered that I was ticklish. Oh, the beast, the brute, the fiend. He was merciless and had me utterly helpless as he held me down and got his fingers tickling me in every sensitive spot he could find until I was screaming and sobbing. Only when he tired of his game did he throw me down, lift my knees over his shoulder and enter me with forceful purpose and pound my pussy vigorously. My whole body was being overwhelmed by the fires of my passion as I matched his thrusting, matched his lusting and when I felt his seed pumping into me it set off all my own fires and I think I died from sheer ecstasy but the angels must have sent me back.

It did not matter, I was already in my own little heaven with my own god. For most of the night, my god made love to me in every way he could imagine. He fucked my cunt, he fucked my mouth, he fucked my arse, he fucked me with his tongue, with his fingers and with his beautiful prick and I took him in every way he desired. Sometimes sweet and gentle, sometimes with sizzling passion, we made love until we could make love no more then he enfolded me in his arms and held me as we drifted almost instantly into the oblivion of sleep.

Chapter 16 Accident in the Kitchen

I knew no more until a sound penetrated the darkness and something nudged my shoulder. I was trying to work out what the disturbance was when suddenly it made sense. "Mistress Jane, please wake up, oh please Mistress, wake up." I opened my eyes to see my maid still half in her uniform, half out, with her hand on my shoulder and shaking as she pleaded for me to awake.

"Annie, whatever is the matter?"

"Oh Mistress, you must wake up, there's been a terrible accident." That blew the cobwebs from my head and I rose from the bed, noticing that Percy was also awake.

"Calm down Annie, finish dressing and tell me what you know." I slipped over my head the light gown my lover had removed last night as Annie told me that there had been an accident. Two men in the kitchens were carrying a large kettle of boiling water down the stairs when one of them slipped. The kettle landed on him and he's badly scalded but the other one cracked his skull open. "He's dead, Mistress," she wailed.

I was struggling with all the buttons when Annie pushed my hands away. She was sniffing away the tears as she said, "Let me do that Mistress." She was much better than I was.

"Bring me that velvet robe, Annie, to keep off the chill." I turned to Percy and told him to go back to sleep, there was nothing he could do. Annie slipped me into the robe, I told her to look after Lord Percival, kissed him good morning and goodbye then ran to the kitchen.

Diana was already there as was the Housekeeper, both still in their nightclothes and the Butler doing up the buttons on his waistcoat. Mistress Black and Master Johnstone were waiting for orders but Diana stood there just staring at the blood mingling with the steaming water and hearing the pitiful screams of the scalded man.

"Has the Doctor been called?"

"No Mistress Jane."

"Master Johnstone, send a runner to get him. Send the coach after him, it will save the Doctor time. And another runner for the Constable, he will need to see this. Mistress Black, a chair for Lady Diana and a cup of tea for us both. Have this bloody mess cleared up please. All you gawkers, get about your duties, there is nothing you can do. Those who saw the accident, wait there." I pointed to a spot out of the way of the workers. "The Constable will want to speak to you."

There was a massed chorus of "Yes, Mistress" and people curtsying and bowing as they turned away, some to the tasks just assigned, the rest to go about their business in the kitchen. The chair for Diana arrived and so did the tea. I was just wondering why Reginald was not here when he strode in.

"Eh, what's happening, Jane?" he blustered. "Who's dead?"

He peered down at the body without recognition then turned to me as the Housekeeper was saying, "Sandy Fowler, M'Lord. Kitchen porter. This one is Keith Foster, kitchen porter, too."

"What have you done so far, Jane?" He seemed more composed now.

"I have sent for the Doctor and Constable and sent the carriage to bring the Doctor back with haste. I could not think of anything else, M'Lord."

"Thank you, Mistress Jane. I think you have covered it all. Mistress Black, send for Lady Diana's maid." He put his hand gently on her shoulder.

Chairs appeared for me and Reginald as it would be several minutes before the Doctor could arrive. I had another cup of tea and Reginald has some brandy while we waited. "Bad business, Jane. Bad business. Hmmm, do I send everybody home? Damned nuisance. Still, can't be mended. Ah, Eleanor, help your Lady back to her apartment. Go Diana; there is nothing you can do. What do you think, should I send 'em home?"

"Let us wait, M'Lord. You can make these decisions in a more settled state, when we know more."

"Bad business," he chewed on his knuckle.

The Doctor arrived, pronounced one man dead without even examining him. Only a cursory examination told the Doctor that there was little he could do there but he stayed on his knees by the screaming patient and was rummaging in his large bag. "Can we get him to the cottage hospital quickly?"

Reginald was still chewing his knuckle so that left me again making the decisions..

"Yes, Doctor Rumsden. He can ride on the back of a farm trailer," Master Johnstone suggested and was already delegating the task when I turned to him.

"Thank you M'Lady. Can we get him onto something flat for a stretcher."

"You two, clear those cheeses away and we can use the trestle top," Mistress Black issued her instructions as the Constable entered, puffing heavily and looking about him.

"Here Constable," I called.

"Yes, M'Lady. What do we have?" He got out his notebook and licked his pencil.

"These two were carrying that kettle full of boiling water down those steps. One of them tripped or stumbled. This one, Sandy Fowler ..." I looked at Mistress Black for confirmation and she nodded. "... cracked his head open on the step. The Doctor has pronounced him dead. Keith Foster, the injured one was scalded by the contents of the kettle. Both of them kitchen porters. Doctor Rumsden wants him moving to the hospital immediately. That is being organised. Those four over there were witness."

"Thank you M'Lady. A most succinct summary. Is there a room where I may interview the witnesses shortly, please?"

Again Mistress Black spoke up, "The Constable may use my office, Mistress Jane." I nodded my thanks and at that moment the two girls brought the table top, covered by a sheet. Mistress Black told them to place it carefully next to Keith. She picked out four large men and Doctor Rumsden coached them on how to lift the injured man onto his stretcher. The poor man was now just moaning incoherently, obviously the Doctor had given him something to ease the pain.

A stable hand ran in, made a little bow in my direction and panted, "Mistress Jane, the farm trailer is hitched up and ready."

"Good. Carry on. Whenever you're ready, Doctor Rumsden, if that is acceptable Constable?"

"That will be fine, M'Lady. You may take him away, Doctor."

"No hurry now, M'Lady." The doctor rose, with some stiffness, to his feet and sighed. "He's gone."

I bowed my head in respect for a few seconds then, "Constable, may we remove the deceased?"

"Yes, M'Lady, it seems like an unfortunate accident to me but that is for the Coroner to say. The cadavers are to be kept safe until I can arrange for their removal."

"Thank you, Constable, do keep me informed. Master Johnstone, if you please, is there a secure place? Good, have them taken there. Mistress Black, I'll leave you to clear up the mess. A sad day for us all."

"For my notes, M'Lady, are you the Lady of Barton Court?"

"No, Constable. I am Miss Jane Fairfax, cousin of Diana Lady Barton. This is Lord Percival Barton, my host."

Percy seemed to be gathering his thoughts, at least he had stopped eating his hand. "Thank you Jane. You seem to have been in control. Shall we go?" He took my arm and escorted me to Diana's apartment and left me at the door. Annie and Eleanor were busy cleaning the rooms when I entered. "Where is Lady Diana, Eleanor?"

"She is resting her eyes on the bed, Mistress."

"Lord Percy returned to his quarters, Mistress," volunteered Annie. "He left you a note." I hurried into the bedroom and saw his note on the pillow.

"Dearest Jane, thank you so very much for last night.

With that dreadful accident, there may be much more movement around the house so I thought it more discreet if I were to return to Reginald. He may need my help, even if only a friendly face.

You will be in my heart, my Darling. I love you and send you a thousand kisses.

Your devoted fiancé, Percy."

I kissed the note, carefully refolded it and placed it with the rest of his letters then called for Annie to wash and dress me. I told her what had happened in the kitchen as she was busying herself around me. I entered Diana's bedroom, sat on her bed and told her the latest developments and suggested that she get up as there was much to do. I left her to Eleanor's ministrations as I made my way to Reginald's office.

My beloved was there with Reginald who was much more animated now. I kissed Percy then addressed my host, "Have you decided about your guests, Reginald?"

"Yes, I'll tell them of the problem. Give them the choice of staying or leaving. Percy has suggested bringing everybody to the Dining Room. Easier than telling them individually, so I shall do that at eleven of the clock this morning. Jane, you were a tower of strength this morning, my heartfelt thanks to you. Has Diana recovered? Good, she can help me spread the news. Will you keep me informed of any changes? Thank you."

"I think perhaps I should visit the kitchen again and inform Roberta about possible changes. I would imagine that the Constable has finished his interviews so we may learn a little more. Then I will be in my rooms should you need me."

"Thank you, Jane. What would I do without you?"

I made my way to Roberta's office but the Constable was still there finishing his notes so I sought Roberta in the kitchen. Together we returned to her office where the Housekeeper had a pot of tea delivered.

"Have you finished your investigations, Constable?"

"Yes, M'Lady. It appears to be just an unfortunate accident and I shall say so in my report. With your permission, I'll take my leave."

"Of course, you must have many things to do. Thank you for attending so promptly. I would be grateful if you would inform me of any developments."

"I'll do that, M'Lady." He gave me a quick bow and retired.

"Now, Mistress Black, Lord Barton will be speaking to all our guests later this morning. They will be informed of the tragic accident. Some of them may wish to leave which will obviously mean some changes to their needs. You will be kept fully informed. Would you arrange for drinks and perhaps some light refreshments in the Dining Room for eleven of the clock? Thank you. How about your staff? Do you have any problems?"

"Five of them are quite distressed, Mistress Jane. I sent them to their rooms until they are recovered and they had better recover quickly, otherwise all is in order."

"Thank you, Mistress Black. I shall leave you to carry on with your duties. Do not hesitate to contact me should you need anything."

I could do no more until the proposed meeting took place in the Dining room so I repaired to my room where I slumped into a chair. My prolonged night of passion with Percy had left me short of sleep and this morning's accident had not improved the headache, which throbbed in my temples. "Bless you Annie," I sighed as she moved behind me with those magic fingers of hers soothing the tensions in my neck. Diana returned and I was advised that she had spoken to all her guests. I think neither of us had broken our fast so I sent Annie to get us some bread and cheese and some fresh fruit. We both felt better with some substance in our bellies and I had the energy to continue. Diana left me to join Reginald so I rested quietly for a few minutes.

Chapter 16 Murder most foul

"Please Mistress Jane, Mistress Black is here to see you."

"Show her in, Annie, but don't go too far away in case I need you."

"Very good, Mistress."

I wondered what was the problem as Roberta seldom came to my rooms without a summons.

The Housekeeper entered, pushing one of her workers before me. The poor girl seemed very distressed as she bobbed a nervous curtsy. "Tell Mistress Jane what you just told me, Sarah."

With much bobbing and stumbling over her words she blurted out, "Please Mistress Jane, this morning, afore ... afore Keith ..." she seemed to lose her tongue until Mistress Black prompted her to speak up.

"Sarah and Keith have been seeing each other, Mistress Jane," the Housekeeper informed me.

"What happened, Sarah?"

"I sees Dick Thatcher come in the kitchen. I sees 'im take sommat from the butcher's waste bin and a bit later I sees 'im put worrever 'e 'ad picked up on the steps just before Keith fell and was ..." Sarah was now sobbing uncontrollably. Mistress Black was about to reprimand the girl but I shook my head.

"Sit here for a minute, Sarah. Dry you eyes and try to compose yourself. Annie, attend me. Good girl. Find Master Johnstone and say I need him urgently."

"Yes, Mistress." She left in a hurry. Sarah was now more composed.

"Please, Mistress Jane, Dick 'as bin botherin' me since I started seein' Keith. 'E's very jealous and someone told me 'e 'eard 'e was going to get Keith." Her sobs again convulsed her and she was still sniffing when Johnstone arrived.

"Master Johnstone, Sarah, here, tells me that she saw Dick Thatcher place something on the steps just before the men fell. This may be more than a simple accident so I think we need to recall the Constable."

"What was Thatcher doing in the Kitchen? He is a stable hand."

"He has come to the Kitchen several times recently, I have had to send him packing more than once. My apologies, Master Johnstone, perhaps I should have informed you earlier. It seems that Keith has been courting Sarah and Thatcher is very jealous. Apparently he has been heard uttering death threats against Keith."

"Can't be helped now, Mistress Black. Mistress Jane, I shall send for the Constable then take four big men to detain Thatcher. I will lock him up securely until the Constable arrives. If I may leave now?"

"Carry on Johnstone. Perhaps the Constable will arrive quicker if you send the coach, and let me know when you have Thatcher secured, I shall be in the Dining Room with Lord and Lady Barton and our guests. Mistress Black, Sarah should return to her quarters and remain there until the Constable can speak to her. Put two of your biggest men to guard her door until Thatcher is detained, should he try to silence her. I must inform Lord Barton of this development. Take her away. Would you also ask if any more of your people saw Thatcher this morning. The Constable may need to discover what they know."

"Very good, Mistress Jane. Come Sarah."

With a sigh, I checked the time. Everybody would be in the Dining Room soon, I had best go there myself. With a heavy heart, I entered to find our guests all looking a little puzzled. A small group, including Diana, were sitting at one end of the table sipping tea, the rest were standing around, fidgeting a little. Reginald seemed about to call the room to order when he saw me. I went to him and told him briefly of the recent turn of events.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "we have had a very unfortunate incident with the household staff this morning. This is still developing. Miss Fairfax has been helping us in this matter and is the best informed. Jane, would you share with us what you have ascertained?"

I was just about to speak when Johnstone appeared at the door with a large bruise starting to develop around his eye and he was not his usual immaculate self. He came straight to me and Reginald. "M'lord, Mistress Jane, Thatcher is safely locked in a small windowless room with two of my biggest men guarding the door."

"Well done, Johnstone," I replied. "That is a relief for us all. Has the Constable arrived yet?"

"He has just arrived, Mistress. I left him with the Housekeeper."

"Excellent. Please give him any assistance he requires. I will join Mistress Black as soon as I am finished here."

I turned to face the gathered guests. "The situation is thus: this morning we were called to the Kitchen where there had been a terrible accident. Two men were carrying a large kettle of boiling water. They had a set of steps to negotiate and one of them slipped. The kettle of water fell upon him and he was very severely scalded. He died as the Doctor was attending him. The other man cracked his skull on the steps and died instantly. This seemed like a horrible accident, which is what the Constable concluded. However a witness later reported that a man with a grudge against one of the deceased was acting suspiciously just before the accident. Therefore, it may be a case of murder. The Constable returned to Barton Court just a few minutes ago. The suspect has been detained by Lord Barton's staff and is safely under lock and key. Now, if you will all excuse me, I must return to the Kitchen."

"Thank you Jane. Please keep me informed of any developments." I left as he turned to his guests to speak. Returning to Roberta's office, I knocked before entering.

"Mistress Jane." "M'Lady," from the Housekeeper and Constable, rising from their seats.

I gestured for them to be seated. "Mistress Black, Constable, may I sit here while you conduct you're your interviews?"

Poor Sarah was sitting opposite from the Constable obviously in a state of distress. The Constable answered, "Yes, M'Lady, do please take a seat." Mistress Black went to the door, gave a quick instruction then returned to her seat.

"So you saw Thatcher pick something from the butcher's scrap bin?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Could you make out what he picked up?"

"Sir, it were white and pink, mebbe a slice o' pigskin but I couldn't swear to that."

"And what did he do next."

"I didn't see him for a bit, Sir. I was tryin' ter 'ide from 'im y'see, because 'e ... because 'e upsets me. I fears 'im bad, Sir." Another set of tears welled up in her eyes, prompting Mistress Black to extract a handkerchief from a drawer and pass it to Sarah.

"Take your time, Sarah," I assured her, "You have nothing to fear from him now, he is safely locked away."

Just then there was a knock on the door. Mistress Black opened the door to admit a still room maid bearing a pot of tea on a tray. The Housekeeper poured four cups and passed them around. Sarah took a minute or two to compose herself and blow her nose. "Sorry, M'Lady."

"That is quite all right, Sarah. Do you feel you can finish your answer for the Constable?"

"Yes, M'Lady. Well, next I see 'im, 'e was over near the steps 'n I sees 'im look all around then 'e puts sommat, what 'e 'ad picked up it looked like, 'e puts it as 'igh as 'e could on the step. Then 'e rushes to the small door, you know the one I means, Mistress Black, along that little passage by the 'otplates. Well 'e stands there until 'e sees the accident then runs away."

"You are sure that is exactly what you saw, Sarah?"

"Yes, Sir, as I remember."

"He picked something out of the butchers bin?" asked the Constable. "It was pink and white? You think it may have been pig skin? He placed what looked like what he had picked on a high step? He went hastily towards the little door and watched until the men fell? Then he ran out of the door?"

Sarah responded, "Yes, Sir." to each question as the Constable was making a note of the points.

"Tell me about your friendship with Keith Foster, Sarah."

"Me 'n Keith, well we was courtin' Sir. 'e was me boyfriend, yer see. We was to be wed 'n Dick, 'e was jealous coz 'e wanted me for 'is self. Well, last Tuesday Dick 'as me trapped in a corner 'n 'ee's molestin' me summin' terrible but my Keith came 'n 'it 'im 'n sent 'im packin'."

"Thank you Sarah. You may go now," the Constable told her. "But I may need to talk to you again. Mistress Black, would you please bring the witnesses, one by one."

The witnesses each saw part of what happened and together they corroborated Sarah's tale. Two of them knew of the bad blood between the two men. When all was through the Constable said, "I would prefer to question Thatcher in my cells, M'Lady. It is more secure there. By your leave, M'Lady." A quick nod of the head and he was gone.

"Mistress Black, a moment of your time before we go about our separate duties."

"Mistress Jane?"

"I want to thank you for today, Roberta. You and Johnstone, both. I'll speak to him later. You have been very helpful to me. Lady Diana is still not herself, she has never seen the harder side of life. You know me, Roberta, I'm not high born, I have been right at the bottom of Barton Court, now I am right at the top. Believe me, it is easy to forget you and your staff when my own contact with your department is through my maid, you or Johnstone and I only have to lift a finger for anything this great house can provide. So be it. Maybe we from the bottom of the heap are a sturdier breed. It seems that I am Acting Lady of the House until Lady Diana feels able to resume her duties.

"This has been a very busy and stressful time for you, organising for all our guests, and this morning's dreadful business has disrupted you even more. Yet you stepped up to the mark and were a big help to me. I want to thank you also, for the attitude of your staff towards me. Most of them know I used to scrub and polish pots in the still room, yet here I was giving orders to all and sundry and there was no reluctance, no hesitation, nothing but a 'Yes, Mistress Jane.'"

"Thank you, Mistress Jane. I have always been very strict about that. Yes, you were one of us but fortune smiled on you and now you are a Lady, and that is what I tell them. Now You Are A Lady. Your beating of Janice certainly helped because it marked that distinction very clearly and for a while the mention of your name would have some in a fearsome dither, others would applaud you for she was not well liked. Your whip also seems to have improved her attitude towards others. I hope you forgive the impertinence, Mistress Jane, but you will find my staff cheering for you."

I smiled my thanks and said, "We must be about our duties. I'm returning to Lord Barton now to learn of the guests' decisions. I'm a bit tired with running up and down these stairs all day so I will send you a note, no slight intended Mistress Black, so you know who is staying and who is going so you know for whom you will be catering. Again, my thanks." She curtsied and we left to go our different ways. As I stepped out, the Constable was escorting Thatcher, heavily bound in chains and restrained by two big men. He lunged at me but was held secure. His eyes were glaring as he screamed at me, "You're nowt but a friggin'servin' wench for all your airs and graces. Givin' your fuckin' orders like you was a Lady." I gave him the coldest look I could muster and stared at his glaring eyes until his eyes shifted away defeated. That short encounter had bolstered me. I walked away with my head held high as he was dragged away to his eventual doom.

I'll say it now and get it out of the way, Thatcher was found guilty on two cases of murder at the Assizes, was sentenced to hang and the sentence duly carried out. England is a little bit safer.

"Ah, Jane, what news?" asked Reginald. He was at his desk with Percy in a comfortable chair. I nodded at my lover and flopped down into a matching chair opposite with a deep sigh."

"Can I get you a drink?"

"I would love a cup of tea, Percy. No I've changed my mind, a good stiff brandy is what I need." Percy poured it for me."

"The Constable is escorting a shackled Thatcher to the cells now, arrested on two charges of murder. The girl's account tallied with statements from several other witnesses. The Constable examined Keith Foster's boot and found grease on the sole and more on the steps so it seems cut and dried. The Constable will arrange for the removal of the bodies tomorrow for the Coroner, meanwhile they are locked away safely. The Housekeeper is ready to hear what your guests have decided so she can meet their needs."

"Thank you, Jane. Percy, magnificent today, young Jane. Yes, all except the Archdens are staying on. Susan wants to take her young ones away. Cook sent us a cold lunch so dinner at seven of the clock. Back to our calendar."

"Call Robin for me please Reginald. I must pass this news on to Mistress Black right away."

He rang his bell and Robin appeared. I wrote Reginald's news on a sheet of paper and sent him off to Mistress Black with all haste. Now I could afford to relax. "Reginald," I said after swigging the remainder of my brandy, "I'm exhausted. I've had little sleep," here I smiled at my Beloved, "and a busy day. I think I shall rest until dinner, if you'll excuse me?"

"Yes, Jane. Of course. Would you like Percy to escort you to your room?"

"Do not tempt me, Reginald. I would love Percy to escort me, but I need some rest." With that, I left.

"Annie," I called as soon as I opened the door. Bless the girl she was there immediately. "I want a long, hot bath and then tucking up in bed with a warm body just to hold. I am utterly exhausted. Oh please do find me a bottle of brandy to relax me in the bath." I slumped into the chair as she left.

Annie shook my shoulder to wake me I swear no more than two seconds later. "Your bath is ready, Jane."

I had to stand so she could undress me, that was difficult and my joints almost creaked. Soon I was soaking in a lovely warm bath with my dear maid massaging my head, neck and shoulders. I had my brandy in one hand, just sipping now and then. After many minutes of this luxury, Annie started to wash my body. When she soaped my breasts, she started fondling them gently but I smiled and shook my head. When was I ever too tired for fun? but I was now. Annie finished bathing me. She dried and powdered me and took me to bed, slipping her lovely soft body in next to mine. I slept with my arm around her.

Chapter 18 Bitter sweet

I don't know when Annie left the bed but she was fully dressed when she woke me, saying it was time to dress for dinner. She had my clothes laid out ready. I hate that triply accursed corset, I think it is a remnant of Torquemada's armoury. Annie dressed me brushed my hair and pinned it up before going to work on my face. I stood when she finished. She looked me up and down. "You look beautiful, Mistress. Go and see your Beloved. He is so handsome I could steal him from you."

"Saucy wench. Get out before I have you flogged." I gave her a quick hug and left feeling as beautiful as Annie said.

Dinner was a gay affair with Percy and the Bishop both regaling us with many amusing anecdotes. Diana seemed at once bubbling with energy, no doubt at the thought of a night of passion with Percy, and perhaps a little sad that she would have her night, and subsequent nights at my cost. No matter how I felt, I knew Diana needed to present an heir to Reginald and that that was one of the main reasons my Beloved was staying at Barton Court.

When dinner was complete and the men had finished their port and cigars, Percy and Reginald escorted me and Diana to our rooms. Reginald returned alone and Percy kissed me before Diana closed her bedroom door behind them. I could not sleep for the muffled sounds of their passion coming from the door, sobbing quietly into my pillow, but eventually they quieted and I drifted into oblivion only to be awakened by somebody getting into my bed. Then my Beloved's lips were on mine. "I have done my rights by Diana, now my precious Jane needs my loving."

It was not a night of unbridled passion, my Darling had been with Diana so was not ready quite yet. After kissing him thoroughly and being kissed in return, I went beneath the covers and took his beautiful cock into my mouth and tenderly coaxed him back to life. Then he spooned himself behind me and I received him into my pussy from the back. Such a sweet loving he gave me, he was constantly playing with my breasts as his cock slipped in and out of my cunt and I twisted my head to kiss him. He made me climax twice before the increasing urgency of his strokes told me he was close and feeling his spurts inside me pushed me into a slow, gentle climax of love. Percy was asleep, still holding a breast, before his cock shrank out of my body and I lay secure in his arms until morning.

His arms were still around me when I woke from a blissful sleep the next morning. I tinkled my little bell and was surprised when Faith answered.

"Faith, what are you doing here?" I whispered

"Forgive me Mistress Jane, but Annie is taking the laundry away and Eleanor has the chamber pots. What may I do for you?" All the time she was whispering, her eyes kept drifting to the form of my Beloved, still asleep beside me.

"Bring me a nice pot of tea, then, and tell Annie to attend me, but very quietly, when she returns. And now you can stop looking at Lord Percival." I smiled to show her I was not upset so she turned and left. It was Annie who brought the tea. I extricated myself from my Lover's arms without disturbing him and sipped at the tea Annie had poured while she washed and dressed me.

"Were you and Eleanor really otherwise engaged when I rang?"

She hung her head and apologised, "Not really, Mistress, begging your pardon. Faith wanted to see Lord Percy."

"Oh, Annie, I'm not upset. I would have wanted to do the same myself, if I were her. But you had better go; I think I hear Lord Percy stirring." Indeed, he was sitting up in bed, sheets hiding his privates, when Annie left discretely and I sat on the bed next to my Beloved and welcomed him to the day with an affectionate kiss. "Thank you for loving me last night, my Darling. Such a beautiful surprise."

"How could I leave my Beloved alone?" His hands caressed my face then my breasts.

"Oh, Percy, however much I want you right now, you must dress and sneak back to your lodgings."

"Must I, Lover mine?"

"Don't tempt me so, Percy. I want you so much."

Ignoring my pleas, he kissed me passionately, pulled me to the bed and flipped my skirts. My sigh, as he entered me, was of sheer pleasure at this stolen moment. He was eager that morning, yet still considerate. I did not climax but still felt so loved and happy that it did not matter. I gladly received his gift. We both lay there for a few minutes of tenderness before he jumped up and started to dress. I straightened my clothes and composed myself again. With another sweet kiss, he bade me good day and left. I went about my duties. Today was Saturday and tonight was the grand Ball. Cook excelled herself once more and the tables were piled high with many delicacies to please all palates. There was a string quintet with a pianist playing Bach and Beethoven and the other old master composers throughout the meal and, when all the tables were cleared away, they broke into a lively polka, signalling it was time to dance. Throughout the Ball, we only had to look up for a maid or page to be available to fetch whatever drink they wished. Annie was there, as were Eleanor and Faith, so Diana, Cynthia and I never lacked anything for more than a few seconds. And the girls got to go to the Ball.

Janice's creation for the night was a heavy red silk bodice with high neckline but moulding my breasts and tummy. The skirt was a deep navy overlaid with a pure white lace. The skirt material was light cotton, flared wide with many stiffened petticoats to keep it floating.

What a marvellous time I had. I danced with every man in the room, including the males of the sets of twins and got dizzy with the compliments. Diana was the same. Percy was always there when I had no more temporary partners. He dances superbly, so light on his feet and leading me so well, I thought I was dancing on air. He did not neglect the other ladies in the room, including the girl twins and Mrs Barnes' girls, thrilled with the excitement of their first Ball. He had several dances with Diana but he always returned to me. He was a nimble and energetic dancer and when one of Herr Strauss's liveliest waltzes was played, he was almost throwing me around, making my skirt fly out with every turn and spin. The Bishop's wife thought it far too risqué for decent society and tut-tutted for the rest of the evening but I really did not care. I had drunk a few glasses of champagne and was having more fun than I had ever known. The final dance was a slow waltz. Percy held me close and we danced around the floor just staring into each other's eyes.

The Ball was over, the servants were clearing the tables, the musicians were putting away their instruments and I was sad at the thought of losing my Lover tonight but when we reached our rooms, escorted as usual by Reginald and Percy, Diana graciously stepped aside, telling me she could not possibly part us tonight. We hugged and parted, she to her boudoir and me to mine almost dragging Percy in a most unladylike fashion.

He was as eager as I was but was frustrated with all the tiny buttons he had to open until I was naked before his exploring gaze. Now I faced the same frustration as I tackled his fastenings. Getting rid of that exasperating waistcoat, I ran my hands over his manly chest as I opened his shirt, feeling the crinkly hair and nipples hard against my palms but I bravely restrained myself, pulled the shirt from his cummerbund and trousers and pushed it off his shoulders. I quickly disposed of the cummerbund and stood almost entranced at the sight before me then forced myself to kneel so I could tackle the garment hiding away what I wanted to see and to touch and to kiss.

Finally, I had him naked in all his glory, looking like he had just stepped down from Valhalla, hands on hips and that magnificent cock sticking up and out as if reaching for the ceiling, now waving enticingly before my eyes. I succumbed to temptation, cupping his testicles in one hand and wrapping the other hand around the base of his cock, I kissed the jewel from the tip then welcomed him into my mouth, savouring his masculine taste as my tongue swirled around it. I was so excited by the whole evening spent with my love, my thighs were soaking and even though I was just sucking my Beloved's cock, I felt the internal sparks lighting off the little fires through my body. My Norse god was obviously fired up too because he was thrusting urgently in my mouth. The feel of his seed coating my tongue was the wind, which fanned my fires to white hot, increasing as I milked him of every drop he could spare.

He pulled me to my feet and kissed me. He was no stranger to the taste of himself and loved to suck my tongue into his mouth when I had just taken his deposit. We moved to the bed, stepping away from the clothing at our feet. He sat on the bed and gently pulled me across his lap. "I know what my Lady wants."

That bony hand of his caressed my arse cheeks, fingers seeking and probing each hole then the hand was removed and I waited breathless for that first sting. Oh quite the meanest of tricks he played on me when I was expecting that strike, he just lowered his hand and caressed me again. I got little warning when he struck for real, suddenly there was a crack and a stinging bum cheek, then another ten hard and fast all over my bottom. This is so exciting, I thought as his hand sought my pussy, found my clitoris and rubbed his finger from side to side, making me gasp. But he soon ended that little game and started giving my bottom the spanking I desired. I was squirming with the stinging blows and with the climax they were inducing until, with a groan of pure bliss, I collapsed across his lap, enervated.

When I regained my strength, I pushed him back onto the bed and straddled his groin. I opened my pussy lips and manipulated my pussy to make my juices drip onto his cock then I dropped down and guided his Lordly manhood inside my body. I moved up and down, letting that hard flesh penetrate me deeply, then I rolled my hips to touch new places deep inside. He saw my tits hanging above him, nipples erect and begging to be suckled. He suckled strongly, the sensations transferring via some magical ether to my pussy. His hand caressing my other breast and teasing at the nipple travelled the same route as I stoked up my fires with the lovely steel poker within me. Harder I thrust myself, harder I gyrated, I reached behind to fondle his balls when my tits were suddenly neglected as he grabbed my hips and forced himself into me, jerking to flood my pussy with the fire to finish me gloriously.

I rolled off and laid myself at his side. He held me gently and kissed me, softly as a butterfly's wing's touch on my lips. We were like that for many heavenly minutes but our kisses gained passion as our ardour was rekindled, he tried to get my whole mouth in his as if he were trying to devour me, then he started a grand tour of my body with his lips. He started at my forehead and licked the perspiration away before kissing each eyelid. My nose next and a brief, loving stop at my lips before moving on, the tip of his tongue running around the shell of my ear while he blew gently.

His feather light touches on my breasts and abdomen set a fluttering in my belly as his mouth continued its slow journey down my neck, bringing me out in shivering goose bumps. He gave me tiny little nibbles down the swell of my breast, pausing at my nipple briefly to give it a kiss then run his tongue all around it. Onwards to my navel which he circled at first well wide of the mark but closing in on the target. Now his hands on my thighs were gossamer-like as his tongue penetrated my navel, making me shiver again as the tip probed. His hands moved slowly up the insides of my thighs, not really touching, just disturbing the fine hairs. His mouth moved towards my hands and I desperately hoped they would meet in the middle.

He nibbled and licked my bush getting ever closer to my desire then his mouth made a detour and veered away to the bowl of my left hip which was gently licked before he passed on to my outer thigh. His tongue traced a line from there to my ankle and thence to my little toe, which he sucked into his mouth to be bathed with his tongue. Each toe in turn received the same gift and the big toe got extra attention before he switched feet and repeated in reverse the path up my right leg. Next he knelt between my spread legs, reached up to my shoulders and scratched with his blunt nails right down my breasts, briefly dragging on the nipples then passing on down my abdomen and into my bush but carefully avoided my screaming pussy. My Beloved moved my arms out to the side then, starting at my wrists, those fingernails dragged inside my elbows, through the hairs under my arms and down through that most ticklish area, causing me to squirm but he passed on quickly to my hip and round to my buttocks which he gripped and squeezed.

By now, he was kneeling low down between my knees. These he lifted on his elbows, which raised my pussy and spread me wide open. His head moved forward until the tip of his tongue just touched the bottom of my pussy and travelled up one lip, bypassed my clitoris, and back down the other lip then ran up and down my crack. I was bucking my hips trying to get something more than this teasing but he matched my moves and defeated my attempts. Ever so slowly, his tongue became more active and started passing between my lips and lapping the entrance to my pussy, just tasting me before snaking its way inside. I was melting as the tongue opened me up and he blew on the moist crack, cooling it briefly before his tongue plunged in deeply. He continued to lap my pussy lips, maintaining the tease by avoiding my clitoris until he finally made me jump by settling his mouth on my sensitive nub to bring me to a fierce climax.

Once I had recovered, I found my knees being pushed further back to his shoulders and, glory be, I revelled in the feel of his cock slipping easily into my pussy all the way. My Beloved was also now seeking release as he soon speeded up and plunged into my depths again and again. Then it rushed upon me like a huge wave, my whole body was flooded and I was only vaguely aware of his triumphant roar as he spent himself in my depths. We rested for a while before he started again by sliding down my body and settling between my legs once more, his mouth and tongue reigniting my internal fires. Until the early hours of the morning we made love, now slowly, now in violent passion until finally we slept exhausted.

But that night was the only one I had my Beloved all to myself. We agreed that most of his seed would go into Diana as her need was the greater, but when his duty was done he always came to my bed, sometimes to make sweet love, sometimes just to sleep. I was just happy to have my precious Percy with me.

And so the days slipped past. Barton Court was a happy place with everybody on friendly terms. The weather stayed fine with the sun shining brightly from clear blue skies. It was cold with any puddles frozen solid and a thick sheet of ice on the lake but we wrapped up and enjoyed walking or riding in the crisp air. My Percy taught me how to skate and spent more time picking me up off the ice but he made me persevere until I could clumsily make my way alone.

Boxing day dawned. Diana, Reginald and I personally distributed the Christmas boxes to all the staff to thank them for their services throughout the year. Reginald added five shillings to everybody's wages that week as thanks for their special efforts, especially for putting aside their distress to serve us so superbly. We left to get changed for the Hunt. I had never been to a Meet before so I was nervous as we all cantered down to the old village well. My horsemanship was not adequate for me to make any of those huge jumps over which my Percy's great charger from the Barton stables soared, so I joined the ladies as we followed more sedately in their wake. The foxes won the day, all three of them defeating the hounds but that was a minor disappointment, we had all enjoyed the chase.

For those less able or less enamoured with outdoor pursuits, Barton Court ensured they lacked for nothing. The Library was a quiet place and the sanctuary frequently had one or two guests either reading or just resting in quiet contemplation. A page was permanently stationed there, should the occupants desire anything, as was a maid or page available in every room. There was often a game of whist or canasta, friendly but competitive, being played in the Drawing Room and the men gravitated to the Billiards Room with minor wagers adding to their enjoyment.

The unhappy start to our guests' stay faded away. Barton Court was a happy place. Moreover, I was with my Beloved.

Chapter 19 Births and deaths

On New Year's Eve, my bleeding started exactly on time. Diana's did not. "Oh Jane, dare I hope?" she wondered when the next two days still left her bloodless. It transpired that she was indeed carrying a child, to her great joy. During Diana's pregnancy, I found myself more and more assuming her duties. I retained my good relationships with Mistress Black and Master Johnstone and Barton Court continued to function perfectly. Percy stayed on for a further two weeks after the other guests left and Diana felt certain she was carrying a child so Percy could now devote his attentions to me. Diana and Annie both comforted my distress when my Beloved had to return to Tradiscombe. He came back to Barton Court for one week when Diana was showing a definite thickening of her waist then I never saw him until Peter was born. The child made his way into the adventure of life in due course and Diana joyously presented Reginald with his first-born and heir. Reginald was captivated by the baby immediately and became utterly devoted both to Peter and his mother. Percy was his Godfather and I was his Godmother at the Christening.

After the baby was baptised, Percy presented me with a beautiful ring: a huge diamond beset around with a halo of sapphires and our betrothal was made public. I don't know if the Tradiscombe estates suffered as he spent much of his time travelling back and forth between there and Barton Court. On the first day of December, just over one year later, I was wedded to Percy in the private chapel at Tradiscombe by Bishop Gordon Cruikshank, who had spent that Christmas at Barton Court.

Annie and Eleanor were my Maids of Honour, something upon which I put my foot down. Therefore, the girls came to my wedding at the top table socially, and in fact for the feast. It was probably the most exciting day of their whole lives. They looked so pretty in their gowns which matched mine and which they were allowed to keep as a permanent memento of the Day. Diana and I had been coaching them both for a month on what cutlery or which glass was used when, and how to behave in company. Looking back, it was funny: we could barely get any sense of them for several days before the wedding, so nervously excited were they. They even managed a dance or two with the young men. Diana and I had said they should only dance to waltz tunes because the waltz was simple enough for them to learn. I think they spent their spare time practising the waltz together.

Another member of Barton Court staff was also at Tradiscombe at the time of the wedding. Some six weeks before the day, Janice had asked permission to speak to me. "Please, Mistress Jane, she said," she said, very nervously. I am to make your trousseau, and your maids' gowns as you want them but you asked Lord Underweir's staff to make the other ladies' gowns. Oh, Mistress, I am afeared the other ladies will not complement you. Forgive the impertinence, Mistress, is it possible for me to go there so I can work with M'Lord's Seamstress and supervise. Forgive me, Mistress." Now she was visibly trembling at her audacity and I must admit it took me by surprise.

I did not reject the idea out of hand, but gave it some thought. Janice had made it her place, with the Seamstress in accord, to be responsible for my wardrobe at Barton Court and I had found her innovative in her suggestions and designs and her needlework was faultless. In a way, it made sense. Then a happy thought crossed my mind. Could I possibly ask Reginald to escort me to Tradiscombe, ostensibly to visit my fiancé but taking Janice with us? Maybe Diana would like a change for a week, too. I warmed to the idea.

"Let me give this some thought Janice. I will let you know within two days whether or not it impossible."

"Thank you, Mistress Jane." Her curtsy was very deep before she left.

Reginald saw through my little scheme immediately. He slapped his thigh, gave out a great laugh, waggled a finger at me and said, "You just want to see Percy again! Ho, ho, ho, ho isn't young love splendid? Now I think of it, I have no urgent business. Be good to walk his grouse moor, check how they grow. How about you my Darling?" Diana declined, saying she would rather not take the child all that distance. Therefore, it was that I got a stolen week with my Beloved and Janice got to Tradiscombe.

The chapel and, indeed the whole of Tradiscombe House, was festooned with late summer blooms and foliage. My own family declined the invitations we sent them, which saddened but did not surprise me, although Mummy sent me a letter to wish me every blessing in my marriage. Reginald and Diana were there, of course; it was Reginald who gave me away. The chapel was filled with the few friends I had made from Diana's circle surrounded by the massed ranks of the Underweir family. Reginald's and Diana's families were also there, in smaller numbers, to witness the occasion. I had two of Diana's nieces and another two of Reginald's to carry my train, the girls' dresses matched my own, with a page, Reginald's nephew.

For our honeymoon, we had a breathless tour of the major capitals of Europe then returned home and I was the Lady of my own house. One of the first things I had Percy do was to introduce me to his Housekeeper and Jordan, his Butler, I had met him frequently as he attended Percy but I wanted to see them both together to establish my policies and to begin to form the relationships I would have with them both. So it was that the day after Percy and I returned to Tradiscombe from our honeymoon, Mistress Tremayne and Master Jordan entered my office with Percy.

Mistress Tremayne, Joyce, immediately dropped a deep curtsy, saying, "Welcome to Tradiscombe, M'Lady. Congratulations on your marriage to My Lord. I and my staff look forward to serving you to the best of our ability. It is good to have a new Lady of Tradiscombe." Jordan repeated her congratulations and declaration with a respectful bow, so the meeting commenced on a good note.

I thanked them both then told them, "It is said that a new broom sweeps clean, but I feel that much of value may be swept away and lost with too vigorous a sweeping. Therefore should I feel that I would like some changes, I shall introduce these slowly and not upset your domains. I trust you will both feel free to bring any problems to me. Master Jordan, you will naturally look more to Lord Underweir rather than me and I have no intention of interfering in that arrangement. Thank you, Jordan, you may go about your duties and, Mistress Tremayne, I would like you to walk with me through your department and the House so I may learn your routines and the layout of rooms."

Jordan again bowed and took his leave, Mistress Tremayne led me around the House, explaining the current use of all the rooms. All seemed clean and well maintained to my inspection but I made a few mental notes on the way, for later consideration. As she next showed me her own domain Downstairs, everything seemed to be efficiently organised and it seemed clear that she was truly Mistress of her staff. We ended our tour in her office and had a more informal, relaxed talk over a cup of tea, learning a little of each other. It was then that I discussed the future of Janice, for she had not returned to Barton Court. I retained her at Tradiscombe and she became firmly established as the one to whom I looked for my wardrobe. Eventually she became the Seamstress in her own right.

Joyce Tremayne was an institution in herself. She was a tiny woman, only coming up to my shoulder when standing. Yet she had a keen eye for any fall from the high standards she maintained. For all her tiny size, it was quite apparent that she ruled her kingdom with an indomitable will. She really was a tower of strength and became my faithful lieutenant until she retired. Tradiscombe was a happy place. Percy would arrange parties and balls for all our friends, filling the House with music and laughter. Mistress Tremayne never failed to make each event a success as her staff laboured under her instructions so that our guests lacked for nothing and the tables were piled high by her Cook.

On Christmas Day the year after our wedding, Percy kissed Michael, his firstborn son, on the head and Tradiscombe had new heir apparent. Over the next seven years I carried five children to term but I lost dear little Charles to consumption while he was still suckling. Percy's heir was named Michael after his grandfather. My two lovely girls were next. Diana, after my dear friend and Ann, forever called Annie only by me. Then little Charles was with me briefly. My younger son was called Francis for my father. Francis was killed in The Great War because some fool of a General ordered him to charge a row of tanks with his cavalry company. Can you believe horses and sabres against tanks? Francis was awarded the Military Cross for leading the remnants of his company round a hill, fighting all the way, and bringing them to safety. The medal was awarded posthumously: he was shot in the back by a sniper just fifty yards from cover.

And what of my dear maid for whom I named my younger daughter? Annie was my constant companion through all the years, faithful servant, faithful friend. She was my tower of strength when I felt overwhelmed by household matters in managing Tradiscombe. She doted upon my children and then their children, watching the nurses like a hawk. She comforted me in my loss of Charles. When she became too old to fulfil her duties, I retired her to a room in my apartment. She insisted on training my young new maid and demanded of her perfection in her Service of M'Lady. Perhaps she put the fear of God into her. I am so pleased I taught her to read because books are her main interest now. I, Annie and Percy all gradually withdrew from our duties and we can often be found together, reading or talking, reminiscing about our lifetime's events. It was my daughter Ann who gradually assumed the role of Lady of Tradiscombe.

Annie often joined me and Percy in our marital bed and we both received many spankings from my Beloved's horny hand. She did learn to whip me when the cravings came and Percy loved to see me sobbing bitterly while my body was convulsed in a massive climax because he knew I needed it and only she was capable. He never took a whip to me or Annie but was happy to watch either of us whipping the other, for Annie became addicted to my golden place too.

Percy bought one of those new-fangled automobiles and the coachman would drive me and Annie to Barton Court where we might visit for a week. Not coincidentally it was often the week when our sexual needs were at their peak. Eleanor stayed for more than five and thirty years with Diana until one of the Kaiser's bombs fell on her but Diana and I always had our dear maids with us when we were at our horniest. Wonderful times. Reginald bought his wife an automobile and the Bartons would often be our guests at Tradiscombe. Reginald was happy for Diana to join me and Percy in bed because she bore him two sons and the prettiest little girl who is called Jane.

Barton Court has a new Lord now. Lord Peter Barton has a shock of bright red curls which he will toss into the air with gay abandon. Diana came to Tradiscombe for the later part of her grieving but she never wore her widow's weeds in bed. She passed away in her sleep the day my first granddaughter was born. Annie and Percy took me to Barton Court for the funeral. My Remembrance card read simply, "Forever M'Lady"

Lord Barton, Reginald. How I grew to love that man. He was something like a father to me, indeed he gave me away to Percy. His speech was gruff, his words blunt but his heart was pure gold. His only fault was his smell and I learned later that it was a disease with which he had to live. In spite of no marital bed for him, he was utterly devoted to Diana, and she to him. The children she bore for him were his from the moment they were born, not caring that none of them carried his bloodline. He survived his wife by only three months and they lay together in his family vault. Percy has brought me there twice. Each time I left a wreath with the message, "Forever M'Lady."

My own parents have had scant mention herein. I deliberately started this history the day I left my family because that is where the real story of my life started. Father had a smallholding and worked hard to put food on our plates. Mother took in laundry which put the clothes on our backs. All we children worked as soon as we were able to help in the house and land. I remember when I was just a little girl, standing with Mother's clothes pegs in a basket on my head. Yes, one of my tasks was mucking out the pigs. We had no time for schooling. My Father taught me to work hard even on the dirtiest jobs, my Mother taught me patience, perseverance to finish my task and a willingness to help. My brothers taught me to duck. It was my family which made the young girl who was delivered into Faith's hand at the gates of the Big House. It was Barton Court which made me the Lady I have become.

When I was still Downstairs, I used to get one day off every eight days and I would run the two miles home where there were always welcoming hugs for me. I would spend the day telling them everything that was happening in Barton Court. I knew nothing of what the Family did, always working Downstairs, but Downstairs was always buzzing with salacious gossip and that was what I shared. One or another of my brothers would escort me back to Barton Court gates before eight of the clock and I would go to sleep next to my friend Faith and later, Annie. When I was taken on as M'Lady's maidservant, I got fewer days free. M'Lady graciously had Annie, my friend in the still room, run down to my home and tell them why I may not visit them so regularly. I did see them and they were happy for me in my new position but they were not so happy when I would not pass on any gossip I heard Upstairs. Perhaps Johnstone's warning remained with me and I was happy in my work.

So I saw less and less of them until, as you have read, my elevation to top society. I saw my mother just once more when I went to my father's funeral. The poor dear was all in dither because a Lord and his Lady had come. Percy calmed her down with many assurances, my Lord has a wonderful way with people. Father was buried with all decency. My brothers were his pallbearers, Mother followed the coffin with me and Percy supporting her from both sides. When all the formalities were finished and everybody went home, I sat down with my mother and took her hands in mine. "Mummy, how will you manage now Daddy has gone? Will you come back with us and stay in my apartment in Tradiscombe? For a few days or as long as you wish?"

"No thank you M'Lady"

"M'Lady? M'Lady? Mummy I'm your daughter Jane."

"Well then, no thank you Jane. You live in a different world, I could never live in your world. We both knew it when we parted. I will live in my old cottage. Barry will take over the land and June, his wife, will take care of me. I'll be fine Jane."

"Yes, Mummy, we did both know but I had to offer. Now I will not hear a 'No' from you on this: I am setting up for you a small pension. I wouldn't offend you by flooding you with money but twenty shillings a week will keep the wolf from your door."

I saw the pain on her face as she struggled with her decision but we both knew how she would have problems making ends meet without it.

"Mummy, please say yes. You know it will help."

"Daughter mine, long ago I made up my mind never to ask you for anything. But yes, twenty shillings a week would be a relief. Yes, Jane, thank you so much, I have been worried about how I would manage. You are right, darling, it will keep the wolf from my door. Now kiss me and go off with your Lord. I love you, Jane. Goodbye."

She was shaking as she hugged me. I kissed her, knowing it would be our last kiss. We were both in tears as Percy led me to the automobile. He instructed his solicitor to have delivered to the Widow Fairfax the sum of twenty shillings each Monday.

Epilogue

So that is it, my life as best as I remember. So many people have helped in so many ways on my journey from pigsty to Jane, Lady Underweir of Tradiscombe: my thanks to them all. To the senior staff at Barton Court who steadfastly supported me in all things, dear Roberta Black, and Johnstone who was my rock, I will ever be grateful. Similarly to Mistress Tremayne and Jordan I owe thanks for making my transition to the new position as smooth as possible and ensured that my every wish was immediately fulfilled.

In particular I dedicate this manuscript to the three people I have cherished most dearly.

To my Beloved Percy, who dared to love a serving wench.

To Annie, my dearest, truest and most faithful maid who is still my best friend.

And, of course, to Diana who taught me everything, Forever M'Lady.