Catherine's Letters (15 page)

The seat of the hansom was hard and painful on my caned bottom, and I fidgeted as we drove over the bumpy streets. Miss Prior broke the silence when we were halfway home. ‘I am most proud of your deportment this evening, and your ability to learn so quickly. I am sure Betty will be eager to summon you again soon,’ she said.

I was astounded. ‘Betty?’ I repeated. ‘The maid? I am pleased to have bestowed so much pleasure on her, but I cannot be at the beck and call of someone else’s servant!’

Miss Prior laughed and clapped her hands, and I knew all was not as I had thought it to be. ‘You are quite right, Catherine,’ she chuckled, ‘but the girl you gamahuched –’ I believe that was the word Miss Prior used ‘– tonight was not Betty the maid, but Lady Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the Duke of ______!’ (I must omit the title, Connie – I trust you, but no one else into whose hands this letter may pass by unhappy accident or wicked design.)

I could not speak, so great was my shock. Miss Prior took advantage of my silence to furnish me with a further explanation. ‘Three years ago, when she was your age, she was my charge. I educated her in much the same way as I have done you, and she was an excellent pupil, soon becoming a member of Miss Parker’s Corporal Society, whose games you witnessed tonight. But Lady Elizabeth has a fondness for humiliating herself even further than simply bending and baring her bottom for the cane. She enjoys lowering herself far below her social station in the eyes of the other members. Thus, when the Society meets, she becomes Betty the maid, serving ladies beneath her rank as if she were a common girl, often for days at a time. She usually does the job so badly she ends up being stripped and flogged upon the stage as the evening’s finale, but tonight, having seen you yesterday, she asked me to arrange something a little more private for us all. And I am most pleased that you did not disappoint.’

As you can well imagine, Connie, I was thunderstruck by this revelation! But I was also pleased, in an odd sort of way, that I had done what Miss Prior had expected of me, and caused her to feel pride.

The rest of the journey passed in silence, and on arriving home I was sent straight to bed. You can believe I passed last night sleeping on my belly, and even as I write there is a large, down-filled pillow on the chair beneath me. But despite the pain I endured I cannot wait to once again experience the heights of ecstasy to which I climbed last night. You must visit soon, Connie – there is so much I can now show you.

Until then, I remain your loving cousin, Catherine.

Adrienne put down the last sheet of paper. She was turned on beyond belief and had gone even further than last time. Now it was not just her jeans and knickers which were on the floor, but her T-shirt and bra too. Totally naked, she’d masturbated freely as Catherine’s incredible adventure unfolded. She orgasmed first at the description of the public whippings. The second had come when Catherine and Betty knelt side by side for Miss Prior’s cane. The third, the longest and best, had shaken her to the core as the two girls reached theirs on the bed. Adrienne fell back on the sofa, one hand massaging each of her breasts in turn, the other playing idly with her pubes.

She stirred after several minutes. There had been one unshakable image in her head all the while she had been reading and driving herself to the edge, a picture which could never become a reality. Or so she would have said only two weeks ago, before she found the letters and Maria. Still naked, she picked up the phone, just as she had done after reading the last letter. But it was not her lesbian lover’s number she dialled. It rang three times before it was answered.

‘Hi, babe! You’re lucky you’ve caught me – I just got in. I had a fantastic time, and I didn’t even shag him! We went to this great restaurant, it was …’ Rachel’s caller ID had told her it was Adrienne.

‘Later,’ Adrienne said, anxious to say what was on her mind while she was still turned on enough to say it. ‘I’ve just had a brilliant idea for a night of sin and debauchery and, unless you’ve suddenly discovered romance and monogamy, I couldn’t think of anyone who might be up for it more than my favourite It Girl.’

‘Sounds great! What’s the craic?’

‘For you to really enjoy it, it has to be a surprise. Just be at my place on Wednesday about eight.’

‘Should I wear something dressy?’

‘Wear what you like, it won’t matter. You should know there’s a real chance someone will see your undies, so you might pay attention to that.’

‘I always do, babe – it’s me, remember? Sounds like my kind of party.’

‘Great, I’ll see you then.’ Yes, you shameless slut, thought Adrienne, wear what you like, because you won’t have it on for long after we get to work. She put her finger on the phone hook, released it, and then dialled Maria.

Chapter Nine

It had been a much busier day at work than Adrienne had expected, and she only got in at seven, just about giving her time to shower and make herself presentable before Rachel arrived. Adrienne was too nervous to eat. She had considered meeting her at either of their respective offices, but she wanted a degree of formality about this evening, and the proposal she planned to put to Rachel certainly could not be made in public.

She chose a white blouse and smart-casual grey slacks, teamed with matching mules, and was ready a few minutes before the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Rachel on the step, a black shift dress under a scarlet cardigan and Prada handbag slung over her left shoulder. She wore black stilettos and, judging by the sheen of her legs, expensive stockings. ‘So where does this mystery tour begin?’ she asked, as Adrienne smiled and moved aside to let her in.

‘My living room, with a glass of wine. Or maybe something stronger? You might need it.’

‘Sounds like you’ve got something wild planned, babe!’ said Rachel with evident glee, as she went into the lounge. ‘But I’ll start with the wine. We can hit the hard stuff later. So what’s on the agenda?’

‘These,’ said Adrienne, handing her a glass with one hand and brandishing the pile of letters with the other.

‘Hey! The Victorian melodrama! Don’t tell me you’ve found something even juicier than that first one?’

‘And some. It seems young Catherine was quite a girl. And that Miss Prior knew plenty of tricks too. After that first spanking …’

By the time Rachel was up to speed on Catherine’s exploits Adrienne was refilling their wine glasses. Rachel had refused to believe some of the details, especially about the private flagellation club, so Adrienne had to show her some of the relevant passages. By the time she had read them she threw herself back on the sofa and let out a long breath. ‘No wonder you haven’t been getting out much!’ she snorted. ‘What do you do, lock yourself away and have a good wank while you’re reading them?’

Adrienne knew Rachel was joking, but still coloured at the idea she could have guessed such a personal secret. But there would be a lot more disclosures before the end of the night, starting right now. Adrienne bit the bullet and came out with it. ‘Actually, I do still go out. I did the other week – and I met someone.’ She rushed out the last few words, knowing what Rachel’s reaction would be.

‘You did? Brilliant, babe! Who is he? What does he do? How much does he make?’

Adrienne swallowed a mouthful of wine and looked at her feet. ‘It’s not a he … It’s a she … And some of the things I’ve done with her have been a bit – well, some people might call them weird.’ Before Rachel could get her wits back enough to answer, Adrienne started her story: how she had met Maria, what they had done on their first night, and their Wednesday arrangement. When she had finished she felt her cheeks burning, but also an enormous sense of relief. Rachel was still her best friend, and now there was no more need to lie to her.

Rachel was staring at Adrienne, the look of disbelief on her face growing as the tale unfolded. When she was sure Adrienne had nothing more to say she waited a few seconds, then broke the awkward silence. ‘So you got picked up, in a pub, by a lesbian who enjoys spanking, bondage and sadomasochism, and you enjoy it so much that now you do it once a week?’

‘That’s about the size of it,’ mumbled Adrienne, grateful for the two glasses of wine she had drunk.

‘So why have you decided to tell me all this? Come on, babe, it’s your life. If you’ve decided you’re a … Hang on, didn’t you say you meet her every Wednesday?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Adrienne, that’s tonight.’

‘That’s right.’ Adrienne carefully consulted her watch. ‘She’ll be here in – 15 minutes.’

‘Adrienne! You’re not seriously expecting me to … With you and your – your girlfriend?’

Their whole friendship could stand or fall on this. She leant forward and put her hand on Rachel’s. ‘I’ve been making up fantasies about what I read in the letters. Maria doesn’t know about them yet, she just thinks I’m a really imaginative lover. After the last one I got the idea of a threesome, me and another girl being dominated by a powerful woman, and I can’t get it out of my head. And there’s no one else I trust enough to ask.’

‘But, Adrienne! I’m Rachel! You must have worked it out by now – I like men! I like hard cock!’

‘Oh, Maria’s got one! It’s made of plastic, she keeps it in her handbag and it never goes soft or lies about being married!’ Despite the situation, Adrienne could not help giggling at her own joke, and was very pleased when Rachel smiled too. ‘Look, if you won’t do it just say no, and we’ll forget I ever suggested it. But it would mean a lot to me if you’d stay.’

‘Say I do,’ said Rachel, after a moment’s thought, ‘how can I ever look you in the eye again?’

‘In the same way you look men in the eye after bonking their brains out.’

‘But they’re just men! You’re – you’re Adrienne. My best mate!’

They fell silent, and Adrienne believed Rachel was about to get up and leave, when the glamorous redhead spoke. ‘If you’re going to do this, you’ll need someone to look after you, and who’s better qualified than me?’

Her words took a few moments to sink in. ‘You mean … You’ll do it? Oh, thank you, Rachel! And don’t worry, Maria and I will do most of the kinky stuff. We won’t expect you to do anything too weird.’

‘You’re doing it again, Adrienne. I have been known to be a bit adventurous. I may surprise you. But you’d better pour me another glass – I’ve a feeling I’m going to need it.’

A few minutes later, Adrienne’s doorbell rang, and she went to admit Maria, who walked into the lounge and smiled sweetly at Rachel. ‘Hello, Adrienne’s told me all about you,’ she said, as she leant forward to give Rachel a slight kiss on the right cheek. That much was true – Adrienne had spent their quieter moments in bed telling Maria how she and Rachel had met working for the same firm eight years ago, and had stayed close, despite taking separate career paths.

Maria sat next to Rachel on the sofa, dropping the large holdall she had brought behind it, where it was out of sight. Adrienne went to fetch another bottle from the kitchen as the two women chatted easily, demonstrating their natural flair for making new friends. It seemed a very bizarre start for an evening of debauchery.

Maria made the decisive move. ‘So,’ she said, directly to Rachel and without a hint of embarrassment, ‘Adrienne tells me you could be up for a bit of fun?’

‘Er, yes, I think I might be.’ For a change, Rachel had been thrown by someone else’s direct approach.

‘And she’s told you about us? Exactly what we do together?’

‘Yes, she has at that.’ Rachel and Adrienne had decided not to complicate matters by telling Maria about the letters just yet. Instead, Rachel was playing the role of a bi-curious friend in whom Adrienne had confided.

‘You realise we’re into domination, CP, bondage and submission? There may be a little pain, and you’ll have to give yourself over completely to my will.’

‘I understand, and I’ll do it.’ Rachel said.

Adrienne was not sure Rachel did, or that she would, but they had all gone too far to back out now.

‘Excellent. Now, Adrienne tells me she wants to be dominated alongside you, and she’s even offered to take the lion’s share of the punishment, so you can relax and enjoy it. I’ll go to the bedroom and change, and I want you girls down to your bras, knickers, and stockings when I get back.’ Maria picked up her bag, which rattled ominously, and walked out like it was her flat.

As the bedroom door shut, Adrienne looked anxiously at Rachel. If her friend was going to make a break for it, it would be now, and they would probably never speak again.

But that was not Rachel’s plan. She drained her glass and stood up. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Your mistress wants us in our undies. We don’t want to piss her off straight away, do we?’ She slipped off her cashmere cardigan and turned her back to Adrienne. ‘Unzip me, babe?’

Adrienne’s fingers trembled as she pulled the fastener down, then stepped back to watch the dress fall forward, noticing the expensive label as it fell. She began to undo the buttons of her blouse as Rachel carefully folded the dress and cardigan and put them on the sofa arm. Rachel’s underwear was black and expensive, a half-cup bra making the most of her breasts, slightly smaller in size than Adrienne’s. Rachel’s long legs and well-toned thighs were covered by black hold-up stockings, her bottom exposed by the thong she had chosen in anticipation of a night of adventure. Adrienne was stepping out of her slacks and folding them with her blouse as Rachel turned to face her again.

‘A little conservative in your choice of smalls, considering what you were planning, weren’t you?’ She eyed Adrienne’s full briefs and plain but well-supported bra with a mischievous wink. They were in white, to match the hold-ups she had chosen.

‘I guess I just don’t have your experience in getting my kit off in front of strangers,’ Adrienne replied, poking out her tongue.

‘You’re no stranger. I’ve seen your boobs plenty of times, and you’ve seen mine.’ They had stripped together in dress shops and spa changing rooms, but now the atmosphere was very different. ‘So how should we be waiting for Madame’s return?’

It was a good question, and one to which Adrienne had given some thought, anticipating Maria would want to make a dramatic entrance, which is exactly what she did five minutes later. She was pleased with what she found.

Maria swung the door open and framed herself in it for a few seconds. She had undergone a total transformation. Gone were the jeans and brown sweater under the bomber jacket she had been wearing the night she and Adrienne had met. Now she wore very little, but what she did wear was striking indeed. Her smooth sex and small breasts were concealed by the three leather patches which made up a very unusual bikini, one not designed for swimming. The black laces over her shoulders and around her waist were highlighted by the pale sheen of her skin, but that on her arms and legs was hidden. Her limbs were encased in shiny PVC: elbow-length gloves and thigh-high boots with stiletto heels which added at least an inch to her height.

Her hair, loose and girlish when she went into the bedroom, was now in a severe bun, pulled back from her face, which had also been given the treatment. Bare-faced when she arrived, now she had applied make-up with an expert touch, giving her lovely, elfin features a cold and cruel aspect.

Maria stood in the doorway, her feet apart and her hands by her side. In her left she held a riding crop, in her right a tawse. Both were being tapped against her boots.

She looked down at Adrienne and Rachel. Down, because the two semi-naked girls knelt side by side on the carpet in the centre of the room. Their fingers were locked and their hands rested on top of their heads. Their eyes were focused on the floor. At first they had both struggled to keep straight faces, but as their anticipation grew the longer they waited, the tighter became the erotic tension. They were now both thoroughly turned on, and Adrienne even felt a small damp spot growing in the sheer material stretched across her crotch.

Maria studied her slave girls for several seconds, although to them it felt like an eternity before she finally spoke. ‘Well, well, what have we here? A pair of wicked hussies, I’ll be bound.’ Adrienne shivered, a little shocked at her gentle lover’s language. Even her voice seemed to have changed, with a hard, merciless edge to it. Adrienne began to feel the complete submission she had craved and felt her tummy lurch. ‘It seems to have fallen on me to punish you. So what have you done to deserve my attention? Come on, speak! Or do I have to whip it out of you?’

Adrienne felt smooth, stiff leather under her chin, and found her face being lifted by the tawse. She stared into Maria’s beautiful but cold eyes. ‘Please, mistress,’ she began, ‘I’ve been … I’ve been …’ She had not thought Maria would demand a reason to beat her, and groped for a plausible crime. ‘I’ve been wanton,’ she eventually croaked. She felt it was a good word, which fitted her fantasy. It was a word Catherine or Miss Prior might have used. ‘I’ve been wanton with another woman,’ she added for good measure.

‘Slut,’ whispered Maria, allowing Adrienne’s head to drop back in what she felt was genuine shame. Maria moved on to Rachel, this time using the riding crop to lift her face. ‘And what have you been up to, my pretty?’

‘Oh, I’ve just fucked men,’ said Rachel. For a moment Adrienne thought her friend had stopped taking her role seriously, until she added, ‘Lots of men. I’ve fucked lots and lots of men, in every possible position and every hole, sometimes all three at once.’

‘Then the title “whore” is too good for you.’ Maria pulled the crop away with a contemptuous flick which jerked Rachel’s head back a fraction. Adrienne held her breath. She had hoped Rachel would go along with the game, but now she sensed a genuine challenge being laid down to Maria.

‘You shall be punished, both of you,’ announced the dominatrix, turning her back on the kneeling women. ‘It will be painful, humiliating and …’ At this point, Maria turned back to face them and paused for dramatic effect. ‘… sexual. There’s nothing I find more pleasurable than forcing a naughty girl to come, whether she wants it or not.’ At that moment, both Adrienne and Rachel believed her completely.

Maria walked slowly across the lounge until she came to a straight-backed chair Adrienne had placed there before Rachel arrived. It had a small wooden knob at the top of each of the back supports, and Maria hung her implements on each one. Adrienne and Rachel heard this being done behind them, then Adrienne felt a sharp tug on her long, blonde hair.

‘You, up,’ Maria ordered with a sharp rasp. Adrienne obeyed quickly, and turned to see Maria giving Rachel’s lustrous and well-coiffured hair a pull. ‘And you, turn around. No, stay on your knees, it’s where you belong,’ she added, as Rachel made to stand. Awkwardly, she had to shuffle 180 degrees, her hands still linked on her head.

Maria sat on the chair, facing the kneeling Rachel, but looking at Adrienne. She knew what was coming. ‘Across my lap, now!’ Maria barked. Adrienne scurried to obey, pleased that her girlfriend was playing the scene so well. Harsh words were one thing but real, painful slaps to a helpless bottom were quite another, and Adrienne could only guess how Rachel would react once she saw her getting a proper spanking.