Anonymous - Astrid Cane

'Then she is not herself a subject?', Astrid asked with a twinge of disappointment.

'As yet? No. Not as yet', Julia responded, whereat a smile of complicity spread over both their faces. Bending over her companion, who lay still upon the bed, Julia kissed her. 'You see, I replace one difficult task for you with another', she purred.

'I think not, Julia. Would you deal, please, with Will while I take Harriet up to the Attendance Room? It would be as well for her to inspect the means of persuasion thoroughly, and perhaps even to taste them, if I can so persuade her. I may need the assistance of Marie and Amy, or I may not. They will be on call?'.

'Of course. How admirable your ideas are already! Come, let us dress, for our guests will be here soon and we would not wish to disappoint them'.

Tea was indeed ready to be served upon the arrival of Harriet and Will, neither of whom disappointed Astrid in their appearance. Harriet was of middle height and comely of looks, her face being roundish, her mouth small, her nose of pleasing proportions. Firmly held beneath a tight corsage, her breasts were exceedingly plump, while her bottom gave promise of admirable curvature and weight. As to her brother, he looked not as unmanly as Astrid thought he might. His moustache was trim, his skin smooth. His physique did not betoken a weakling, being seemingly well formed and muscled beneath his formal attire. This at first puzzled Astrid not a little, for all her views on the submissive-ness of males were formed upon the impression she had gained of Anthony.

Tea having been taken with such decorum and polite conversation as would have passed in a vicarage, Julia indicated her desire to speak with Will alone. This intelligence caused him first to blush and then to grow a trifle pale, which spectacle did much to reassure Astrid that all was not as it first seemed. If she had any apprehensions at all, it was how to deal with Harriet, or rather whether she would be able to deal with her. Even so, these vagrant fears diminished upon inviting the young woman to accompany her upstairs.

Harriet was not displeased to leave the drawing room, and she had begun to entertain doubts as to whether she should have persuaded Will to accompany her here. 'Will she be strict with him?', she asked Astrid, upon going upstairs. For in truth she had little enough idea of Julia's purpose in the matter save that the lady had a reputation for 'settling' people.

'It may be', Astrid replied carefully.

'You assist her?'

'Frequently. But at times I serve to settle those who accompany our guests here. I inculcate them with our precepts', Astrid said glibly enough. It would be nice to take Harriet into the bedroom, but even nicer, she decided, to have her in what she personally now preferred to call the discipline room. And there indeed she led Harriet, who was all of a wonder as to where they were going to settle and how long the whole business would take. Upon the door opening, she made-as did many-to step back, but Astrid urged her firmly within and closed the door. Quite amused, she watched Harriet gaze with wild dismay about the room and the various 'persuaders' that dangled from the walls.

'Oh, dear Will is not to be whipped surely!', Harriet gasped.

'It depends on how naughty he may have been. Has he been naughty?', Astrid asked, guiding her intended victim to the couch, where she sat heavily. 'You must tell me all', she urged. 'Your letters lacked a certain explicitness, Harriet. Tell me first of his fawning over you'.

'Oh, that!', Harriet exclaimed uncomfortably and rather wished she had never come. Astrid's eyes seemed to be fixed on her rather severely.

'Yes, indeed, THAT, my dear. Come, you must not be coy, for is this not the sole purpose of your visit? Will is not the only one, you know, whom we have reason to correct or train. Some young men are brought by their mothers, others by their aunts or elder sisters or their guardians. Then there are girls and young women-some indeed of the same age as yourself. They, too, require attendance'.

'Girls? Young women?', Harriet echoed in astonishment. 'What then is the purpose of these horrible whips and straps and chains? Is this not a cruelty?'.

'Oh, pouf, as to cruelty, my dear. We know not its name. None who departs these walls does so without being deeply satisfied at his or her lot. But, come, you have not answered my question!', Astrid insisted, placing her arm about Harriet's shoulders while recalling well enough all that had been done to herself.

'It will be a secret?', Harriet pleaded.

'Of course. Naught that passes here shall be known to the world', Astrid replied, taking advantage of the young woman's upturned face to kiss her prettily upon her rosebud mouth, much to Harriet's disturbed surprise. Tear not what you say to me-use any words you wish. We are not shocked', Astrid pursued.

Harriet twisted her fingers together in some agitation, 'We live alone, as you may have gathered. Our parents left us well provided for. We have ever been close, yet Will is given to such strange habits that I know not what to do about it. I have come upon him often enough sniffing at my shoes and boots, which he insists upon cleaning even though we have servants to do such things'.

'Why, my dear, that is but a mark of adoration', exclaimed Astrid. 'A woman's body holds many odours that attract the male, whether it be the scent of your feet, the milkiness of your breasts, or the delicious perfumes of your drawers'.

'Oh!', exclaimed Harriet in much confusion, for she had never expected another woman to speak thus.

'How adorable you look in moments of surprise! The pouting of your lips becomes you. Kiss me, for in furthering our intimacy you will be better prepared to divulge all. Has he attempted your drawers?'.

'Ah, no! How can you speak thus?', quavered Harriet, whose mouth had surrendered itself more sweetly than she had intended. 'I am his sister!'.

'Which is precisely why he may wish to nuzzle your crotch, Harriet. Raise your legs and turn about. Lie down. You will be better accommodated thus'.

'No! I do not wish! Oh, what are you at!'

Having listened at the door by virtue of uncovering the peephole, Marie and Amy entered at that moment, having been apprised by Astrid that their services might be required. A merry tussle was ensuing on the couch, for Harriet proved stronger than Astrid had expected. Her cries rent the air upon finding herself placed fully on her back while Astrid held her shoulders.

'Remove her drawers, Marie, and take them down to your mistress!'.

In the drawing room, where Julia had long sat regarding him silently, Will was in a state of mystery and apprehension. Harriet had told him nothing of the purpose of their visit save that there was a lady she wished him to see. Never before had he been alone with a strange woman and he felt distinctly in awe of his hostess, who appeared so commanding and beautiful. Even so, he wished that his sister were there, for he felt most safe with her.

At the opening of the door, he jumped visibly and saw that it was one of the maids. That which she carried in her hand brought a distinct blush to his cheeks, as Julia could not fail to notice.

'Miss Astrid says as I was to bring these down, Ma'am'.

'Thank you, Marie. Rather plain, are they not?', said Julia, examining the white drawers the maid handed her. Running her fingers through the material and testing the tightness of the elastic that but moments before had encompassed Harriet's waist and thighs, Julia rose and stepped towards Will's chair, the drawers dangling from her fingers.

'Have you ever worn these, Will?'.

The young man's jaw dropped. His eyes obtained a glassy look. The blush on his face was as deep as a red, red rose. He knew them well enough, as he did all of Harriet's drawers, whether white, blue, or pink. She had many times caught him peeping through her bedroom door when she was in a state of delightful dishabille and had admonished him severely, for the door would frequently creak as he clutched it nervously, peering through the jamb. But a week before she had caught him thus. She was deliriously attired in her black lace-up boots, white-silk stockings, these selfsame drawers, and a chemise that left half-naked the large, milky gourds of her breasts.