was enjoying herself immensely. ‘Back to work — all of you! And if you whine like whipped pups at what I make you do, just wait. This afternoon you’ll work with Mrs Frike!’
The heavyset housekeeper couldn’t hide a smile. ‘That’s my cue to have some tasks ready,’ she remarked with a final scrutinising of the three maids. ‘But I don’t mess with a silly little cane, girls. I’ve got a broad hand and an arm that never gets tired — hear me?’
Cleopatra, Toinette and Cinderella scurried towards the stairway as best they could with their white skiv-vies nipping at their knees, not daring a last look at the dour housekeeper who exited the parlour. When Monique and I stood alone in the centre of the room, I took a deep breath. What did I say — what did I think? — about the scene I’d just witnessed?
‘Must you be so —’
‘Strict?’ The black-clad mistress tugged at the fingertips of her gloves. ‘They must learn in a hurry, non ? If they are to meet Mr Proffit’s approval — and make you look good? And never, never forget that Miss Delacroix, she trained them this way.’
Monique stepped closer then, to peer at me with those provocative dark eyes still surrounded by a mask of black satin that went up into pointed corners.
‘These girls who are boys?’ she asked in a confiding tone. ‘They make the best servants, Auntie Evil. Sissy maids live to follow orders. They’re born to serve. They choose this path, because to attend the School of Domestic Endeavor, to be trained and then recommended by Honore Delacroix, why — they can attain no higher life!’
Sissy maids. I’d have to take this new bone and chew on it, for I’d never been presented with such a philosophy, nor met anyone who knew of it. I simply could not fathom a healthy, normal young man becoming a — a maid. In skirts!
But again my personal servant — very unorthodox in her own ways — corralled my stampeding thoughts with a fingertip on my cheek, forcing me to focus on her unmasked face. She was flushed and lovely from her exertions, truly the queen of my staff. And once again her subtle charm cast its spell.
‘I’m planning a special surprise for tonight,’ she murmured, grinning as she thought about it. ‘Tommy Jon, he’s made you a gift, ma tante . And he wants to deliver it personally.’
My mouth went dry at the memory of her well-hung lover pumping her, but then reality set in. ‘I don’t think he’d better show up here —’
‘ Non? You can refuse that handsome man and his special talent with —’
‘If Fanny tells my husband about these goings-on, I’m hanged!’
Her laughter filled the elegant room with a gaiety seldom shared in this sombre house. ‘Fanny’ll be busy watching those sissy maids,’ she explained with sparkling eyes. ‘And if the housekeeper’s so excited by their little secret, she’ll keep your secrets too, non ? For if she tells Mr Chapin what’s under those aprons, he’ll send them away. Then everyone will be unhappy.’
My head spun with her skewed Cajun logic, but I was enjoying it too much to argue. It was indeed an ironic advantage that our stodgy Mrs Frike had found a new light in her life.
‘And, Auntie Evil, you know what they say — about when the cat’s away? The mice, they should play.’
Monique wiggled her nose like a mouse — a fetching little mouse in black who snatched up my hands. ‘T-Jon, he’s all excited about making your present. He’ll be so disappointed if you refuse him. And there’ll be no fun for me if my man’s not happy,’ she added pointedly.
With that, she headed for the door with feline finesse — probably so I’d notice the way her bared hips swayed beneath that tight black corset, while her footfalls set the pace for my pulse. She pivoted, to lean against the door jamb in profile, one leg bent with a foot to the woodwork as she slipped a little cigar from her stocking top, and then a match.
A spark flew from the bottom
The heavyset housekeeper couldn’t hide a smile. ‘That’s my cue to have some tasks ready,’ she remarked with a final scrutinising of the three maids. ‘But I don’t mess with a silly little cane, girls. I’ve got a broad hand and an arm that never gets tired — hear me?’
Cleopatra, Toinette and Cinderella scurried towards the stairway as best they could with their white skiv-vies nipping at their knees, not daring a last look at the dour housekeeper who exited the parlour. When Monique and I stood alone in the centre of the room, I took a deep breath. What did I say — what did I think? — about the scene I’d just witnessed?
‘Must you be so —’
‘Strict?’ The black-clad mistress tugged at the fingertips of her gloves. ‘They must learn in a hurry, non ? If they are to meet Mr Proffit’s approval — and make you look good? And never, never forget that Miss Delacroix, she trained them this way.’
Monique stepped closer then, to peer at me with those provocative dark eyes still surrounded by a mask of black satin that went up into pointed corners.
‘These girls who are boys?’ she asked in a confiding tone. ‘They make the best servants, Auntie Evil. Sissy maids live to follow orders. They’re born to serve. They choose this path, because to attend the School of Domestic Endeavor, to be trained and then recommended by Honore Delacroix, why — they can attain no higher life!’
Sissy maids. I’d have to take this new bone and chew on it, for I’d never been presented with such a philosophy, nor met anyone who knew of it. I simply could not fathom a healthy, normal young man becoming a — a maid. In skirts!
But again my personal servant — very unorthodox in her own ways — corralled my stampeding thoughts with a fingertip on my cheek, forcing me to focus on her unmasked face. She was flushed and lovely from her exertions, truly the queen of my staff. And once again her subtle charm cast its spell.
‘I’m planning a special surprise for tonight,’ she murmured, grinning as she thought about it. ‘Tommy Jon, he’s made you a gift, ma tante . And he wants to deliver it personally.’
My mouth went dry at the memory of her well-hung lover pumping her, but then reality set in. ‘I don’t think he’d better show up here —’
‘ Non? You can refuse that handsome man and his special talent with —’
‘If Fanny tells my husband about these goings-on, I’m hanged!’
Her laughter filled the elegant room with a gaiety seldom shared in this sombre house. ‘Fanny’ll be busy watching those sissy maids,’ she explained with sparkling eyes. ‘And if the housekeeper’s so excited by their little secret, she’ll keep your secrets too, non ? For if she tells Mr Chapin what’s under those aprons, he’ll send them away. Then everyone will be unhappy.’
My head spun with her skewed Cajun logic, but I was enjoying it too much to argue. It was indeed an ironic advantage that our stodgy Mrs Frike had found a new light in her life.
‘And, Auntie Evil, you know what they say — about when the cat’s away? The mice, they should play.’
Monique wiggled her nose like a mouse — a fetching little mouse in black who snatched up my hands. ‘T-Jon, he’s all excited about making your present. He’ll be so disappointed if you refuse him. And there’ll be no fun for me if my man’s not happy,’ she added pointedly.
With that, she headed for the door with feline finesse — probably so I’d notice the way her bared hips swayed beneath that tight black corset, while her footfalls set the pace for my pulse. She pivoted, to lean against the door jamb in profile, one leg bent with a foot to the woodwork as she slipped a little cigar from her stocking top, and then a match.
A spark flew from the bottom
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