Victorian Love (closed)

[Hard_Rom]

Henry finds himself sitting across from Ellie this time and beside her aunt. An informal family dinner with no pairings is still served as a multi-course meal complete with footmen in livery. Essentially the meal is broken down. The vegetable course is separate from the meat, even lowly cheese is it's own course.

During the course of the meal, Lord Darlington asks Henry, "So Major, how did you like the tour of the house? Find anything that struck your fancy?"

"Indeed I did, my Lord," Henry replies with a big smile, "Your antiquities room had some beautiful things. I rather enjoyed myself there. History is one of my favourite subjects. I'm sure my going on bored Richard to sleep." "I must thank you, Miss Darlington for suggesting the tour. It was quite enjoyable, I do hope I was not too much of a history bore."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"It was fine. I am always open to learning something new." Ellie said looking up at him "I enjoyed our time Major." Ellie looked away as she finished speaking "Did you do anything interesting?" She asked turning her attention to her aunt.

 

[Hard_Rom]

No dear, I just had a claret and a nap," Lady Addling replies.

"I talked with the estate manager and the gardener, Ellie," her father says, "The gardener thinks the heating system is up to it, if it is kept close to the boiler and not too big. He says right behind the boiler shed has a nice southern exposure and he can put up a brick wall to keep the sounds of the boiler being a disturbance." "It might be a bit of a cold walk in winter and not large enough to entertain in but he thinks there is room for a small tea patio perhaps."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"It really isn't nessacary since you plan on having me married off to Cedric this spring. There wouldn't be time for me to enjoy it and I doubt that Richard would get much use out of a garden." Ellie replied "I appreciate your offer though."

 

[Hard_Rom]

Lord Darlington casts a hard look at his daughter but immediately adopts an embarrassed look as he glances at Henry, the guest at the table. Richard and Henry hide their faces in their food.

"Don't be silly, Ellie," her aunt says, "That would be a scandalously short engagement. I can assure you, a lady of your rank can not be engaged for any period less than a year. I told you, you will be presented at court this spring. People would think you were being married off quickly before a pregnancy could show. It would be scandalous. You might even be denied permission based on such gossip." "I won't have that! My niece will be presented at court free of any gossip or scandal."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I am just repeating what Cedric told me." She said "maybe we should put off the endgame the then. At least until after I am presented at court." Ellie said seeing a possible chance. "We don't know what might happen."

 

[Hard_Rom]

"Oh that won't be necessary," Lady Addling counters, "You can be engaged or even married and still be presented at court. You just have to be free from too much gossip or scandal. Too short of an engagement would count as scandalous. A girl could get pregnant, have a short engagement just long enough to make proper arrangements then leave on a honeymoon and not return with a child, having given it up." "Don't you worry. I would think middle of next January, a year or so from now would be a good date for a wedding. You could honeymoon then be back in London for the beginning of the season." "You just have Cedric come to talk to me, dear. I will set him straight."

On such a point as family honour, Lord Darlington will not cross his sister, having already submitted the family to the ignominy of such a common marriage.

"You see," he says to Ellie, "Nothing to worry about. You will have lots of time to enjoy it."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"That isn't my concern. I don't like Cedric not even the slightest. Isn't it possible that someone better could come along. Is there really any reason I should have to marry him? He really isn't that great." Ellie said annoyed "All he wants is someone to look pretty while he fools around with other women."

 

[Hard_Rom]

Ellie's Aunt Martha kicks her hard below the table. Her father hides his face in his food from embarrassment.

"In the first place, Ellie. Family matters such as this are not subjects of dinner conversation with guests here," her aunt chides her in a pleasant conversational tone, much practiced over her years, "Second, why should you be any different than any other noble born girl. Marriage for love is for the working class, my dear. Perhaps a girl may get lucky in who her father chooses to marry her to but most do not. You should think yourself lucky. Cedric is young, handsome and very rich." "Once you are married you can take up a hobby or do charity work, if being with your husband is so bad."

Turning to Henry, Lady Addling says, "You must forgive my niece. I'm afraid the decision not to have proper governess' or attend a finishing school has lent her to be somewhat lacking in social graces. I fear I may have my work cut out for me in getting her ready for court."

"I am sure she is good hands, Lady Addling," Henry replies in his own pleasant conversational voice. Attempting to change the conversation topic to a safer one, he continues, "I would expect you will be able to present Miss Darlington in the first session. And near the head of the line I am sure."

"Oh yes." Lady Addling replies, relieved at the change in conversation topic, "You know I had to sit eight hours in a very cold carriage attired in court dress waiting for my turn. My feet were so cold, I thought I would stumble."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie remained silent refusing to say anything more the rest of the meal, keeping her focus on her food instead of everything else going on. As the last plates were cleared Ellie softly kicked Henry to get his attention. Looking him in the eyes she tried to tell if he was upset with her for her outburst. She knew he would probably have a lot to say about it if they weren't alone.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Henry has been having a delightful conversation with Ellie's aunt about court. Even Lord Darlington eventually is drawn in to the talk, although he pointedly does not look at Ellie. Richard stays fairly quiet, drinks more than usual for dinner and looks at his sister sadly several times. Henry gives Ellie a glance and slight smile in response to her attempt to get his attention.

"Major, Richard. If you will excuse me, I won't be joining you for a cigar in the billiards room tonight," Lord Darlington says as he rises from the table.

He waits until Ellie's brother and Henry have left the room and turns to Ellie.

"You will go to your room. Now!" he orders her, "Your aunt and I will be along presently."

With those words he strides away. Lady Addling gives Ellie a despairing look and follows her brother.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie sighed as she stood and headed off to her room. Picking up a book she sat down in a chair and started to read while she waited for them to come up and yell at her for her behavior. She just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible, knowing it wouldn't be a pleasant experience.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Lord Darlington followed by Lady Addling, the head housekeeper and two servant girls from the kitchens walk into Ellie's room without knocking. The servant girls are tall broad shouldered wenches. The housekeeper carries a bundle of willow withies tied together at one end of the bundle. Corporal punishment is still practiced at all levels of society in 1860. The housekeeper indicates the chaise lounge in the room. The two girls easily carry it to the centre of the room.

Ellie's father looks at her for a moment.

"You have humiliated me in front of a guest. You have openly defied me. I am your father and you will do your duty to this family," he calmly states, "As a child I was very lenient with you. Probably too lenient. But you are not a child anymore. And if you wish to act like one. You will be disciplined like one."

With that he turns and leaves.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie stands slamming the book down on the small table in front of her. "He can't be serious. What was so wrong about what I said. I only voiced my concern. I shouldn't have said anything in front of Henry but I doubt he minded. Is this really nessacary?" She asked looking at her aunt.

 

[Hard_Rom]

"What colour is the sky in your world?" Lady Addling asks, "Do you live in some fantasy world where you may do as you please? Where your "concerns" mean you can defy your father, a Peer of the Realm. Where duty to your family is set aside because you don't "like" your husband."

"You are clearly affected by hysteria," Ellie's aunt continues, using the catchall diagnosis for most female "problems", sexual frustration, anxiety and depression. A man would be affected by a "melancholy". "I will talk to Major MacClinton. He will know the latest treatments I think."

"Now bend over the end of the lounge."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie took a deep breath as she did as she was told, knowing there was no use in arguing any more. She had already gotten herself in enough trouble for one day. Bracing herself she closed her eyes hoping the pain wouldn't be to intolerable.

 

[Hard_Rom]

The two servant girls lift and fold back Ellie's dress and petticoats. As one of them moves to lower Ellie's drawers, her aunt stops the girl.

"Leave them on," she says. "I would hate to see you miss out on tomorrows hunt, Ellie. I had to promise your father this would correct your behaviour or else he might have kept you locked in your room until New Years Eve, he was so mad!"

Turning to the housekeeper, Lady Addling orders the woman to give her niece ten good strokes. The housekeeper is an old hand at disciplining errant servant girls. Jealousies, petty squabbles and dalliances that detract from the quiet orderly running of the household are frequently punished, settled and ended by corporal punishment. Dismissal from service is a disaster for one of the servant class. Without references, job prospects are almost nil. Better to endure the abuse than be forced out of work in a society without much of a welfare safety net.

The woman steps up, raises the rod bundle and brings it down viciously hard on Ellie's lightly covered backside.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie screms out, tears immediately running down her face. "Please stop..." She mutters another strike hits her "Please..." She begs as the hits continue. Sobbing she buries her head into the chaise as she waits for the abuse to end.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Ten good very precise hard strokes are administered to Ellie's bottom. After delivering the last one, the housekeeper lowers the birching rods. Ellie's aunt steps up behind Ellie and lowers her niece's drawers. The skin of Ellie's bottom certainly shows the marks of a good birching yet the cloth of her drawers has protected the skin of her ass from breaking of the skin and resultant slight bleeding. Lady Addling steps away and signals to the two waiting servant girls, who move to raise Ellie's drawers and put her skirts and dress back in place.

"You are confined to your room the rest of the evening," states Lady Addling, "And if you do not start acting like a grown modern woman, willing to accept her role and fate with grace and perseverance, and not some little lost girl in a fantasy world then I am afraid things will go badly for you." "Next time it will be fifteen strokes on your bare bottom. I guarantee you will not be able to ride for a few days after that."

Ellie's aunt and her punishment detail leave the room.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie carefully lay on her bed, in a great deal of pain. Butting her head in her pillow she wanted to scream but she stayed silent instead trying not to think much about her unfair situation. There was nothing she could do to get out of it, or at least it was starting to seem that way.

 

[Hard_Rom]

After Lord Darlington informs Henry and his son that the ladies had retired for the evening, a spirited billiards game breaks out. With just the men present the cigars burn late and quire a few drinks are put away. Henry still manages to lighten both the Lords of a few more sovereigns. Richard's father does eventually excuse himself and rather unsteadily goes of to bed. Richard and Henry spend another couple of hours retelling old war stories and toasting dead friends. Well past midnight, Henry assists a well lubricated Richard to his room. Both are quite loud. They have a final drink in Richard's room before Richard's valet pours his drunken lord in to bed.

Henry goes to his room. He must layout his own riding kit for the morning with Jimmie gone. Richard's valet finishes putting his charge to bed and leaves. The family wing of the manor goes quiet with the night. A little unsteady himself, Henry undresses for bed.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Ellie had changed for bed and fallen asleep by the time they arrived upstairs but was their noise woke her. Getting out of bed she listened carefully until things went silent once again. Leaving her room she walked carefully to Henry's, doing her best to avoid any noise. Opening the door she quickly stepped in, covering her eyes when she saw his state of undress. "Sorry..." She whispered.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Not overly surprised by Ellie slipping in to his room, Henry is drunk enough not to clue in he is standing butt naked in front of her for a second. As she covers her eyes, he smiles and reaches for his dressing robe. With her hands over her eyes, Ellie doesn't see Henry look her up and down. Her nightgown, like most of her gowns and dresses, is simple yet of the finest material. Henry can see the darkness of Ellie's nipples and a hint of darkness at her groin through the material.

"It may be a bit late for modesty between us," he whispers back and laughs quietly, "I doubt I will be sorry to see you totally nude."

Slipping on and closing tight his dressing gown, Henry sits on the edge of the bed. He pats the mattress beside him.

"Would you like to sit down?"

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I probably shouldn't." She said uncovering her eyes "I will be lucky if I can sit comfortable tomorrow after the beating I got tonight. Maybe it's best if we don't continue this... We have no clue what we are going to do and if it doesn't work out I will have to marry Cedric. All this hope of actually marrying you is going to my head. I'm acting like an idiot."

 

[Hard_Rom]

"Oh! That's why you and your aunt were absent earlier," Henry says rising to his feet, "Well, a gentleman can hardly sit in the presence of a lady." "And you are not marrying Cedric!"

He crosses the room to her. "Things are looking better all the time. You aunt will certainly never let you be married too quickly. Miss Nightingale is very eager to have the higher classes enroll in her programs. Not many do. You will be away from Cedric all week with me and can hide in your new garden on the weekends," he says taking her hands in his, "I am betting that your aunt will one day whip you for insolence then the next defend your legitimate rights quite fiercely."