[Author's note: This story was originally posted in "Lesbian Sex", but due to the heavy sadomasochistic themes of the series, I have moved it to "BDSM".]
*****
--Dr Isabella Pacetti's Notes:
To recap: Sophie Burton has started a new job as assistant to a novelist, Marie Alderney. She has moved into the author's house and befriended her maid, Katy. Harbouring dark secrets in her own past, she was immediately aware that the relationship between Katy and the widowed Mrs Alderney is odd. Disturbed one night by strange noises in the house, she has confronted Katy the following day, and seen that Katy's skin is vividly marked with fresh caning scars.
Once again I remind you that all the participants in these acts of sadism and submission are consenting adult women.
--Sophie's Statement:
Thundering down the passage, across the hall and through to the office, I was trembling with rage. I never stop to analyse my reasons when the anger takes hold. I preferred to think it was genuine concern for my friend, whom I towed along beside me by her wrist, but before Dr Pacetti prompts me I will confess that I also felt embarrassed, humiliated and betrayed. And in fact Katy's passive compliance only pricked my anger even more.
I shouldered open the office door and tugged Katy inside and spat out my question:
"So just what the fuck is going on in this house?"
Mrs Alderney looked up sharply and took in the scene. While I glared at her she stared sadly at Katy for what seemed a long time. She sighed, laid down her pen and removed her glasses to rub her eyes. Her voice was exasperated and resigned.
"Really Katy? I must sincerely apologise, Miss Burton."
"Apologise? You must sincerely fucking explain this!" I twisted Katy around to show her employer the backs of her legs. Mrs Alderney didn't look, but continued to stare coldly at the girl's face.
"Miss Burton, I have to..." She stopped, as though she realised her response was going to sound feeble and she was embarrassed before she started. She thought for a second, put on her glasses, and stood up, fixing me with an icy stare.
"As you know, Katy was rather deliberately exposing herself yesterday afternoon. Apparently it gave her some disgusting... kick. She confessed this to me last night. As her employer, given her particular attitude deficiencies, I take it upon myself to impose on her the discipline she lacks in herself. I had hoped that I had corrected this particular aberration, and that you would not have to suffer her games any more. I sincerely apologise. Must we have more exercises, Katy?"
Katy squirmed and turned deep red with humiliation, and looked everywhere but at Mrs Alderney or me, but finally found her voice.
"Yes please Madame."
I stepped away from her, feeling a little queasy. My anger had ebbed away during Mrs Alderney's little speech, as it always eventually did, and now I felt cold and numb. And helpless.
"Since she has decided to burden you with her problems too, you might want to observe the steps I take to correct her. Or you may prefer not to. I quite understand."
I thought I said "What the fuck?" but my voice failed me. Instead I just gaped, stunned by her apparent calm. But I stood there, and I watched as she pushed back her chair until it was close to the window, and then returned to her desk. She opened a drawer and pulled from it an ancient schoolmaster's cane. It seemed too long for the drawer, almost comically so. She went back to the chair and tapped it briskly with the cane.
"Come."
Katy hunched her shoulder away from me as she padded slowly to the chair and faced 'Madame'. She cleared her throat and spoke quietly but clearly.
"Please Madame, may I repeat my lessons?"
"Very well. Take it off."
If I had been about to leave or intervene, I don't remember, but I do remember stepping forward now to study Katy once more. She lifted her dress and pulled it off over her head, folding it efficiently against her belly and laying it on the chair. She was naked now except for the knickers, and her body was still as pale as moonlight in the midday sun. As I looked, I could make out dim pink ghosts of lines, faded versions of those which crossed her bottom. These were all over her torso, making slight bruises on her ribs, a little swollen across her belly.
I saw her small, firm breasts, and her nipples -- stiffening as her white flesh goose-pimpled -- also traced with barely visible lines. One nipple had clearly caught a blow at some time, and was subtly swollen.