--Dr Isabella Pacetti's Notes:
To recap: Sophie has reclaimed Katy, and now dominates her more completely than ever. Katy has allowed herself to be subjected to ever greater pain, and taken increasing pleasure from it. An evening of intimate torment culminates in a night of intense, passionate sex.
--Sophie's Statement:
I woke early, feeling impossibly alert almost immediately. My alarm clock had not yet sounded, and I silenced it before it started.
Beside me on the bed, uncovered and naked, Katy lay stretched out on her back. Her arms curled around her head on the pillow, her chest rose and fell slowly and heavily and her breath almost purred. She looked peaceful and happy. I didn't want to disturb her, so I lay silently for a while, watching. Her body was not as bruised or scarred as I had expected, although the pinkness from the caning and the strange marks from the pegs and clips remained. I wanted to stroke the soft, pale flesh, but I resisted. She needed to rest, and I needed to treat her kindly.
I showered and dressed as quietly as I could, and left Katy sleeping. I ate breakfast in the kitchen and then went through to the office.
Mrs Alderney was not there, but there was some typing ready on my desk. I got to work quickly, and I was finished within an hour, with no sign of my employer. I returned the relevant documents to her desk, and went back upstairs.
I stopped outside Mrs Alderney's door and listened, but couldn't hear anything, so I continued up to my own room.
I silently peeped inside to see Katy still deeply sleeping, curled up naked on the bed. I smiled and closed the door, then continued up to Katy's attic room.
The room was empty and lifeless, and instantly depressing. The bed had sheets, there was a hairbrush and a few toiletries on the chest of drawers, but there was nothing with any personality. I opened the top drawer and found the photography portfolio from the cellar. I smiled, took it out and put it back on the bed.
I opened the lower drawer and found a couple of Katy's uniforms, some nightdresses and pyjamas, and a few pairs of her white knickers. I looked around the room again and realised these were all of her clothes. In fact these were all of her possessions. Something would have to be done about this, but I needed to give that some thought. In the meantime, I reached into the drawer and scooped up all of its contents.
"Sorry, baby, these really aren't yours." I smirked at my own playful cruelty as I carried the clothes all the way downstairs. Mrs Alderney was still not in her office, so I carefully folded the clothes and laid them on her desk. I took one of the uniforms through to the hall and put it down next to the doormat.
I heard noise from the kitchen and made my way through to find Mrs Alderney sitting at the table, drinking coffee. She was dressed in a white bathrobe and slippers, but her hair and make-up were as carefully styled as ever. She looked subdued.
"Good morning," I said, feeling myself brim over with confidence. "Are you okay?"
Mrs Alderney looked up at me and smiled a little weakly.
"Yes, I'm fine. I didn't sleep well. Or at all."
"Oh. Oh, did we disturb you? It didn't occur to me..."
"No, no... I mean, I didn't hear any noise. But I admit I was... thinking about Katy."
"Were you worried about her?"
She shrugged and then nodded. There was a sort of sadness about her. "I'm afraid I interfered a little last night, and I worried I might have been mistaken."
I eyed her carefully and slid onto a chair opposite.
"Katy came to my room and begged for more. Was that down to you?"
She nodded again and didn't look at me. "Partly. She may have done it anyway, but I encouraged her. No, she would have done it, but maybe I should have discouraged her. I don't know. I trusted that you would treat her correctly. But in the night I doubted myself and strained my ears to hear her screams..."
"That was risky," I said, frowning, "there was nothing stopping me from starting on her all over again."
"Except that you're not a monster. I was right, wasn't I? I didn't need to worry."
I smiled. "Well... I think you were right to worry... but no, I couldn't put her through it again so soon. And that wasn't the mood. But you're okay? You seem down."
Mrs Alderney shook her head and smiled sadly. "No, I... this is how I wanted it to be. She absolutely belongs to you. I suppose I feel I've lost her."
I reached across the table to hold her hand for a moment.
"No... she loves you, Mrs Alderney. She adores you."
"She worships you. She belongs to you."
I grinned. "And you can borrow her whenever you want. You can do whatever you want with her, and just watch the delight in her eyes whenever you give her your attention. She needs you. I promise you haven't lost her. But having said that..."
She smiled and looked me in the eye at last. "Having said that..?"
"I have new rules for her, and these impact on you as the head of the household. I have told her she may only wear clothes with my express permission. I've taken the clothes from her room and put them on your desk. I've left one uniform by the door, which I will allow her to wear if someone visits. Otherwise she will be naked. I'm sorry if that offends you, and you can give her a uniform to wear in your office, if you prefer, but..."
She held up a hand. "No, that's fine. I only ever gave her rules to follow because I wanted her to follow rules. I'm happy for her to go naked if that's what you want. I'm happy not to have to discipline her. I'd like to be closer to her, now that she has you for her mistress. But may I suggest you don't technically allow her to wear the uniform? Punish her if she puts it on without permission; punish her if she answers the door naked without permission. If the idea amuses you."
I laughed happily. "Yes, that amuses me. Poor girl. I rather enjoy the thought of her getting out of bed and scuttling round the house searching for clothes. Oh, but I'd like her to rest today. I really put her through the wringer yesterday."
"Of course. You might as well take the day off too; I don't really feel like working today."
I nodded. "I think I'll go out," I said, realising I had already fully made up my mind to do so, with or without her permission. "If Katy comes down while I'm gone will you make sure she understands the new rules? And otherwise... well, like I say, do whatever you want with her."
Mrs Alderney shook her head faintly. "I don't know what to do with her."
I held her hand again. "Do something nice. I mean give her a treat. But do what you want. That's important. To her, I mean."
I left the house and made for Dr Pacetti's office. It was another beautiful Spring day, and I was yearning to see Bella again, but somehow my mood was flat. The image of Mrs Alderney sitting lonely and uncertain in her kitchen was a bleak one, and it repeatedly intruded on my thoughts.
When I arrived at la dottoressa's door, I was no longer feeling playful or confident, and I once again needed her help.
When Bella answered the door she was dressed in a familiar sort of long, narrow skirt and black stockings, but her top was a modest white vest, displaying her beautifully olive-tanned arms. Her hair was tied back in a practical manner, but some had escaped and hung in a long dark tendril down her cheek.
She smiled with surprise when she saw me, but glanced anxiously upstairs. I understood.
"You're busy," I said, with an apologetic smile.
Bella nodded. "A client is here. We've just begun."