The Companion

Chapter Three

It was heavenly to be alone for a while and Rachel relaxed, smiling to herself as she realised that Miss Caine had actually forgotten about the caning after all. She unpacked the meagre contents of her trunk, hanging some of her garments up in the solitary mahogany wardrobe but depositing a few on the bed as well before she placed the one picture she had of her parents on the bedside table. Her memories had faded like the picture and it was hard to recall them at all at times. What would they have thought of her current situation? Feeling miserable, she gave up unpacking and stretched out on the narrow bed then stared up at the ceiling, eyes mindlessly tracing the tiny cracks in the plaster until she actually managed to fall asleep for a while.

Disorientated and confused, Rachel woke up with a start and then jumped up abruptly. What was the time? Miss Caine had told her to be downstairs in the dining room by quarter to seven at the latest and it was already going dark outside. At least, she did not have to dress for dinner, she thought ruefully, catching a glimpse of her scantily-clad figure in the mirror as she rushed towards the door and then hurried downstairs as fast as she could in the restrictive corset.

"You are five minutes late, Rachel. Punctuality is extremely important and I will punish you later for your tardiness," Miss Caine stated, her forehead creased in annoyance. Blushing and inwardly berating herself for being so careless, Rachel hurriedly sat down opposite Miss Caine and tried in vain not to feel too self-conscious about her attire, or lack of it, as a pair of maids bustled in carrying the food. Neither maid seemed to notice that Rachel was sitting there with her breasts on show as they set plates down and then brought over serving dishes and laid them on mats on the highly polished oak table top.

As the taller of the two maids went to set the gravy boat down, she stumbled slightly and a couple of splashes marred the gleaming oak. Rachel noticed that, instantly, she shot a worried glance at Miss Caine then scrubbed off the hot liquid with a cloth before she scurried off to bring over more serving dishes.

"Training is so important, Rachel, both for my companion and for the rest of my servants. Isn't that so, Lydia?"

"Yes, Miss Caine," replied the maid who had spilt the gravy.

"And I have a system of rewards and punishments, don't I, Lydia?"

"Yes, Miss Caine," answered the maid, colouring up swiftly as she realised that her mistake had been noticed.

"I also like to make the punishment fit the crime so come here, Lydia, and remove your dress."

Rachel watched in fascination as the girl walked over, stood by her mistress and quickly slipped out of her dress. Underneath, she was wearing nothing, not even a shift, and Rachel could not tear her eyes away from the small, pale breasts and the triangle of dark hair that cloaked her pussy.

"Lie down on the floor, girl!" snapped Miss Caine and, as the maid obeyed, she picked up the gravy boat and dipped one finger into the dark brown liquid thoughtfully. Then, she leaned over and poured some of the gravy onto the maid's bare breasts, ignoring her shrieks as the hot liquid spread out over her tender flesh.

"Fortunately, cook, as usual, has made plenty," Miss Caine observed dispassionately, "so there is enough for us still and for Lydia to have a little more too!"

With that, she barked at the maid to part her legs and, trembling with fear, the girl complied then howled in agony as more gravy was dribbled out of the silver sauce boat and onto her pussy folds.

"I will tell you when you can go, Lydia, but if you dribble any on the carpet then I will cane you severely!"

"Yes, Miss Caine," stammered out the poor maid through clenched teeth as she tried to ignore the biting heat of the gravy on her tender flesh.

"Gravy with your meat, Rachel?" inquired Miss Caine, raising one eyebrow as she held out the sauce boat towards her new companion.

Rachel found it incredibly difficult to make conversation with Miss Caine about mundane topics when there was a naked girl lying flat on the floor. Every time, she ate some meat and tasted the gravy deep in her throat, she wondered what it would be like to lick off the tasty liquid from Lydia's pussy lips or breasts and she sensed, by the little smile that played around her mistress' lips, that the woman knew exactly what she was thinking. Eventually, the maid was given permission to leave and she scurried out, one hand over her groin and the other covering her breasts as she tried not to drip upon the carpet. She reappeared a couple of minutes later, scrubbed and clean, and proceeded to remove the finished plates and serving dishes with her colleague before she came back into the room and donned her dress after asking Miss Caine for permission.

Dessert was served, a jam roly-poly bathed in custard, and then Miss Caine ordered Rachel to accompany her back to her work room.

"Should I put a dress on?" she asked hopefully, noticing that the grandfather clock in the dining room was ticking ever closer to eight.

"Certainly not, girl!"

"But what about when the Hawkwoods arrive?"

"That is when you will be showing off my latest creations such as the corset you are wearing now, Rachel. There is very little point in wearing something that will cover my design as that is what they have come to see!"

"But...but..."

Rachel's voice tailed off as Miss Caine's gimlet green eyes fastened upon her threateningly for a few moments before she said quietly but menacingly, "My work room, young lady. Follow me there so that I can punish you for your earlier transgressions before I greet the Hawkwoods!"

Heart sinking rapidly down into her metaphorical boots, Rachel trailed after her mistress, bottom cheeks quivering with every step that took them closer to their date with pain. It was all she could do to walk the last few steps and tears filled her eyes as the door was closed firmly behind her.

"Go and stand in the centre of the room opposite the mirror and place your hands on your head, girl!" commanded Miss Caine and, shaking like a leaf, Rachel complied, pressing down on her springy, golden curls as she watched her mistress walk over to a cupboard and take out a long, thin cane.

"Please don't!" Rachel whimpered as Miss Caine strolled over and stood just behind her.

"I have no intention of changing my mind. You will now receive a dozen strokes as there are an extra three for being late for dinner this evening. You will keep your hands on your head and you will thank me for each stroke or I will start again from the beginning. Your only other choice is to leave my employment immediately and go and survive out on the streets, girl. You will soon wish that you were back here with me then, I assure you!"

A tear of self pity rolled down Rachel's cheek as she realised that she really had no choice at all. Her great-aunt would not take her back and was probably already off visiting and she had no friends who would take her in. The streets or the workhouse? She shuddered at the idea of both and steeled herself to endure the pain that she knew the cane was going to inflict as Miss Caine tapped the hard wood gently against her new companion's bare bottom cheeks as she remarked softly, "I assume that you are going to remain as you are still standing here?"

"Yes, Miss Caine," murmured Rachel in a barely-audible voice and then she was shrieking in pain as the cane swung away and back in an instant. Blinding agony tore through her bottom flesh and lanced up into her brain in a flash and, before she could prevent it, she moved her hands away from her head and rubbed her arse, trying to assuage the torment.

"You are going to have to do a lot better than that, girl. Thankfully for you, that was only the first stroke although now it does not count so remember to count one next time!"

Rachel tried to compose herself as she placed her hands back on her head and pressed down hard, willing them not to move. She heard the slight swishing noise as the cane displaced the air and then came the sharp stinging agony once more, pervading her soft flesh and she squealed once more although this time she managed to keep her hands from straying down to her sore arse.

"One, Miss Caine," she hissed out in between groans as tears cascaded down her cheeks and dripped onto her breasts, chilling her erect nipples. Two, three and four followed and still Rachel maintained her composure, forcing her hands down on her hair and even digging her nails into her scalp as the pain ricocheted through her body. Her bottom felt as if it was on fire as another four strokes tore at her soft cheeks yet strangely she suddenly felt a jolt of arousal as the next stroke struck her skin. Her clit throbbed between her thighs as the pain rushed through her and her nipples seemed to get even harder, sticking out like bullets. Squeezing her thighs together as hard as she could, Rachel felt her body edge ever closer to rapture yet she could not tip over the brink as the harsh wood whipped across her bare buttocks and left streaks of fire in its wake.

The final stroke kissed her bottom with a tongue of heat and pain and then Rachel was lost in a new world of wonderment as Miss Caine slid her hand over her companion's wealed flesh and then between her thighs, cupping her soaking slit and then rubbing expertly over the bulging nub of her clitoris. Rachel spasmed suddenly and effortlessly into her climax, squealing out in delight and joy as her slim frame was wracked by ripples of rapture. The pain of her beaten bottom cheeks added to the intensity of her arousal and tears of joy trickled down her face as Miss Caine turned her round and kissed her once on the lips before licking off the crystal spheres. Her fingers continued to press and twirl around Rachel's throbbing clit and her legs suddenly lost all strength as another orgasm burst into her brain. Her vision greyed out and she was only half aware of Miss Caine supporting her and lowering her down to the floor as further tremors of delight shuddered through her flesh.