Disclaimer - This story is fictitious, and narrated about a fictitious world with fictitious people. Situations depicted in this story cannot happen in real life. 'Ludlovian' is a fictitious city on a distant planet with remarkably Victorian sensibilities. Enjoy.
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Before Miranda was born, her pregnant unmarried mother met and married Gary Redman. Mr Redman married Katherine Jameson for her wealth, and also to give her child a name. At first, after she was born, Gary treated Miranda relatively well, not really minding that she was not his child. However within 2 years of the marriage, Nancy Redman was born, and within another year, Trevor Redman, the heir, came into their lives.
With each birth, Gary's treatment of Miranda deteriorated. He never hit her, but he yelled at her for the slightest things. Katherine hit her under the guise of a mother disciplining a child, but she never hit the other two as she did Miranda, though of course, she did as well. Nancy was a baby who lived to play rough and she pushed, prodded and physically fought with Miranda as siblings were wont to do. No one minded, least of all Miranda. It was just two girls playing, but Miranda learned early on that she was not to fight back.
When Nancy lashed at her, pulled at her hair and clothes, pushed her around, she learned not to retaliate and to take it with a smile. If she hit back at the baby, Katherine would beat her, telling her she was not to hit at her sister. Gary ignored it all. And when Trevor was born, the same rules applied, though he was not as aggressive as Nancy.
Miranda grew up submissive and quiet, taking everything doled at her with a serene, accepting smile. Unfortunately, she didn't know it but that was to be her life story...
Gary Redman had inherited the family business, Jameson and Redman Holdings, from Katherine's ailing father. Miranda had been sixteen and a well bred genteel lady fit for the conservative Ludlovian Society. She didn't know it, but this submissive young lady had only a few more years left to serenely and innocently smile at her high society peers.
The business was not doing as well as expected so the day Miranda, much prettier than Nancy, turned 18, Gary had a little talk with Katherine. Since he was not her biological parent and he really had no feelings for Miranda, his plan made sense to him. Katherine, who did not like the constant reminder that she had been indiscreet before marriage, liked being wealthy, liked her clothes, shoes and home. And they had a daughter to marry off at a later date as well as a son - currently at boarding school - whom they wanted the best for. They wanted to leave him an inheritance.
So Katherine signed over Miranda to Gary to do with as he pleased for his business.
Gary in turn, hired a man known as Mr. Lowman. Gary never had to touch Miranda - he had no idea to. He didn't touch whores. Which was what Miranda, uncomplaining, became at 18...
On the day of Miranda's 18th birthday, there was a little party at dinner to celebrate. Gary and Katherine informed her that she was considered an adult now. As was the custom of their culture and with a lifespan of 125 years, adult age was 25 but girls were considered mature enough to marry off at 21 - least they became spinsters by the old age of 28.
In a society in which the genders kept to strict social conduct and genders did not mix except in balls geared to hunting a bride or groom for marriage, approaching adult age was a milestone to be proud of. If things had taken the normal course, Miranda's coming out ball would have taken place when she was 19. But this is not the normal course of things and therefore, her tender age was an occasion to celebrate.
There was cake, ice-cream and music. Miranda, innocent in the ways of the world due to her delicate upbringing and seclusion, danced and played as did her sister, Nancy. She was introduced to Mr. Lowman, the only stranger among the festivities. But apart from her smooth smile in response to the middle-aged, shortish, balding, not unhandsome man, Miranda ignored her father's business companion.
The party lasted two hours and as it wound down, Katherine took her daughter aside to the quiet of her bedroom. Miranda had been moved to a new wing the previous week on account of her approaching adulthood. Miranda was the only occupant of the new wing and Katherine gave the excuse that she (Miranda) must be craving some space to herself. The walls were sound proof, the halls spacious, and the only room that Miranda was familiar with was her own bedroom and attached bath.
There, Katherine told Miranda first about her origins, that she was not Gary Redman's daughter. This was not a shock to Miranda as she had suspected that. Katherine didn't know who her father was as she had not gotten the man's name when he'd visited on business so many years ago.
Then Katherine told her about a man and a woman, about their body parts and what they used it for. She told Miranda, naturally submissive Miranda, that she had to obey every man who came to her. She guided the young girl to strip off every stitch of clothing she had had on to reveal a body that was nicely developed at the tender age of 18.
Her exact parting words to Miranda were, "Remember, my dear, obey at all times. They would not hurt you, but you must obey. Your stepfather would come to you now and instruct you further. Lie down on the bed."
When Miranda reached for her robe, Katherine hastened to stop her. "Unclothed Miranda. You are a woman now. You don't need clothes when you are alone with men. You must let them touch you and use you as they like. And you must enjoy it, my child. Do not hold back your enjoyment of the feelings they bring to you. Now lie down."
Naively believing her mother since the woman had homeschooled her and she had not seen much of th world as was the privilege of a high society girl, Miranda saw not much wrong with her mother's guidance. Seriously considering her mother words and committing them to memory, Miranda decided this must be normal. She had obeyed everyone in her life anyway, so obeying was not a problem. She lay down on her red silk sheets. When she tried to cover herself with her blanket, she was stopped once again.
"No Miranda, you must be presented nude to them. No covering. Now, spread your legs." A little hesitantly, she spread them wider until Katherine was satisfied and her toes pointed to the corners of the bed. "Always keep your legs spread, Miranda, when not in a social setting. And do not move until a man tells you too. You are to be used by men now and they want you always obedient and ready. Now your arms."
Miranda lifted her arms above her head and lay them at the head of the bed as she did her feet. She was splayed in an X form by the time Katherine gave her approval and left to fetch Gary and Mr. Lowman. Within the hour, Katherine and innocent Nancy was away to the city of Givens on the other side of the country, to spend the month at a friend's ranch.
When Gary entered Miranda's room, he barely spared her body a glance. He ushered in Mr. Lowman who took position on the left side of Miranda's bed. Wide eyed, and a little shamed at her nakedness, Miranda watched both of them nervously. Standing to her right, Gary began in a soothing but stern voice.