She was more than lovely, she was breathtakingly beautiful...there in the early morning light her hair was molten copper, against her milk white skin, full lips of red, eyes green, like early spring leaves. Her clothing was tattered, full breasts strained against the thin fabric, her nipples clearly outlined, a tiny waist easily spanned by a man's two hands, full round hips, and under her skirt, a full tempting bottom, like a ripe peach.
It was seldom that she had a moment to herself, let alone enjoy the early morning. Her days usually started well before dawn. Preparing meals, and doing laundry for her stepmama . The tasks assigned to her were not hard, just so many, and her stepmama expected her needs to be met AT ONCE. Ella had learned early to do more than one thing at a time.
She paused, remembering her father, the kind, handsome man that had devoted his life to her, the memory of her father always was bittersweet...She was jarred out of her thoughts by the bell, her stepmama was an early riser.
With a sigh, Ella went to prepare the breakfast tray. Tea and muffins the water had to be just so, not to hot, or to cold. If it was not right stepmama may start throwing things. Fortunately Ella had breakfast down to an art.
As Ella took tray up, the front bell rang. Peters the butler waved her on, the Mistress did not like for Ella to be seen by anyone. Ella continued on up to her stepmama's bed chamber. It always amazed Ella that one so beautiful could be so wicked.
Constance, her stepmama, had coal black hair that fell well below her hips, like a swath of black silk, her eyes were like the finest sapphires, with licks of green flame. Her skin was like cream, her lips full and lush, like crushed berries. For a woman of her years, , her figure was perfect. There was no fat, nor was she thin. High full breasts with cherry nipples, a narrow waist that was made even smaller with the whale boned corset, her hips were round, the only flaw to her figure, was her flat fanny. Stepmama always wore petticoats that were fuller in the bottom to overcome this flaw.
Ella had discovered her stepmama's wickedness early in her marriage to her father. Papa had come home from a hunting party in the North with her on his arm. He called to Ella "Come and see what I have brought you, my dear." Ella was prepared to greet her new stepmama with open arms, but Constance took one look at her 17 year old stepdaughter and was not pleased. Ella was the image of her mother, that had died when she was 12. It was not more than 2 days before Ella was packed off to boarding school! Stepmama insisted that she needed to have the polish that the all girls school could give her.
After a year at finishing school, Ella was finally sent for. She assumed that she would be "presented" to society and start the hunt for a husband. Upon her return home, she found her father ill, and her stepmama ruling the house with heavy hand. Constance said that the doctors had no idea of what was wrong, only that it was an unknown illness. Everything was being done for her father's comfort and health.
Ella remained at her papa's side, encouraging him to eat and drink. Every evening Constance brought a medicinal drink for him, reminding him of how the doctor had instructed a dose at bedtime would help him get a full night of sleep. Only then would Ella leave her father's bedside.
One evening when Constance insisted upon Ella going to her room to get some rest, and that she herself would sit with her father. Constance pleaded with her to go and have some cocoa, and rest, that she didn't need Ella to become ill while caring for her papa. Constance reassure her that she herself would stay at his bedside until he was fast asleep.
Ella went to her room, tried to drink the chocolate, but it was bitter, she poured it out over her balcony, into the garden below. Deciding a stroll in the garden would help her winde down, she pulled on her dark blue cloak, and went down the back stairs, out in to the garden.
As she walked along the paths, she noticed that the flower beds were overgrown. This was strange, especially as she had noticed several new gardeners, and footmen had been employed. Oh well, they just may need more direction in their duties. Stepmama had her hands full with caring for papa during his illness.
As it was not very late, and there was a light on in the gardener's cottage, Ella thought to have a word with him about his neglect of the gardens.
Passing a well lit window, she pulled up short, shocked by what she had thought she had seen, she shook her head, no that couldn't have been Constance ... she was with papa. It must be a scullery maid...no there were no young maids, and she didn't think the old cook would be here at this time.
Ella snuck back to the window, which was partially open on this warm spring night. At first, not sure who was with the gardener or what was going on. She peeked in and to her surprise it was her stepmama...standing there locked in a passionate embrace with the gardener, Tom!
