The morning comes quickly and I find myself gazing at my buttocks in the mirror. They are of a plum hue after yesterday's punishment. I'm enthralled by their appearance as they bring me back to thoughts of the Strangers brutal tenderness.
Excitedly, I put on my new uniform. The black satin undergarments glide on me so perfectly, and I'm relishing in the feel of my new silk stockings. Before putting on my new dress, I put my boots on and behold myself in the mirror. I could be a harlot or a queen.
The ruffles of my new dress scrape my back as I slide it on. It smells so new and clean and I don't think I've ever owned a dress so well made as this. The dress is scandalously short and my stockings and garters are totally in view. I place my new bonnet on my freshly coiffed hair that frames my face, and voila! If only my sister Talia could see me now! I'm captivated by my reflection, but very uneasy about showing myself downstairs.
It's a quarter to 9 when I start to hear noise and bustling in the halls of the maids quarters. I make sure my door is locked and keep quiet. My heart is pounding as I pray that Blythe and the others keep away. I pray that they won't notice my absence until they are half-way on their journey.
After the noise subsides I head down to a silent kitchen. Everything looks clean and there is no sign of any breakfast. Startled, I hear the side door open and close and a barrage of footsteps fast approaching. I place myself where I can be seen and ready. The kitchen door swings open and in comes the lady from the window with three others trailing behind. She looks at me and smiles while taking off her beige kid gloves delicately.
"Doesn't she look darling, Clotilde?" the lady says smiling. I can't help but avert my eyes.
Clotilde acknowledges me as the help. Her flaming red hair contrasts against the peculiar school-girl costume she is wearing.
The lady turns to one of her other companions. A strikingly tall man, with rather unfashionable long hair, bristle on the face, and wearing a traditional butler suit. "Here is the list of items I need you to fetch for me," says the lady while handing him the paper.
"Clotilde, start the tea and get everyone fed. We have a busy day," she says.
I'm not sure what to make of this scene and remain affixed to the floor.
"Madam. May I assist with anything?" I say. She turns around and looks at me pensively.
"Clotilde could use your assistance in the kitchen this morning.....Felice, from this moment forward you will cease referring to me as madam," she says in her sing-song voice.
"How may I address you kind lady?" I ask nervously.
"You will call me Lady Thisbe. And please meet my children, Clotilde and Horace," she says while swinging her arm over to them gracefully.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Thisbe," I say while wondering how these full-grown adults could be her children.
"In the next days you will be under my supervision. All of your duties remain the same upstairs, but downstairs there will be some considerable changes. As you can see, I've sent my Pet out to the market, so we will no longer have you wandering the neighborhood," she says with a wink.
"Yes, Lady Thisbe," I say worrying about how I'm going to be able to get the letter mailed to my sister. By now I am blushing. Still unclear of the scene, unsure how to move in this uniform, and feeling an unexpected crush towards this new female authority figure.
"I bet your pretty head is wondering why we are here," she asks.
"Yes, my Lady," I say inquiringly.
"We are here due to the express wishes of your Mistress. We are preparing for a
boule de mascarade
and in the days ahead this home will be transformed. You will report to me on all matters. I will be setting up office in the former nursery rooms. If I cannot be found there, then feel free to inquire about my whereabouts through one of my children," she says turning towards Horace and Clotilde. At that moment, I notice Horace snickering to himself, and failing miserably at stifling it. He is also in a school uniform much like Clotilde.
Clotilde caught on very rapidly so the morning flew by. Horace had emptied the contents of his bag all over the kitchen table which became a nuisance. He was cleaning and mending some sisal rope, which seemed like an odd prop for a party. Perhaps Lady Thisbe just wanted to keep the strange man-boy busy.
The maid bell rang for me from the strangers room and I immediately feel a pulse between my thighs. Briskly I head upstairs and enter his chambers. He is sitting at his desk when I enter, with his back towards me.
"Come in Fraulein. My room needs tending. I have work to do right now so please do not disrupt me," he says.
"Yes, mein Herr."
I work as quietly as humanely possible while he remained with his back turned. I feel an agony creep over me. Maybe I disappointed him after our last encounter. He has not looked at me or acknowledged me since. I proceed to the armoire and organize his suits and see if anything needs laundered. As I'm closing the armoire door, I see his reflection now standing directly behind me in the mirror. He is poised like an animal and I feel like prey. My breathing quickens and begins to fog up the mirror.
"Fraulein, let's play a game. Turn around and walk over to this chair," he says. I do as he says without questioning. My body is not mine.
He pushes me slowly down into the chair and proceeds to take something out of his forbidden leather bag behind me. I keep looking forward as if this was routine, when a piece of dark silky fabric gets covered over my eyes. I have to remind myself to breathe as I am afraid of the dark.
The stranger begins speaking. "Curiosity can be a curse. Therefore, I'm going to let you explore the contents of my bag. The first thing you touch, you are to remove and hand over to me."
I am hesitant, but unbelievably excited as it reminds me of some of the games my sister Talia and I used to play. I proceed to put my hand inside the heavy bag. It feels dense with mysterious contents, so I reach for the first thing that my small hand can grasp. I find something as cold as steel and about the size of a pen and hand it over to where I sense the strangers is. He begins fidgeting with this device, and the sound sends shivers down my spine.
"Fraulein, you have retrieved one of my most treasured implements. You will now relax and feel the consequence of your choice," he says in a manner that implicates his amusement.
