A Party for The Mistress
"Let's raise a glass!" says the Lady while holding out her goblet. "I am very proud at all that you accomplished to prepare for tonight. Felice, you especially. I do hope your Mistress appreciates your hard work as much as we have."
We all clink glasses and take a drink. Horace is in a very giddy mood while Clothilde continually reprimands him in her big-sisterly way. I remain preoccupied with maneuvering in my costume, which is much tighter than I had expected.
"In just a few moments we will be opening the doors to the ballroom and the party will commence. If you have any concerns during the fete, you are to report to me. If I am indisposed, then you are to find Pet," says the Lady.
Standing next to Clothilde, I am both comforted and excited. Her bountiful breasts stuffed inside the bodysuit are impossible to ignore. After she left my room last night I dreamt about being pinned to the bed with her hovering over me. My arms restrained with Clothildes twinkly eyes peeking out from her mask. Begging to touch her, I was seconds away from having her within my grasp when I was woken by the alarm clock.
"Everyone. It is now time to take your places in the ballroom," the Lady announces.
The doors open to reveal a spectacular transformation. I fail to even recognize the room. What I once perceived as old-fashioned is now a room of luxuriant textures. Velvet, leather, silk, and decadent sections specific to one cause or another. Clothilde, myself, and the other servants, also in bodysuits, form two lines and stand in perfect stillness. Each one of us holding a flaming torch to light a path for the guests entry.
As it was told to me, guests would be brought to this residence via motorcar while blindfolded to maximize discretion. Staff would be required not to refer to anyone by their given names. Since we are ordered to be silent, Clothilde and I establish eye signals as a form of communication in-case we need to have words.
When the guests start arriving, I'm finding it difficult to keep from gawking. I can hear voices and laughter behind their masked faces. Once the ballroom is full, a bell is rung and the guests become quiet. We are then to change spots by positioning ourselves at the perimeter of the room.
At the center, a tall masked figure appears floating above the surface of the floor resembling a dark creature of the forest. Her gown is a long ombre of greens and greys with a fishtail train, her long arms adorned with buckskin gloves, and her delicate face framed in a high collar. I'm aware of the Lady's presence as she arrests the room into submission.
She begins speaking in her distinctive melodic voice. "Greetings guests. We thank you for your participation and prudence. Each one of you has been invited here tonight to slip into your shadow and unearth your darkest desires. As you can see, the Master and Mistress of this home have generously spared no expense, and our exemplary staff has dedicated many nights and days to bring you this fete. Be reminded that even though they are here to serve and amuse, their safety is my charge. Any guest who violates this will be removed from any and all future invitations. The exterior doors will remain locked until zero three hundred hours, after which time you will don your plain clothes and be escorted back to the designated meeting area. Please join us for our midnight toast, followed by a performance piece by Lord Copperpot, not to be missed. Let the night begin where goodbyes end. Sehnsucht."
I caught Clothilde writhe and cover her mouth at the mention of Lord Copperpot, who I assume is Horace's stage name. The bell rings once more, and Clothilde and I return our torches to their sconces and make our way to the kitchen to collect the hors d'oeuvres, returning back to the floor as quickly as we can. My mind is racing too fast to question the utterance of the word Sehnsucht, mentioned at the end of the Lady's speech.
In one corner there is a man dressed like a pony, wearing a saddle on his back, a bridle in his mouth, and a leather tail protruding from his derriere. He is making horse sounds while his mistress hits him on the buttocks with a riding crop for being unruly. I want to turn to Clothilde and laugh, but her eye signal catches me at just the right time. It is a blessing that my face is covered.
"Vat do ve av ear?"
says a guest while taking one of the treats off my plate. Since I am not to respond, I hold still. Pretty soon this becomes the pattern. Strange guest comes, asks about the hors d'oeuvres, I stand still, and soon they realize that I am just an object or a source for their amusement. Unfortunately, Clothilde becomes the amuser and gets fondled and groped repeatedly.
While encountering a guest wearing a rabbit costume, I hear a crashing sound. Clothilde's tray and all of it's food has been spilled on the floor. A very irate guest is yelling at her and demanding her to clean up the mess. I am about to get down on the floor and help when a familiar voice whispers in my ear.