Founded in the 16th century, the Cartwright Society gained prominence as one of the oldest and most notorious dining clubs at the university. Originally founded by infamous hedonists, libertines, and drunkards, the Society thrived on wild parties fueled by a potent mix of alcohol and the degenerate consumption of the city's abundance of whores and gullible maidens.
While the days of unabashed whoring and debauchery had waned over the years, the Cartwright Society remained committed to upholding the spirit of its notorious traditions, if not all of its more scandalous practices. The stories of legendary orgies and debauched parties of the past lingered in the Society's lore, but they remained just that--stories. The members, though yearning for the thrill of their ancestors' exploits, recognized that times had changed and understood the necessity of restraint.
The excesses of the Society's historical sexual escapades may not have persisted, but the drinking excesses and disregard and contempt for those they believed beneath them, which was practically everyone, remained a constant. What also persisted through the ages was the Society's members' affluence, consisting of privileged individuals from wealthy families who were more than willing to compensate restaurant and bar owners, as well as individuals, for the inevitable damage caused during their escapades. Thus, in a rapidly changing world, the Cartwright Society continued to stand as a beacon of excess and legacy.
In the 1990s, a wave of progressivism washed over the Cartwright Society, breaking down the barriers that had long confined debauchery and excess to male members alone. With a newfound recognition that women were just as capable of embracing decadence and indulgence, a small handful of hell-raising women emerged within the Society, ready to challenge societal norms with their own brand of uninhibited revelry.
These women, equally dedicated to pushing the boundaries of pleasure and exploring the depths of hedonism, reveled in the freedom and autonomy that the Society provided. Few in number, they made their presence very apparent, considering themselves as equals to their male counterparts, unapologetically embracing their desires and flaunting their uninhibited spirits.
On the infamous night, that now stands etched in Cartwright Society history, a raucous meal culminated in the vandalization of a restaurant. Faced with the imminent threat of police detention, the Society narrowly escaped by excessively compensating the disgruntled restaurant owner whose anger soon dissipated under the weight of the recompense. Already barred from most of the city's establishments, they sought refuge in a quiet country pub situated outside the town.
The pub was a quiet haven, inhabited by only a handful of patrons, the elderly landlord, and a young and attractive barmaid named Alice. As the Society members settled in, anticipating yet another round of intoxication, their conversations revolved primarily around the allure and charm of the captivating barmaid. Alice basked in the attention lavished upon her by the male members, their flattery and generous tips further fueling her enjoyment.
Among the three female Society members, Mary, known for her gregarious nature, soon developed a resentment towards Alice due to the men's unwavering interest in her. This jealousy quickly manifested in Mary's attitude, as she engaged Alice in conversation with a tone that dripped with condescension, assuming her to be an uneducated local girl.
Unbeknownst to Mary, Alice was a fellow student at the same institution as the Society members. Hailing from a humble background, Alice relied on her part-time job at the pub to cover her tuition and lodging expenses. Mary's attempts at belittling Alice for her lack of education proved futile, leaving her grasping for another means to demean her. Resorting to derogatory remarks about Alice's background, Mary hoped to strike a nerve. Mary's initial barbs toward Alice, referring to her as a peasant, drew some initial giggles from fellow Society members, but were soon ignored and forgotten. Alice, for her part, remained unfazed by Mary's snide comments, continuing to flirt with the male members of the Society, further stoking Mary's annoyance.
Alice expertly concealed her hurt, masking any trace of vulnerability as Mary made references to her modest upbringing and financial means. Outwardly, she appeared unaffected, maintaining a composed demeanor amidst the society's company. However, beneath her composed facade, Alice keenly felt the disparity in social status compared to her peers at the university. The contrast was never more evident than this evening.
When Alice first arrived at university, she harbored a deep yearning to fit into these exalted circles. She longed to be accepted, to be seen as an equal among those who came from privileged backgrounds. But as time passed, she slowly realized that she didn't naturally belong to this world of opulence and excess. The night she spent serving those she had once hoped to be equal with only served to magnify her feelings of inferiority.
As closing time loomed, and the other patrons dispersed home, the Society members refused to let the pub shut its doors. Their wallets overflowing with wealth, they tempted the elderly landlord with substantial sums of money to keep the establishment open. Fatigued by age but tantalized by the financial offer, the landlord approached Alice and offered her a generous bonus to ensure the bar's continuous operation while he retired for the night. Alice had overhead the words "Cartwright Society" throughout the evening, and knew the legends of its scandalous reputation, but comforted by the presence of three women amongst the group, she accepted the responsibility without hesitation.
With the departure of the landlord, Mary's bitterness toward Alice persisted. However, her fellow Society members, now increasingly intoxicated, admonished her for her behavior, instructing her to be kind to their newfound friend.
Mary, seething with annoyance at being embarrassed in front of the barmaid, decided to alter her tactics. She shifted her approach, complimenting Alice on her dress. Yet, determined to provoke a reaction from Alice, Mary exploited the difference in their financial standings. Suddenly and without warning, she turned to Alice, expressing her overwhelming desire for the dress and offering to buy it from her. Alice naturally laughed off the suggestion as Mary offered increasingly more ridiculous sums for the modest outfit. Finally, as Mary's bidding reach the exorbitant sum of five hundred pounds, Alice was unable to resist. That sum was equivalent to a month's wages at the pub and would make the following term much more comfortable for her. Mary demanded immediate possession of the garment, and insisting that in return for the money, Alice would have to continue serving the Society members in her underwear, an audacious and degrading proposition.
Determined not to be taken advantage of Alice agreed to give Mary the dress on the condition that she handed over the cash first. Mary, with a gleeful smile, complied, thrusting the notes into Alice's waiting hand. As the members of the Society erupted in cheers, their lewd comments filled the air, creating an atmosphere of revelry that bordered on hostility. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most vicious vitriol came from the other women in the group, who delighted in belittling Alice for being a slut and a whore.
Ignoring the insults and provocation, Alice, with a calculated poise, removed her dress, revealing herself in a simple white bra and panties. The room grew hazy with a mixture of alcohol-fueled desire and the lingering scent of burnt fabric as Mary callously tossed the dress onto the fire. Undeterred by the growing lewdness of the comments directed at her, Alice carried on, serving drinks with a sultry flair that seemed to further ignite the desires of the Society members. Her mind buzzed with thoughts of the money she had earned. Each passing moment, each lewd comment, each demeaning gesture, overshadowed by the allure of financial gain, serving as a powerful distraction from the indignity she was experiencing.
