(It was 1892 and I, David Shaw, then aged 19 joined 'Maynard and Son, Purveyors to Gentlewomen and the Aristocracy' on Upper Richmond Road, Putney. The job involved providing 'underskirt services' to single women. This was my fourth day with the firm)
***
The next morning, following my evening at the pub with Tim, I kept wondering what other engagements I would have to keep during my employment with Maynard's. I really did not think that I could ever entertain a 'ladies only' party wearing just a clown's costume. I thought Tim had a lot of pluck, to say the least.
***
I found the address, 180 Gloucester Place, and parked my bike in the area of this large Georgian terraced house. All about me Hansom cabs were weaving up and down the street and there was a distinct smell of horse manure in the cool morning air. I watched a young woman walk past and from my low elevation on the area steps I could see a hint of white petticoat emerge as she sped on her way.
I knocked at the servants' door and handed in my card. A young housemaid took it and invited me in. I sat in the servants' room in the basement at the front of the house and watched the fire crackling in the grate. Mrs. Campion, the housekeeper, told me that her mistress was expecting me and she would escort me to her bedroom where she was waiting.
I followed her up the narrow back stairs which twisted and creaked its way around the rear of the house to the second floor landing. Mrs. Campion had a nice arse and I would have happily had her sitting on my face with her legs apart and my tongue up her hairy 'love-hole'.
She knocked on the door and entered with my card from Maynard and Son. I heard an educated voice from within and Mrs. Campion telling her something in sotto voce.
"Yes that will do thank you Mrs. Campion, do allow him in," said the woman behind the door. "You may go now," she said to her housekeeper.
I walked in with my cap in my hand and saw before me a tall elegant woman completely dressed in black. She was standing by the window where the curtains had been partly drawn. She wore a jet black crepe silk dress which was extremely full and flared outwards from her hips to the floor. She wore a bead necklace decorated with gold and jet, and jet earrings. Her dark brown hair was worn in a high coiled bun with ringlets. I also noticed her black slippers.
"As you can see I am in full-mourning and all I require from you are the usual underskirt services," she said to me as if I were there delivering groceries.
I nodded as she walked up to me and asked me to open my mouth. I did as I was told as she lifted my chin with her black lace mourning gloves.
For some strange reason I imagined her gloved hands cupping my balls and stroking my willy, coaxing them into life and wanking me mercilessly.
"Hmmm," she said, "And let me see your tongue," she continued and I stuck it out ready for her to inspect.
I looked at her closely. She must have been in her mid 50s but she was quite slim and tall and did not stoop. I was used to seeing working class women in Putney who often looked haggard at 40 and ancient at 50 but Mrs. Annabel Langley, as that was her name, could have been mistaken for a much younger lady from a distance. It was mainly her wrinkled neck and bags under her eyes which gave her age away.
"Take off your jacket and shirt but keep your trousers on," she said to me in a neutral condescending voice.
I stood in the centre of the room and removed my jacket and placed it on a chair next to the huge bed. She returned to the bedroom window.
"On the floor if you will," she said and I carefully placed it on the floor at the foot of the bed.
I took off my shirt and folded it up and placed it on top of my jacket.
"Shoes and socks next," she said staring out of the window at a passing brewery dray pulled by two huge Clydesdales. "They do make a racket don't they?" she exclaimed, launching into 'small talk'.
The clip-clopping sound of their hooves filled the room as I hopped about removing my shoes and socks.
I probably looked a forlorn little character to her with my thin frame and puny shoulders. My muscles were almost nonexistent and I was miles too short. In some respects I was ideally suited to be an 'underskirt boy'. I imagined women would not tolerate a large muscular chap fumbling under their dresses and petticoats so I was 'just the ticket', size wise.