(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 fifth day with the firm.)
***
The next morning, my fifth day with Maynard's, I turned up at the office at 8 o'clock on the dot. One or two of the other 'underskirt boys' were waiting for Lorna to dish out the addresses. I was given an address on the Bayswater Road, overlooking Hyde Park. I was off on my bicycle at once and in no time at all I was cycling north over Putney Bridge then along the Fulham Road and eventually across Hyde Park and reached my destination at about half past nine.
The house was very imposing with classical features and a white painted stucco facade. I imagined someone very rich living there with estates both in the country and in the colonies. I had learnt to take all of this in my stride and not be put off by either wealth or position. I parked my bicycle around the back of the house and rang the servants' bell.
A young housemaid answered the door and took my card. "I shall get Mrs. Pugh, the housekeeper," she said and left me standing in a small vestibule.
A framed foxhunting print seemed to fill one wall and I noted that the artist was Alfred de Dreux. It was of the Belvoir hunt in Leicestershire and a portrayal of Belvoir Castle occupied the middle distance.
***
The Withdrawing Room.
***
"Mr. Shaw, the sisters Hetheringham will see you now," Mrs. Pugh told me escorting me into the main hall and up a large flight of stone stairs. She was a tall thin woman wearing a black dress with a white collar. I watched her hips sway from side to side as I followed her up the stairs.
The house must have been the largest I had ever set foot in and marveled that it all belonged to one family. A long case clock tick-tocked majestically in an alcove near the drawing room door next to a marble bust of Julius Caesar.
I was led into the tall ceilinged drawing room and there, in the corner nearest the window, were four middle aged women, all sitting in a small circle on capacious low upholstered chairs.
I noticed that two of the women were sewing, one was knitting and the fourth was reading a ladies' journal. The room was quiet except for the street noise outside and some muffled conversation from the ladies themselves. The room smelled of fresh flowers and exotic scent.
I stood rather nervously at the door while Miss Pugh introduced me. I held onto my cap like grim death and once again felt totally out of my depth in such genteel company and surroundings.
"So you are an 'underskirt boy' are you? Let me see your tongue," said one of the 'knitters' staring at me over her spectacles. I stuck out my tongue and noticed four pairs of eyes turn to see it.
"Can you touch your nose with it?" asked the 'reader'. I demonstrated that I could almost manage to touch it and there were nods of approval as the ladies continued with their manual and literary occupations.
"Much better than that last boy we had," said Elizabeth Hetheringham to her sisters,"I could hardly feel the little blighter inside me," she concluded, and the ladies laughed.
"Come now Lizzie, he wasn't that bad; he did try after all," said Miss Emily Hetheringham putting down her knitting and getting up to stretch her legs. She shook me by the hand and told me to undress behind a screen which had been placed at the opposite end of the room.
"That will be all Mrs. Pugh. We'll ring for you when we have finished", said one of the sisters.
I was shaking like a leaf behind the screen. I had never been asked to pleasure four women at once, particularly women who appeared to be so high ranking as these. As far as I knew they could all be duchesses with long titles. I wondered whether I would be able to remain calm enough to fulfill my duties. I also wondered whether my tongue was of sufficient length to satisfy them. My heart was beating at double speed as I stepped out from behind the screen.
"No need to conceal your manhood Mr. Shaw; my sisters and I have seen many similar examples before, is that not correct Annie?"
Annie nodded and told me not to be bashful.
I walked across the wide room with my hands hiding my privates. I felt unbelievably embarrassed and wished that I was in the relatively safe bedroom of Miss Sumpter, the school teacher.
I looked at the sisters and noticed that they must have all been at least twenty years my senior. They could have been in their mid forties or early fifties.
They had 'worn' lined faces as if they had spent time abroad in some hot clime. I would wager that India may have been their home in the past. They all appeared taller than I, by a good many inches, and once again I felt very small and thin in comparison standing near them. They were all quite slim and their hair was well coiffured, in the latest style I might add.
I stared at their voluminous skirts which were clearly brimming over with underskirts.
They all wore dark grey silk skirts, some with floral patterns in blue or brown, which filled their chairs and spilled out down to the floor on all three sides. They all wore white silk blouses with high collars and cameo brooches
Emily Hetheringham arose and walked towards me and I heard the seductive slow frou-frou sounds of her silk-taffeta petticoats rustling beneath her wide skirt.
My penis suddenly grew out of control beneath my fingers and I had to spread my hands to conceal it. I felt panic strike me and stared wide eyed round the room.
"Come now Mr. Shaw, remove your hands please. My sisters and I can surely not relax until we see what magnificent appendage you honour us with this morning." She said and giggled in a silly girlish way.
I removed my hands and my erection sprang upwards pointing toward the corner of the ceiling above the sisters' heads.
