It's been over a decade since I've contributed a story here! This story is part of a series, but you can enjoy it without having read the others.
Mrs Castlewick sighed, removed her glasses and rubbed her temples. While she enjoyed her position as owner and headmistress of Mrs Castlewick's School for Young Ladies, and felt that she was providing a valuable service to society, it was a lot of work keeping the whole place running while also instructing her charges in the finer points of being a woman. At 45, she was starting to feel as though perhaps an extra pair of hands around the place would allow her to keep on top of the priorities. Such as preparing young English ladies for their lives to come by instructing them in ALL the necessities for gaining and keeping a husband.
As the early evening light began to fade, she rang for a servant to come and light the lamps. A moment later there was a respectful knock at the door. On her command to "Enter", a chambermaid opened the door and bobbed a quick curtsey.
"Ah, Sarah, please be so good as to light the lamps," Mrs Castlewick commanded.
"Yes, ma'am. Also Mrs Wettcat asked me to let you know that Major Harpole has just arrived."
"Splendid, thank you Sarah. Once you've lit the lamps please have the major taken to the Burma room. When he's settled in, bring him along to the drawing room. You might also see to it that a fire is lit there."
"Yes, ma'am," Sarah replied and set about lighting the kerosene lamps that were set about the study.
Once the servant had left, Mrs Castlewick settled back behind her desk to finish reviewing the accounts. She permitted herself a slight smile at the memory of the major. A friend of her late husband, he had remained in contact with her throughout the years since she was widowed. In fact, he had become something of a benefactor to the school, making occasional contributions to the running of the establishment. In recognition of his generosity, Major Harpole enjoyed certain privileges when he chanced to visit.
In due course Mrs Castlewick closed the books and proceeded down the corridor to the drawing room. On entering she was pleased to see the lamps lit and the fire flickering in the hearth. She was even more pleased to see the major standing at the large bay windows taking in the last of the view in the fading daylight. He turned as he heard the door open.
'My dear major, it's simply wonderful to see you again," Mrs Castlewick gushed as she gave him a peck on each of his whiskery cheeks.
'Mrs Castlewick, it's always a pleasure! It is jolly good of you to put me up for the night. The thought of spending time in one of those wretched roadside inns was simply too much."
"But of course, major. You know you are always welcome at our humble school. How has your journey been?"
"Well after two weeks at sea I must say I'm jolly pleased to be back on dry land! It might be alright for those naval types, but an army man's place is firmly on dry land in my opinion. As for the journey from Portsmouth, well the less the said the better!"
"I shall do my best to ensure you have at least one night of ease and comfort, sir," Mrs Castlewisk replied. "May I offer you some refreshment? Tea? Or perhaps something stronger?"
The major's genial, open face broke into a wide grin at the suggestion. Although his full beard and muttonchop whiskers were beginning to go grey in places, his face was only lightly lined and such lines as there were were more of laughter than of sorrow. No mean feat for a professional soldier.
"Why Mrs Castlewick that's most generous of you. I shouldn't mind a whiskey if you have any."
As the headmistress moved to the drinks cabinet and removed the stopper from a cut glass decanter the major added, "It was a devilish long time we were at sea, or at least it felt that way to this landlubber. The captain was awful strict about there being no women on board on account of them bringing bad luck. And so a chap had no real chance to satisfy his manly urges, if you take my meaning. And with the prospect of a sojourn at your fine school I simply couldn't bring myself to go with one of the tuppenny ladies at the docks. And so one was wondering if..."
"Say no more, major. As you know, our girls are expected to avail themselves of every opportunity to practice the skills that they learn here. We have just completed a week's study on the act of intercourse and there are a few students who would benefit from extra tuition. Let me see. I think Miss Appleshaw will be to your liking - a sweet young lady though somewhat lacking in confidence. And her friend Miss Mapleton. The two usually come as a pair. Miss Mapleton is one of our more... enthusiastic students and I'm sure she wouldn't disappoint."
"That sounds capital!" the Major exclaimed. "Jolly good of you, ma'am. One feels simply beastly when one has so much pent up... well, you know. And if I can further the education of one or two fine young ladies at the same time, why then everyone wins dontcha know!"
When Sarah re-entered the room in response to Mrs Castlewick's ringing of the bell she was instructed to fetch Miss Appleshaw and Miss Mapleton to the drawing room.She was to convey to the students that their attendance was required forthwith. If not sooner.
The major and the headmistress had been making small-talk over the chances of the new steam locomotives reaching the county when the door opened and the young ladies in question bustled into the room. They each gave a brief curtsey to Mrs Castlewick and then looked wide-eyed at the major.
Diana Mapleton was the taller of the two, and at 20 the older by two years. A generous bosom swelled over the top of her tightly laced bodice and her skirt was daringly cut to just above the ankle. Her dark hair fell in langorously curling ringlets to a little past her shoulders. Her friend, Fanny Appleshaw, was somewhat less endowed in the cleavage department, but had the straight blonde hair that many gentlemen preferred. Today it was pulled back in a tight bun. The usually creamy pale skin of both girls was flushed a delicate pink, suggesting that they had taken the urgency of their summons seriously. It never paid to keep Mrs Castlewick waiting.