Dear reader:
All the characters in this story are over 18 at the time of any naughty behavior.
This little tidbit is the background to the beautiful historical story created by PixieHoff,
Meet Me In St. Louis
. It fills the background for some of our characters in her lovely story. I apologize for the delay; the holidays got in the way.
Thank you, Pixie, for allowing me to contribute to your story.
Coming of the Age of Diana
Charlotte entered the door only to see Emily climbing the stairs and turning to enter a room at the top of the first flight.
The house, for house it clearly was, was very different from the home on Forest Park and as different as night and day from Johnathan's family home.
At first glance, it was clear that no expense had been spared in the interior, and as simple as the exterior might be, the interior was out of some romance novel.
The wall treatments were of the highest quality and the deepest richest paints, covering a swirled plaster base. And along the top of each wall were ornate multilayered, intricately cut and painted crown moldings, blending into a checkerboard of moldings across the ceiling, with each square having something that looked like a milk-white breast in the exact center. Finally, the chandelier was crowned by a rosette that, if you looked closely, resembled a series of scantily clad or nude women entwined in the most intimate of ways. Everything spoke of quality, craftsmanship, and pride of work, down to the floor beneath her boots was no exception; the floors were of the finest Versailles parquet she had ever seen, including Johnathan's home.
The walls were not adorned with costly fabrics or wallpaper, all the rage some years ago, but were textured and tinted plaster overtopped with a cluster of portraits of women of all sorts. Charlotte slowed to a stop, carefully viewing each in turn. It is curious how a gallery of faces entraps as a spider's web for those unfamiliar with the faces. Charlotte was caught in this particular web, but not an uneasy one, for not a single portrait seemed unfriendly, for all were smiling and happy.
The gallery of faces extended up the foyer walls from eye level up, with tiny delicate brass plaques showing beginning dates under each at eye level, without an end date. Above those were another series of portraits with beginning and end dates. Good artists, well executed; Charlotte now had enough art education to appreciate the quality of the work and the techniques each employed, but also the ability of the artist to capture the essence of each subject and communicate the underlying emotion of contentment and joy each evinced.
"Do you like it?" Emily was suddenly behind her; Charlotte had been so caught up that she did not hear her approach, and her unexpected appearance caused Charlotte to jump.
Emily could not repress the laugh that erupted from her, "I am sorry, darling, I did not wish to startle you."
Charlotte took a moment to compose herself, and although the shock she had received was from Emily's sudden unexpected appearance, the woman who stood before her now was much more of a wonder.
Lady Emily was indeed dressed as Zeus,
king
of the gods of Olympus, and she resembled every depiction that Charlotte had ever seen. A toga of pure white was wrapped around her shapely midsection, held together with a silver clasp that could be a thick bracelet in another situation. The toga traveled up her back and down over her left breast, just hiding it from view, but most shockingly, leaving its twin on the right, completely exposed. The peak of that breast was hidden by a small medallion of silver, with delicate depictions of lightning bolts worked within. Around her shoulders draped a wrap of swan feathers which hid nothing but hinted at a myth. To top the ensemble, upon her head was a chaplet of silver and gold flowers intermixed with lightning bolts, and attached to that was the silver facemask of a stylized 'man' beard and an all.
"Do you like it?" Emily could not help but notice her charges gaze; then she turned in the white thigh-high laced sandals with heels to make her a little closer in height to the ingΓ©nue.
"It is indecent!" Charlotte could not help whispering her first thoughts, "oh, I am sorry, Emily, I just it is so ..." She was at a loss for words.
"I know, isn't it just?" Emily giggled at Charlotte's reaction and blushed as the girl took full stock of her charms. 'I hope that is a good sign.' She thought while biting her lip. 'I so want this to go well.'
"Well, no use standing around the foyer; let's join the party." Emily responded, taking Charlotte's arm, "Now darling, I want you to relax; some of the things you will see might be a bit shocking for you, but please know we are all adults here, and everyone, and I mean everyone, is here of their own free will."
"Oh goodness, I almost forgot," Emily handed Charlotte a mask that covered only half her face, the left half, and bade the girl kneel so she could help tie it up.
"But this won't fool anyone! Anyone who knows me will recognize me and the same with you" Charlotte was a bit naΓ―ve to grasp the significance of the mask.
"The point is, darling, if asked, this is a masked party, and we have no idea who is who since everyone is in costume." Emily tried not to sound like she had just explained one-and-one to a slow-witted toddler. "It gives us a way to keep our secrets."
Charlotte could not help but wonder exactly what that meant. Still, as soon as Emily reached the large double doors at the end of the hall, Charlotte could hear a cacophony of sounds, ranging from lovely music to multiple voices and just the hint of something being hit, and although she was sure she had to be incorrect, the unmistakable sounds of someone seemingly in pain and pleasure - all women's voices.
Emily smiled over her shoulder; the smile showed joy and anticipation, but Charlotte thought it a little strained or perhaps tinged of what? Apprehension?
"Remember, this is all for you, darling, but it might be a shock." Emily tapped on the door, which silently opened onto a world Charlotte had never imagined.
A wave of sights and sounds greeted Charlotte. Emily did not give her time to recoil away but put her hand firmly on Charlotte's back, pushed her through the portal, and closed the doors behind them.