"Kiki," I called down the corridor of the empty house, "Kiki."
Kiki is my gentille alouette. She is normally such a sweet little lark: it is a delight to teach her little form, to educate her and to have her yield to my specific instructions. Her father has told her that she must be most attentive to my every instruction and who is she to disagree with him.
He is, after all, a bear of a man; and both Kiki and her mother are quite in awe of him. Perhaps Kiki is no longer quite so much in awe of him as she once was: but things usually change in a household that lets Miss Muriel Grey in to play with the precious family treasures.
And now the wretched girl is late again. I sent her to fetch the post for me not fifteen minutes ago, with the firmest instructions to return immediately with the post undisturbed. I am so anxious to receive news from England and the latest goings on in the Macy household.
Kiki is delightful, elfin and beautifully mannered, but she had absolutely no sense of time keeping whatsoever. Her perpetual lateness was a source of considerable frustration to both me and her parents.
In fact it was one of the reasons that I had been called in to this rather fine villa on the French Riviera just outside the boundaries of the exclusive resort town of St Tropez, between Nice and Cannes.
I will always remember the first interview with her father, his strongly accented English, his large frame and above all the sombre room into which he ushered me: his study โ his holy of holies apparently.
The sun was kept at bay by heavy shutters, which were obviously rarely opened, perhaps to keep the thick vellum volumes safe; perhaps to allow the room to emulate his heavy lidded eyes that never seemed to look at one directly.
"Mademoiselle Grey," he said slowly as he stared down at my resume. "You left your last employer fairly suddenly?"
"The senora decided to shut up house and take the family abroad: to Tenerife I believe. I had no wish to leave the European mainland."
"There was a scandal. Is this not so?"
"I do not read the scandal sheets, sir."
"There was an issue with your charge?"
"There was absolutely no issue with my charge, sir. Ramona was very much in control of things despite certain gross exaggerations with respect to her mother and step-sister. One might say she rose to the challenge under my guidance."
"And the senora herself: how is she?"
"She was unwell for a while, but she reached a fine settlement with her husband. Although the older girl, Ramona's step-sister was quite distressed when I left, but it is all sunshine and smiles now; I do believe that Ramona had taken them both in hand."
"Was the younger girl, Ramona, your only charge then, Mademoiselle Grey?"
"She was. The older girl, Victoria, was at college and the family had no need of my service with regard to her. And, please, do not 'Frenchify' my title."
"I find it hard to believe that one with your reputation did not influence the whole family?" He added as he continued to delve, despite my protestations, leaning back in his chair magisterially, as if sitting in judgement of me.
"And yet I come to you with excellent references, which specifically clear my name of any involvement in either the illness or the alleged scandal."
"You do Mademoiselle Grey."
"I prefer Miss Grey."
"You do then, Miss Grey. You do. You will be more than aware that I would not be seeing you, if this were not the case," he nodded his head slowly and then looked up at me sharply: "you have I believe a reputation for harsh discipline, Miss Muriel Grey?"
"I do not spare the rod, sir and I prefer Miss Grey, as I have advised you once before."
"Forgive me, Miss Grey. I do not mean to take liberties. Tell me: do you spare the child?"
"I develop the child, sir. And seek to moderate the excesses of the inner child."
"Will you spare Cordele: our little Kiki? She is, after all, barely nineteen."
"I will treat your little Kiki as she needs to be treated."
"And what are her needs?"
"You are her father sir; not I."
"Miss Grey. Let us not beat about the bush. Cordele's mother, my dear second wife, is of sensitive disposition and would have me employ an appropriate tutor for her lovely young daughter. Kiki is a delightful girl, but has her mind on so many things that make her tarry, when she should be engaged in far more serious activities. She needs more discipline in her life."
"I believe that I can provide what she needs."
"Do you spank your charges, Miss Grey?"
"I do."
"Senorita Ramona de Sagunto enjoyed the attentions of your tawse?"
"She did. I see you have researched my Scottish background, sir."
"I am sure your tawse researched the lovely, young lady's derriere."
"I do my duties thoroughly, sir. Ramona was quite feckless and needed every instrument that I applied to her bottom and breasts."
"You tawsed her breasts, Miss Grey?"
"I certainly slapped them. It pleased me to do that."
"I should like you to do that for my Cordele."
"I see that you appreciate her breasts, Monsieur Le Grand."
"Why should an idle girl not be reformed through mild physical punishment, Miss Grey?"
"Should the father be punished too, since he appears to relish the girl's idleness?"
"How on earth do you reach such a conclusion, Miss Grey?"
"That picture of her sunbathing bare breasted on the patio outside your study: the one on your desk. It gives me a clue, sir."
"Ah. You have seen my photo of her. Is she not a pretty thing?"
"She is very pretty, but is such a photograph an appropriate desk ornament for her step father's study? Is it not rather distracting?"
"It is very artistic."
"It is artistic. Not quite as artistic as the picture of her skinny dipping on the isles, standing so proudly on your drinks cabinet, sir."
"You are very observant, Miss Grey."
"It pays to observe the wickedness in our world sir. We can only learn from it."
"And what do you learn from this alleged wickedness, Miss Grey?"
"I learn that there is probably a photograph album somewhere in this room filled with similarly 'innocent' moments in your daughter's life."
"You do?"
"I do and I would imagine that the page on the young lady at her toilette is taken as if through a pin-hole camera? Perhaps there is also a page dedicated to her choice in underwear taken in Avignon when the winds were blowing their strongest?" I continued.
"That may be true."
"And perhaps a lovely section dedicated to the young lady finishing her schooling at that private school. The one where they had such rigorous dress codes, that I am sure your nubile offspring broke flagrantly, whenever she had the opportunity to appear like the teenaged slut her father dreams might lie in his arms one day?"
"Are you quite finished, Miss Grey?"
"I could continue, if you like."
"There is no need. I am a keen photographer, Miss Grey."
"And, like the professionals you have an animated interest in his subject matter?"
"Of course I do."
"And you would like me to animate that interest further," I smiled disingenuously and toyed with one of the buttons on my blouse.
"Most certainly," he smiled, practically licking his lips in anticipation.
"We might revisit all the places you have photographed Cordele in and take pictures of me and her together?" I played along and duly unbuttoned to reveal just a little cleavage and let my fingers hover over the next button down.
"That is a delicious thought, Miss Grey; please proceed."
"Would you like us to take off each other's clothing for you: to strip away her girlish garb in such a way that you can see all her secret charms, monsieur?"
"You would do this for me?"
"Would this be appropriate?"
"It seems like a good idea to me, my dear Miss Grey."
"Would you like to photograph her punishments?"
"I believe I would."