Prologue
The Right Hon Mrs Grace de Vere Cobblehaugh sighed deeply. Mrs Cobblehaugh (pronounced "cobbler") was not happy.
Yet why should this be? The heiress to the vast de Vere estate had every right to be content with her lot. After all, she was a beautiful, intelligent woman with a handsome, dashing husband. It was a glorious summer day in 1895, and the lawn outside her holiday cottage stretched down to a pretty little river. She was wealthy; she was healthy; she was still quite young; and she had good friends around her.
In fact one of those friends, Mrs Bea Hampton, was sitting with her at the breakfast table. And Bea noticed that a cloud had certainly passed across Grace's lovely face.
"What's up, darling?" enquired Bea. "Is it Bernard again?"
"Yes, I'm afraid it is", Grace replied. "It's this telegram from the bank. Look!"
Bea read the telegram, which said simply: "NEED YOUR PERMISSION STOP. MR BERNARD COBBLEHAUGH REQUESTED A BANKERS DRAFT THIS MORNING FOR ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS STOP TO BE MADE PAYABLE TO LONDON PLEASURE PALACE OF PAGAN SIN STOP THIS EXCEEDS YOUR PREVIOUSLY STIPULATED ALLOWANCE FOR YOUR HUSBAND STOP WILL YOU AUTHORISE STOP"
"Oh Grace! What will you do?"
"Oh, I can well afford the money, Bea. It's just that he did promise. You know, after last time..."
Bea knew exactly what her friend meant. Bernard was not such a bad fellow. And astonishingly good looking and very charming with it. But his weaknesses for wine, women and song were well known. Especially for women....
Bea knew only too well what it was like to be the wife of a man like that. The constant worry; the checking of bills and bank statements. Her eyes filled up.
"Oh, Bea! How selfish I've been. Are you having trouble yourself...with Richard?"
"Yes, my darling. I do think that Dick and Bernard egg each other on, you know. Last night they stayed up smoking and drinking and gaming in our cottage. And the cards they were playing with had naked women on the backs."
"Aren't men awful! Always leering at women and trying to peep at them when they have no clothes on. I mean, how would they like it if it happened to them?"
"Yes, Grace, that might make them think again."
Grace's expression suddenly changed. A twinkle came into her eye. "Do you know, Bea, I think you're right! Maybe we can teach those idle men a lesson!"
Fun on the River
The first day of July was sunny and bright. Just after lunch, a group of six people emerged from the holiday cottages along the riverside.
Two of group we have already met, Grace Cobblehaugh and Bea Hampton. Grace and Bea were with two other ladies, Violet Beating and Felicity Bishop.
The four chums had known each other for years. They did everything together. People said the four close friends were almost telepathic -- certainly there seemed to be some unspoken understanding between them today. Every so often they smiled at each other, and mouthed some signal.
Maybe they were hatching a plot? If so, it probably revolved around the two large, good looking men standing in the cottage doorway, flirting with Polly the housemaid. Bernard Cobblehaugh and Richard Hampton, the husbands of Grace and Bea, were getting covert glances from the women. Glances of admiration? No, not entirely! But no matter, we shall see more of Dick and Bernard later. Much more of them.
Eventually the group collected by the river bank. Where Grace pointed to an old punt tied up in the mud.
"This old thing belongs to Mrs Cockwatch, the vicar's wife. I promised I'd take it down the river into Bidford and return it to her. Bernard, it's only a couple of miles. Why don't you and Dick punt it along? I can steer. Bea, Felicity and Violet will walk along the river." "Certainly, my dear" returned her husband. "You up for it, Dick?".
"Absolutely, old top. But dash it all, Mrs Cobblehaugh, it's very muddy down here."
"Yes, Grace, if we have to wade through all that mud, what about our clothes?" Bernard objected.
"Yes, good point, you are beautifully dressed, aren't you? And it is a hot day. Why not take your clothes off?"
So the men started to take off their clothes. Top hats, frock coats, neck ties, waistcoats and fobs were removed.
Seeing them pause, Grace winked at her friends. And said "No, gentlemen, I meant ALL your clothes!"
"Very amusing, Grace! But seriously, darling, these trousers cost 200 guineas. I'm not going to wear them in this muddy river, but neither, I can assure you, will I take them off. Leastways, not in front of your friends and the servants!"
"Now, Bernard," said Grace. "You are going to take off all your clothes, NOW. Because, darling, you do want your gambling debts paid, don't you?"
"You too, Dick!" said Bea.
Bernard and Dick sat dejectedly on the river bank and eased off their boots and stockings.
"Ladies, really! I will go no further with this ridiculous project." "And neither will I."
"Bernard, there are also your debts at the wine shop to take into account", Grace remarked.
"And, Dick," added Bea "remember your part in that sordid affair which Mr Sherlock Holmes investigated last year.....!"
The men unwillingly continued. Shirts and trousers joined the pile on the river bank. Now clad only in their long johns, Bernard and Dick pleaded for mercy. "Ladies, this has gone far enough!"
"Gentlemen, this could be fun! The sun is shining, the river beckons! In any case, you do owe your long-suffering wives a great deal, don't you? Bea and I could change all your fine living with a telegram...Now let's go for a nice punt down to the village. And don't you worry about your fine clothes, we'll take care of them"
The reluctant strippers carried on. Finally Bernard and Dick were fully undressed. Not to put too fine a point on it, they were stark bollock naked.
The ladies looked at them appreciatively. The two men were quite different animals under their clothes. Bernard had a touch of the greyhound, with his long lean body, his athletic carriage and his low-slung testicles. Dick had more of the gorilla about him, with his hairy, muscular body, barrel chest and big 'banana'. It was evident that both men took regular exercise. In their different ways, they were fine specimens of manhood.
There was quite a contrast between the white hard bodies of the men and their pink embarrassed faces. Both Bernard and Dick had penises worthy of note. But they cowered blushingly before the women, hands over their private parts. "Come on, gentlemen, that won't do at all!" Grace laughed. "Hands by your sides! Chin up! Chest out! And perk those buttocks!"
With these inspiring words, Grace pointed to the river. Still no reaction from Bernard and Dick, who seemed to be acting dumb.
"Quick march, gentlemen, or I call out Polly to put your clothes on the furnace!" That seemed to be language which the men could understand, especially when Grace followed it up with an encouraging slap on their buttocks. So off they went. The nude men stepped into the mud and dragged and pushed the heavy old boat towards the water. Their pale bottoms strained and wobbled. They struggled in the mud and heaved and pushed, and in the end they did manage to get the boat into quite deep water. Dick remained holding it, while Bernard returned for his dear wife. Bernard's penis swung from side to side as he trudged unhappily back.
Grace leapt into Bernard's arms and he reeled under the impact. Although a light and dainty woman, Grace proved quite a burden. She bounced and bucked in Bernard's arms, often reaching down to smack his bum or tease his helpless cock. Staggering and gasping, he managed to reach the punt and push his playful wife into it.
Bernard leant, doubled up, over the boat. Sweat pouring down his crimson face. He was completely breathless. But Bernard was also bent over to try hiding his embarrassing and unwelcome erection. Unfortunately Grace's naughty fingers had made his cock far too big to conceal! Also Bernard's crouching and gasping posture made it look as if he was waggling his butt at the amused women on the bank.