Previously in Frankengeld. The testing of the Elixir of Pleasure has gone a little wrong, with Gerda being driven into an aggressively sexual state. Her sluttish behaviour has included Yani, Damion, Una and the itinerant musician Max. But a dab of chloroform has allowed the staff of number 34 to move her to a bed to recover. With Una promising to let Damion know when Gerda woke up.
Now read on...
24th June in the year 1784, late afternoon.
I nearly fell over in surprise when I entered as I observed Gerda and Una writhing around on the bed. It was like the female orgy in the Hunting Lodge all over again.
The gentle verse of the Greek poet Sappho that I had read in my youth had not really prepared me for the reality of the sex of Lesbos. It was much more active than I thought it would be. I had imagined a few chaste kisses, and gentle cuddles. Not for them each to have their mouths on the other's quim, licking and sucking vigorously whilst pushing fingers into pleasure holes. At least they were doing it relatively quietly. I closed the door in embarrassment and went downstairs.
Helena was sat in the kitchen chatting to Yani, she gave a grin as I entered and asked, "Have you sorted the musician, and Gerda?"
"Max seems to have accepted what I have suggested happened," I said. "He is sleeping off the chloroform, the bump on the floor, and the bump on the bedhead."
"And Gerda?"
"She and Una are getting to know each other better."
"What have a noble mistress and her ex-servant got in common?"
"You'd be surprised," I replied, thinking they both have a quim and they both have a mouth.
I sat at the table feeling glum. In a while Stephan would arrive to take his Mistress home, and if Gerda didn't come back to normal soon I dare not let the pair of them travel together in the cart. Gerda would, no doubt, attempt to pull his trousers off after a hundred metres. She would get them arrested for gross indecency on the public highway. I needed more time.
"Helena, do you think you could find Stephan?"
"He usually rests at one of the taverns, I believe, Damion. Yes, I think I could have a go."
"I need him to carry the message back to Durishaus that Gerda is staying here overnight. And to return perhaps noon tomorrow to collect her."
"Will that be enough time for her to recover?"
"I sincerely hope so. I can"t keep her away from my brother for too long. He might not notice his dearly beloved is missing, especially if there is an agricultural challenge in front of him, but the rest of the family will get suspicious if she doesn't return."
"She's normally a flirty woman. I remember what happened when you joined the family for tea on your first day back. Will they notice?"
"Yes... well... there's a difference between being flirty and ripping men's clothes off. Poor Yani here nearly had his first experience of what a randy street whore can do to a man."
Helena put her arm around Yani's shoulder and gave him a motherly hug. The lad was eating chocolates and it was difficult to tell if he'd been traumatized by the experience. He'd certainly been shocked at Gerda's aggressive sexuality, but the sweets appeared to be helping. I decided he'd have been more upset - in the long run - if Gerda had eaten all the sweets. I found a piece of cloth, wrapped the remaining sweets, and told him he could take them up to his room. Helena put on her bonnet and gloves.
"I will seek Stephan at the tavern. Will you be safe here?"
I nodded.
"Gerda needs a good night's sleep," I said. "I will go down to the laboratory and make up a sleeping draught. Once she and Una have finished their... conversation... we will see if we can get her to drink it."
The pair left, Yani climbing the stairs clutching his bag of sweets as if they were golden ducats, and I sat for a moment trying to organise my thoughts. I could hear occasional creaks above me as a bed moved, but whether that was Max stirring in his slumber, or Gerda and Una entwined in passion, I could not tell.
Down in the laboratory I found a mild sleeping draught and spent a little time concentrating it. A more potent decoction would be more likely to work, and we might have trouble getting Gerda to take it, so a smaller quantity would be easier to administer. While I worked my mind was filled with questions. Why did the elixir stimulate lust instead of increased pleasure in more acceptable activities? Why did it not make Gerda hungry for the flavour of excellent food? Or desirous to hear fine music? Why did she not eat, listen, and then express a desire to visit the Vienna Opera House?
Stupid woman! I admit I swore under my breath. I was upset by the failure. But perhaps it wasn't my fault. Perhaps it was actually Gerda's fault this had gone wrong? Perhaps her personality was damaged or twisted in some way? Maybe the elixir was fine, it was her response that was at fault. If I had given it to a more normal person then they may have had the right reaction and we would be celebrating instead of trying to manage this almighty mess.
As I stirred the mixture I tried to think of someone more normal on whom I could test the elixir. Helena? Yes... she was a robust and healthy woman... but she was overly independent for one of her sex, and inclined to casual relationships. She had enjoyed the orgy in the tavern, had implied she knew just how 'big' Bruno was, and had allowed herself to be pleasured by three satyrs. No, not normal, I decided.
What about Anya? Yes... she was an ordinary woman and a hard working servant... but she was strangely joyless in her interactions. She had a sense of humour but it was so dry it could be a white wine from the Burgundian region, and so sharp you could bleed to death on it. Once she'd accepted the job of guarding Mr Hyde she gleefully stood over him ready to dash his brains out with the mace, and I had no doubt she would not have hesitated for a moment. No, not normal, I decided. And a witch as well. I wouldn't want to try the elixir on her.
That left, in my immediate household, Una. She was strong, only a strong woman could have survived my father's attentions. And she had a healthy fear of sadomasochistic pain, which had caused her to flee Durishaus. All good signs. Since then she had worked hard but she seemed to be competing with Helena for my approval and, dare I say it, possibly my body too. And, at this moment she was indulging in wild sapphic sex with my sister-in-law, without even asking my permission as her master. No, not normal, I decided.
Yani was out of the question, he was happy having intercourse with his aunt, and I suspected, her two sisters as well. There must be fifty years between their ages. I had a daydream where I saw his perfect young body pleasuring all three of their wrinkled quims. Their ancient breasts flapping as he energetically plundered their love holes. I had got to the point where he had lined them up in a row, bottoms up, facing away from him. He was teasing them, making them guess who would be the next to receive his phallus. I shook myself out of the reverie. No, not normal.
That left the remaining members of my own family, very risky. In the end I decided that the only normal person I knew was me! As I climbed the stairs from the laboratory I wondered if this is why The Good Doctor from Edinburgh, that Madam Schwartz mentioned in her tale, chose to experiment on himself. I would have to look further afield for a subject, or risk it myself.
At the top of the stairs I met Helena.
