It had been a full year since my husband passed away, leaving his estate and all of the wealth and staff that went with it to me. I continued to wear my mourning dress, as I dearly loved my late husband, and as a woman of fourty years, I had no prospects to consider. I spent my hours organizing the household, attending to social calls, and ensuring that my late husband's finances remained well in order.
Our only child, a son named Frederick just recently turned eighteen. Frederick had always been a sickly child, prone to fits and often confined to bed rest for weeks on end. Because of this the estate was left to me until the time he was able to take control of it or upon my own death. Frederick's health issues meant that his father and I had left his care up to a devoted nanny for most of his life.
Nanny was the epitome of a servant and practically irreplaceable in our family because of the special care she took of Frederick, so when she found out that her mother was ill, I immediately sent her off with her bags and a small sum of money to look after her. As she didn't know when she would return, and Frederick had been well of late, I decided not to hire a temporary girl to take her place but instead would let the other servants pick up work left from Nanny's absence.
We had a substantial staff after all, and he was eighteen and the indulgence of a favourite nanny was starting to tell on Frederick's sensibilities. I was beginning to fear for his marriage prospects, as he was physically weak and often complained profusely in a rather child-like manner. Luckily with our estate, eventually a girl would surely overlook having a sickly husband.
A few days after Nanny left to look after her ailing mother, one of the maids came to my room as I was reading abed one night. "Pardon the intrusion Madam, but Master Frederick is calling for you."
"Thank you Mary, I will attend to him." I replied and sent her off. I quickly pulled on my dressing gown over my night dress and made my way to my son's bed chambers, worried that his health had taken a sudden turn.
I knocked softly on his door then entered the dim room. Frederick was tucked in bed and I moved quickly to his bedside, where a chair was waiting. "Are you well, dear?" I inquired.
"I can't sleep Mama. I am out of sorts without Nanny to put me to bed and I do not trust the other servants to administer her remedy." He whined.
"Oh, Frederick, you are eighteen years old, surely you can overcome Nanny's absence. And what remedy do you speak of? I do not recall instructing Nanny to give you any tonics."
"Not a tonic Mama, Nanny uses her hands and mouth to relieve me of my weakness." With this Frederick pulled the sheets aside and his nightshirt was pulled up well above his waist. I caught a glimpse of his red-hued manhood, laying flat against his belly before I gasped and shielded my eyes.
"Frederick! Such indecency, and in front of your mother! Cover yourself this instant!" I scolded him, my eyes screwed shut and my hands covering my face.
"Please Mama," Frederick begged, tugging on the sleeve of my dressing gown, "it invigorates me and allows me to rest peacefully each night. I need it for my health. Nanny would tell you the very same, but she was in such a rush to leave to attend her mother."
"I have never heard of such a thing!" I replied with my eyes still covered.
"It is the finest of medicinals Mama, I assure you. If you will just administer Nanny's remedy nightly for me until she returns I will be forever grateful. If you do not I fear my health as of late will diminish with each passing day." Frederick implored, his warm hand gently pulling my hand away from my face.
I sighed deeply, feeling that it was my motherly duty to attend to the health of my only son, even if it was with a task I felt so improper. I lowered my hands to my lap and looked Frederick in the eyes. "What must I do?"
