CHAPTER 1

 

Victoria took a deep breath and knocked on the door of Lord Castlebridge's study. She was nervous. That in itself was hardly surprising. Attending upon his Lordship was inevitably a hazardous occupation and more than one interview with the patron of Castlebridge Hall had led to a painful encounter with a length of rattan cane. Victoria hoped fervently that there was nothing in her recent conduct to merit a visit to the library to experience once again the dedication to duty of Mr Greenwood, the Halls' butler, while strapped down over the caning stool and having her naked nether portions subjected to the admirable strength of his right arm.

Fortunately it had been a while since Victoria had last danced in agony over the caning stool. It had been nearly three months since her last encounter with that much feared item of furniture in fact despite her having spent all her weekends in domestic work at the Hall. Victoria prayed ardently that such a happy state of affairs would continue. Of course she hadn't entirely kept out of trouble. Under the draconian regime at the Hall it was very nearly impossible to do so and with the malevolent intentions of Charlotte Grayson and her cronies ever conspiring to land her in the brown smelly stuff it was almost futile to try. Indeed the Head Housekeeper, Mrs Moorhouse, had taken her to task only the week before.

If she was honest however the blame for that particular incident could not be placed at Charlotte Grayson's door. In fact the blame, if any, really lay with the beautiful Maria, the best thing about Castlebridge Hall by far in Victoria's opinion. It was not that Maria was in any way directly to blame for Mrs Moorhouse's displeasure with Victoria. If you were really going to apportion blame then it were best perhaps laid before Cupid and his reckless and indiscriminate arrows! Victoria was, by now, hopelessly and devotedly in love with the lovely Maria. Maria was the star in Victoria's firmament, the light of her life, the one shining beacon in the otherwise miserable regime under Lord Castlebridge's patronage. It was Maria that made all the punishments and trials of life at Castlebridge Hall at all worthwhile.

But of course a person in love is almost by definition a person who is not concentrating on the mundane realities of life. Victoria had in fact been idly daydreaming of her beloved Maria to the detriment of the work she was supposedly engaged in when Mrs Moorhouse had happened upon her. It had confirmed Mrs Moorhouse's opinion that Victoria needed constant supervision and correction to ensure that she remained focussed on the task in hand. Mrs Moorhouse had therefore immediately determined to remind Victoria of her duties.

It had been apparent that Mrs Moorhouse had been anticipating that Victoria might well be in need of such a reminder for she had been carrying her strap with her. It had been a most convenient piece of forethought for, instead of having to waste time in marching Victoria along to her office, she had been able to administer a sound strapping on the spot. Sadly the work that Victoria had been neglecting in her love sick daydreams had involved polishing the wood panels in the Long Hall. The Long Hall was one of the main arteries in the sprawling edifice of Castlebridge Hall and was heavily trafficked by domestic staff in passage through the Hall on their way to assorted duties. It was, in fact, a very public place to be obliged to bend over and touch your toes with your skirt and petticoat raised above your waist and your knickers about your knees to receive a strapping.

Indeed two other of the domestic staff had passed along the Long Hall whilst Victoria had been suffering Mrs Moorhouse's firm strapping. Victoria had been unable to decide which was worse; the stinging impact of the strap across her rear or the mortifying humiliation of being punished so publicly for all the world to see! The cheeks of Victoria's face had burned almost as brightly as the cheeks of her bottom with such public disgrace.

Nevertheless, trying as that strapping had been, it was one of only a few punishments that Victoria had had to suffer at the Hall over the last three months. Victoria had been desperately trying to keep out of trouble as much as was possible. There was a compelling reason for this reformist attitude. Victoria was aware that her long awaited personal conduct and performance review was due. Indeed it was well overdue, had been postponed two or three times and it could surely not be delayed much longer.

Victoria's tummy turned over every time she thought about that upcoming review. In it her personal conduct file and disciplinary record would be examined in detail and Victoria was all too well aware that those were not documents that would display her in her best light when subjected to critical examination. In only a few months of weekend domestic service at the Hall Victoria had amassed an unenviable disciplinary record which included two formal canings in the library and several less formal punishments. It was widely held among the domestic staff that Victoria was the person most likely to be facing a public birching in the library as a result of her review. Charlotte Carlson wasted no opportunity to gleefully remind Victoria of it and even Victoria's beloved Maria was pessimistic about her chances of avoiding such a fate.

Victoria therefore had attempted to amass a period of exemplary behaviour in order to try and ameliorate her earlier record. The trouble was that Victoria was not only to be judged in her review on her weekend work at the Hall but also on her university studies and her part time clerical work at Lord Castlebridge's city offices. Her university work had been fair on the whole but Victoria had some fears about that. She had only scored a B minus on her last essay and Lord Castlebridge might take her to task for that when she was finally admitted to his presence to present herself. She didn't expect to be severely punished for it. B minus was after all still a respectable pass mark if not exactly up to Lord Castlebridge's exacting standards but it was indicative of the blips becoming evident in her hitherto excellent academic record; a record, it has to be said, that was now suffering from the distractions of the anxieties and woes of the intolerable regime Victoria was labouring under.

Her work at the city offices was a case in point. If it was difficult to keep out of trouble at the Hall it was an impossibility in the office. When Lord Castlebridge was out of the office then Victoria fell completely under the petty tyranny of Emilie Dixon. Ever since the lamentable day that his Lordship had authorised Emilie to discipline Victoria the foul woman had wasted no opportunity to exercise that authority. It was a rare day at the office in fact that Victoria was not subjected to Emilie's interpretation of "discipline" and Emilie regularly punished her with the strap or cane for the most minor of infractions. If that was not bad enough Emilie also made a point of reporting every disciplinary action to Lord Castlebridge and these were now routinely entered into her personal file at the Hall complete with Emilie's exaggerated descriptions of the misdemeanours for which Victoria had been purportedly punished for. Emilie took great satisfaction in these detailed reports and Victoria always came out of them in the worst possible light. Victoria was sure that Emilie was conspiring with Charlotte to ensure that Victoria be subjected to her much anticipated birching.

Emilie indeed had wanted to add yet another entry into Victoria's punishment registry this very afternoon. As usual on Friday, Victoria had worked a half day in the city office before taking the bus for Castlebridge Hall to spend the weekend in domestic service. On of Emilie's favourite tricks was to find some pretext to hold Victoria back at the end of the working day to be punished for some imagined offence. As a result, Victoria was not only punished at the office but risked missing her bus and arriving late at the Hall where she would suffer further punishment for tardiness. Emilie had sadistically hinted that she intended just such a ploy today. Fortunately Victoria had managed to circumvent Emilie's insidious plans by the expedient of having one of her allies in the office call Emilie away on a pretext shortly before five o'clock. It was all the time she'd needed. Victoria was able to quickly wrap up her remaining tasks and escape the office before Emilie had returned. Of course she would be furious and would doubtless extract revenge next week but at least Victoria had caught the bus in plenty of time and was now presenting herself at Lord Castlebridge's study without the crime of unpunctuality to answer for.

Victoria frowned as she always did at the thought of her nemesis in the city office. She was covertly gathering information on Emilie although half of it she didn't understand the purpose of. It was Maria who was using her as a spy in Lord Castlebridge's office and Victoria detected the subtle hand of Lady Castlebridge behind the scheming. Victoria had been shocked to learn that Emilie was Lord Castlebridge's mistress and, as such, had earned the undying animosity of his wife! There were plots afoot and Maria was daily assuring her that the denouement of Emilie Dixon and Charlotte Grayson were only a matter of time.

It was all very well this espionage thought Victoria but it brought her into close contact with Emilie and all the sufferings that came with such proximity. Next week it was Easter break at the university and Lord Castlebridge had indicated that he expected her to spend the break in meaningful employment. Victoria hoped it would be at the Hall and not the office. The Hall was just as perilous as the office of course but at least she would be close to Maria and that made any hardship bearable.

Victoria straightened her maid's uniform nervously. Even with long familiarity she had not come to love the little black dresses complete with frilly petticoats and pinafore that were obligatory dress at the Hall. She'd had to change into it as soon as she arrived at the Hall and the standard underwear as well. It was a hazardous task for her uniform was usually laid out for her in her dormitory. This left it at the mercy of Charlotte Carlson! Three weeks ago Charlotte had substituted a soiled pinafore for the pristine white item left for Victoria. Victoria had been running late and had had no option but to present herself for her weekly report with the soiled pinafore. Lord Castlebridge had been less than amused. The fifty lashes with the strap that he'd applied to her bare bottom while she'd bent over his desk squealing was yet another lamentable entry in her disciplinary record!

Victoria regarded the door in front of her uncertainly. Her knock had elicited no response from within. Perhaps his Lordship had not heard her. Victoria was bound to admit that her knock had been somewhat on the timid side and doors at Castlebridge Hall were uniformly solid, massive oak portals requiring more in the way of a hearty clout to be usefully effective as sounding boards. Summoning her courage, Victoria tried again with a rather bolder rap on the stout timber. This time there was an answer. "Yes, yes! What is it damn you! Come in for heaven's sake!" Swallowing in nervousness and clutching her latest university paper, Victoria pushed the door open and stepped into Lord Castlebridge's study.

To her surprise she found that she was not the only visitor. As well as Lord Castlebridge seated behind his imposing and massive mahogany desk there were two other people present. One of them was the all too familiar, impressive and dignified presence of Mr Greenwood, the Hall's majestic butler. He was looking grave and disapproving. The object of this disapproval was the third person present. She was one of the Hall's housemaids, a tiny little girl called Jennifer Rawlings. Victoria knew her slightly but was not close to her. She was a very junior maid barely eighteen years old and normally did not work the weekends when Victoria was at the Hall. For all that she seemed a nice enough girl if a little timid and very pretty with an entrancing smile.

That smile was not in evidence at the moment. Jennifer was stood in front of Lord Castlebridge's desk wringing her hands before her and quivering her lip in what could only be described as abject misery. She seemed to be on the point of tears and it didn't require a giant leap of deduction to surmise that she was in big trouble. The presence of Greenwood in the audience was a further indication that young Jennifer was all too likely about to suffer the consequences of whatever misconduct had brought her to His Lordship's study.

Lord Castlebridge was clearly in an ill humour. He glowered at Victoria as she entered the room and curtsied hastily. "Oh it's you Victoria!" he barked. "You're early!"

Victoria took a deep breath. "I'm sorry sir," she intoned, "I thought to try to be punctual as per your instructions. I was able to catch a slightly earlier bus today."

Lord Castlebridge narrowed his eyes. "Yes but only by leaving work at the office ten minutes early without permission Victoria!"

Victoria gulped. "Sir?"

"I've had Miss Dixon on the phone Victoria so please don't try to deceive me!"

"But sir I...."

"Enough Victoria! I'll talk to you in a minute." Lord Castlebridge nodded at the paper Victoria was clutching in her hand. "Is that your latest university assignment Victoria?"

"Yes sir."

"Capital! Well slap it on the desk and stand to one side whilst I finish with this young lady." Once Victoria had complied, His Lordship turned his attention back to the trembling figure of little Jennifer Rawlings. "Well young Miss," he growled, evidently resuming a lecture in which he had already had much to say, "You must be aware that this kind of behaviour and dereliction of duty is unacceptable here at Castlebridge Hall. I'm disappointed young lady! You had a stern warning two months ago and I thought perhaps you'd mended your ways but with this new litany of misdeeds it appears I was wrong." Lord Castlebridge turned his head to address Greenwood. "I think sterner measures are called for in this instance Greenwood!"

"Yes my Lord. I think that a wise decision."

"It's about time that this young lady was taught a salutary lesson!"

"I would concur with that analysis my Lord."

"I think the best thing you can do Greenwood is to march this young madam straight down to the library and give her a good hard beating!" At this pronouncement there was a loud sob from the cowering figure of Jennifer and tears began to form in her eyes. Lord Castlebridge turned to her grimly. "Yes young lady! You might well whimper! It's the cane for you I'm afraid to say and not before time! Hopefully we shall see an improvement in your behaviour and application to your work with the benefit of a good sound caning to remind you of your duties."

Jennifer was weeping copiously now and clutching her pinafore miserably. Greenwood cleared his throat. "May I be so bold as to inquire as to the severity of the sentence you feel applicable in this instance My Lord?"

Lord Castlebridge thought for a moment. "I think forty strokes should do the trick Greenwood." There was a moan of dismay from Jennifer at this pronouncement. Lord Castlebridge raised an eyebrow and glanced at her in disapproval. "And lay them on firmly Greenwood." he continued. "Don't spare the girl!"

"Indeed not My Lord."

"Capital!"

Greenwood straightened up with dignity. "In that case My Lord, if you will excuse me, I shall take Miss Rawlings along to the library and attend to the matter immediately."

Lord Castlebridge raised a hand. "Just one minute Greenwood. You might as well kill two birds with one stone while you're about it. When you take Jennifer along to the library you can be taking Victoria along with you as well! She's due for a sound thrashing too!"

Victoria gasped, the blood draining from her face. Lord Castlebridge regarded her sternly. "Yes Victoria! I've had a long chat with Miss Dixon on the telephone. "I'm afraid to say that she is not at all impressed with your performance in the office. I know she has had to take you to task on numerous occasions for your laziness and inattention to your duties. I have it on her authority that she has punished you several times for these failings but she is afraid that these punishments appear to have had little effect. She is most annoyed that you left the office early today without permission and without completing your allotted tasks."

Victoria listened in horror. It was totally untrue that she had left early. It had been exactly five o'clock when she'd departed the office and she'd meticulously made sure that she had finished everything required of her. Emilie, robbed of her sadistic pleasure by Victoria's prompt departure, had evidently wasted no time in extracting revenge. "But... but..." Victoria began to protest.

Lord Castlebridge silenced her with a glare. "No buts Victoria. I've warned you before that you would be held accountable for your work in the office as well as here at the Hall. Miss Dixon is deeply dissatisfied with that work. Since she doesn't have the authority to impose severe penalties she's asked me if it would be possible for you to be formally punished here at the Hall. Naturally I support Miss Dixon in this and so you can follow Greenwood down to the library for the cane as well!"

Victoria knew from experience that further protest was useless. She bit her lip and lowered her head. "Yes sir." she mumbled quietly.

Lord Castlebridge turned once more to Greenwood. "Fifty strokes for Victoria if you'd be so kind Greenwood." he declared.

"Very well My Lord."

"And please apply the maximum severity Greenwood if you please. Victoria needs a firm hand!"

"As you wish My Lord."

"Excellent. I want a thorough job doing! I shall be along to library in due course to see that my instructions have been carried out to my satisfaction."

Greenwood looked mildly offended. "You will have no cause for dissatisfaction My Lord. I assure you that both young ladies will be suitably and firmly chastised."

"Capital! Well carry on Greenwood."

"Thank you My Lord." Greenwood addressed his two disconsolate charges. "If you young ladies will follow me please."

In misery the two girls turned to follow Greenwood to the door. As they did so, Lord Castlebridge idly picked up Victoria's university essay. They had not reached the door when they were halted by His Lordship's sonorous voice. "Just one minute Victoria Partridge!" he thundered. Victoria turned around fearfully. Lord Castlebridge was holding her essay up by a corner as if he felt it offensive to touch. "What do you call this?" he demanded.

"It... it's my essay sir." Victoria bleated pathetically.

"I can see that you wretched girl! I'm talking about this mark on it! What the devil is that?"

"It... it's a B Minus s... sir."

"It's a bloody disgrace more like! I expect high Bs and As from you at the very minimum Victoria! This is a wretched effort! I can see that I haven't wasted a minute in having you caned! I take my eye off you for a minute and you're starting to let things slide! Well I won't have it you hear!" Lord Castlebridge slapped his hand on his desk. "Greenwood!"

"Yes My Lord?"

"Add an extra twenty to Victoria's sentence!"