In the fell circumstances that connected this trio, explanations and recriminations were somewhat briefer than they might otherwise have been.
Kate continued to resort to her attack of the vapours and had to be led, apparently limp and wan, by Letitia into the drawing room while Johnson continued bemoaning that he didn't know how it all happened.
'You cur! I will deal with you later! A poor innocent girl, indeed!' Letitia had thrown at him, while Kate-finally seated in more outwardly respectable surroundings-began to sob bitterly and to imply, in such broken words as left her lips, that she agreed with Johnson, this bringing a heartfelt sigh from Letitia who could not help but think that at Kate's age she had been in similar circumstances herself, albeit not with a servant. At worst, Kate was obviously still a virgin, though Letitia was beginning to question herself as to why she wished the girl to be.
'Men are thus. There are times when one cannot help but be led into licentious pleasures, Kate', Letitia opined.
'But I didn't mean to do nuffink, really. I was talking and he put it in my mouth, and then you come in-and I wanted to DIE!' Kate howled with some modicum of truth at having been discovered thus.
'Kate, you must never say that!' Letitia scolded, for Kate's tears were real enough, though caused by a surplus of aroused emotions rather than remorse. That Letitia sensed this was not entirely to Kate's disadvantage, for where jealousy is not concerned then females of all ages can be quite conspiratorial in these matters. What Kate feared was that she might be questioned more upon the manner of her conversation with Johnson, but that possibility was fortunately diverted by the appearance of Ethel, followed in short order by Easton, both of them having overheard Kate's last, rising cry.
'What is to do?' rang both their voices in unison. Ethel ran to comfort Kate by perching on the arm of her chair.
Easton looked at his wife askance. Letitia shook her head. Thus the tableau held for a moment until Letitia broke the momentary silence by saying, 'Kate, dear, you had best go to your room with Ethel and compose yourself'.
A doleful nod came from Kate who rose and, with head bowed in the manner of a young nun, made her exit in company with a wondering Ethel-the floor thus being left to the true protagonists of all that had passed.
'It was Johnson. I have told you often enough what a beast he is', Letitia said gravely and then moved into her description of the affair while Easton listened gravely.
'She is spoiled?' he asked quaintly enough for him.
'No, my dear. I told you she but had him in her mouth. He surprised her by thrusting it suddenly at her. He must be dismissed, Easton'.
'Er-hem! That is for you to say, my sweet'.
'Indeed, it is, and I am glad that you see the light. Poor Kate! What a shock it must have been to her. He was rampant, Easton, rampant!'
'We should perhaps see to her', Easton said carefully.
'Oh, you may think so. All men are the same', uttered Letitia who, even so, was not perfectly sure that Kate's account had been as wholly truthful as Letitia had first brought herself to believe.
'I am thinking also of Ethel, my dear. In her excitement or distress, Kate may well convey to her that which it is not needful for her to know', opined Easton, thus causing his wife to raise her eyebrows in surmise, for in the alarms of the occurrence it was an aspect to which she had not given thought. Then, as if to distance himself from intimations of personal desire, he went on, 'Ralph is to visit tomorrow. Pray why do you not take Kate out for a pleasant drive and a picnic, mayhap?'
The question being so artlessly put, Letitia could barely suppress a smile. Her brother-in-law-who was in question here-had availed himself several times of Easton's diplomacy in respect of young ladies and would be more than willing to do the same in Kate's respect. Such curious tinges of jealousy as Letitia had in respect of that young lady with regard to Easton began to melt.
'The fresh air would do her good, yes', Letitia replied cautiously. 'Ethel, however, may wonder why she is not allowed to accompany us. Ah me, she is at a somewhat difficult age, and there is the question of her further tutelage now that Miss Martin is leaving us'.
'Precisely what I am thinking, too, my pet. I have been giving consideration to Hodkins who, I hear, has retired early from schoolmastering to devote himself to the-writing of books. He would not be averse, I am sure, to devoting a few hours a day to Ethel, and that without the encumbrance of his having to board with us. He could ride over each morning, or Ethel might be taken to him. Under his tuition the dear girl will flower more rapidly than perhaps has been the case with Miss Martin', said Easton ungallantly.
'Do you think so?' Letitia responded vaguely and in such a manner as he knew gave assent. For her own part, she was pleased to hear her husband give this final flourish to the lady's dismissal.
'Indeed, yes, while you and Ralph are engaged with Kate, I will take her to see him. Meanwhile a game of croquet would be in order, I think, to help disperse any elements of undue conversation between Kate and Ethel, even though neither will have any ulterior motive therein'.
'You are right, my love', replied Letitia, who saw several solutions being offered at once. Proceeding upstairs-and after having offered a tactful knock on Kate's door-she clapped her hands brightly and announced that all were going out into the garden, which news pleased Ethel not at all, for she had just begun to learn what a big one Johnson had, and had been slyly leading Kate on when her Mama broke into the scene. With maternal intuition, however, Letitia sensed that such might be the case and-inwardly praising her husband for his foresight therein-saw to it that the two girls had no further privacy together that day.
The following one-being that on which all were to ride forth-saw much activity. Bella and Miss Martin departed first on horseback, for Caroline and her husband were to meet them en route. Ethel prepared herself, with little pleasure, to accompany her Papa on her educational mission to Mr. Hodkins, much fretting that she was not going to enjoy herself on a picnic, especially as she enjoyed the company of her roguish Uncle Ralph.
Her attitude was thus broody, which caused her Papa to reprimand her and tell her to sit up straight in the pony cart that conveyed them to Hodkins' house.
'But I don't want to learn, Papa', Ethel said foolishly enough.
'I trust you will not say that to Mr. Hodkins, my pet, or his birch will be busier than his pen', Easton uttered sternly, which brought an even fiercer pout to his nubile offspring's lips, and the which was still rebelliously in evidence upon their entering the abode of the said gentleman who was tall, spare and wore pince-nez which clung like an uncertain spider halfway down his nose. Having listened to Easton's request, the savant nodded gravely.
'I may test her learning a little?' he asked, indicating thereby that he did not wish the chore of coaching a beginner.
'Indubitably! I have a need to go over and see Fellowes', said Easton, referring to his solicitor. He consulted then his fobwatch and announced that he would return within the hour, and this to the extreme annoyance of Ethel who had no wish to be cooped-up on such a fine morning while Kate was enjoying herself. Her irritation increased, moreover, when-upon the departure of her Papa-Mr. Hodkins led her into his dusty and frowsty old study and sat her down to first test her spelling. Alas for Ethel, this was not her prime subject and not only did she spatter the paper with ink in her bad mood, but actually uttered the word 'Damn!' under her breath, the which did not escape Mr. Hodkins' ears. But he had taught recalcitrant young ladies before and knew there was only one way to deal with such a one.
Resultantly, when Easton made his somewhat thoughtful return (having heard a little more about Mr. Hodkins' methods than he had conveyed to Letitia), he was met by a flushed Ethel who, upon the opening of the entrance door, rushed out to the pony cart with a rebellious mewing sound issuing from her lips.
'What is to do?' Easton thereupon questioned the would-be tutor who shook his head gravely and conveyed to Ethel's father all that he felt it was needful for him to do in a few terse sentences.
'Yes, ah yes, yes', Easton responded several times, producing no show of choleric whatever about the matter and the two finally shaking hands before he rejoined his errant daughter and took up the reins.
For half a mile along the dusty lane, neither spoke. Ethel offered up several broken sobs which Easton ignored, and finally so much so that Ethel laid her head upon his shoulder and wailed, 'Oh, Papa!'
At that, Easton appeared to give more concern to her and reined in the pony against a sunlit meadow, asking with all appearance of wonder, 'What is it, my dear? Come, let us rest awhile on the grass while you tell me all that frets you'.
A hedge offering its shelter from the view of any passers-by, Easton tied the pony, climbed the fence and assisted Ethel to do likewise, whereupon he went forward a little way and drew her down beside him on the sward. There, the young Miss, with some semblance of tears glistening in her eyes, rolled over upon her tummy and offered up a great dramatic show of lying still.
Easton, remaining on his back, placed one hand atop her nearest thigh, wherewith he was able to feel the ridging of her stocking top through her dress.
'You were saying, my pet?' he asked, this producing a snivel from Ethel who kept her face averted from him.
'He… Mr. Hodkins… he birched me, Papa, because I could not spell. Oh, it was horrid and he should not do it! I could not spell dutiful, he said, for I gave it two ls, and I could not spell submissive either, for I only had one s in mine-this announcement bringing an apparently doleful sigh from Easton whose palm, in shifting upwards a little, encountered the sensation of warm and silky flesh through Ethel's dress which, being of cotton, was easily raised as he established by drawing up its folds with seeming absentmindedness.
'Birching is a form of exercising young ladies, Ethel, wherewith to impress certain matters of learning upon them. It follows therefore that you must learn to be both dutiful and submissive. Had I time, I would have attended upon you myself in such matters'.
'But I don't want Mr. Hodkins to birch me, Papa', uttered Ethel mournfully, biting upon her knuckles as she felt what she thought to be a light breeze raising her skirt at the back. First the dipping of her knees became exposed, then the brown rings of her stocking tops, and finally two creamy rims of silk smooth flesh that Easton felt palpitating beneath his fingertips.
'In such a case, my pet, it would be needful for me to exercise you', he uttered mournfully as if it were the most dire duty he could conceive of.
'But you don't have the time, Papa, do you?' asked Ethel hopefully. In speaking, she turned upon her hip towards him, which motion caused Easton's hand to ride higher up beneath her fluffed-up skirt so that the faintly-throbbing apple of her bottom curved into his palm.
'Ethel, I discern that you are still wearing your drawers despite having received attention'.
'He made me push them down, Papa', the maiden answered, blushing.
'It is needful, Ethel', uttered Easton in sepulchral tones. 'I s'pose', answered she dolefully, burying her face into his waistcoat while the lustrous halfmoons of her firm young derriere wriggled against his cupping hand.-'I do not mind if… I do not mind if you were to teach me, if only you did have the time, but then Mama would wonder why I was not going to Mr. Hodkins, would she not, and she would say that I was being a nuisance, I'm sure she would', Ethel put in.
'Your dear Mama has much to engage her mind it is true", answered Easton somewhat obliquely, “Though on the other hand I do not wish you to-er-bend before Mr. Hodkins, if you do not so wish'.
'Oh, so you will?' Ethel asked hopefully, raising her cherry lips to close to her Papa's that they almost touched.
“There are matters in which one may exercise discretion Ethel, without disturbing others. I confess to finding Mr. Hodkins' abode somewhat dark and mournful'.
'Oh, so did I', exclaimed Ethel truthfully enough. The gentle circular movements of his hand around her closely-sheathed posterior made the throbbing left by the birch much more pleasant than it otherwise had been, and so much so that she fell into quite a dreamy state, remaining unstirring while Easton cautiously slipped the ties of her drawers and eased them down until her naked rump came smoothly to his hand.
'You were not too badly stung?' he enquired, causing his thumb to enquire so intimately between her tight cheeks that Ethel sucked in her lower lip, shaking her head but saying in contradiction the while, 'It stung me most awfully, Papa'.
'It will, Ethel, but you have to learn', came the rejoinder, whereupon Easton caused the ball of his thumb to press lightly against her tight rosette in a manner that made her breath hiss in her nostrils. Finding, however, that she was not averse to these delicate explorations, Easton then passed his hand under her warm globe and felt the slight oiliness of as much of Ethel's curl-shrouded slit as he could reach.- 'Your bottom does need more attention, Ethel', he murmured, causing his lips to rest against her own.
'D… does it, Papa?' Ethel asked breathlessly the while that he raised her upper leg and brought it over his own so that Ethel's bent knee then encountered the salutary impression of his stiff penis through his trousers. This adjustment to their slowly-evolving embrace having been made, Easton urged her little form upwards a shade. Thereby his hand was enabled to scoop more under her brazen derriere, bringing the pouting lips of her cunny to splurge over his fingertips in a way that made Ethel feel dizzy, though very pleasantly so.
'I shall teach you, Ethel', Easton murmured gravely while small clouds of her warm breath passed into his mouth.- 'Teach you', he repeated, pecking at her sultry lips which, with her panting, parted deliciously.
'Yeth, Papa', Ethel lisped.
Her knee rubbed tentatively against the tubular erection she could feel straining through the cloth of his trousers.
It felt just as big as the one Kate had described to her.
Anonymous
A Stately English Mansion