'We will go to your study, Father. Come, please, let us not have a scene!', Astrid uttered coldly while ever crowding him through the doorway until, to the vast relief of Patricia and Crissie, he was no longer immediately visible to them. To their ears came a mumbling and then the sound of retreating footsteps. Taking swift advantage of the situation, Crissie removed herself from hiding, skirted nervously the slowly uprising figure of Patricia, and skipped through the door, there to see her master and Astrid going slowly upstairs. Half-closing her eyes ostrich-like fashion that she might not be seen, Crissie made to descend but was brought to a sudden standstill by the whiplash voice of Astrid.
'CRISSIE! You will go to my room and stay there until I come down. This instant!'.
'Yes, Miss, yes-oh, dear!'
'Astrid, my dear, what am I to do? If this were some game, I apprehend that your poor sister was the loser of it. What means this whip you are carrying? I demand an explanation!', declared her father as soon as the study door had closed upon them. Leaning against it, thereupon, in a manner which was far from that of the demure young lady he had so recently known, Astrid withheld a reply for a long moment. Julia had advised her never to speak in such moments but always to leave the questioner hanging upon a silence. Such would invariably discomfort them, Julia had said, and in this case her prophecy proved correct. Most uncomfortably-indeed, to in horrified dismay-Mr. Cane became aware that his daughter's eyes were running searchingly over the front of his trousers, where a very distinct hump had appeared.
'Punishments are deemed appropriate on occasions, Papa', Astrid said slowly at last. 'The pity of it is that their bottoms-and I refer to Jemima also-have gone neglected'.
'N… n… neglected? What talk is this? Have you left your senses?', demanded her father, who under her gaze had begun to edge towards his desk. He hoped, by taking his seat, to conceal the evidence of his erection, which Astrid's revelations of desirable flesh had occasioned. Taking note of his intentions, however, Astrid moved the swifter, and with feline steps intruded herself between his person and his intended retreat,
'No, Papa, I have not left my senses, but rather I have gained them. A young woman's bottom needs occasional attention, though you have no thought fit to see to it. The flesh grows plumper and richer under the stimulation it requires. Patricia's bottom is already superb, yet it will improve now a little more under my ministrations, as also will Jemima's. You had cause to see Patricia's well. Do you not agree with me? Her cleft is tight and will become even more so with a slight swelling of her cheeks'.
'My God, Astrid, how can you speak thus? I have never heard such talk!'.
'Better than to hide in the darkness of one's mind, Papa. The evidence of your own thoughts shows clearly enough. Pray, let us have no more hypocrisy. Your prick hardened at the first sight of your daughter's delightful derriere. I blame you not. This is Nature's way. She is ripe for attention. My presence has but excited you the more. I think it best that you remain in here, Papa, until I call you'.
A croaking gurgle came from Ralph Cane's throat. That he would wake in a moment to discover this a vivid dream he had scarcely no doubt. Such things could not be, nor could such words be spoken. All the worse, his cock had failed to subside. Indeed, the very words be spoken. All the worse, his cock had failed to subside. Indeed, the very words that Astrid had uttered had caused it to stiffen the more so that the shape of his knob was all but visible through the dark cloth of his trousers. Incomprehension and dire embarrassment mingled in his mind amid the chucklings of the devils of guilt.
'I have NEVER in all my life!', he began portentously.
That I do not doubt, Papa, but it maybe that you are about to. I shall give the matter thought. Pray, do not attempt to follow me for I intend to lock the door. I do not wish either Patricia or Jemima to see you as yet in this condition'.
So saying, Astrid swept out, neatly removing the key from inside the door ha her passing and thereupon locking it from the outside as she closed it. With that, she could not help letting a mischievous smile flit across her richly curving mouth. All too unexpectedly her dear Papa had cast himself willy-nilly into her net. That which she had deemed would be her hardest task had been presented to her by fate. Passing down, she made for her own room, where Crissie sat huddled but started up at her entrance. The whip that Astrid still held swished against the side of her skirt.
'Oh, Miss, I ain't done nothing-nothing save what you told me to do! You'll all whip me now, I knows you will!'
'Not all, Crissie, just I. And I will be quicker about it than I presently mean to be if I don't have you doing exactly as I say. If but one word passes your lips about this to the other servants, I promise you triple the whipping that Miss Patricia received. That she required it is obviously not your concern', Astrid added carefully, mindful of the hierarchy that Julia had spoken of.
'Miss, you mean she wanted us to do it?', squeaked Crissie.
'Have you never been spanked, Crissie?', Astrid responded, moving toward her.
'Yes, Miss, I have-that's the truth of it. I didn't like it-not the way it were done. His hand were real heavy and blasted me proper'.
'Really? How crude! Nevertheless, you got some pleasure, I trust, from the outcome of it? What need have you to blush? Were you not pleasantly fucked afterwards? As I thought, for I can read it in your face'.
'I never meant him to, Miss, but I never wore no drawers so that made it easier for him. None of us could afford drawers, we couldn't. He got rare excited. I tell you, I got spanked more than I deserved and then he would put it in me while I was a-howling still'.
'Well, then, you are at least in good part converted, Crissie, which is all for the better. Here's a sovereign for your pains today, but think not that it will excuse you from a whipping if it so pleases me. How much does Papa pay you? Ten pounds a year and all found? I think I may find it possible to improve on that, but you will be paid upon performance. No, you silly girl, not your domestic duties. I have things more favourable in view for you. Attend upon me here in my room immediately after dinner'.
'You are still going to whip me though, Miss. I can see you are!'.
'Good instincts become an attractive young woman, Crissie. We shall say nine o'clock sharp. Go now'.
Upon the maid's departure, Astrid repaired to the room of Patricia, who had not only got upon the bed, but within it, her face being hidden beneath the sheet. Upon Astrid's entrance she huddled up tighter and was completely invisible, forming a shapely hump beneath the covers. Seeing not who it was but sensing that it was her older sister, Patricia remained still while uttering a little cry as she sheet was drawn down to reveal her flushed face.
'I am disgraced forever! What am I to do now that Papa has seen me!'
'Consider yourself well looked upon and some benefit perhaps to come from it. All is well now, Patricia. You have taken your punishment and I have no doubt are all the better for it'.
'Why did you whip me? Oh, that I should be held down by a common servant!'.
'Hush! We will have no more questions nor remonstrances nor objections. These are three rules by which you are to abide, Patricia. Come, let us lie together as we were doing before I had to correct your rebellious behaviour. Place yourself on your back with your arms behind your head. There, now, you are more acquiescent, are you not?'.
Patricia's eyes blinked. Relentlessly once more her dress was being drawn up to her hips until, still without her drawers, she lay naked from her navel down. Feeling the tip of Astrid's forefinger brushing about her clitty, she wriggled but did not otherwise move. Her lips pursed together, a soft whistling sound emitted as by hazard from them as the finger teased. Caressing her fondly, Astrid passed her free hand beneath her sister's bottom and felt its throbbing warmth. Thereat, Patricia jerked and would have brought her arms down but was stayed by a warning murmur.