By His Command. Justine Elyot

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       Chapter Two

      There was a scene, or so he said, in which the relationship between Cruel Bastard and Stoic Maid was established, and this was the one he wanted to try out first. It was to take place in the drawing room.

      ‘I don’t have the script,’ I objected.

      ‘It doesn’t matter. I know roughly how it goes. All you have to do is be obedient and do as you’re told, without being sulky or bratty about it. That’s the maid’s character. She takes everything, but there’s an unspoken strength in her that makes her obedience a form of defiance. “Do your worst,” she’s saying. “You can’t ever break me.” Do you think you can play that?’

      ‘I can try.’

      ‘OK. I’ll be by the fire – we’ll have to imagine it’s lit – drinking the ruby port I happened to bring with me. You come in and stand in front of me and I give you my opening spiel. Clear?’

      ‘Why don’t I get to wear the black and whites?’

      I was still in no more than drawers and chemise and, to be honest, the October night being what October nights are, I was rather wishing we didn’t have to just imagine the lighting of the fire.

      ‘I prefer you like that. Artistic license. Now, no more quibbling, Miss, or you’ll be quibbling with my riding crop.’ Which he had also brought with him.

      He went into the drawing room, leaving me in the hall.

      I waited a minute or two for him to pour the port, hoping he’d be careful with the crystal. But I don’t know why I thought he wouldn’t – he was, after all, one of the world’s foremost collectors of Victoriana. He was the last man to be careless with it.

      What should I do to get in role? I wondered if Jasper could give me any tips – he used to be an actor. But it was an easy enough part to play. It was the part I always played with him.

      So I straightened my back and knocked on the door.

      ‘Come.’

      I almost laughed, wondering if it was a command. We’d tried that one, but my orgasmic timing was, more often than not, a bit off. Bad Sarah. Maybe I’d perfect it sometime soon …

      I opened the door and couldn’t help a blatantly lustful checking-out of Jasper, who lolled in the armchair in his waistcoat and riding boots, looking like the hottest combination imaginable of Darcy, Rochester and Heathcliff.

      His eyes flashed a warning and I bent mine to the ground. It was the only way I’d be able to get through this without jumping on him.

      ‘So you’re the new maid,’ he said. ‘Walters.’

      ‘Yes, sir.’

      ‘They tell me at the agency that you’re a hard worker who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Is that true?’

      ‘Yes, sir.’

      ‘And that you are dutiful and obedient to a fault.’

      ‘Yes, sir.’

      ‘Well, if this is true, you will suit me admirably. But you must excuse me – I am by nature a suspicious man and I have great difficulty in accepting what I am told without a demonstration. It occurs to me that the agency may have exaggerated your virtues.’

      ‘No, indeed, sir, I hope not.’ I lifted my eyes to his and the expression of intent, rapturous cruelty on his face took my breath away.

      ‘Very well, then. You will show me your obedience and your capacity for hard work. Remove your dress.’

      I blinked uncertainly at him, and he waved a hand as if to say, ‘This is how we get round the difficulty of your attire.’ I did as he said, stood and waited for the next command.

      ‘Good heavens.’ He chuckled and took a sip of his port. ‘You have impressed me, Walters. Most maids would have fled the room in confusion. Well, well. Now step forwards and let me inspect you at closer quarters.’

      God, I wished he’d light the fire. We were allowed to, on cold days, and a scuttle full of coal stood nearby. But I supposed Colin wouldn’t like it, especially if we left ashes to sweep up the next morning. Perhaps next time we could bring one of those portable heaters.

      My nipples were stiff and sore with the cold and they dented the light material of my chemise very noticeably.

      ‘What are these?’ he asked, waving his hand close to where they stood to attention.

      ‘Sir?’ I couldn’t quite believe he was asking this – at least, in my role I couldn’t. What would a maid say? This maid had to be obedient, though, and I clung to that.

      ‘These? What are they?’

      ‘Nipples, sir.’

      ‘Yes, nipples. Why are they in such a shameful state, Walters?’

      ‘It’s cold, sir.’

      ‘Cold, СКАЧАТЬ