From the Top Shelf - Introducing Lady Alicia

This week's installment of Hall of Infamy by Amanita Virosa contains material that might be offensive to some of my readers. It may also be quite exciting to others. Please feel free to stop at any time. It reminded me of certain passages in The Story of O.

"Not long now. Just wait until I see Uncle Alex. Just wait until I show him what Jamie has done to me. God, I hope we don't have to wait much longer."

"Oh, Amelia, please don't make things any worse," Clara blinked anxiously in appeal. "Aunt and Uncle must have agreed to all this..." She fell silent and leant against the dark oak-panelled wall with a chinking of chain.

Dressing for dinner had proved a humiliating disappointment to Amelia. Jamie had donned a smart dinner-jacket, complete with a white tie and white, double-breasted, waistcoat. However, for Amelia and Clara there was nothing but a fresh pair of stockings, clean knickers, and a new silk child-like smock for each to wear.

"I thought you said there was something special," Amelia had muttered as she put the hateful outfit on once more.

"Oh, yes of course." Jamie smiled and produced from his jacket pockets a pair of sky-blue lacy garters and matching hair-ribbons, and a similar set in pink. "Here." He handed the blue set to Clara. "To match your lovely eyes."

Amelia had fumed to see the silly girl's eyelashes flutter at the compliment, her anger worsened when Jamie handed the pink set to her. "To match the colour of your bottom when I spank it later, Amelia, and the colour of your blushing cheeks."

Amelia had very nearly mutinied again, but he had strolled over to the cane cupboard so she hurriedly pulled the garters on. Betsy had then put the cousins' hair in girlish bunches with the ribbons, as Amelia watched Jamie out of the corner of her eye. The young man had emerged from the cupboard with a handful of dark-brown leather straps.

"What is taking them so long? We must have been here for over an hour!" Amelia shifted from foot to foot; she was increasingly uncomfortable. Jamie had strapped the girls' wrists behind their backs. Each wrist was secured to the the opposite arm by a second strap, buckled just above the elbow, so that their arms were bound across the small of their back. This left their befrilled bottoms available and impossible to protect. Collars had followed and chain leashes attached to those.

"Now listen carefully, my pets." Jamie had taken the leashes from Betsy and smiled amiably at his reluctant captives. "There are a lot of stairs and, without your hands available to save you if you fall, I want you to be very careful and just trot along slowly in step."

Amelia had just enough time to add this outrage to the catalogue she intended to bring to her aunt and uncle's attention before he had set off. After that, she had tried to concentrate. There was no real reason why they should trip, though the heels on their white-button boots were certainly perilously high. However, the feeling of having no recourse to using her arms, usually taken for granted, made her feel dreadfully insecure.

When they had finally got to the dining room Amelia had taken a deep breath, ready to present her long list of complaints. But, to her utter fury, Jamie had produced a padlock and secured their leashes to an iron ring set into the wall by the dining-room door. He had then kissed Clara on the forehead and told them to wait.

"I suppose they are having their dinner," Clara mused, belatedly answering her cousin's last question.

Amelia glared at her. The position of her arms had tautened the thin silk over her breasts, and her pretty nipples were sticking out. The bunches made her look even sweeter and more vulnerable than usual. Amelia shook her head. "And what about us," she demanded angrily, "what about our dinner?"

"Oh, Amelia," Clara said timidly,"I-I don't think we are allowed to eat with-with-them."

"Them? Them? And who is 'Them'?" Amelia demanded furiously as the blonde girl quailed, her chain leash clinking as she cringed away. "The adults? The nobles? " Amelia spat the words, pulling herself to her full height and standing as erect and proud as her bondage and shaming outfit would allow. "I am an adult. I am also a noble. I am nineteen and soon to become a baroness..I..I.."

"Of course you are Amelia, my sweet," the Marchioness of Hatherby's husky, amused voice cut in.

"Oh, Aunt Alicia." Amelia was a little taken aback at Lady Alicia's sudden appearance. Her Ladyship was looking particularly resplendent in a mauve silk evening gown trimmed with cascades of white lace. Long mauve satin gloves complemented the dress, and her raven tresses were coiffed into an elegant arrangement. She smiled fondly at the tethered girls.

"And little Clara, how lovely. My, my - little no longer - how you have grown!"

"Aunt Alicia, that Jamie, he-he," Amelia spluttered, "he made us...do things, he-he made us dress like this, he-he chained us and left us here -"

Lady Alicia put a satin-covered finger to Amelia's lips. "I know, my child, and oh what a trial all this must be to a girl of your spirit. Never mind. Look, he has given me the key."

The woman winked and held up the padlock key, and Amelia felt her heart lift. Lady Alicia released the lock and took the ends of the leashes in her elegant gloved hand.

"The men are having their cigars and port and - " she bestowed a radiant smile on the two cousins, " - no doubt discussing some dreadful crudities." She gave the leashes a firm tug and Amelia found herself stepping forward uncertainly. "So you two little darlings had best come along with me."

Amelia and Clara followed their aunt into the splendid drawing room.

"Aunt Alicia," Amelia said as her aunt tugged them over to a comfortable chaise-longue.

"Yes, my dear?" Lady Alicia paused and half turned with a questioning expression.

"Do you think I - we - might have these awful straps and things removed? We've been trussed up like this for ages and it's ever so uncomfortable."

To Amelia's distress, Alicia pursed her lips, as if considering the request carefully. "No, not just yet, Amelia, I think."

Amelia's heart sank as her aunt sat on the chaise, still holding their leashes, and indicated that the girls should get down on their knees.


"I know it's hard, girls, but we all have to go through it."

Amelia knelt next to Clara as their aunt, still holding their leashes in one hand and the long crop in the other, explained a little about their situation.

"Well, actually," Lady Alicia continued, smiling smugly, "it was different for me. But then, of course, I am from a different country."

"Well, I still don't see why -" Amelia muttered mutinously.

"Shhhh, girl, you must learn to speak only when spoken to, if you wish to avoid ...unpleasantness. Now you young ladies were born into nobility, as you never tire of reminding us, Amelia. But there is a saying in Hatherby which is, "To bestow, first you must know". In other words, the Marquises of Hatherby and all their families have to taste the bitter dregs of servitude before they can be entrusted to wield the true rod of authority with fairness and dispassion. In other words, Amelia, if you wish to exercise power and privilege, you need to find out how it feels to be subjected to them."

"So why isn't cousin Jamie on a chain, then?" Amelia asked, sullenly.

Lady Alicia sighed, put down the crop and dropped the girls' leashes. She leant forward and lifted Amelia's face gently until the young woman was looking into her dark eyes. The older woman shook her head regretfully.

The slap was so sudden that Amelia did not see it coming. Lady Alicia's left hand held her head, gently but firmly, as her right cracked sharply across Amelia's cheek. "That was very impudent," she said softly. "Just remember," she repeated slowly, eyes twinkling with merriment, "speak only when you are spoken to."

Rather than take up their leashes, she beckoned Clara to shuffle forward on her knees, and began unstrapping her bonds.

"Now," she said to the unbound Clara, " slip those silly frilly knickers off. I know they amuse young Jamie, but they give your pretty bottom a sight too much protection for the games we are going to play. Stand upright now, dear, and place your hands behind your head. Look, Amelia, did you ever see such a pretty little bum?

Amelia blinked at Clara's bottom. As she was still on her knees, it was inches from her face. Her mouth felt dry. A potent mixture of fear and desire coursed through her veins.

"Very well, Clara, skip off and ring for the maid. Amelia, get up. I want your drawers off as well!"

Amelia watched glumly as her cousin tripped off towards the bell-pull, the base of the girl's bare buttocks showing beneath the hem of the little smock as she moved. Her own knickers were pulled down by Lady Alicia and she dutifully stepped out of them.

The leash-chain dangling from the collar felt particularly humiliating as she stood there, arms pinioned securely behind her, while Alicia's satin-clad hand fondly stroked her bare bottom. The chain descended, nestling snugly in the silk between her breasts, and then the cold metal brushed the naked flesh of her thighs. The sensation was quite unbearably tantalisingly and Amelia bit her lip as she tried to ignore the feeling, and her aunt's fingers exploring her bottom-flesh.

The maid arrived before Clara had returned to her aunt's side. A pretty blonde girl hurried in with a great deal of rustling of long, billowing silk skirts, and carrying a large silver tray.

"Ah, very good, Kitty. Bring that over here."

Despite herself, Amelia watched the maid's approach with some fascination. She was a very pretty girl with frizzy blonde locks which were barely restrained by a white lace maid's cap. The billowing skirts emphasised the girl's narrow waist, and her full breasts seemed about to burst out of the low-cut bodice. Apart from the fact that the girl's nipples could be seen peeking from the lace trim of the cups, the uniform might have been respectable, if old-fashioned. The element that made it seem peculiar was the sleek leather collar encircling the girl's slender throat, and matching wrist cuffs. However, Amelia was most struck by what was on the tray.

To one side there was a plate with expensive-looking sweets; on the other, a stiff-looking paddle of black leather, and a rubber dog's toy shaped like a bone. The paddle was perforated with regular small holes, and something about it caused a prickle to run down the back of Amelia's neck.

"When training girls, I am a strong believer in the carrot and stick approach - or rather, in this case, bon-bons and paddle. Amelia, sit next to me and watch. I suspect you are not quite ready for this yet. Clara, get on your hands and knees."

Warning to readers - stop here if you are offended by humiliation.

Alicia took the rubber toy from the tray. "Now," she said, "I want you to retrieve this without getting up from your knees or using your hands. Understand?"

Amelia watched as her cousin, blinking anxiously up at the woman on the chaise, gave a tentative nod. Clara licked her rosebud lips uncertainly.

"Now," Lady Alicia instructed briskly, " don't move a muscle until I say 'fetch'." The Marchioness threw the little rubber bone right across the drawing room. It bounced unevenly against the far wall before coming to rest under a chiffonier. Amelia followed its progress and then looked back at Clara kneeling on the floor. Clara was looking up at Lady Alicia nervously. There was silence for a moment as the four women in the room waited, each one of them, so it seemed, holding her breath.

"Fetch!" Lady Alicia said at last.

Clara looked up at her, at the bone, and back again, with pleading eyes and even redder cheeks. For a moment, Amelia thought her cousin was going to be excused this chore, but it seemed that something in Lady Alicia's eyes said otherwise for, with a small sigh, she turned and crawled across the carpet towards the toy.

Amelia watched her, rapt. Clara's bottom was fully exposed. When she reached the chiffonier, Clara had to get her shoulders and head right down, arching her back and lifting her chubby little bottom most prettily.

A moment later, the blonde girl emerged, the rubber toy between her teeth. Amelia could not suppress a smile as Clara crawled reluctantly back, eyes downcast and pure humiliation written across every inch of her lovely face.

"Here, girl!" Lady Alicia put out her hand and took the bone from Clara's mouth. "Hold this for me, Amelia." The woman held the saliva-slick bone up in front of her face. Amelia opened her mouth and took it reluctantly.

"Kitty!"

The maid who had been standing silently, bent at the waist, and proffered the tray.

"Now what is it to be?" Lady Alicia moved her gloved hand from over the sweets to the paddle and back again. "Carrot or stick?" Her hand went back and forth dramatically a few more times, fingers flexing. "Paddle or bon-bon. What do you think?"

She sighed theatrically and picked up the paddle. "Recalcitrance and hesitation. When I say 'fetch' you must take off like an unleashed setter or I shall imagine that you do not wish to please me. Turn around, Clara, and raise your bottom. That's it."

Crack! Crack Crack!

The little black paddle whipped down three times in quick succession and Clara shrieked with pain. She wiggled her bottom as if it were on fire, gasping and grimacing comically. Lady Alicia placed the paddle back on the tray and took the rubber bone from Amelia's lips.

"Stop that silly noise, Clara, at once!"

Amelia stared at her cousin's buttocks. The paddle had raised what looked like dozens of little blisters on Clara's bottom-cheeks. Clara was shaking her head furiously, still gasping from the pain.

Lady Alicia threw the bone again. This time it bounced around the casement window, coming to rest by the crimson velvet drapes.

Amelia looked at it, then at the still-wincing Clara, at the quietly smiling Marchioness, and at the impassive maid. The clock ticked on the mantelpiece and Lady Alicia's gown rustled a little as she shifted on her seat.

"Fetch!"

This time Clara fairly scuttled across the room, grabbing the toy and turning back and crawling back quickly.

"Here girl!" Lady Alicia Feversham took the toy once more and placed it in Amelia's mouth as Kitty bent and proffered the tray again.

Amelia held her breath and kept her eyes on Clara as her aunt's fingers hovered. The blonde girl was flushed from her exertions now, and panting a little, and there were some tears visible on her pretty face. Her eyes followed the movements of Lady Alicia's hand anxiously.

"Carrot or stick? Mmmm...carrot or stick? I have to admit that was a lot better. But you could do better still." The mauve covered fingers picked up the paddle again. "Turn around, girl, and lift your bottom!"

Clara gave a despairing sob but did as she was bid.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Amelia watched, astonished, as the wicked implement punished Clara's bare cheeks once more. Her cousin howled in agony as the paddle cracked across her bottom and thighs. Five stinging blows punished Clara's hindquarters. Amelia, sitting helplessly bound, watched open-mouthed and felt her blood freeze. How Clara kept her position she could not imagine. The blonde squealed like a stuck pig and wriggled her behind furiously, but somehow she managed not to bolt. Amelia saw her cousin's knuckles whiten as she pawed desperately at the carpet. Her slender shoulders quivered violently as she convulsively curled and uncurled her toes.

Lady Alicia placed the paddle back on the silver platter, took a bon-bon and calmly placed it in her mouth. She allowed Clara several minutes to recover. Amelia watched her cousin's bottom and thighs bloom with a fresh crop of little blister-like swellings. Most of her bottom was now a furious scarlet.

By the time Lady Alicia had finished her bon-bon, Clara had stopped howling, though she was still sobbing. Amelia stared at her cousin's bottom, wondering if it felt as sore as it looked, and how long she might hope to avoid discovering the answer for herself.

"Come here, Clara!" Lady Alicia ordered crisply. Clara turned quickly and raised her tear-stained face apprehensively. Lady Alicia produced a lace-trimmed handkerchief.

"Now, dear, you must stop all this silly blubbering." Tenderly, she wiped the tears from Clara's face. "What is the matter, girl, did I make your little bottom a bit warm?"

"Oh...aaahh...it's agony!" Clara gasped.

"Oh dear," Lady Alicia said mildly. She stroked Clara's cheek. "Well, then -" the steely menace in her rich voice was unmistakable, " - you better try a little harder to please me, had you not?"

"Y-Yes, Aunt Alicia," Clara sniffed, her eyes wide with terror.

"Good girl!" Lady Alicia bestowed a dazzling smile and took the rubber bone from Amelia's lips. "Now then, my dear," she said, silkily, "would you care to play the game again?"

* * *

"That's it. Good girl." Lady Alicia beamed at Clara. "The little darling really tries to please, don't you think, Amelia? She just needs some rigorous training to stop this silly hesitation over following orders. Soon, I am quite sure, the little love will learn to simply obey."

Amelia could neither see nor guess what Clara could do to be more submissive or obedient. For the last few throws of the rubber toy, she had waited for the order to fetch, poised like a retriever, as Lady Alicia stroked her golden hair. Then she had shot across the room and grabbed it in her mouth, hurtling back on hands and knees as fast as she could. Trembling, Clara had awaited the judgment. Twice she had been given a sweet and time to eat it as tears of gratitude and relief welled in her eyes. Once more she had been judged deficient and received another five hard cracks across her bottom with the paddle. Amelia had never seen her cousin, or anyone else, howl so heartbreakingly before.

Amelia sat watching her aunt train Clara. Part of her was excited by the sight. Part of her was truly frightened for, at any moment, she knew she might replace Clara as the object of Aunt Alicia's spite. Mostly though, she didn't really care what happened to Clara, but just wanted the performance to end.

"Very well, Kitty, you may leave. Now it's time to take these young ladies to join the gentlemen."

Amelia's face turned white as her aunt's words sank in. She stared down at her still-naked body, and back up at Lady Alicia.

"P-Please, Aunt, you don't mean...you can't want us to...I mean -" The cold look in Aunt Alicia's eyes stopped her mouth, but she continued pleading with her eyes.

The woman patted her on the cheek, consolingly. "Amelia, for goodness sake, don't make such a fuss! Our guests are all men of the world, my dear. You don't have anything between your legs that these gentlemen have never seen before. Now come along, girls, look sharp! No, Clara, there is no need to get up!"

I really did have to think long and hard before publishing today's post, but I thought the paddling was too good not to share. What are your thoughts on this scene?