by Maggie Ryan
"Good afternoon, girls," Eleanor said, and Alexandria had started a bit when a chorus of 'good afternoon, Miss Summers,' was returned in perfect unison.
After she was introduced as their newest sister, Juliette had led Alexandria to an empty chair. Any attempt to remove herself from scrutiny was dashed after she slipped into her chair only to discover that, not only did it hurt to sit on a bottom that had been recently and quite thoroughly paddled, but Juliette then also informed her that no 'little one' sat before Miss Summers did.
After the headmistress took her seat, Juliette untied the plump pillow that was hanging from the back of Alexandria's chair, placing it on the seat before nodding that she could sit down.
Alexandria gingerly did so, and sighed in relief. As Juliette picked up a platter from the center of the table, transferring a sandwich to her charge's plate, Alexandria asked, "Why are the pillows hung up behind instead of already on the chairs?"
The answer didn't come from her nanny; it came from the head of the table. "Additional lessons can be learned when sitting on an aching bottom, Alexandria. You'll learn that while your choices will determine the condition your backside will be in; your caretakers here and your Papa will decide the amount of comfort you are permitted after your bottom has been tended to." All Alexandria could do was blush and nod when asked if she understood. "Making your own comfort cushion will allow you to more fully appreciate the lesson."
"Um, I-I can sew, but I don't know how to do fancy work."
Eleanor gave her a smile. "I'm sure your sisters would be happy to show you. Many of them are becoming quite proficient in the art."
A young woman seated across from Alexandria spoke. "I'll help you. I love to embroider. I have plenty of extra threads and beads."
"Thank you, Penny," Eleanor said. "That is kind of you. I'm sure you and the others will all help your sister as she begins her studies."
Alexandria had recognized the girl as the one that had been the first face she'd seen that morning. Hearing her name, she remembered the pretty design that decorated the pillow that was currently being sat upon. "Thank you, Penny. Your pillow is very pretty." Her comment had the girl smiling and Alexandria relaxing a bit. The food was plentiful and delicious. Chicken salad sandwiches were served with steaming bowls of chicken soup. Alexandria was drinking from her glass of milk when a commotion at the opposite end of the table almost had her choking again.
The girl who had squealed was now out of her chair and had been bent over it by a nanny. Alexandria's mouth dropped open as the nanny rearranged the girl's clothing, pulled some sort of implement from her pocket, and began to rapidly apply it to the girl's backside in mere moments.
"Put your glass down," Juliette instructed softly, bending towards Alexandria. "You are expected to focus your attention on the discipline."
She did so, her hand trembling. Sandwiches were lowered to plates, spoons returned to bowls as the other girls stopped eating. After what had seemed like a hundred swats, but surely had been no more than a dozen, the nanny stepped away. Though each stroke had been very audible, Alexandria realized the girl had not been screaming. Her face was tear-stained but her voice didn't waver as she apologized for being naughty, thanked her nanny for the tawsing, and promised she'd finish her milk without complaint. The moment the girl's clothing was lowered, the pillow removed from the chair seat and hung by loops on the back, and she was allowed to sit again, the meal continued. The entire episode had taken no more than five minutes.
After luncheon, Alexandria had been led up a flight of stairs and down a corridor. Juliette opened the door and the two stepped inside. It was unlike any room Alexandria had ever seen before. The walls were painted a very pale lavender. A thick rug covered most of the floor, a deep green providing the background for flowers in various shades of purple. The furniture was painted white, the four posters of the bed held a canopy of lilac above the quilt that was made from hundreds of squares. Thick pillows were propped against the headboard. Between the two windows, a short dresser stood with the same sort of padded top as the one in the examination room. Alexandria slid her eyes quickly away from it, not wishing to consider why just a glance had her tummy fluttering. A large chair with an ottoman sat next to a short bookshelf that held a few books. A chair and desk, a lamp sitting on its surface, shared a wall with a large wardrobe, the front of which was mirrored. It was the most beautiful room she'd ever seen.
"Whose room is this?" Alexandria asked.
"It's yours, Lexie," Juliette said. "You slept in one of our guestrooms last night. I suppose your Papa thought you'd just take a nap, but when you continued to sleep, Miss Eleanor stated you could stay until you woke up."
"But who else stays here?" she asked, as she was turned and her pinafore untied and then removed.
"No one, this is your room. Your sisters have their own. Arms up, please."
Alexandria continued to look around, straining to see the titles of the books on the shelves. She didn't pay Juliette any attention until the bow of her chemise was tugged and the two halves separated. Instantly, her hands lifted to cup her bare breasts and Nanny Juliette's hand connected with her bottom. Alexandria danced about in a circle as the swats continued.
"How many times does an instruction need to be repeated, Alexandria? I have already seen every inch of you. You will learn that your body is not yours to cover or attempt to hide." After another swat, her chin was lifted to force her brimming eyes to her nanny's. "Now, are we going to have a problem, or are you ready to use your potty pot and take your nap?"
"Might I use the potty chair?"
"Perhaps tomorrow when you have learned the lesson."
"Oh, um, I don't need to, Mis—Nanny Jenkins."
"Very well," Juliette replied, as she moved across the room to the padded table. Alexandria looked towards the bed, wondering if she should pull on the nightgown she saw lying near the foot of it. Before she took a step, she was called to her nanny. Her bloomers were at her ankles before she knew it, and she was instructed to step out of them.
"See those little steps there?" Juliette asked, nodding towards the base of the table. After Alexandria nodded, she continued. "When you are not lifted onto the table, you may climb up and lie down by yourself. You may do so now, please."
"Lie down? I don't sleep in the bed?"
"Don't be silly," Juliette said, as she bent over to get something out of the lower cabinet. "Of course you will sleep in your bed. Your table is used to attend to your needs, and also to change your nappy."
Certain the woman had made a mistake, Alexandria gaped up at her. A nappy? A nappy was something only babies used. Any confusion evaporated as Juliette stood up, a thick white cloth in her hand.
After that, Alexandria discovered that asking to use the potty pot wasn't all that difficult, and even managed not to cringe away too much when she was cleaned afterwards.
She also discovered that her Papa had meant what he'd said in the doctor's office. Awful-tasting soap had been rubbed against her tongue and teeth as Juliette lectured on how little ones did not curse like sailors.
Back in her bloomers and in a white gown, Alexandria was then tucked into bed and reminded to stay there. If a tender bottom and an awful taste in her mouth didn't give her reason enough to stay, the image of two bare backsides with ten wheals on each drove any thought of disobeying from her head.
After her nap, which Alexandria had actually taken despite her many hours of rest the previous day, she'd spent the afternoon taking a series of tests to ascertain her level of education.
A woman with white hair pulled back into a bun and a stern look on her face was introduced as Mrs. Gorman. Her stony expression gradually began to soften as Alexandria completed page after page of examination questions.
"You must like to read," Mrs. Gorman commented, as she laid the final set of papers in front of Alexandria.
"Oh, I love to read. Books let me be whoever I want to be, and go wherever I wish to visit."
The woman had smiled and nodded. "Yes, they do. What most young people don't understand is that so much is being learned, even when you are simply enjoying a story. Vocabulary, history, philosophy and even mathematics. Keep reading, child, the world is rapidly changing, and your Papa will enjoy being able to discuss subjects with such an intelligent partner."
Alexandria's world shifted yet again when she was led back to her room to be dressed for dinner. Sitting on the ottoman, her hair unbraided, the brush being drawn through her thick locks, she was finding it difficult to sit still after Nanny Jenkins had introduced her to the strange implement she'd briefly seen being applied to her sister's backside during luncheon.
"Alexandria, breaking promises will find your bottom burning," Juliette had informed her as she tipped the girl over her lap. "You promised never to strike me again and not to throw tantrums. It's unfortunate that your promises were proven to be lies."
"No, please, I-I... no, stop!" She continued to beg as she learned that the tawse her nanny had pulled from her apron pocket caused her bottom to burn from the very first stroke. Kicking her legs only had the tawse moving to strike against the backs of her thighs after she was tipped forward, her feet unable to reach the ground.
The leather tongues of the implement made a sickening snapping sound as they reddened every inch of her buttocks. Alexandria had no idea how many strokes she'd taken when it finally stopped its attack and was held against a throbbing cheek.
"Are you ready to get dressed and behave, or shall we have another round?"
Alexandria chose to behave. After making her proper apology, getting a close-up view of the tawse as she kissed the awful leather, she was put into a pair of drawers that were soft, closed down the middle, and had pretty lace around the leg cuffs. Two petticoats were tied about her waist before a dress of pale blue was pulled over her head. Juliette's fingers efficiently worked the tiny buttons into the buttonholes while her young charge stood sniffling and giving the occasional hiccup. Thin white stockings were fastened with blue ribbons, and her black slippers were replaced onto her feet. Once her hair was a soft curtain about her shoulders, a wide blue ribbon was used to hold it off her face.
Alexandria was led to stand in front of the wardrobe's mirror, and gasped when she saw her reflection. When her nanny had first shown her what was considered proper clothing for dinner, she had instantly thrown a fit. She'd attempted to explain that she was quite positive there had to be a mistake. Even after her nanny informed her that the clothing had been chosen by her Papa, Alexandria continued to protest. She had no intention of putting on such a childish dress, especially when she realized just how short it was! Her tantrum had not kept her out of the clothing that now covered a blazing bottom. Staring at the mirror, she realized she wasn't as horrified as she thought she'd be. Was that pretty girl really her?
"Perhaps you'll learn to behave as prettily as you look," Juliette said, reaching down and patting her charge's backside. "Of course, various shades of red are quite attractive as well."
With cheeks as red as her rear, Alexandria was led back into the dining room. She tried not to stare at the sight of her sisters, all dressed as she, all looking like girls far beneath their true age. She'd never remember what she had eaten that night, but would never forget the sight of Claudia and Janey standing behind chairs that were close to her own. Claudia wore a pink dress; Janey a green one. Both gave Alexandria a smile which she returned. She was very relieved to see that both appeared to have recovered from their trip to Miss Summer's office.
The difference in their appearance only became apparent as Alexandria walked to her chair. Her steps halted at the sight of two bare bottoms. The girls' clothing was once more secured at their shoulders. Their drawers were not parted simply because there was no need to do so—neither was wearing drawers at all! The evidence of their discipline was still visible in the lines that had only just begun to fade.
With the appearance of Miss Summers and after being instructed to take her seat, Alexandria was extremely grateful that her nanny gave her permission to untie her cushion. Hearing soft moans from only a few chairs away, she saw that comforting cushions had not been allowed for the two girls. Not only must they sit on the hard surface of their chairs, they were doing so on their bare bottoms.
After the meal was over, the girls were led into a large parlor at the back of the house. Alexandria stood a little way away, watching as a few girls took some dolls from a cabinet and sat on some cushions to play. Other girls sat to play Jackstraws, a game she'd often enjoyed with her parents. Unsure of what was expected, she was grateful when Janey and Claudia approached her to ask if she'd like to go with them to the library.
"Don't worry," Janey said with a grin. "We've done our homework. Believe me, we don't want to get into any more trouble. Unless it's Sunday, we're allowed to either read, sew, play games or just sit and talk."
Alexandria hadn't considered that it might not be allowed; she'd been remembering that she had passed the room on her way to her examination. Memories of the exam threatened to consume her until she forced her attention back to the present. Following the two, trying not to gape at their bare backsides, her gaze was soon roaming over shelf after shelf of books. Based on her experience in the house so far, she expected to see nothing but books suited for young children. She was pleasantly surprised to see that, as well as those fairy tales, there were many classics to choose from.
"When you've chosen a book, you may put it on this shelf," Claudia instructed. "When you finish it, you put it back and choose another." When Alexandria nodded and chose Pride and Prejudice, both girls said she was sure to enjoy it.
"Mr. Darcy is such a dream," Claudia said. "I've read that several times."
Taking their books to a nearby settee, Alexandria stood, wondering why the girls walked past it. Were they not to sit here? Her confusion grew as they returned with white towels, spreading them on the cushions.
"Um, do we always have to cover the upholstery?"
Claudia looked up from where she had just rather gingerly taken her seat. "What? Oh, you mean the towels?" At her nod, she shook her head. "No, only when you have a bare bum."
"Oh," Alexandria said, her face flushing. "Are-are you okay?" she asked quietly.
Janey looked up from her seat, her book already open on her lap. "Yes... oh, you mean our bottoms?"
Alexandria nodded, her curiosity overcoming her. "Your—they look like they hurt a lot."
Claudia nodded and appeared about to answer when another voice cut through the air. "I'm sure they are used to sore bottoms by now. You should stay away from those two, Alexandria. If you don't, you'll discover for yourself how it feels to sit on a caned bum."
Alexandria gasped at the rudeness of the girl. Instead of walking away, she settled herself down between the two friends and calmly opened her book.
"Janey, I suggest you don't skip over the part where your namesake gets birched. Perhaps it will prepare you for tomorrow." Alexandria watched the girl pick a book off the shelf before flouncing out of the room.
Seeing Janey sticking her tongue out at the girl's back, Alexandria smiled. "Um, who was that?"
"Nanette," Janey answered as she opened her book.
"Is she always like that? I mean, it was unkind," Alexandria paused. "I-I guess it was unkind of me as well. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you."
Claudia patted her arm. "No, there is a difference. You were asking out of concern, Nanette was just flapping her lips, which is her favorite activity. We try to ignore her because it drives her nuts."
"What did she mean about tomorrow?" Alexandria dared to ask.
Janey looked at the door again and then down at the book in her hands. "She just meant to embarrass me. The character, Jane Eyre, in my book gets birched, and Nanette was just being ugly. She knows my Papa isn't going to be pleased when he discovers how naughty I've been."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Is your Papa going to birch you?"
Claudia's smile and giggle had Alexandria smiling as well.
The three sat reading in comfortable companionship as a few others drifted in and out of the room.
"I've been looking for you. I wanted to ask whether you want me to teach you to embroider," Penny said, entering the room with a reed basket over her arm, colorful bits of thread hanging over the edge.
Alexandria looked up from her book but before she could answer, her nanny came in.
"I'm afraid that will have to wait, Penny. It's Alexandria's bed time."
"But I'm not tired! I just had a long nap!"
"If you believe me to be misinformed about the hour at which you are to retire, Alexandria, we can ask Miss Summers to clarify the timing if you wish."
"No. I mean, that won't be necessary." Alexandria stood and slipped a piece of paper into her book before putting it on the shelf. "Thank you for showing me the library."
She discovered the other two were also returning their books as Nanny Margaret reminded them that their later bedtimes had been revoked until they could prove they had learned their lesson.
Penny assured her they could start their lessons later and wished her a good night. The group walked up the stairs and, as they arrived at the landing, the others wished Alexandria a good night before climbing the next flight.
"How many rooms does the school have?" Alexandria asked as she went into her own.
"I'm not really sure. Besides the classrooms and common areas downstairs, there are guestrooms and appointment rooms. The second floor has six bedrooms, the third the same."