You may remember that I cheated Victoriana fans a few weeks ago with regard to this book, and gave a snippet from the modern section of the book. I now redress that wrong (as it were).
The snippet is from a letter that Mrs. Smith reads to Emily, concerning a Countess who got caught smoking. The letter is from the butler, who caught her. (Yes, I love Downton Abbey.)
"I am very sorry, then, my lady, but I shall have to call on the assistance of Mr. Congreve," [I said]. (I do not know, madam, if you recall Mr. Congreve, our vicar, whom his lordship appointed as his witness-to-chastisement before his lordship's departure. I believe he was quite active in the drama in his youth; I doubt you will be surprised to hear that he still greatly enjoys assisting in the chastisements of the maids at H----, when the occasion arises.)
At the thought of the vicar being summoned (though of course he would have to be summoned soon at any rate, to witness her ladyship's and Anna's punishment), perhaps to declare a punishment even more severe than I would declare—as indeed was quite likely, for Mr. Congreve, as her ladyship well knows, has a penchant for the truly severe discipline of young women—her ladyship moved her right foot, revealing the discarded cigarette. At the same time, Anna also moved her own foot, to reveal another.
"Please don't punish Anna," said her ladyship quietly. "I made her do it."
"Anna is a sworn servant of the Great Drama, my lady. I am afraid that her punishment will be more severe than your own, for her dereliction of duty."Here's the blurb (buy the book here!):
This compilation of Books 21-24 of the Explorations series contains the first four books of the tale of Victorian Emily, fantasy-Emily's great-great-grandmother, as revealed in the mysterious notebooks passed down to her by her mother. As they read those notebooks, Emily and Charles realize that they may have a much closer relationship than they ever imagined to Prophettown, the polygamous pseudoreligious BDSM community of Books 8-16, to which Emily's best friend Sarah has been recruited as a submissive bride.
Emily, Victorian Bride: The 21st book of Explorations takes the series in a startling new direction. Real Emily, to escape from the fantasies about Sarah that have been tormenting her, has her avatar fantasy-Emily receive a manuscript written by her great-great-grandmother and namesake, Emily Orn. That manuscript tells an astonishing story: Emily Orn and her husband Edmund Wilkes were part of a "Great Drama" of Dominance and submission in Victorian England, and the first part of Emily Orn's "Bride's Tale" narrates the beginning of her initiation into that drama at the hands of Mrs. Smith, whose establishment has the mission of preparing submissive brides for their wedding-nights.
Emily in the School for Wives: The 22nd book of Explorations continues the story of fantasy-Emily reading her great-great-grandmother's introduction to a world of Victorian BDSM, at the hands of the able Mrs. Smith, trainer of young brides. Victorian Emily finds herself caught in a web of consent and compulsion, forced to undress in an elegant parlor and to hear hints of things to come that seem to her so shameful and degrading that she can hardly believe them.
Emily Undressed: In the 23rd book of Explorations, Victorian Emily's instruction as a submissive bride continues, as modern-day fantasy-Emily can't stop reading, one-handed, the old notebooks she's been hiding from her husband Charles. Unfortunately for fantasy-Emily's backside, though, Charles is about to come home. . .
Emily's Bath: In the 24th book of Explorations, fantasy-Emily's punishment at the hands of her husband Charles continues in the modern story, while in the Victorian notebook of Emily's great-great-grandmother, Victorian Emily is prepared by Mrs. Smith to wear the very special undergarment her bridegroom has chosen for her.
These books of Explorations contain fiction elaborating the following sorts of fantasy that you may wish to avoid: Mf, MMf, Ff, FFFf, ff, anal, spanking, watersports, ageplay. It's intended for over-18 audiences who, like me, are interested in exploring the lines between pleasure and pain, dominance and submission, and fantasy and reality. All characters depicted are consenting adults.
Read all the Saturday Spankings!
There's just something about getting in trouble with a friend or companion that makes it a little more tolerable.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, perhaps not in this case, according to that letter. Mr. Congreve being known for his sever discipline. It makes me curious just how stern he really is.
I was touched by her ladyship wanting to take all the blame. She sounds like a true friend.
Great snippet, Emily.
Thanks, LA. Mr. Congreve is rather a stock character from Victorian spanking fiction--the moralist whose morals all tend to the benefits of spanking tender young bottoms. ;)
DeleteI agree with LA. I am surprised, however, that his lordship would allow his lady wife to be punished by the vicar. The maids, certainly, but his noble wife in his absence? He must be very liberal minded. Still, a most fascinating snippet, Emily, as always.
ReplyDeleteWell, the Great Drama has its rules, as Mrs. Smith is explaining to Victorian Emily. Servants are empowered in loco uxoris at times (his lordship is in America).
DeleteI love the layers of your world-building here, even if I do object to a near-namesake getting punished. :) Your writing is meticulous, right down to the "H--" instead of giving the name. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ana!
DeleteLooking forward to hearing about the punishment itself. Yes, severe is good…young ladies need to learn… :)
ReplyDeleteMr. Congreve does indeed make an example of Anna, and "unfortunately" Standish, the butler, finds the sight rather more stimulating than might be in accord with true justice.
DeleteAn appointed "witness-to-chastisement"... Nice. Oh those naughty Victorians and their penchant for discipline... they just have to keep things on the up and up. Social mores and decency laws bedamned!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maddie. It's just so much fun playing with our notions (as created by them!) of their mores!
DeleteImpropriety offers such potential for chastisement. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cara!
DeleteI think I like the precision, the fact that everyone is calmly informed of what is to come and who will be doing what. And then, of course the waiting for everything to happen. Great snippet.
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of thing my fantasy of this Great Drama is really useful for writing: matters in the drama can be dispassionate when that's (paradoxically enough) the hot choice! :D
Deleteyum, an even more severe punishment because she knew better :D
ReplyDeleteWe're of one mind, Joelle!
DeleteDouble punishment ;) Why does it bring me back to being younger and getting into trouble with my friends.
ReplyDeleteThat's why this scene was so fun to write--regressing her ladyship and her maid back to schoolgirls put a smile on my face. :)
DeleteI love the "friends getting into trouble together" theme!
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
Thanks, Katherine!
DeleteI am amazed by all the different stories you have created in your series. Wow. I love these snippets and all the details. You have the tone just right too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Celeste! I think that's one of my favorite things about writing erotica--it lets me elaborate so many different kinds of situations and relationships.
DeleteWITNESSED BY THE VICAR!!! Oh you are too naughty, Emily!!! I am all hot and tingly now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Renee. I'm kind of religion-and-spanking specialist, I sometimes think!
DeleteCigarettes? Well, of course the punishment must be severe...
ReplyDeleteOh, you know, it's that silly old thing about smoking being a man's thing. Fun for generating spankings, though!
DeleteThere IS something so sweet about two friends getting in trouble together :)
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of a recurring theme with me, but it never gets old!
DeleteMisery loves company, yes? But I do wonder how it's going to turn out...probably not as one would expect.
ReplyDeleteWell, the vicar certainly gets his wish. . . ;)
DeleteI'd like to witness some chastisement!
DeleteWitnesses and the promise of severe discipline? Yes, you have my attention! Loved this snippet, Emily!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue!
DeleteThis sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete