House of Intrigue

by Yvonne Strickland

'I'm going for a swim,' announced Jackie, pulling off the white bathrobe to reveal her body, naked except for her scanty blue and red slip, so minimal as to make it obvious that she had no pubic hair.

  The three went into the pool, splashing and laughing in the warm sun and the crystal water. Karen and Annette sat talking and exchanging news under the sunshade. It was Karen who spotted the figure looking out from the portico.

  'Oh dear - there's Pauline!'

  Annette swung round.

  'Bloody hell! I'll tell Jackie!'

  She turned towards the poolside and issued the dreaded warning. The three clambered out, Valerie and Lorna taking up their bathrobes from the chair, Jackie hurrying along the poolside then off into the nearby trees.

  'Where's she think she's going?' asked Valerie, as the fugitive disappeared from view.

  'Not too far without any clothes on I shouldn't think,' remarked Karen, seeing the abandoned bathrobe.

  By the time Pauline appeared, wearing a vivid red satin shirt, grey jodhpurs and black knee boots, Valerie and Lorna had pulled on their cotton robes and were seated at the table with Jackie and Annette.

  'Where's she gone?' demanded the voice of authority.

  Pauline stood between them and the sun, casting a dark shadow across the flagstones and the table before her. In her hand she clutched an ominous black plastic bag.

  'She didn't tell us,' shrugged Valerie.

  'She was here! I saw her from the upstairs window! She's in my charge, if you didn't realise it! I want to know where she is!' 'Haven't a clue, dear,' responded Annette.

  'Haven't a clue, eh? Well, she'll have a clue when I find her and I'll -'

  'Why don't you leave the poor kid alone for once?' cut in Valerie. 'She's not doing any harm!'

  'That's right,' added Karen. 'She just came down for a quick dip. She was about to go back to the house.'

  Pauline looked hard at her with an expression of near disbelief.

  'I wasn't talking to you so there's no need to stick your nose in, is there? There's no need for you to be here at all!'

  Karen felt an unaccustomed surge of anger welling up inside. She quickly stood up and moved around the sunshade to confront Pauline.

  'Look! I don't care what your job is or how long you've been doing it! You're a bitter, spiteful bitch, Pauline, and that's no secret!'

  Annette reached up to Karen's arm and pulled it gently. 'Pauline,' she said, 'why don't you just bugger off and leave us all in peace?'

  'A brilliant idea!' added Valerie.

  Lorna sat in silence, looking from one to the other.

  But Pauline did not answer. Her gaze was fixed towards the tennis court. Mike and Angela were stood inside the wire netting, each with racket in hand, obviously talking to someone outside the enclosure who was obscured by the bushes. Pauline strode off around the pool and in the direction of the tennis court without further comment.

  'Oh well - she'd have caught up with her sooner or later,' said Valerie.

  'And Jackie knows perfectly well what happens when she disobeys the camp commandant,' added Annette. 'But you shouldn't let her see she's annoyed you,' she continued, turning to Karen. 'That's what she likes. It makes her think she's got the upper hand.'

  'Yes, I suppose I should have kept quiet. It's nothing to do with me.'

  'It's as much to do with you as any of us,' responded Valerie. 'I'm glad you spoke out to her. I wouldn't expect

  Lorna to say anything because she's vulnerable, but you're not.'

  They turned their eyes towards the tennis court. Mike and Angela were hitting the ball to and fro. Of Pauline and Jackie there was no sign.

  Another minute or so had passed by before Lorna said, There's one of them now.'

  Pauline was observed walking alone, cutting diagonally across the grass near the tennis court and approaching the front of the house. Conversation resumed, only to be interrupted again by the appearance of Jackie.

  'Oh God! Now what?' groaned Valerie.

  As Jackie came nearer, still virtually naked, it was obvious she no longer had use of her arms.

  'So that's what she had in the bag,' remarked Annette.

  Around Jackie's neck was a smooth steel collar. The others, gathering around, could see that there was a steel rod of little more than twenty centimetres in length attached to the back of it. At the end of the rod, a pair of swivel linked steel cuffs held Jackie's wrists together, pulled up firmly between her shoulder blades. She looked at them all in turn, her lips slightly parted and her breasts pushed out with their nipples pink and prominent.

  'I-I've to ask for my bathrobe,' she stammered.

  This is out of order,' said Valerie. 'Restraints aren't supposed to be used outside the house. If Sonia sees this

  'Sonia's out,' cut in Jackie. 'She's gone to Beziers railway station with Cheryl and those two men.'

  'I see,' answered Valerie, looking at the restraint, 'and I suppose nobody else has a key for these.'

  'No, and ... look, I'm to go straight back, she's waiting for me. Please!'

  'I'll take her back,' said Karen, picking up Jackie's bathrobe. 'It's not safe for her to walk around outside like this.'

  Karen pulled the towelling robe around the girl's body and fastened the belt.

  'It's her way of snubbing us,' said Annette. 'She knows we can't do anything about it.'

  'I'm sorry about lunchtime,' said Jackie, as Karen led her along the pathway. 'She wasn't going to let me out anyway.'

  From an upstairs window, two narrowed eyes watched them approach the main entrance.

  interfering bitch,' whispered Pauline.

  There was a single, sharp tap on the door. Pauline waited a few seconds before moving. When she finally opened the door, Jackie stood there alone, the arms of the towelling robe hanging empty by her sides.

  'So, Miss Prim and Proper's delivered you back, has she? Do come inside, or did you have somewhere else to go?'

  Jackie walked into the room, looking straight ahead and remaining silent. As the door closed behind her, she caught her breath and opened her mouth. Ahead of her, draped over the green leather armchair, were a number of items in heavy black rubber. She could not tell how many or exactly what they consisted of. One thing only was certain; they were all intended for her.

  Pauline tugged loose the belt and pulled the bathrobe away from her. Two thumbs slipped under the elasticated band of the G-string and pushed it down to her ankles. Pauline stepped over to her desk, threw the little garment down on to it and picked up the one thing Jackie dreaded. At the sight of the coiled black whip, she yanked at the cuffs and moaned, 'No ... please ... no!'

  'You deserve a damn good dose of this!' shouted Pauline, pushing the whip under her nose then smacking her across the mouth with her other hand. Jackie felt her bowels churning.

  'Now, get to the bathroom! We'll have no ceremonies and this isn't being recorded so be quick about it!'

  Jackie did as she was ordered, Pauline following close behind. She trembled as she walked, expecting at any moment the angry sting of the whip. As she entered the blue tiled room with its harsh lights she saw what had been prepared, but did not hesitate. From its wall bracket, next to the oval blue bowl and some two metres above the floor, hung the rubber bottle. From it spiralled down the clear plastic pipe, which ended,'resting on the sink, with its pink rubber probe.

  'All right! You know what you have to do, so do it!'

  Jackie, in silent obedience, faced the sink and bent forward, leaning against it and feeling the porcelain cold against her breasts. She spread her legs as Pauline laid aside the whip and took up the syringe. From a small jar she applied a clear jelly to the end of it with her finger. She moved behind Jackie and placed the nozzle against her anus.

  Jackie did not resist as the cool probe entered her body, hard and insistent, pushing up into her rectum. She caught her breath and closed her eyes, feeling the invader move sensually inside her.

  'Make the most of it,' remarke
d Pauline, as it entered as far as its flared base would allow.

  Immediately behind the syringe was a small valve. With a quick twist of her fingers, Pauline released this and watched the bubbles skimming around the coiled tubing as the soap solution and water passed through. As Jackie's body stiffened, Pauline reached over and turned a chrome valve on the wall, directly above the lower bowl. Hot water gushed in a whirlpool from the inside rim. Jackie tensed again as Pauline slowly withdrew the instrument from her. She wanted to tighten her muscles on it, to keep it inside her, but in a moment it was gone and the dark turmoil within her bowels was beginning.

  'On here, quickly!' came the next instruction.

  She bent up from the sink and, guided by Pauline, lowered herself down over the gushing bowl so that she sat facing outward with her legs spread either side of it. She could see herself reflected fully in the big wall mirror opposite.

  'Sit upright, don't slouch!' Pauline ordered.

  Jackie caught her breath and closed her eyes as her body involuntarily evacuated its charge into the bowl, her bladder also releasing its hot amber contents in unison. Pauline watched her, revelling in the humiliation and degradation which she obviously knew such an act must ensure.

  After being thoroughly rinsed, Jackie was allowed to rise. Pauline turned off the water before dabbing her dry with the towel.

  'Please, my arms are hurting,' pleaded Jackie, but Pauline ignored her, picked up the coiled whip and said, 'Move.'

  They re-entered the lounge-cum-office where the strictly manacled Jackie was brought to a halt.

  'Now then,' said Pauline, standing before her, 'you deliberately and knowingly disobeyed me again, and in front of the others. In front of them! That was the worst thing of all!' Pauline moved around behind her and continued. 'If I was to tell Sonia you were becoming unmanageable, you know what would happen, don't you?'

  Jackie remained silent.

  'Well, don't you?'

  The whip swished and cracked with a burning sting across her behind.

  'Well, don't you?' yelled Pauline.

  'Yes ... yes,' Jackie whimpered.

  'Yes! You would have to go from here and your father would be very, very angry with you!'

  'Please don't ... please,' begged Jackie.

  'If I don't, then I have to ensure you cause me fewer problems. And that means further restrictions which you will have to accept as of now. Do I make myself clear?'

  Jackie nodded. A nod was not sufficient. The whip hissed and cracked - once, twice, three times in rapid succession. Jackie shrieked and tottered forward.

  'Do I make myself clear? Do IT

  The whip again seared her flesh.

  'Yes!' screamed Jackie. 'Yes! Yes! Yes!'

  'Good, then perhaps at long last we understand each other.'

  She laid the whip down and walked over to her desk. Pulling open the drawer, she reached inside and took out a small silver key. Returning to Jackie, she held the key up in front of her face and said, 'I can leave you as you are until this evening, or I can undo you now and put you into something more comfortable. Either way, I go out in ten minutes. Which is it to be?'

  Jackie looked down with tearful eyes.

  'My arms are killing me. I don't care what you do - just undo me!'

  'You'll stand still and do as you're told?'

  'Yes.'

  'I don't know what to say to you all, apart from thanks,' said Karen, smiling. 'It's just, well, it's lovely!'

  'Right!' said Mike, kissing her warmly. 'You'd better blow out the candles!'

  Karen took a deep breath and blew. Everyone clapped and cried out, 'Happy birthday!'

  'Now, you sit down, dear!' said Valerie. 'His lordship there is going to open the fizz and I'll cut the cake.'

  'Who made it?' asked Karen.

  'Kim,' replied Valerie. 'It's one of her many talents.'

  Karen looked about the conservatory. Annette handed her a glass of champagne and said, 'It's a pity Sonia and Cheryl had to be away. I know they both wanted to be here.'

  'And poor Jackie,' added Karen.

  'I think your sympathy for her might be a little misplaced,' responded Annette, raising her glass. 'Cheers!'

  'Yes, cheers! Maybe you're right, Annette, but I still think Pauline treats her dreadfully. I really do.'

  'Well, don't let it bother you today. Enjoy yourself - I'm certainly going to!'

  'Yes, I will. I think everyone is so nice to me here. Sometimes I don't understand.'

  'It's our role in life to be nice,' said Valerie, appearing at her side and handing her a slice of cake on a paper plate.

  'Absolutely,' agreed Annette. 'It pays dividends.' She pushed aside her long auburn hair and a mischievous smile flickered over her lips. 'We girls always try our best!'

  Kim appeared, wearing a white sleeveless lace top, scooped daringly low over her full breasts. Beneath this, a short, tight, blue denim skirt and white stiletto heel sandals flattered her legs. Karen noticed Mike gazing hard at them over his glass from the other side of the room.

  'Kim, it's the best birthday cake ever. Thanks!'

  'You're welcome,' said Kim, holding her arms and kissing her. Valerie kissed her too. The kisses made her burn inside and for a moment, both pairs of eyes searched deep into hers. Karen wanted to kiss and hold them all at the same time.

  Pauline glanced at herself in the mirror and adjusted the collar of her satin blouse before walking back across the room. She picked up the coiled black whip from the table and continued on to replace it inside the desk drawer. She turned to regard the figure seated in the green leather armchair.

  The only visible part of Jackie was that part of her body from the waist to just below her knees. Her head and upper body were enclosed in an almost featureless skin of gleaming, heavy, black latex. The helmet was blank, except for two holes corresponding with the nostrils and, protruding below these, a short black tube ending in a rubber inflation bulb. Her arms were tightly confined within the garment and held folded in front of her. Enclosing her lower legs and feet was a single 'boot' of the same material. Unable to see, speak or use her limbs, Jackie remained statue-like in the chair.

  'Can you breathe easily?' asked Pauline, bending towards the helpless figure.

  'Mmm,' came the barely audible, muffled reply. At the same time, the head nodded up and down, causing the rubber bulb to jerk about and swing from side to side.

  'Good,' responded Pauline, 'because you'd be an even greater nuisance to us if you suffocated than you already are, and Sonia would lose the income from your parents!' She turned towards the door. 'Oh, by the way. See if you can guess how much time has passed before I get back. It will seem a lot longer to you than it does to me!'

  The door closed quietly and there was silence. In the silence, and in the enclosed darkness, Jackie began to dream.

  In her dream she drifted down the river of voluptuous abandon and entered the secret grotto where the flames of lust and sensuality burned. After a time, she began to squirm slowly in the chair and tense her body within the restraints.

  Karen had no doubts now about her assignation with Sonia. Her only desire was that others should not know, as Valerie surely did. And what of Valerie? Had she not reached the heights of sexual gratification in the hands of her and Kim? Could anything she did here, no matter how outrageous, cause anyone to raise an eyebrow? Her friends here loved her and she loved them. They were angels, though even in this house of angels there was a Lucifer.

  Once, Lucifer had been the 'bringer of light', before the mythical fall into darkness. How deceptive appearances can be, for orginally she had thought of Sonia and not Pauline as dark and devious. But then, she told herself, everything looks dark if you can only see your own light. She had known deep down, of course, that Sonia had tried to manipulate her within a few weeks, or less, of her taking the job. But it had worked for both of them, and now there was something else, something special.

  After the little party, she had sp
ent the latter part of the afternoon talking to Angela. They had met at their favourite quiet spot, the old wooden seat under the tree, with its view across the pleasant valley towards the distant sea. Now, she was back in her own room, showered and standing naked before the mirror and brushing her hair down before her breasts.

  She placed the hairbrush in the drawer, next to the white box, and stepped over to the wardrobe. She touched the more exotic garments within it; did Sonia want her to wear any of those for their evening meetings? If not, why were they there? Perhaps it was not all the work of Sonia. Some of these things might have been chosen by Valerie or Annette. They would know that by now she would take no offence.

  She pulled open the door and the drawer below the hanging clothes. Perhaps the champagne she had consumed earlier on in the afternoon continued to suppress her inhibitions, for she had eaten only a light meal since. She decided to wear stockings rather than tights, so began to examine the rectangular packets to find something which appealed. She next turned her attention to the rack above and after some minutes, to the selection of shoes beneath. She placed the chosen items on the bed, hesitated with fleeting doubt, then closed the wardrobe door.

  She first, and very carefully, pulled on the bikini briefs. They had looked black when she had held them, like a piece of nylon froth in her hand. Now they appeared as the merest shadow, their edges sharply defined by the black elastic. They fit like a gossamer skin, almost transparent, over her smooth vulva. The sheer black stockings needed more care in order to get the seams in line, but required no support, for the elasticated lace tops held them firmly in place on her thighs.

  The shoes had needed even more thought and she still had some doubts about her choice. They were gold sandals with open toes and thin criss-cross straps intended to fit about the ankles. But the heels were some sixteen or more centimetres high and she knew that walking would not be easy. She sat down on the bed, thought for a moment, then pulled them on and fastened the straps. She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, then walked up and down the room, cautiously at first but with increasing confidence.

  'Oh well,' she whispered, 'I'm hardly going on a tour of the grounds this evening.'