LADIES' LODGE:
A STORY OF SEVERAL NUDE LADIES
by Harry
"He's right about one thing, Gwendoline. You have got wonderful arms and shoulders - you and Jessie."
"You're no weakling yourself Harriet - why he picked me out from the rest of you is a real mystery!"
"Cause gentlemen always prefer blondes - that's why," said Jessica as the three followed the odd gentleman to his home. This was a former farmhouse whose wintry greyness fitted in perfectly with the dreary weather. "They always prefer Gwen to me - even those drunken louts who tried to rape us were keener on her."
"Old Andy's the exception, though," laughed Gwen with a terrible sadness in her heart at the thought of her loss. "He obviously prefers the dark mysterious type." And she inwardly thought how passionately she shared Andy's taste!
Once inside the old farmhouse the gentleman showed them all into the stone - floored kitchen and invited them to prepare themselves something to eat.
"I'm an atrocious cook and my housekeeper won't be back for a few hours - there's plenty of stuff in the fridge. Make yourselves at home my dears. I can wait until Mrs Travers comes to get my breakfast."
"If he is a nutcase, he's a very generous one," said Gwendoline. "Let's get on with it you two."
They were just finishing their third cup of tea when the owner of the house reappeared, wearing a dressing gown and slippers. He had obviously got out of his soaking wet clothes and had a hot bath.
"Would you ladies like to use the bathroom - I have two, so two of you can share one and this golden-skinned, strong, proud young lady can use the other - allow me to show the way."
Jessica and Harriet were uneasy at being parted from their friend and self-appointed leader, but Gwendoline displayed no sign of uneasiness and the three separated.
"In here my dear - would you like me to run you a nice hot bath?"
"No thanks I'll take my usual cold shower - like to watch?"
"If I may - if you don't think me too terribly naughty! I can be awfully bad sometimes and then I need to be punished severely! You look so wonderfully strong my dear. How beautiful you look with the water running down all over you! I'll be downstairs when you and your friends are ready."
And with these words the strange fellow left Gwendoline to continue her ablutions undisturbed.
When all were gathered together again in the farmhouse sitting-room the three explained to Mr O'Toole the reason for their being naked out in the rain.
"What a fascinating story my dear young people! I think I can help you along the way; I have a friend who lives twenty miles away from here and it would be on your route. I'll phone him and drive you over there this evening. That way you will have two nice warm nights and days away from the elements. Now - isn't that a splendid idea?"
Jessica and Harriet were becoming increasingly worried about the situation, but Gwendoline accepted his offer with thanks and asked him what was the special service he wanted her to perform.
"I wonder if you would care to come upstairs with me young lady. I have a very special personal and private room I would like you to see. Your two friends will be very comfortable down here."
This was true enough, for both Harriet and Jessica were dozing off on the sofa and not even their unease at seeing Gwendoline go upstairs with Mr O'Toole could rouse them from a much needed slumber. "She can take care of herself," was Jessica's final comment before falling fast asleep. Harriet was unable to reply - being already in the arms of Morpheus.
Mr O'Toole escorted Gwendoline up to an attic room and opened it using a key which he took out of his dressing-gown pocket.
Once inside the room, Gwendoline looked around her. Mr O'Toole's earlier remarks about naughtiness and punishment began to make sense as she surveyed the array of ropes, canes, whips and various kinds of restraints which filled the place.
Gwendoline raised her arms and flexed her muscles.
"I THINK I am strong enough to punish you - you NAUGHTY boy!"
"Please tie me to those rings." He pointed to two iron rings hanging from the ceiling.
The man then took off his dressing-gown, revealing himself to be naked under it, to Gwendolines no great surprise. She was not much impressed with what she saw - Mark had been far more generously endowed!
"Take those slippers OFF," she snapped; she was already warming to her role as a naked dominatrix.
"And kneel on the floor and kiss both my feet - every toe - PROPERLY!"
When he had done as he was told she raised her right foot and presented the sole to him.
"Lick the sole of my foot all over and then the other one." She could not repress a slight queasiness in her stomach as he eagerly complied.
"Now get up, you BAD boy and raise your arms so I can tie you up. Oh you ARE in for it - I bet you're scared already aren't you - you WICKED boy!"
"What now?" she asked as the tying up was completed. When she had been in the Girl Guides she had not in her wildest dreams thought that her knowledge of knots would ever be put to this kind of use!
"The long whip on the dresser, my mistress - yes, that's the one. I say 'Mercy, Mistress' when you are to stop. You look so stern and strong! When you are ready mistress!"
And so Gwendoline proceeded to apply the whip to poor mad Mr O'Toole's back - a back which bore evidence of having received such treatment many, many times before. She was gentle at first and gradually stepped up the force of her blows, inflicting a crescendo of pain on her host until he cried out for her to stop.
Gwen lowered the whip with some reluctance (she had been really getting into it!) and inspected her work. The back was red all over, but there were no cuts - just a few weals.
"Do I untie you now, Mr O'Toole?"
"Later my dear. I daresay Mrs Travers will see to it when she returns later. She knows about my special needs and frequently ministers to them - although never as deliciously as you! Thank you so much. I shall always be grateful to you!"
He explained how he had for many years had a fantasy about being whipped by a naked and strong young blonde who walked into his house one night and how the previous night the yearning had become so strong that he had gone out walking in the rain to calm himself down.
"Imagine my amazement when I saw the woman of my dreams sleeping in the fields near my home in the rain - looking so strong and untamed as if she were some elemental force of Nature. I knew at that instant that my fantasies had become reality."
"I'm only too happy to oblige! Don't take this as a destructive criticism, Mr O'Toole, but rather as a constructive suggestion, but wouldn't it have been even better if you had had a large mirror on that wall facing you so that you could have seen me whipping you? I mean that would have been so much nicer for you wouldn't it?"
"Upon my soul, my dear - but what a splendid idea! What a fool I must be not to have thought of it before. I'll have one installed tomorrow and you must come back after you complete your journey and we can have another lovely time together! I'm sure to have been very naughty by then."
"Be my pleasure. Now I had better see how my friends are - both of them fast asleep I should think. I may take a little nap myself! It's been a delightful time - but tiring!"
* * *
Gwendoline pulled the attic door to and began to go downstairs. She had to pause at one point and sit on the staircase, too helpless with laughter to continue. She sat for several minutes with tears running down her cheeks at the memory of that ludicrous scene in which she had played such an active role!
Finally she recovered sufficiently to complete her return to the ground floor and was about to rejoin her friends, still sound asleep, when the front door opened and in walked a woman who must be the famous Mrs Travers - housekeeper cum dominatrix. This good lady took in the sight of a flushed, perspiring and naked blonde goddess standing in the hallway with remarkable equanimity as though such appearances were a daily occurrence in the O'Toole home.
"Are you a natural blonde, young lady?" asked this woman calmly. "Unusual for a real blonde to have a dark bush - not unknown, but unusual."
Gwendoline assured Mrs Travers of her bona fides and the lady smiled.
"I take it you have been 'servicing' my employer! I'm sure you did an excellent job - my word, but you are a strong one!"
"Yes, I left him tied up. He said you would come to see to him."
"Oh. I'll 'see to' him alright, young lady - and how! I'm not good enough for him any more - EH!! I'll see to him all right!"
With these words the good lady ascended the stairs with remarkable agility for one of her bulk and the sounds of renewed chastisement of the naughty Mr O'Toole could soon be heard. It did not continue long - to Gwen's relief, the poor chap had already had more than enough!
She rejoined Jessica and Harriet, who were still fast asleep and looking the picture of innocence and sweetness, despite their nudity and wild unkempt looks. She took an armchair and soon sank into a deep sleep herself.
She was dreaming that Mrs Travers had tied her to the iron rings and was about to commence whipping her. There was a mirror on the wall facing her so that she could see the anticipatory fear mixed with excitement on her face as a leather clad housekeeper raised a fearsome whip in the air, when she was awakened by a discreet cough.
Gwendoline awoke to see a smartly dressed Mr O'Toole and a smiling Mrs Travers standing in the doorway.
"Lunch will be served in the dining room in exactly one hour. I hope you young people have had a good sleep."
"Thanks, Mrs Travers - lovely. I was having such a nice dream - you woke me just as it was getting really interesting!"
"You seem to double up as a 'bottom' young lady" said the housekeeper as she caught sight of Gwendoline's still scarred back. Unusual - very. I'd have taken you for a confirmed 'top'!"
"Sorry, but I'm not with you," said a puzzled Gwen.
"Obviously you are not a professional or you'd know what I meant. Who did that to your back?"
Gwendoline explained. Mrs Travers disappeared and returned with a box from which she produced various ointments and other fluids. She bid Gwen lean over the arms of the chair and began to apply various things to her back. She told her to get up after a few minutes and instructed her only to lie on her front for the next twenty four hours.
"It's not healing as well as it should be my dear. You've been having too rough a time out in the open all day and every day - you don't want to keep those marks for the rest of your life. Not a lovely girl like you - that would be a crime against humanity!"
Gwendoline thanked the housekeeper. Such kindness and from such an unexpected quarter.
"Mr O'Toole was tickled pink meeting you, my dear! He's looking twenty years younger today! You've really done him a power of good!"
Gwen had to fight very hard to suppress her amusement at the notion that whipping could ever be therapeutic! She was able to say with a straight face that she was pleased to have been able to repay his kindness to them in this way.
Mrs Travers and her employer left the girls to their own devices before lunch and Gwendoline woke them up. To their question about what Mr O'Toole had wanted of her she replied by suggesting a pre lunch walk, even though the weather was getting worse by this time and the rain was falling in sheets.
Despite their reluctance to exchange the cosiness of the house for the merciless rain which the wind drove into their unprotected bodies turning them red in seconds, they submitted to Gwendoline's bidding as ever nowadays and she explained what had happened in the attic. It was a while before the other two were able to stop laughing. Finally Harriet spoke.
"I was saying to Jessie yesterday that you had a sadistic streak - now I'm sure! And now can we get back indoors - please Mistress Gwendoline?"
"Yes, I suppose we'd better get back or we'll never be dry in time for lunch," said Gwen. "Pity, though. I'm getting totally pissed off with all this comfort even after a few hours. I just can't wait to get back to normal!"
Mrs Travers tut-tutted over Gwendoline's back and reapplied the preparations which the rain had partly washed off her.
"I know you're an extremely brave young woman, but you MUST give that back a chance for the next day or two - you really must!"
Mr O'Toole nodded his agreement and observed that it was a monstrous thing to have marred such loveliness - to say nothing of the agony she must have suffered.
"I'd like to take a whip to that scoundrel myself," he concluded.
"No need for that, Mr O'Toole - Gwendoline pretty well flayed him alive once we turned the tables on him - thanks to our arsonist friend here!"
Over lunch Gwen mentioned her dream about Mrs Travers being about to whip her and that good lady vigorously protested her total refusal to lay so much as a finger on her even if paid by Gwendoline to do so.
"I only do it for John here as a favour now and again - except this morning when I confess to having been just a little jealous and put out!"
The girls went outside again after lunch and walked over the neighbouring and deserted hills for a few hours before returning for dinner. Mrs Travers again reproached Gwen and applied more stuff to her back.
The evening was passed playing a variety of parlour games and they all retired to bed at midnight. Gwendoline was given the best guest room and the other girls shared the other. With some qualms in this eccentric household Gwen submitted to having her hands tied to the bed posts so that she would not inadvertently turn over on to her back in her sleep.
"You should be well on the mend by morning, but give it another day and night to make sure, my dear," were Mrs Travers's parting words as she turned off the light and gently closed the door, leaving Gwendoline to enjoy her first comfortable night in quite a while.
* * *
Gwen woke early the next morning and panicked as she realised that both her hands were tied to the bedposts. As she became more wide awake she remembered how Mrs Travers had urged this on her as a way of preventing her lying on her still sore back and her fear subsided. All she had to do was wait until someone came to free her. She drifted back to sleep.
When she awoke next the sun was shining through the window and Mrs Travers was untying the bonds.
"For your own good I should really leave you here all day Lady Gwendoline - that would stop all your nonsense of tramping around in the rain, but it is a lovely day and I think you can go out, and force those poor friends of yours to suffer with you!"
"How do you know who I am?"
"I have a good memory as well as you my dear."
Mrs Travers did not enlarge on this somewhat cryptic reply and Gwendoline made her way to the en-suite bathroom. As she sat on the toilet she reflected on the many places whose fertility they had all enriched over the last weeks and revelled in the luxury of civilised amenities once again - she still hoped to be back in the open before long, but recognised the good sense of Mrs Travers in urging her to give herself time to heal properly.
Her back to the mirror and using a small hand mirror she inspected the damage for the first time since the visit to Francesca. What she saw caused her to gasp with horror and any doubts about the good housekeeper's advice were immediately banished. There were several deep cuts which were as inflamed and weeping as they had been the last time she had seen them - it was not a pretty sight at all.
Quickly finishing her toilette she sought out Mrs Travers and asked her how her injuries looked compared to yesterday.
"A lot better my dear. The infection has almost gone and the cuts will start to heal naturally in a day or so. You just haven't been giving yourself a chance these last few days - you are a wonderful young lady but you're still only flesh and blood. I'm so glad I had a chance to get to you with my herbal remedies in time - you'll be good as new in a week. You must have been in a terrible lot of pain ever since this happened to you - admit it!"
Gwendoline nodded. "Yes, I've just ignored it and forced myself to keep going - Lord knows why! I mean it's only a silly dare when you come to think about it and not even my idea in the first place."
"Oh come off it, Lady Gwendoline - you know it's a splendid idea! And full marks to you for keeping your friends up to the mark, when they were ready to give up. And remember dear, tomorrow you will be right as rain!"
"Is there anywhere we can go for a swim around here? We used a reservoir the day before yesterday and could make it there and back today - or would that be bad for my back?"
"I'd advise you to give it a rest for today, Gwendoline my love - I really would!"
"OK - but the other two haven't anything wrong with them - I'll take them out and make sure they get their dip!"
And Gwen escorted Harriet and Jessica to the lake that Mrs Travers had told her about. She stood over them and made sure they stayed in until they were so cold they could scarcely struggle out of the water. She looked on as they exercised in the usual way to get warmed up, feeling awfully left out. Only the thought of the awful possibility of her scars being there for life caused her to obey Mrs Travers's advice and leave her friends to wrestle without her.
"I'm really glad you've decided to give yourself a break, Gwen," said Jessica on the way back to the house. "I was getting so worried about you this last day or two - it's amazing how quickly that back is healing now you're being sensible at last and after what she put onto it - she must be some kind of magician!"
"And to think I had a dream in which I was tied up in the attic and she was about to start whipping me - and really she couldn't have been kinder to me if I had been her own daughter! Funny thing - but I was kind of excited as well as frightened in the dream - quite sorry to wake up. I was starting to go wet!"
"I hope your experience hasn't turned you funny, my dear old thing!"
"We never know where life is leading my lovely dark mysterious Jessica. The wilder shores of love and all that!"
"I can always tell Andy it's all off my darling! Just say the word and I'll never desert you again!"
And Jessica put her arms around Gwendoline's neck and kissed her on the mouth for the first time in days. Gwen felt herself sinking into a delicious sweet ecstasy of which an orgasm was the only culmination. It was such glorious bliss to feel her lover's body pushed against hers with such passion once more!
"No, Jessica - it's over that way between us and should never have started in the first place. I loved it all and I won't ever be sorry - but I have to pass on my title when I inherit it, and I will need a husband to do that! And he - whoever he is - will get all of me - nothing held back! And Andy loves you to distraction - I can tell that, my darling. I could see it in his face the first day we all met. It would kill him to lose you now - you mustn't even think about it!"
"Come on you two - I'm hungry and lunch is in twenty minutes. Make up your bloody minds and let's get going! Gwen's right you know, Jessica! Smart-arsed bitch she's always fucking right! Doesn't it make you mad?"
They continued back to the house in silence - Gwen and Jessica held hands but avoided each others eyes.
After an early dinner, John O'Toole prepared to drive the trio over to his friend's house. Before leaving, Gwen put her arms around Mrs Travers and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks for everything - I'll never forget what you did for me.
"My pleasure my dear - by the way." A conspritorial look came over the housekeepers face and she drew Gwen to her and whispered. "That dream! You looked pretty hot to me when you woke up! Maybe I shoudn't be saying this but I have a kind of whip that is designed not to cut the skin. It needs to be done by an expert - but I am the best! Hurts like hell, I can promise you that! But no broken skin - just a few bruises. You know how to contact me - any time!"
"Maybe - I don't know. I mean - it excites me a lot, but I really don't know!"
And Gwendoline followed her friends out to the car. She was about to get in, when she turned back to Mrs Travers and called out, "Hell - yes!! I can't bloody wait!! I'll be in touch! Get plenty of exercise and build up those muscles just for me!"
"What was all that about, darling," asked a puzzled Harriet. Jessica didn't need to ask. She knew! Poor old Gwen, she'd finally flipped!
John O'Toole's friend was almost normal. He could not have been completely so to have accepted the presence of three naked and very attractive eighteen year old girls in his house as though it were an everyday happening, but he made no demands for the kind of "Special Service" that Lady Gwendoline had provided for his buddy.
They all spent a stimulating evening discussing everything from world affairs to the latest West End shows and the time passed quickly until it was past midnight.
This time Gwendoline shared a room with Jessica and Harriet had a small adjoining room.
"Darling Gwen - you surely CAN'T want to be beaten again after that horrible three days. Please try to be sensible."
"She told me she can do it without causing permanent marks and I was attracted - I can't begin to tell you how it made me feel! I imagined the sound of it cracking down onto my skin and I could feel the gooseflesh all over my body - I shall have to try it out! I know it sounds hateful to you, but as I said to her, I can't wait!"
"It's my fault darling. I let you down at that awful house causing you to take that dreadful beating, and then I left you for Andy! And it's all started you on this path. You must promise me to fight it, my sweet dear friend! It's so horribly sick! PLEASE!"
Gwendoline fell asleep with her best friend's tearful pleas ringing in her ears and she dreamt of nice normal things that night.
* * *
"I've been out of my mind these last few days - how you've put up with me I can't imagine. Shall we go back to how it was?" asked Gwendoline next morning as they set out once more to continue on their walk to Northumberland.
"Rubbish, Gwendoline! We'd be lost without you! Don't back out on us now! It's only been you that's kept us going this far. And it's only you can get us through to the end. Don't let us down Gwen!"
Gwendoline lowered her head and tears were flowing down her cheeks. "I don't want to be in charge any more! I was so fucking mad when we disarmed Richard - I didn't know myself - but I'm plain old me again now."
"You'll never be that again - like it or not Gwendoline you're the leader and we need you. We'd never have made it as far as this if it hadn't been for you driving us on! Don't fail us now!" Harriet was almost in tears as she embraced Gwen.
"What about Jessica?"
"Same here my old darling! I remember shielding you from the rain and keeping you warm every night earlier on when you seemed to be the weaker one, but that was then and this is now. You've grown this last few days and we really do need you - so snap out of it - don't let us down!"
Gwendoline looked utterly unconvinced by her friends' protestations and sank squatting on the ground, looking pensive.
"Sorry girls, but the fire seems to have gone out."
Jessica spoke, "OK, Gwendoline. I know exactly what the trouble is and I take back what I said last night - you go back to that house when all this is over and let that woman whip you senseless if that's what you really want. I still say it's weird and not nice and not the Gwendoline I used to know so well, but I'll always love you whatever happens. Nothing will ever stop you being my first and best friend. If it turns you on that much, then go for it by all means - just don't ask me to come and watch!"
Gwendoline cheered up at this and quickly resumed her familiar decisive manner.
"Thanks for that Jessica. I know you don't understand and why should you? I don't completely myself. But this thing really has turned me on so much! - Part of me is absolutely shit scared at the idea and the other half is incredibly excited - it's like nothing I've ever known in my life before! My stomach churns whenever I think about it! It'd only be just the once, I'm sure of that, but I'll never be satisfied until I know just how far I can go with it. I'll tell Mrs Travers in advance not to stop until she's exhausted no matter how much I plead with her to!"
The matter was never again discussed by the three girls, but Gwendoline did return to John O'Toole's house and after she had undressed completely and given him his promised repeat beating (with the mirror now in place) she submitted her naked, weather-beaten body to Mrs Travers's tender mercies. That good lady was as good as her word, not breaking Gwendoline's skin, but inflicting such pain as she had never known before in her life, only stopping when too exhausted to carry on. Gwen thanked her profusely afterwards, paid her handsomely and drove away with her bruised back tingling pleasantly - never to see the odd couple again and never to feel another masochistic urge as long as she lived. But she treasured the memory to her dying day. She had proved something to herself, although she was never sure exactly what!
"I suppose you realise we are now into November - just over three weeks to get to our goal. I won't explain why just yet, but we don't need to worry too much about completing a quota of miles every day - I've worked everything out, so don't ask questions - trust me!"
"I wonder how easy it would be for someone to climb to the top of that hill like we are - no climbing boots, no gear - what do you say, girls?"
"It looks awfully stony and very steep. Do you think our feet would be up to it, Gwen? I know we've got pretty hardened up down there but we usually stick to grass when we can and that looks pretty formidable," was Jessica's opinion.
"I doubt we could do it, Gwendoline," said Harriet. "I've been barefoot most of my life, as you know, and it would tax me to the limit - best forget the idea."
"Just think of the glorious view from the top, though! If you two can't face it then wait down here. I'll see you later!"
And Gwendoline started climbing up the scree slope of a fair sized and barren mountain side, sliding back down a yard for every two she made upwards. She was soon just a tiny moving dot as she climbed ever higher, making faster progress as the going became firmer and she got clear of all the fallen rocks and the hill became grassier.
"Oh! Come on, Harriet - we can't keep on letting her get all the glory and she might hurt herself and need our help."
They did not catch up with Gwendoline until they reached the top, where as their leader had said, the view was breathtaking.
"Glad you came?"
Both girls agreed it had been worth it, even at the expense of grazes and cuts galore to knees, elbows and feet.
"Look at my little toe, Gwendoline - it's absolutely raw. If I get gangrene I'll sue you!" said Harriet as she leant back and recovered her breath. All three were sweating, despite the cold, altitude and strong east wind.
"Do you think going down will be easier, Gwen?" asked Jessica.
"In some ways, but we'll collect a few more abrasions when we hit the scree again - bound to - unless there's an easier way - you know a gentler slope on the other side."
There was indeed an easier way down, but they were horrified to see a party of intrepid walkers climbing up it.
"Looks like the hard way down - shit!" said Jessica and Harriet agreed.
"Rubbish - I'm not having you two hurt any more - at least not today! I think we should brighten up these people's dull boring old lives. Just think what sad types they must be - nothing better to do than walking around the Pennines in this terrible cold! Let's go and give them a treat!"
* * *
"Good morning all - nice day we're having," said Gwendoline cheerily to the five walkers.
"Ay lass! `Tis a reet champion day and all the better now Ah've clapped eyes on thee! Thah's a sight for sore eyes and naw mistake! And thy two mates! What say you lot?"
His companions seemed to differ, the male ones enthusiastically taking one side and the two ladies seeming somewhat uncertain as to their reaction to the sight of three naked ladies striding down the hillside - one of them a striking blonde beauty whose long golden hair streamed behind her in the wind - just the sort of girl to capture men's hearts with effortless ease!
"Why are you all undressed in this weather - to say nothing of common decency - have you all no shame?" asked one of the ladies - a hatchet faced middle aged person.
"You mean I should be ashamed of the body the good Lord gave me? Not on your life! - I've never been prouder of it than these last weeks - you should try it yourself! - no disrespect and all that," said a defiant Gwendoline, backed up by vigorous nods from the other two.
The leader of the group laughed heartily.
"Well said, Lass, thah'rt a girl of spirit and naw mistake! Ah wish Ah'd met up with thee afore Ah got meself hitched to sour old Bessie here! Eee bah gum, Ah do!"
"I think we must be in Yorkshire!" said Gwendoline.
The girls outlined to the group the nature of their journey and the explanation seemed slightly to mollify the lady who had spoken so sharply to Gwen.
Harry the group's leader expressed his concern at the raw state of Harriet's toe.
"Tha'll need to keep that out o' harm's way for a day or two, lass - Ah've some stuff here to clean it up a bit - watch out luv, it'll sting thee!"
He was not kidding, thought Harriet as she winced with pain. The toe started to throb less after a few minutes and she thanked him effusively for his kindness.
"Ah'll say this much - but ye're a great set of lasses - specially for a bunch of Southerners - Ah've been reet proud to meet you all!"
Later the climbers continued on up the hill, after sharing their midday meal with the three girls. Harriet limped a little for the remainder of the day, but they were all glad for the diversion and the food problem was solved for a few hours!.
"When you meet the right guy, Harry, you'll know!"
"Can't you get some sense into her Gwendoline? That's a brilliant brain going to waste - society needs talent like that!"
"Shut up, Harry or that'll be two mountains I chase you up tomorrow. You're definitely due to go up one AND have a nice cold swim in some mountain lake, while we watch and cheer you on. So get to sleep - you're going to need all your strength tomorrow! You know - you really are so fucking insensitive sometimes."
"Sorry, Gwen - I forgot," whispered Harriet and kissed her cheek in a gesture of apology.
"You're still going to be punished, so don't crawl - take it like a woman," said a furious and almost tearful Gwen. She turned toward Jessica and the two slept in each others arms.
"Why can't I keep my big mouth shut," moaned a distressed Harriet to herself as the other two slept and she was faced with a night without shared warmth. She knew there would be no mercy tomorrow from Gwendoline who never forgot and never went back on her word. "Serve me right for opening that wound again - as Gwen said - face it like a woman." And she finally slipped into a troubled sleep.
"I think I've had enough hill climbing for the rest of this year", said Harriet as they prepared to sleep later that day. They had found a disused hut - probably a former shepherd's refuge and had sat for several hours talking animatedly among themselves repeating jokes that they had probably told each other several times already and speculating about the future after November 23rd.
"Shame on you, Harry - this is easily the best part of the country for this kind of thing and we really have loads of time on our hands. If we can't find a nice lake or something to swim in, were going for a really hard climb tomorrow - that's a promise. We might even fit both in! Today was just a warm-up! I won't have defeatism around here - you should know better by this time, naughty Harriet."
Jessica said as they gradually settled down, "I don't think I'm going up to Oxford next year, I'm going to marry Andy as soon as this is over. I'll probably have given birth by next October - hope so anyway."
"After all the money your father paid for your education and all the sacrifices women have made to secure equal rights and opportunities and you just want to go and be the little woman looking after some man and bearing his children! What's got into you, Jessie?"
"Well isn't that convenient! A nice lake and a really rocky slope right together. Could have been made to order. Feeling fit Harriet? Swim across the lake and climb up the hill - then come down and swim back. We'll still be here when you return - if you return! What are you waiting for, Harriet - Christmas?"
"I really truly am sorry for what I said last night, Gwen. I mean my foot still hurts a lot!"
"Yes and it'll hurt a lot more when you've finished, probably the other one as well. You should have thought about that before shooting your great stupid mouth off - unless you want us to go on without you. It's up to you - make up your bloody mind one way or another. You make me sick you pathetic little whiner."
"OK - but I'm truly sorry Jessie and Gwen - see you both later."
And a tearful Harriet waded into the lake and swam across to the other side. She was frozen to the very marrow long before she got across and could scarcely drag herself out onto the shore. She looked around and Gwendoline was standing, her arms crossed over her firm and flawless breasts and with a look that was as mercilessly implacable as ever. Even at that distance Harriet could see that there was to be no let up. `Best press on,' she thought and immediately started up the slope.
As Gwendoline had predicted the sore toe was soon joined in its affliction by a couple of its fellows and she was bleeding a little from several minor abrasions by the time she got to the top. She looked down and in the remote distance Gwendoline was still watching. She seemed to be carved in stone, so still was she standing.
The climb down was no easier as she kept slipping and sliding. Her elbows were totally raw after several falls onto her backside and when she finally made it to the bottom, feeling more dead than alive there was still the swim back and still Gwendoline stood watching.
Neither of her friends made any effort to assist her from the water at the other side and she staggered up to them almost ready to faint from exhaustion.
"Well done Harry. Very promising beginning. Jessie and I haven't had our bit of exercise - let's all go."
"Gwendoline - you surely aren't forcing the poor girl to go through all that again with us? She's all in - look at her!"
"I said `come on' are you deaf? Come on BOTH of you."
Harriet had to be helped up the last part of the climb by Jessica - Gwendoline making no move to assist the distressed girl. Finally they all rested on the top. It was getting rather far on in the afternoon by this time.
"I'm disappointed in you Jessica - you have interfered with my punishment of Harriet. It only means she will have a bit added on later. Don't help her again. We must get back or it will be dark. You go first Harriet and you follow on behind me Jessica."
By the time the girls had climbed back down and swum across the lake they were all tired but Harriet looked quite terrible and Gwen had to steel herself for the hundredth time during the day to suppress her growing pity for her.
"We'll bed down over there where the grass looks fairly soft - not you Harry - not until you have another swim across and back."
"No Gwen - I won't stand for any more..." And Jessica stopped when she saw the look on Gwendoline's face.
"That's better Jessie - unless you want to join her! Off you go Harriet. Come on Jessica lets get to sleep."
Harriet had just got into the water and swum the first few strokes across when Gwen called to her to come back and join them and get herself warm. Her day of misery was over!
As she lay between the two, she again kissed Gwendoline on the cheek. "Sorry again Gwen - mind you I think you were really far too hard on me!"
"Don't push your luck Harriet - plenty more lakes and hills around here! How do you feel?"
"Tired and sore - but not that bad really, although I don't know why that should be!"
"I do."
"Oh?"
"You took your punishment like a woman - just like I said you should - except for a little bit of whining early on - I'm proud of you. I was going to let you off loads of times, but I made a promise, even if it was a vindictive and horrible one and I had to go through with it."
"You're a funny one Gwen - you really are! What are we all in for tomorrow?"
"Oh some artist friend of mine that I met on holiday last year has a place somewhere near. He's famous for his landscapes or hopes to be one day! Just as well he is around here - we haven't eaten much today and you in particular must be very hungry after all the calories you burned off! Think you can bear to be hugged by me after all I've put you through? I did offer to stand down you know."
"I know - I almost wish you hadn't been persuaded - almost but not quite! Like another kiss, Gwendoline maybe somewhere a bit more exciting this time?"
"As long as you don't bite my tongue off!"
* * *
"Stop that, Jessica - she walks under her own steam and for God's sake keep up with me, both of you!"
Jessica had just offered to give a bit of support to Harriet whose face was drawn with pain as she struggled to match the cracking pace that Gwendoline was setting them all. They had been walking for three hours, since waking up beside the lake that Harriet had swum across four and a half times yesterday. After a few minutes bathing her sore feet she had been bidden to get started by a newly icy Gwendoline. The warmth she had briefly shown her the night before had totally gone.
Midday came and Gwen decreed a short break. Jessica took this opportunity to whisper to her friend as Harriet washed and bathed her feet in a little rivulet.
"Why can't we help the poor girl? Can't you see she's in agony?"
"It's part of her punishment. Let her keep her self respect and stop trying to help her. This is something she needs to cope with herself."
"You're being so horribly cruel, Gwen - I almost hate you for this!"
"Alright Jessie - offer to support her and if she accepts, then so be it!"
"Come to that Gwen, I was the one who raised the subject of Andy that night - why didn't you take your spite out on ME?"
"Harriet rubbed more salt in the wound."
They got started shortly after this and Jessica offered to help Harriet only to be refused.
"OK Jessie. Thank, but no thanks. I'll be alright. The soles of my feet are not too damaged - hardly at all. Remember I have spent more of my life barefoot than either of you two. It's getting easier all the time."
And certainly Harriet seemed to be making less heavy weather of it during the afternoon session, easily keeping up with the others.
Gwendoline's artist friend, Jim, lived in a bleak, grey-stoned former farm cottage which nestled under a gaunt and rocky outcrop that seized Gwen's adventurous imagination the moment she saw it. She determined to climb it next day, although it looked virtually non-climbable.
Jim looked utterly amazed at the sight of the three wild-looking and naked girls who appeared at his door. He was at an upstairs window when he saw them and seemed totally at a loss.
"Come on Jim - you've seen me naked before - remember? Let us in - there's a good fellow!"
His face disappeared from the window.
"When did he see you naked, Gwen?" asked Jessica.
"I met him last year when Mummy and Daddy rented a private beach in Crete for a month. They had to go home after the first couple of days - I was naked thereafter and Jim and a couple of his friends dropped anchor offshore and stayed around a couple of days before moving on. I thought he was taken with me, but he's never been in touch since. I spotted his address on some of his notepaper when I swam out to the yacht and they asked me on board."
"You mean we've just dropped on him out of the blue? That's taking a bit of a risk!"
"He's the only person I know even remotely near here and I fancy somewhere warm to sleep and a good square meal."
Finally the front door opened and a red-faced Jim appeared and invited the three inside. The all gasped at what they saw. A full length portrait of a naked Gwendoline hung in the hallway, greeting all visitors to the house. In the sitting room were several other portraits of her.
"Gosh! Gwen - aren't they marvellous?" gasped Jessica. He's got all the details - even down to your black bush!"
And in a whisper, "He must really be crazy about you."
An ever more red-faced and embarrassed Jim invited the girls into the kitchen and rustled up a simple meal of bread and cheese for them.
"I'm right in the middle of a bit of a clear-out at the moment. Moving all the furniture out of one of the bedrooms and putting all my canvasses in there. Heavy work and I really must finish it now I've started - take it easy in the sitting room for a couple of hours and I'll be right with you."
"Well, Jim! Isn't this your lucky day! Harriet loves a bit of hard work - don't you Harriet? Off you go with Jim, now Harriet! We'll take a bit of a nap. Jessie and I are exhausted, but Harriet never stops. She's a wonder, that girl!"
So poor Harriet spent a couple of hours helping Jim shifting furniture and Gwen and Jessie slept like logs on Jim's comfortable sofa.
When they woke up it was almost dark and a dust covered Jim and Harriet joined them in the sitting room.
"I don't know what to do about dinner. Not a very ambitious cook myself."
"Oh - Harriet's a wonderful cook - aren't you Harriet" said Gwendoline. "Just show her where everything is and she'll do the rest - then come back here and talk to us - dear old Jim!"
Jim took Harry into the kitchen and showed her the contents of the larder and fridge. She frowned.
"Typical bachelor's establishment! No bloody culinary imagination! Never mind I'll fix up something - leave it to me!"
"No Harriet - I'd like to help and I want to talk to you about something." He closed the kitchen door.
"Start peeling these potatoes and carrots and put them in the saucepan - don't light the gas just yet - I'll let you know when. What do you want to talk about - Gwendoline?"
Jim reddened again.
"I suppose you've seen her pictures all over the house? I met her last year for a couple of days in Crete and I haven't been able to get her out of my mind since - too scared to ask her to see me again. Silly of me!"
"Very silly - do you know how to chop up an onion - No - leave it to me! - So you sit here eating your heart out and painting her picture instead of being a red blooded man and asking her out. Talk about pathetic! What kind of a man are you?"
"A thirty year old man - that's what. Falling in love with a seventeen year old girl. One look at those ice cold blue eyes and I was lost - scared as a fifteen year old asking his first love for a date! Any way enough of me - why are you being used as some sort of drudge? You look ready to drop - poor girl!"
"Because I deserve it. Don't waste your sympathy on me! I think Gwendoline likes you a lot more than you realise, Jim. She mentioned you last night for the first time, but there was something in her voice - I don't think yours is a lost cause - have courage! And now leave me to my servitude and join the others. Dinner will be about an hour from now."
"Who told you to sit down with us, Harriet - you can eat when we've finished."
"I don't know or care what you have against this girl, Gwen, but she is a guest in my house, who has worked like a Trojan all afternoon and cooked a lovely dinner for us while you two were sleeping and idling. And she eats with us! I'm ashamed of you - I really am!"
"No, Jim! Gwendoline is right. If you knew all about it you'd agree with her. I'll be in the kitchen if you want me for anything. I told you not to waste your sympathy on me."
And Harriet withdrew to the kitchen.
The meal proceeded in embarrassed silence for a while until Jim once again fell under the sway of Gwen's charm and loveliness. He quite forgot Harriet until she came to serve the sweet and coffee.
After Harriet had had her meal and completed clearing away and washing up she was allowed to join the others for the hour before bedtime.
"I don't want to sound inhospitable, girls but I only have the one small spare room - but there is a tent in the garden - I suggest two of you use that, and one has the room."
"Jessie and I will have the room, Jim; and Harriet can sleep in the tent - out you go, Harriet and don't forget to close the door to behind you."
Harriet obeyed meekly and the other three chatted for a few minutes until Gwen motioned Jessie to go upstairs.
When they were alone, Gwendoline smiled at Jim and said, "I loved all those paintings of me, Jim! I never imagined you cared about me that much. Why did you never get in touch?"
"As I was saying to Harriet, I was scared. I suppose it's the age difference - that and the fact that I never thought I'd have a ghost of a chance with a lovely girl like you - dull old stick like me!"
"YOU scared of me! You silly goose! I was in absolute awe of you! I was yours for the asking and I still am." She blushed all over at this and lowered her gaze in embarrassment.
Jim was at her side in an instant and the two were soon entwined in what could best be described as a passionate embrace, and one which seemed to last an eternity.
"Looks like both Jessica and Harriet are about to spend a lonely night," breathed an ecstatic Gwen drawing back from the most beautiful kiss of her life. "I'm so happy, my darling Jim!"
"Gwen, my love - what about Harriet? Why don't you let me arrange to send her home, if you are so angry with her?"
"She can go if she likes. I'm determined not to let up on her if she stays with us, but you won't need to arrange her return - I've taken care of that myself."
The doorbell rang and Gwen put her hand on Jim's arm.
"I think I know who that is, sweetheart. You go up to bed. I'll join you in a couple of minutes."
Harriet shivered inside the small tent and drifted in and out of sleep. She was totally exhausted after all the hard walking and harder work of the day, but the cold kept waking her. She was curled up in a ball to keep at least her body warm, but she knew she was in for a miserable night. She had just woken again when the zip on the tent flap was opened from the outside and a head poked through.
Harriet shrieked with delight and surprise.
"Oh, Bill! Oh my darling, lovely Bill! I've missed you so terribly!"
* * *
Gwendoline closed the front door on Bill and ran lightly upstairs and into Jim's bedroom. She tweaked of the bed covering and jumped onto the bed beside him.
"No cover for us three girls until we complete the test! If you want to enjoy me tonight you can't have blankets yourself - tragic eh!"
"I'll learn to live with it, my darling! At least I get to see all of you this way! Do you know what I've been wanting to do this last fifteen months?"
"I can't even begin to guess!"
(I suggest we leave this happy couple to their night of a thousand and one delights and withdraw discreetly - author)
Bill continued to push his way into the tent, but Harriet stopped him.
"You mustn't come in and you mustn't touch me, darling Bill - not now. Not while I'm still being punished by Gwendoline. I'll come out and talk to you."
"Why can't I touch you? I've been wanting to ever since just after you came to my place and I wouldn't let you in - please let me kiss you and then take you home. I've got some clothes in the car for you. And who's the precious Lady Gwendoline to be punishing you and what for anyway?"
"The same reason you broke off with me, my love. I'm a sarcastic self opinionated know all and I annoyed Gwen once too often, just like I did you. So here I am out here on my own in the freezing cold, while Gwen and Jessie cuddle each other indoors. And I'm not allowed to call her Gwen any more and she doesn't call me Harry - and I always admired those two so much. I was so pleased and proud when they let me join them and I've gone and messed up yet again with my nasty sharp tongue and big mouth!!"
"Come back with me, Harry darling. Leave this silly game and let them get on with it!"
Harriet shook her head.
"It sounds ridiculous, I know; but I want to see this through. Promise you'll be waiting for me in three weeks. That's all I ask - just run along now and leave me - I'll be fine. Honestly I will. I'm as tough as old leather by now! You can have one kiss, but keep your hands off me!"
Bill kissed her briefly and prepared to leave.
"Gwen said she was ninety-nine percent certain you wouldn't come with me - then she corrected it to a hundred percent and said she was sorry to have doubted you at all."
A few seconds later Bill drove away and Harriet returned to her attempts to get some sleep. She was deeply happy to be reconciled to her lover and glad that Gwendoline should have faith in her.
It was a little after four in the morning when Harriet's fitful sleep was interrupted by Gwendoline coming into the tent and shaking her awake. She bade her come into the house and ushered her into the kitchen.
"Look at that floor, Harriet. It needs cleaning. There must be an inch of grease on it and the walls are a disgrace as well. Move the chairs outside and shift the table over against the wall and then scrub the floor hard. You'll have to get down on your hands and knees and really put your back into it. Come on - you haven't got all day."
Harriet bitterly reflected that she might have known what sort of thanks she would get for her decision to stay Gwen and Jessie. She put the chairs outside and prepared a bucket-full of floor cleaner. When she came to shift the table she realised that it was a very solid piece of furniture indeed and started to push it across the floor. Gwendoline looked furious.
"Don't scrape it on the floor, Harriet! You'll wake the others - try to have some consideration for once in your selfish life! If you're too feeble to pick it up, get underneath and try to lift it on your back."
Harry did as she was bid and after a great effort she succeeded in raising the heavy old table clear of the ground and over against the wall.
"There! Well done Harriet, you've got a useful bit of muscle there! Nothing to what you're going to have! I'll make sure you develop a whole lot more these next three weeks!"
"When you've finished scrubbing the floor and cleaning the walls, there's lots of dusting to do. I'm not having my kitchen looking like a pigsty!"
Harriet looked up with a delighted smile and said, whilst continuing her energetic scrubbing of the grimy floor, "You mean he finally plucked up the courage to propose to you? That's wonderful, Gwendoline!"
Gwen smiled.
"Thank you Harriet. We'll expect a cup of tea in bed at seven-thirty. Milk but no sugar. Have breakfast ready by eight. I want this room to be positively sparkling when I come down next. I'm really tired, Harriet; so I'll leave you to it. No slacking or you'll be very sorry indeed. Leave the outside door and the window wide open so it's nice and cold for you in here. We don't want you tempted to sleep on the job. Oh - and thanks for staying with us - I appreciate that!"
With those final words, Gwen returned to the sleeping Jim's side and woke him up in order to renew their love-making yet once more. When they finally fell asleep they did not wake again until the weary Harriet came in with the early morning cup of tea.
"I'd like to paint you Harriet - that glorious hair colour would go so well with the golden Autumnal tints. It would mean posing outdoors for a while this afternoon - the light won't be right until then - so if you think that's too uncomfortable, forget it." Jim was speaking to Harriet at breakfast as she waited on the other three, resigned by this time to her new role as a servant.
"She'd love to help, wouldn't you Harriet - a bit of cold's nothing to you is it? I'd like some more toast, please and Jim's cup is empty - you really shouldn't need me to tell you these things, Harriet - you should be watching out for our needs like a good little girl."
Harriet readily agreed to pose for Jim that afternoon and went to get more tea and toast. Jessica said nothing. She was getting ever sorrier for the long-suffering Harry and more and more disgusted and mystified at Gwen's harshness. "Enough is enough" was what she was thinking - "she may be a sharp-tongued bitch but she's learnt her lesson by now and she did help us get away from Richard and his horrible mother."
As Harriet made more tea and put more slices in the toaster in the still cold kitchen she began to wish she had gone back home with Bill. She had hoped Gwen would soften to her as a result of her loyalty, but things were getting worse, if anything. She fought down the urge to cry and went back to the dining room, resuming her position of an attentive, hovering servant, determined to do the job well and finally win some praise from Gwendoline.
"How long would it take me climb that rock over there, Jim darling?" asked Gwen when breakfast was over and Harriet was in the kitchen clearing up, assisted by Jessica who had decided to brave Gwen's displeasure and give the poor girl a bit of support.
"You couldn't climb it alone - even for two it would be difficult - not to say bloody dangerous"
"I won't be alone. JESS and HARRIET - come in here a minute!"
The other two girls appeared.
"Jessie, you've given this lazy girl enough help - come and sit down and talk to us for a bit. You! Finish up in the kitchen and then we're going out together - go on, move it!"
"I'm climbing that rock out there, Jessie - fancy coming with me and Harriet?"
"I'll miss out on this one, Gwen and if Harry has any sense she won't go either. Stop being so nasty to her, please darling Gwendoline - for the sake of what we were to each other!"
If Gwendoline was moved by this almost tearful plea she showed no sign of it and when the exhausted Harriet returned from the now sparkling kitchen she quickly ushered her out of the house, telling Jim she would deliver his model to him in time for her posing session later in the day.
The night had been a clear one and there was still a bit of frost on the ground which numbed the girls' bare feet as they walked across the grassy approach to the towering rock and raised goose pimples all over their bare bodies. Their breath turned to steam as soon as it left their mouths.
The nearer they got to the rock the more stony the ground became underfoot and an angry Gwendoline struck Harriet a painful slap on her handsome rump leaving a clear red imprint of her hand on the ivory white skin.
"Stop trying to avoid stepping on the sharp stones, you miserable little coward - you don't see me doing that - go back and do it again and I'll be watching every step you take!"
When they finally got to the foot of the rock Harriet felt as if her feet had been cut to ribbons, although an inspection of the soles revealed no damage - it had hurt a lot, but that was all.
"How do reckon we can get up that, Gwendoline. It looks OK till we get to that overhang about half way up - it looks awfully dangerous to negotiate that feature, though."
"Yeees," said a pensive Gwen. "You can partially back out if you like - I didn't realise it was such a challenge from a distance. I'll need to climb on to your shoulders to get past that overhang. You could wait there for me until I got back."
"I'd like to come right to the top with you. Please, Gwendoline - I don't want to miss out."
"Good for you - lets make a start. Climb up on to me and then pull me up after you on to that ledge. It looks reasonable from then on until we get to that obstacle."
This was a true observation on Gwen's part. There were plenty of foot and handholds and a sweating and aching pair of girls finally arrived at the overhanging rock. There was a narrow ledge under it and one would need to get onto the other's shoulders and see if there was a possibility of getting over.
"You go first, Harriet - climb up onto me and see what's above."
Gwen hoisted Harriet up and she was able to see over the top of the rock.
"It's OK Gwendoline - I can pull myself up and reach down to you and drag you up. You might collect a few scratches on the way up - that's all."
Within five minutes both girls had successfully climbed to the next stage and the rest of the ascent was fairly straightforward, although very arduous and when Harriet and Gwen finally stood on the top they ached all over and were covered with scratches and bruises.
Gwendoline put her arms around Harriet and kissed her lips.
"Thanks for coming Harry."
"I wouldn't have missed it for anything Gwen - friends again?"
"Oh - darling Harry - will you ever forgive me? I'm so terribly sorry. Don't pose for Jim out in the freezing cold this afternoon - have a long, long sleep until we need to be moving on. You've really earned it."
"I'm sorry to have been such an acid-tongued cow so many times. It lost me my boyfriend for a while and your respect. I've learned something by all this."
They stood and looked down at the house far down below and felt the exhilaration of conquerors.
"Gwen?"
"What, darling Harry?"
"How did Bill know where to find me? You told him to come and get me didn't you?"
"I phoned him a few days ago and told him we'd be with Jim about now. I also told him how much you still loved him and missed him and he obviously missed you terribly. He wanted to take you back with him - but I'm glad you didn't go. He'll be there on the 23rd."
"I'm dreading the end of this now, Gwen. Now we're friends once more I just want it to go on forever."
"Me too, Harry. I don't want to wear any item of clothing ever again as long as I live! Golly, Harry but you look a sight - those lovely tits of yours are all scratched and you're black and blue all over. Those poor old knees of yours - what with all that housework and today's clambering up here! I doubt he'd paint you now even if you wanted him to!"
"You look a dreadful mess too Gwen, but I like you that way. You've still got that lovely golden hair - it's a marvel how it always looks so good, but the rest of you - oh dear!"
They surveyed the wonderful view one final time and then helped each other down. When they finally reached the bottom, Gwen picked Harriet up and carried her over the flinty area she had earlier forced her to hurt her feet on. She gently put her down when they reached the grass and they walked back to the house hand in hand and chatting animatedly as though the last few terrible days had never happened.
"Go and get some sleep, darling Harry. I'll get lunch and bring you up a nice cup of tea in a couple of hours. She can't do any modelling for you today, Jim - she's worn out and we all need to be ready to move on tonight - we can only stay one night in the same place."
"If I want to pose for Jim, then I will. I'll be ready when you want me, Jim - just let me get a bit of shut-eye for an hour or two."