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Chapter 18 – Betrayal and the Butterfly
"Mr Campbell! Madeli…"
"Shush!" The maid had pushed Charlotte through the rumpus room door and led her toward the dining room. In the last few steps Charlotte had broken away from the maid in a desperate attempt to reach Mr Campbell first and explain how the maid was trying to frame her.
Mr Campbell had been sitting at the table reading the evening paper, and had immediately silenced Charlotte and looked quizzically toward the maid. "Quiet down Charlotte – Madeline, what appears to be the problem?"
"NO! Don't listen to her, she's lying!" Charlotte appealed loudly. The maid grabbed a hold of Charlotte's arm and brought her to the table.
"Please Mr Campbell, don't listen to her!"
"That's quite enough of this behaviour Charlotte, one more word from your mouth and I will have to punish you here and now – as it is I think a black spot is in order. Now Madeline, what is the problem here."
"Mr Campbell, I am afraid that I must report that…"
"She's lying! She did it to me! You can't-"
"Charlotte! If you don't stop this right now I will have to take measures." Mr Campbell's voice rose as he started to lose his temper.
"But you can't listen to her – she played with me and then she…
"CHARLOTTE!"
Charlotte cringed as Mr Campbell's face became flushed and a vein began throbbing on his forehead. He was clearly furious, she closed her mouth quickly – afraid of what might happen if he completely lost his temper.
A few moments passed, the maid remained standing silently before the table holding Charlotte by the arm. The colour in Mr Campbell's face began to subside and when he had taken a couple of breaths he started again: "Charlotte, do not interrupt, I will speak to you in a moment. Now, Madeline, what is the problem?"
"I am afraid that Miss Charlotte has failed her afternoon panty test Mr Campbell."
"Is that right." He phrased these words as a statement, not as a question.
"Yes sir, we were in the rumpus room and Charlotte refused to play with the dolls that you have so kindly provided her. I corrected her, and when I checked her panties just now I found them to be quite damp." The deceitful maid never even blinked as she repeated these blatant falsehoods back to her employer.
"Well Charlotte – what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I didn't. She's lying!" The young girl spat back.
"These are serious charges Charlotte, Madeline has been my faithful servant and companion for many years. Do you think she would make up something like this? I hope you have proof young lady. Pull up your dress now!"
"But… no, I don't mean I didn't, I did, but she made me..." Charlotte's flustered defence collapsed.
"Well, pull up your dress Charlotte."
The young girl slowly lifted up her skirts, and then began pleading with Mr Campbell again as it became abundantly clear that Charlotte's love heart panties were indeed very damp.
"Mr Campbell, it didn't happen like Madeline said. I mean she did spank me, but this didn't happen then – she did it to me when she checked my panties."
"Enough! I will hear no more of these outrageous accusations Charlotte. No!" He cut Charlotte off as she opened her mouth to protest again. "Charlotte, if I hear one more word from you on this subject you will get a black spot for every fibbing word that comes out of your mouth. Do I make myself clear?"
Charlotte thought for a few seconds. Mr Campbell had already indicated that a day in the punishment panties would be her fate if she soiled herself this way again, but even a handful of words in her defence at this moment would earn her more black spots than she had already accrued in her entire time here so far. Feeling that discretion was the better part of valour in this instance Charlotte kept her mouth shut and lowered her skirts as Mr Campbell began lecturing her.
"I am very disappointed Charlotte. I thought you understood our position on this issue last night. We cannot have you fall into these dirty habits of deviancy." He looked her sternly in the eyes as he expressed his dismay. "Now - there will be no more discussion – I will discuss this with you after dinner. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir."
"Now take your seat. Madeline, although I no longer feel like eating, is our dinner ready?"
"I will go and check for you Master Campbell."
With that the duplicitous maid retreated to the kitchen, leaving an upset and distraught Charlotte smoothing her skirts and a forbidding Mr Campbell sternly considering his charge.
"I spoke to the hospital today Charlotte." Charlie turned her head immediately at the mention of hospital.
"I am afraid that there is no change in your Father's condition. They tell me he may wake at any moment, but that it is equally likely he will never awaken again. I am sorry."
"Can we go and visit him?" She thought that the answer to her question would be a resounding no, so she was shocked when he responded: "Well, the summer holidays are approaching, I had thought of taking you on a trip somewhere. Perhaps we could visit him at some point. But you do know that it won't do any good don't you, he's in a coma Charlotte."
"Some people say that people in comas can still hear things."
"I have heard that, but I don't know if it's true or not. Charlotte, you know it's really not the best idea to get your hopes up, he may be ill for a very long time."
"I know." She resumed smoothing her skirts.
"Now, I'm not promising that we can see him. It will rely on you behaving yourself for the rest of term. I will not be taking with me a recalcitrant misbehaving child, and you also must deal with this problem of yours. I expect you to work cooperatively with me as we try to cure you of these disgusting thoughts."
"I'll try to be good Mr Campbell," she promised as she considered the floor beneath her.
"I hope so, for your sake." The veiled threat hung over the dining table as Bosker and the maid arrived with dinner. Charlotte's teddy bear plate was covered with a generous serve of a plain egg and bacon omelette; it was of course accompanied by her spill proof fairy-cup full of pineapple juice. She deliberately nursed the drink, to ensure that some remained at the end of dinner. Despite the afternoon's desperate events she hadn't forgotten her plan for the cup and Mr Campbell's brandy.
Mr Campbell picked at his food, clearly lacking an appetite for his dinner. When Bosker retrieved his plate, half his citrus flavoured chicken breast and grilled vegetables remained uneaten. "Was the food unsatisfactory sir?" Bosker inquired delicately.
"No not at all Bosker, tell Cook it was marvellous – up to her highest standards, I'm just not particularly hungry tonight. By the way, Charlotte will be waiting on me again tonight; you can have the night off if you like."
"Thank you sir, I've been meaning to catch that new Harrison Ford movie; I think I might go and see it."
"Excellent, enjoy yourself." Mr Campbell sat pensively, and before not too many heartbeats had passed he indicated that he and Charlotte should retire to his study/hobby room. Charlotte made sure to take her fairy cup with her, and was relieved when no one challenged her on removing it from the table.
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