Ghost of Bledgemoor Hall

Chapter 13. Birched

'The next day we drove back to Bledgemoor in bright sunshine. I was dressed in all my finery again trying to look proud and ladylike but not sitting too comfortably on the hard seat. As we approached the gates, Master Peter casually remarked, "Don't get too used to being a lady Rebecca. Now that we're home, you're back to being a servant again, and seeing you've had so many pegos inside you, everyone here can use you should they so wish." These few words changed my life for the worse.'

Veronica read the words she typed on her computer some weeks ago now and reflected how Becky's life had changed especially as Edward frequently wanted her and took great delight in making sex painful for the girl. A new maid had arrived, She was young and inexperienced but not a virgin. Peter spent most nights with her. Edward resented the fact that Becky had been denied to him for so long and was determined to make her pay, ordering her to his room several nights in a row and tanning her backside and breasts with a strap before having sex. Veronica had been present on a number of these occasions, the last being the previous evening when the strapping had been particularly severe.

"You're a bitch Becky, you only take me back when you're going to get a thrashing," Veronica, gently raised her sore backside from the chair and lightly touched her tender breasts. She berated her invisible friend long and vociferously.

"You like it." Becky retorted, "And I haven't taken you to the worse times. I've showed you other things too and the times we've come back without having a prick inside us, you've been disappointed."

"Once or twice! You only took me a very few times that I didn't get screwed and thrashed!"

"I got it too remember. I did miss out many of the times I was whipped by Edward."

"Yeah, I'll believe you. Still think you want to make me suffer so you can watch when Gloria has to treat me. You get your kicks from that!" For once Veronica was angry with her ghostly companion and she raised her voice. Gloria knocked and popped her head round the door but was quickly told to "Get the hell out of here and mind your own business." An instant later Veronica was back in Becky's past.

"You're in such a bad mood today Ronnie, I thought I was time you felt what a real punishment thrashing was like. Gloria will have her work cut out when I do take you back. Just you remember, I will feel the birch too but luckily only for the time I am back in my real life." Becky's voice sounded angry and bitter in Veronica's head.

"You bitch. I didn't ask to go back. I didn't get to tell Gloria I was going. Take me back this instant."

"Not this time Ronnie. You're going to regret the things you said about me."

"Sorry Becky. I didn't mean it. Must have got out of the wrong side of the bed. Take me back please. I don't want to feel you get another hiding. Not after last night's 'warming' with the strap. Not with the birch! Please take me back." Veronica's pleas became all the more desperate when she noticed Becky was standing naked in the cellar room where they'd witnessed Hilda being punished on Becky's first visit. The punishment room. Her entreaties escalated then ceased, replaced by fear when they heard footsteps approaching. Master Edward, the butler, Mrs. Simmons and a strange man carrying a board, paper and charcoal sticks entered.

"Who's the man?" Veronica whispered even though she knew the others in the room couldn't hear anyway.

"Artist friend of Master Edward's. Likes to draw girls getting whipped and fucked. He's very good in an obscene way. He'll do quite a few sketches of me today," Becky replied. Two footmen entered carrying a deep pot. "The birches are in there, steeping in salt water." Veronica could feel Becky shaking with fright. Edward told the footmen to stay.

"Becky, please, please take me back. I don't want to be here. I can guess the pain. I don't want to feel it. There's still time to go." Veronica sobbed out her pleas. "I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it."

"Shut up Ronnie. It's time you felt the real thing. Then you can have something to really complain about."

Becky had a few more minutes to watch the scene while a chair was placed for the artist and the others took their places to watch the scene. In front of her was the hard wooden whipping bench. Back end raised to put the recipient's bottom in an ideal position for chastisement. Freida lit more candles that not only shed more light on Becky but the extra smoke in the unventilated room, gave Veronica the impression she was in a medieval dungeon ready to suffer at the hands of the inquisition.

"So Rebecca, your performance last night was abysmal." Edward seemed very angry. "Not just poor, disgustingly poor. You put absolutely no effort into pleasuring me. You lay there like a sack of wet barley despite having been warmed with a good strapping. Well you won't have to put any effort in this time."

"Please Sir, I wasn't too well and I'm on my monthly curse. I still am Sir. I'll do much better next time. Really I will. Please Sir not the..." Becky tried to reason with him but knew it was no use.

"If that wasn't bad enough, Mrs. Simmons tells me you aren't working hard enough in the kitchen," Edward cut in, "Is that not so Mrs. Simmons?"

"Yes, indeed it is Sir. Ever since she came back from being Master Peter's mistress over at Fordenbridge, she's acted like she's above the rest here. She needs that well and truly beaten out of her Sir."

"Ma'am, I couldn't work properly after all the strappings I've had. I was too sore..."

"Silence girl," Edward cut in, "We don't want any of your pathetically feeble excuses." Acknowledging the housekeeping remark he went on, "I'm sure we'll all do our best to make sure she knows her place Mrs. Simmons." Turning to Becky, "At least you won't have to do anything for the next few minutes. All you'll have to do is lie that and take what comes. That shouldn't be too difficult for you. Lie on the bench face down."

Knowing she had no choice Becky lay with her chest to the bench. Straps quickly fastened her wrists and ankles and then another across the small of her back. Veronica could feel the tightness and knew her friend and, in turn, she herself, was utterly helpless. Immovable. Immovable that is except for the fear induced shaking. Her mind remembered the only two instances of birching she'd known in the months she's lived at the Hall. The first was a gardener. She'd not witnessed the actual birching but had seen the result of it several hours after. The boy's bottom was well welted and there were little open sores where the ends of the birch twigs had plucked out pieces of flesh. The boy was still utterly traumatised and in great pain. The second time she'd actually seen the birching carried out. It was a houseboy who had been caught stealing and was publicly birched in front of the whole household before being dismissed. Becky's mind saw him stripped naked and fastened to a pillar. His back and buttocks took twenty lashes before he passed out. Becky shuddered again at the sight of the welts and the rivulets of blood that ran down the boy's body. She knew she would suffer like that or worse.

Edward's hands felt and squeezed the flesh of her buttocks, "She's still a little tender from last night, Simmons," Edward remarked, "But ignore that. Lay in on to the haughty minx. I don't want her to be able to sit comfortably for a month. Then we'll turn her over and warm the other side ready for some fun."

"Very good Sir. I'll start at the top and work down." A shudder went through Becky as a few drops of brine landed on her back, the prelude to the far more vicious pain that was to follow. Time seemed to stand still for a second. A gentle swish. An explosion of pain and fire ripped across her shoulders. Becky screamed at the top of her lungs. It felt as though she'd been cut through and then stung by hundreds of bees.

"Good man. Lay them all on like that." Edward gloated over the suffering girl. Simmons waited and then struck Becky again, this time a little lower, bringing renewed screams from her. Veronica too was feeling the pain and was trying to plead with Becky to take them back but couldn't get through to her above the screams. Becky's mind was on the pain, not Veronica. Steadily Simmons lashed the poor girl's body until her back, buttocks and thighs were a bird's nest of welts and trickles of blood. She was beginning to fade into unconsciousness when the birching stopped.

"Wet her down Mrs. Simmons," Edward ordered. Freida stepped forward and poured a little brine water over the open stripes, bringing Becky back out of her stupor and renewing her hoarse yelling. Vaguely she felt the straps being undone and hoped it was all over but in the back of her mind she knew it wasn't. As they turned her over she saw Edward had his prick out. It was fully hard so she knew he was enjoying her pain. A tremendous bolt of pain went through her as her back hit the hard board and the straps pulled it tight to the wood. Becky could only groan as the birch bit into her breasts, then her stomach and the front of her thighs. Her mind went black only to become clear when smelling salts brought her back again. Again the terrible lash descended, this time between her thighs, then a second.

"Move away Simmons. I can't wait any longer." Edward's voice found it's way to Becky's brain just as his prick found the entrance to her tender, swollen cunt. It didn't bother him. Lying on top of her, he fucked vigorously but it was short lived. Within a few minutes he shot his seed. Now it was Reginald Simmons' turn. He too seemed unconcerned for the pain he was causing, just as he was unconcerned that he had inflicted it. Reginald lasted longer but Becky got no pleasure from it. Her mind was numb. Edward now ordered the footmen. "Do your duty boys. Give it to her good and hard." Watching the scene, although it horrified them, had nevertheless stimulated their pricks and both sported full erections.

The older one went first and tried to emulate those who preceded him. Jimmy, the younger liked Becky and was extremely sorry for her. He tried not to hurt her any more that he had to and whispered in Becky's ear, "Sorry Becky but I've got to do it." The last words were almost lost in a cry as the birch hit his arse.

"Get on with it boy! Do it hard. That's how bitches like her should take it." Edward's voice showed his anger. Jimmy bucked and rode poor Becky hard. He didn't want to be the recipient of the next birching. Finally he to shot his load into her.

"What about you Albert?" Edward asked his artist friend, "Are you going to put your crayons down for a few minutes?"

"You know which hole I want Edward. Get these boys to unfasten her ankles and pull them up by her head if you please."

"Do as he says boys," Edward grinned now seemingly in a better mood, "With his thin pego it fits bum holes better." Indeed it did. It wasn't the shortness of the length but it was thinner than normal so he always got more pleasure from a tight arsehole, girl's or boy's. Indeed it was the sight of the two footmen with the breeches down that had given him an erection. Almost inured to the pain, Becky just prayed it would soon be over. However she knew that even when they finished with her, she would suffer the effects of the birching for many days to come.

Finally Albert withdrew and stood back. "Hold her in that pose boys. I want a sketch of her like that."

Becky was hardly conscious of what happened after although Veronica remembered it better. At first there was an endless procession of staff sent to view her punishment. "So they'll know to do better," as Edward put it. Then two boys gently carried her to her bed and Mrs. Simmons and a maid carefully washed and tended her welts. For a woman who was ruthless in Edward's company she now seemed surprisingly caring. "Drink this," she ordered, offering the girl a beaker of liquid. "It will lessen the pain and make you sleep." Veronica slept too only to wake in her own bed. It was dark with just the light from a small bedside lamp.

"My God, Veronica," Gloria's voice showed deep concern, "You really went through it this time. I think I will have to take you to the hospital. I missed the first part. You didn't say you were going."

"I didn't know I was going. Becky the bitch just kidnapped me. No, Gloria, don't take me to the hospital. There'll be just too many questions. I'll get over it. Becky did I suppose." She looked around and called out in a normal voice, "Are you there Becky, you bitch?" There was no reply. Nor was there any for the whole of the next day. Veronica's appeals became more and more abject.

"Becky, please come back to me. I miss you so. I'm so sorry I was a bitch to you yesterday. You are still my friend and I hope I am yours. I've taken my punishment, please come to me." Becky kept her silence for another twenty-four hours but watched as Gloria carefully tended her friend. Veronica was being comforted far more than she had been. She'd been made to get out of bed the next day and resume work in the kitchen although the work she'd been made to do was of a lighter nature than normal and the other staff helped.