CHERRY SLAVE GIRLS

BY JSMILES
jsmiles3000@yahoo.com

[ part 1 ]

Sir Michael Winston’s Offer

It was about six months ago that our life changed drastically, shortly after Papa had been killed tragically in the terrible accident at the textile plant that was owned by Sir Michael Winston. Our mother had departed from us 17 years ago after the birth of my younger twin sister Jamie. So we are now legally orphans. My sister Jamie and I, still in our teens, were privileged to be attending the Collinsworth Finishing Academy, but with Papa gone now, our future was uncertain. The Academy has a wonderful reputation for turning out refined young ladies at a perfect marrying age. We had just finished our spring semester finals when we got the word that our Papa had been killed. We were both looking forward to coming home for the summer to be with Papa, but now we both just cried, realizing that we were truly alone. My name is Julie, and I feel solely responsible for the future well being of both my younger sister and myself.

It was then that Sir Michael Winston sent for us to come to his estate to make plans for Papa’s funeral and to stay with him for the summer. His estate was located just outside of Sussex, and about an hour carriage ride from The Academy. With grieving hearts, we accepted his invitation to return and to visit and were waiting at school for his butler to pick us up in his carriage. We talked about Sir Michael and how nice it was of him to send for us. We had met him many times before, and as a rich young bachelor in his early-thirties, we both thought he was very handsome and attractive. We both were wondering what our futures would hold in store for us, when we saw Sir Michael’s bright red carriage came into view.

His butler, Carlton, greeted us cordially, and helped to put our luggage into the back of the carriage. Then after our hour ride to the estate, we finally arrived and were escorted into Sir Michael’s study. He not only owned the textile plant, but was a knowledgeable and skilled lawyer.

As we entered, he said, “Hello Ladies. It’s nice to see the both of you again, but I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances. Please be seated, and realize that I am dreadfully sorry about your father’s accident. He was a wonderful man. I need you to help me plan out your father’s funeral, so that we might give him one befitting a man as wonderful as he was. Your father appointed me as his legal “man of affairs”, a few years ago, and it is good that he made such plans.”

We sobbed through most of the day, but helped Sir Michael to make the necessary funeral plans. We told him about Papa’s favorite songs and the memories that we both shared of our happy days with Papa. The funeral took place two days later.

On the day after the funeral, we both were awakened in our adjacent rooms to the chirping of birds outside, and a pretty little brunette maid, named Collette, bringing us pancakes and sausages for breakfast in our bedrooms. We had never been treated so royally. After we had eaten, bathed, and gotten dressed, the maid came back and politely summoned both of us to report to Sir Michael’s study. We wondered what he could want, now.

As we knocked and entered, he asked us to sit down and then said, “Your father made arrangements with me for his affairs, but he didn’t think to make any arrangements for your welfare. However, since I know and like both of you girls very much, I am prepared to offer you an opportunity, instead of being forced to choose one of the other terrible options. “

Jamie and I looked at each other in disbelief, and then said, “Terrible options, Sir?”

“Yes girls, terrible options. You see, your father was in debt to me for a considerable amount of money, including the tuition for your schooling. I am recovering part of his debt by reclaiming and selling his house and his land. But for the remaining debt and your tuition debt, you could both be sold as servants, or as laborers to work your debt off, or worse, go to the Bridewell debtor’s prison. However, I am willing to offer you both an opportunity to stay with me, and to enjoy the comforts that life with me could provide two beautiful girls like yourself.”

Jamie and I both blushed at hearing him say that we were both beautiful girls. Now I had always thought that I was pretty; standing 5’6” tall, light curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and having an almost perfect slim figure. But to be admired by a man of Sir Michael’s standing was indeed an honor. Jamie was cute too, standing 5’5”, with honey blond hair and almost a carbon copy of me.

We both perked up and said, “OOhhh Thank You, Sir! May we hear about this opportunity that you are willing to offer both of us.” He rose and smiled as he moved over by us. “Girls, I have a fondness for both of you. Your father was a dedicated worker for me, and I am willing to keep the two of you here with me under my guardianship as my “wards”, under two conditions. I am a very busy man, and I have need of two faithful assistants such as yourselves, who would be at my beck and call and willing to be of service at all times. Would the both of you be interested?”

Jamie and I both light up and say, “OOOhhh, yes, Sir!” We were both very excited about his offer, and I raised my hand and asked, “Sir, what are the two conditions that you mentioned earlier?”

Sir Michael smiled and said, “Julie, you are not only pretty, but very intelligent, too. Thank you for asking that question, young lady. First, I’d want both of you to be totally devoted and honest with me in all matters. Then second, I’d want both of you to do whatever I ask of you at all times, without questioning. Any disobedience will result in harsh physical discipline being administered to you as a consequence. Can I count on both of you to be honestly devoted, and obedient to both of my rules?”

Jamie and I looked at each other, and then quickly nodded. Speaking for both of us, I say, “Yes Sir! We are grateful to you for all you have done for our Papa and for us. It is most kind of you to offer us this opportunity to live with you under your guardianship, as your “wards”. Thank you, Sir! We will do our best to please you and make you proud of us, Sir Michael.”

“I hope so!” he said. Then he smiled and told both of us to stand up. He opened his briefcase and showed us each a document that he asked us to sign. It gave him full custody and legal right to be our legal guardian until we both reached the age of twenty-one. We gladly signed it, and then he gave both of us a welcoming hug. He then kissed our cheeks and told us that he would start our training immediately. We were thrilled, and He said that he was happy that we had accepted his invitation. He also said that he was quite concerned about our health, due to all the stress that we had been through. He told us that he would make an appointment with Dr. Brown to come over to the estate to give us a thorough physical examination this afternoon. All of his household staff had yearly examinations, and we would be no different.

Never having had an examination before, we were frightened and started to protest. But he raised his finger and said, “AAhh, AAhh, Girls, Rule number 2. Remember, you promised to do whatever I said, without question. After all, it is in your best interest and for your health that I request this. ”

We suddenly quieted and then reluctantly accepted his request. Little did we realize what lay in store for us, or what he had in mind when he said our training would begin immediately.