The Heroine of Havisham Hall - Part 13

As he returned to his chambermaiding duties, preparing the ladies' bedrooms for the weekend, Jack could not get his mother's birthday card out of his mind.  The extremely girly card which she had sent him, and the message inside it, which promised to take him shopping for some nice summer dresses as soon as they were both back home, made him more conscious than ever just how difficult it was now going to be for him to return to life as a boy.


He was clearly trapped as a maid for the time being here at Havisham Hall, and was probably also doomed to spend time in a similar role at the Quinns, if and when Miss Havisham was willing to let him go.  And now it seemed that, even when his mother returned from her travels, she would be expecting him to live his life as her daughter rather than her son.


As he puffed up the pink pillows on what would soon be Miss Pamela's and Miss Melissa's beds, and checked the whole room to make sure that everything was clean and tidy for them, Jack tried to come to terms with his situation.  He took the card out from where he had hidden it under his apron, still scarcely believing that his Mom had really sent him such a girlish card and message.  And then he noticed some further words, which he had not noticed, for inside the front of the card it read "To my sweetest darling daughter, Elizabeth, I'm so proud of you my dearest, from your ever loving Mummy".  Yes, Jack thought to himself, it really is every bit as feminine as he had feared.


Just then his thoughts were interrupted by Miss Craftey entering the room that he was supposed to be preparing for the young ladies.   Jack jumped, then curtsied, then stood waiting for what he presumed would be a thorough inspection.   But seeing Jack standing there, card in hand, he soon heard Miss Craftey's cutting words.


"I see Betsy, so we're still admiring our pretty little birthday card are we?   Come on now girl, you're supposed to be getting this room all spick and span for Miss Quinn and Miss Franklin.  By the way, I should have mentioned, that is how Madam has instructed us all to refer to the young ladies - or as "Madam", of course, if we are speaking to them direct, like all the other guests.  Except for Lady Lavinia, who of course is "My Lady".   Now then, what about this room?   Oh my word, Betsy, what is this dressing-table doing without a nice chair for the ladies to sit in as they prepare themselves for dinner?   Really girl, you do still have a lot to learn, don't you?


"Yes, Miss, I'm sorry Miss, I mean Madam" stammered Jack with his customary curtsey.  He thought briefly to himself that this would not be the last time he would be obliged to drop a curtsey in this room.


"No,  Miss will do, or Miss Craftey for me, you silly girl, you should know that by now.  "Madam" is for all Madam's invited guests, as I've just told you...   Anyhow, what I've come in here to say is that Madam has just informed me that she has decided to make a change to your duties this afternoon.   She has decided, I think very wisely, that you should not be on front door duty after all.   Instead she now wishes you to be an extra pair of hands in the drawing-room, to assist whenever required with the serving of drinks to the guests while their luggage is being taken to their rooms.  You see, Betsy, neither Madam nor I have confidence that you are sufficiently familiar with the guests' room allocations to cope with the front door.   So your duty this afternoon will be to stand quietly in the drawing-room looking pretty, until you are asked to do something.   Is that understood Betsy, do you think you could manage that?"


"Er yes, Mad -  er, I mean Miss, of course Miss" bobbed poor, confused Jack, now feeling more helpless than ever.


"And Madam has particularly requested" continued Miss Craftey "that you look your very best.  So you are to report to Linda now, for further work on your hair and a full makeover.  And when Linda has finished with you, you are to report immediately to Madam and she will provide you with your uniform for this afternoon... and, I believe, some suitable undergarments."


So that was it, thought Jack, as he was dismissed by Miss Craftey.   Not only had he been dumped for good into a totally humiliating female existence by his "ever loving Mummy", he was now no longer trusted to do more than stand still and look pretty in front of all Madam's guests.  And on his birthday too!


But Jack had no time to stand and mope.   Linda was already waiting for him in the makeshift, but currently very active, little salon which she had created in the corner of the servants' hall.   Here, for the third time in the past few days, Jack now had his blonde hair re-styled, with extra highlights which seemed to make his whole head now glow like golden sunshine.  And then, to his amazement, Jack received a full, facial makeover.  When Linda was through with him, Jack simply did not recognize himself.   He had to hand it to Linda, she certainly knew how to make a girl feel good...   But no, Jack scolded himself, he mustn't think like this - his whole mind was starting to think of himself as a girl...


"Well, there you are, Betsy, how's that?" said Linda as she beamed proudly at Jack.   She sensed that this shy young girl really appreciated what she had done for her, with all the tinting and highlighting, and the blow-drying and brushing out of her hair.   And now Jack was taking in the effect of the makeover as well.  Linda was really pleased with the overall effect, and with another broad smile she reminded Jack where he had to go next.  "Off you go now Betsy, I think Crafty said you're to collect a new uniform from Madam now, didn't she?"


Poor Jack just did not know whether he was coming or going.  In fact, as he glanced once more in Linda's mirror, he really didn't know WHO he was any longer...  He'd been looking more and more like a girl since the day he arrived at Havisham Hall, but now he had to admit he did look absolutely amazing.   His little secret willy stirred for a moment under his girdle and the badly-soiled gaff he was still wearing, as he now made his way up the corridor and knocked on the door of Madam's study.


"Enter" came the swift response and Jack rather nervously opened the door and presented himself to Madam with a deep, perfectly executed curtsey.   He consoled himself with the thought that this was one thing which he felt he could now do rather well.


"Ah, Elizabeth" said Miss Havisham, peering closely at Jack over her spectacles and doing him the rare honour, Jack noted with satisfaction, of addressing him by his correct name...  well, the name that he thought was correct for him now.  "Oh, I do like your hair, dear - and your makeover too.   Yes, that's very nice indeed.   No-one would ever guess your little secret now, would they my darling?   You are such a beautiful young lady, aren't you?"  Miss Havisham paused for a moment and waited for a response from Jack.


"Yes Madam" he replied, after a moment's thought, curtseying to his mistress at the same time as considering exactly what he was now admitting.


"And do I gather that it's your birthday today - sixteen today?"


"Yes Madam".


"Well, my dear, I've got a special treat for you in a little while."


"Oh thank you Madam, that's very kind Madam" responded Jack, with another neat little curtsey.  "Thank you so much Madam".    And Jack now felt himself blushing through his make-up as he stood in front of Madam's admiring eyes.   It was so nice to feel appreciated, especially after all the torment he had been suffering lately.


There was another pause, while Madam surveyed her new favourite and Jack basked in the attention he was receiving.   Mistress and servant smiled fondly at one another - almost lovingly, Jack felt.   It made him feel happier than he had for a very long time.  He was about to repeat the little curtsey, which he felt he had just executed so nicely, when Miss Havisham broke the silence.


"Betsy, I'm going to have you and Annabelle doing the waitressing at dinner tonight.  I want to create the very best impression when all my guests first come together.  Miss Craftey tells me Cook has a wonderful meal planned and we're going to have my best Royal Worcester dinner service and of course the silver.  It will all look absolutely marvellous and we're all going to be in our best evening dresses.   So I want my two most beautiful maids serving us and I've had my personal dressmaker create new uniforms for the two of you, specially for the occasion."


Jack thought immediately of the "special uniform" which Miss Bracegirdle had created for him in last night's dream.  Were he and Annabelle to serve dinner, wearing sexy little French maid outfits like the one he wore in that horrendous nightmare?   He'd heard someone say to him once that the most vivid dreams always end up coming true...


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"So, my love, if you come upstairs with me to my bedroom now" continued Miss Havisham, and Jack followed his mistress upstairs to her boudoir, a room with which he was now familiar after several evenings delivering Madam's late night cocoa.   As they made their way to her bedroom, walking along for the first time in each other's company, Jack wondered just what kind of costume now awaited him.


"We've got some lovely things for you to wear for my special occasion" Miss Havisham was saying as they made their way along the corridor.  "Oh, and I don't know whether Miss Craftey has told you, but I want you on display in the drawing-room this afternoon while Agnes and Karen serve the drinks.   I think you'd be wasted standing outside on front door duty..."    Jack thought to himself that this wasn't quite the same reasoning for his switch of duties that Miss Craftey had implied.


By this time they had reached the door to Madam's boudoir.  Miss Havisham took Jack by the hand and they entered the room together.   And there, all spread out on Madam's king-size double bed, was the silkiest collection of garments and underwear that Jack had ever set his eyes upon.


Jack was mesmerized by the array of beautiful clothing which Madam now wished him to wear.  At least it did not look like the skimpy French maid's uniform in the dream, he noted to his relief.   He felt flattered by all the attention that this important, immensely wealthy lady was bestowing upon him.   At last, he felt, here was true love of the kind he had never received from his own mother.  Jack was overcome by the thrill of being admired by such a distinguished lady.  He now felt that, whatever she asked him to do, he would be safe and secure in Madam's hands.


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An hour later, Jack was all dolled up, appropriately attired for the parlourmaid and waitressing duties he was to perform for the remainder of his birthday.   Miss Havisham had provided him with a completely new uniform - a classy, elegant, calf-length black satin parlourmaid's dress with a tight pencil skirt, puff shoulders, a pretty lace collar and frilly cuffs cut just above the wrists.  Over this dress, Jack was now wearing a pristine white bib apron with lace trim, while his shining blonde hair sported a frilly little maid's cap in the distinctive, traditional Havisham Hall style which Madam's guests so frequently remarked upon as being so "adorable".


But the real surprise, or shock, for Jack was what he was required to wear underneath the uniform.  For Madam had replaced all his own underwear, including the messy little gaff which had told its own tale of Jack's excitement the previous night.  She had immediately disposed of the soiled article and replaced it with a brand new, much stronger and firmer gaff, holding his little willy back between his legs in a way which Jack soon realized would force it to remain completely motionless, however aroused he might become.  There was to be no risk whatsoever, Madam had clearly decided, of anything untoward becoming visible to her guests if they were to glance in the direction of her lovely new parlourmaid.


And Jack was also now wearing a beautiful, lacy brassiere, just sufficiently generous to accommodate what were evidently now fast becoming very prominent breasts.  As Madam tightened the strings of Jack's new corset, the recent development of his bosom became all the more noticeable.  "You've been taking those little pills your mother told me she was giving you, haven't you dear" Madam said as she gave the corset lacings one final pull and tied them firmly in a knot behind his back.


"Now for your shoes my love" said Miss Havisham and Jack looked around the room.  He could see nothing other than some shiny, black shoes with stiletto heels that had to be at least five inches high.   "Yes, these are they, my dear - we must have you looking your very best, and that means walking in an elegant manner, appropriate for such a good-looking girl as you" came the confirmation from Madam that he was going to be required to wear such uncomfortable looking footwear, no doubt for the evening as well as this afternoon.   Jack sighed to himself as he placed his feet in these two absurd looking working shoes.   "Well, I'll just have to get used to them, I suppose" he thought, as Madam told him to walk around the room for a few minutes.


"The effect of the skirt and the heels is magnificent" Madam declared after a short while, clearly delighted with Jack's ability to walk up and down, albeit with a mincing, ever so feminine step.  "Now just show me your lovely curtsey again, will you my sweetheart.   Oh that's wonderful.   Now come along downstairs to the drawing-room - the guests will be starting to arrive at any minute..."


(to be continued)