Sunday, October 31, 2021
Halloween Demotion
A little Halloween treat from AndiJF. Based on a girl's magazine comic from the 1960s (that were quite heavy on "light downgrade" content, such as an old favourite The Imposter).
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Story: It Was No Joke, Was It?
By Jackie J
Chapter 1
It would be fun, gate crashing the party, and
it was. The evening drawing to a close, Elizabeth sat with her friend and they
both giggled at each other’s outfits that they had worn to the fancy- dress
ball at the palatial home of Lady Singleton. Most of the other guests had left
when Lady Singletons housekeeper approached them and smiled at Elizabeth.
“Can you come with me please.”
Elizabeth turned in her seat to face her
friend and shrugged her shoulders before standing and facing the tall
housekeeper.
“What is it, what do you want, nothing
wrong is there, we were just about to leave, are we the last?”
Maud smiled again looking Elizabeth up and
down.
“Follow me
please.”
Lady Singleton was sat in the parlour, a
weeping maid stood by her side. Elizabeth was ushered into the parlour and stared
at the tearful maid, recognising her from earlier in the evening.
“What is it what’s wrong?”
A stern -faced Lady Singleton stood and walked slowly towards Elizabeth.
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
By Way of a Change (1902)
Dear readers, sorry for the long silence. I am well and still very much interested in our favourite topic, it's just that real life (I know, that's a lame excuse, but what I can say?) and, I won't lie, laziness keep interfering. Anyway, a very interesting find. I am a huge fan of Victorian- and Edwardian-era prints and repeatedly used them for captions in this blog. Work by Charles Dana Gibson, the father of the famous 'Gibson Girl', has always held a special place in my heart. Surprisingly, I'd never come across this interesting 1902 print titled "By Way of a Change" before. Many of Gibson's prints feature maids, but none unfortunately could be interpreted as lady-to-maid. This is probably the closest we can get. My spoiled mind keeps inventing the story behind it, but obviously it's something as innocent as this real-life masters and servants hotel role swap I did a post on. I am also somewhat reminded of this Edwardian postcard, How Would You Like to Be the Maid?
Anyway, what do you think is happening here?
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Story: The Intoxication of Servitude. Chapters 1-4.
by Jackie J
Chapter 1
Jennifer
had been friends with Elizabeth for many years. It was a good relationship
which worked well Jennifer being quite dominant and Elizabeth passive if not
considered a closet submissive. Jennifer did not bully Elizabeth but did take
advantage of her which in truth Elizabeth quite enjoyed. In her working environment Elizabeth had to
present the façade of a strong persona but coveted those in more subordinate
roles. Some of those with strong personalities, who worked for her, contriving
to exploit what they saw to be her weakness, having their boss do work for
them. Something that had not gone unnoticed by one of the directors.
Jennifer’s
relationship with Elizabeth was platonic although she had longed for it to be
more and had hoped that one day it would be. Jennifer was very protective of
her friend and often made a joke of what a good wife Elizabeth would make.
Things had changed for Elizabeth recently and now an even bigger change for the
two friends was about to take place.
Are you really going to Elizabeth, it is a big step, I hope you know what you are doing? From what you have told me it is all a little vague.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Story: The Education and Rehabilitation of Miss Caroline Drake. Chapters 8-9.
by Jackie J
Chapter 8
Five months had passed since they had
first set sail and clearing the docks the party of Lady Drake hugged. It had
not been the most pleasant of sailings for the last part of their journey home,
but they were all save on dry land now. Lady Drake had business to attend in
London with the banks and bid farewell to her travelling companions, Lord and
Lady Stokes and the company accountant, Cecil Browning.
Deeds and share certificates needed to be
deposited at the bank and Gwendoline was anxious to know what carnage her
profligate step- daughter had caused with the family finances whilst she had
been away. Leaving the bank, Gwendoline retained a degree of disbelief and
smiled, deposits outweighed withdrawals, by a considerable amount. Spending had
been rather frugal. A large withdrawal two days after she left but not
excessive and a similar amount two days ago, but the rest of the withdrawals,
small amounts in line with the household budgets Mrs Dillon ran. Hardly
anything, in fact nothing from the salons, drapers, jewellers, high end fashion
houses, café’s, travel? How extraordinary she thought? Lady Drake had expected
to be met by the debris left by a tsunami of Caroline’s reckless spending but
nothing, nothing at all.
Her letters had not been answered, not that she expected them to be, she had been travelling extensively around her late husband’s global interests and it could be that mail got lost or is still following her trail. Two weeks spent in London with her friend, in contrast to the hustle and bustle of her travel, allowed her to relax and prepare for her return to Longwater. Cecil Browning had agreed to escort Lady Drake from London to her estate and duly arrived promptly.
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