Ghost of Bledgemoor Hall

Chapter 17. Prison

'For some months life was very good for me…' Veronica re-read the text. During the four months since her thrashing at the hands of Reggie and Freida, she had been back to the manor with Becky many times and had learned a great deal about how the place was run. She'd seen some of the surrounding countryside when James had taken them out in the carriage and visited Leeds. Becky became James' mistress and rarely had to service any one else.

Veronica's bottom too had not suffered any serious chastisement. Gloria now accepted Becky as part of the household, even though she couldn't see or communicate with her. On her return from the frequent trips back in time, Veronica now openly discussed what happened and Gloria proof read each instalment of the text for the book. Most of the spankings she gave Veronica were just warm-up preludes to love making. Only once did she try and thrash her in anger and without just cause. Veronica had gone into Leeds and was expected back for dinner, however, she met Sadie and they chatted over a glass of wine so she missed the last bus. "I'll drive you back," Sadie offered, "But I have to pick up some materials for tomorrow first." This took longer than expected so it was 7:30 in the evening before Veronica arrived at the Hall. Gloria saw them kiss before Sadie departed and assumed lovemaking had caused them to be so late. From her frosty reception, and Gloria's open disbelief of the explanation, Veronica expected trouble. It didn't come immediately. Gloria waited until Veronica was trapped in the shower and then went in with a belt wrapped around her fist. She only got two good hits in before Becky whisked her away. Gloria swore and dumped Veronica's lifeless form on the bed without even attempting to dry her. Next morning when she looked in, Veronica was in the same position. Normally six to eight hours was the limit to her absences. Now it was twelve. Gloria started to worry but remembered Veronica's often-repeated advice not to try and bring her back. Throughout the day, Gloria kept looking in to see if there was any sign of her return but it wasn't until nine that evening, twenty-five hours after leaving, that she returned. Gloria was both overjoyed and angry at the same time but didn't make any further attempt to punish her.

Sitting at the computer and remembering the loving and caring relationship that now existed between James and Becky. James had several times expressed his love for Becky and wanted her at his side all the time. Veronica began to get an uneasy feeling it was all going too well. She was right.

****

"WHACK!!" A very loud scream pierced the solid oak door. Becky stood alongside another, slightly older woman. Both shivered and tears ran down their cheeks. They knew the girl that had stood beside them minutes earlier was receiving her 'welcome' and it was a painful one. They knew too, it was their turn next. After about half a minute, the sound of the cane or whatever instrument was being used came through the door again followed by the anguished scream of the girl.

Veronica inside her friend's body, forewarned by Becky, knew this was to be a painful visit but she was promised that she would be moved forward in time soon after the ordeal. While she waited Veronica reflected on the events that led up to Becky being incarcerated in York Bridewell.

James had asked his father's permission to marry Becky because he was only twenty years old and therefore still a minor. Peter had point blank refused and told James bluntly that there would never be any hope of his marrying the girl, even when he became of age. He had no objection to her being kept as a mistress but she would never become his wife. A month or so later, Peter decided to send James to oversee the selling of some property in France. "It will only be for six weeks or so," he told James, "And you might find some young lady over there more suited the position of wife of your household." Although he tried hard to get out of it and then to take Becky with him, Peter was adamant and James left alone.

A day later a constable came and took Becky to Leeds where she was arrayed before Judge Dickinson on a charge of theft. There was no hearing. Becky wasn't given any chance to speak before she was sentenced to six years in York Bridewell. Money had obviously passed between Peter and the Judge. She'd arrived yesterday and was now very nervously awaiting the official welcome.

"That's ten," Becky whispered to the girl alongside her.

"Silence!" shouted the taller of the two guards that flanked them.

"Fifteen," she mentally counted before the beating seemed to stop. Sounds of movement came from the room but it was another ten minutes before the door opened and Becky was taken in. In front of her was a punishment bench similar to the one in the Hall cellar. Both ends of the bench were wet. The head end from the previous girl's crying and the other end from where she had pissed herself. A hooded man in black clothes stood to one side. He held a whip about three feet in length. Around the hall, men a women were seated. Becky could feel their eyes on her and knew they were waiting to see her naked and to receive her thrashing. They gave her a minute to take in the scene and to let the terror of it get to her mind, then turned her to face a man she knew to be the governor.

"Rebecca Morton, you have been sentenced to six years in this Bridewell for stealing jewelry from your employers house. In order that you fully realise that we do not condone stealing or any sort of misbehavior in this establishment, you will be given the standard welcome of fifteen strokes of the bull's pizzle," the governor stated pompously. Becky knew the bull's pizzle was made from the bull's prick stretched and tanned until it made a painful whip. It was a whip often used to abuse women in prison because it was not only painful, it carried the man domination connotation. "Remove your shift." The governor ordered. Becky removed it and stood naked except for her shoes in front of the audience. There were cries of appreciation. Unlike the other two girls that arrived with her, she was plump and well fed.

"Her fat arse will take the whip well. Lay it on good Mr. Whipper," shouted one of the women in the audience.

"Cruel bitch," Becky said to herself as she was laid on the bench and strapped down. "It's a pity she couldn't be in my place. I did nothing wrong." Her sobbing increased and her tears swelled the pool at her head.

"WHACK!" Becky heard it descend and moments later her arse exploded in pain. She knew she'd been cut in two. Her hoarse scream rebounded around the hall to the accompaniment of clapping from the onlookers. The wait seemed interminable but from her time listening to her predecessor, she knew it was only for a count of thirty. The second line of fiery pain crossed her bum. Again she screamed and struggled but her bonds held fast. Veronica, inside Becky's mind, screamed too, but likewise she could do nothing to relieve the pain.

"My God, this is barbaric," she yelled but Becky hardly heard her.

After the tenth stroke the pain became so fierce Becky almost fainted and the last five had little further effect except to cover a wider area of her buttocks, an area that would take a long while to heal and would be remembered for years to come. Eventually her bonds were released but Becky couldn't stand without help. Two guards lifted her and gave her a few moments to compose herself. "At least I didn't piss myself," Becky muttered. She tentatively felt her arse. There were deep ridges. Huge painful welts. She expected to find blood dripping down her legs but there was none. She felt relieved for small mercies.

The two guards led her around the audience so they could see the extent of her thrashing. One woman reached out and touched her but the guard rebuked the woman. They could look but not touch. They came to the governor's chair and the woman alongside him announced, "I will have that one in my workshop, Rube." The governor just nodded agreement to his wife. "Take her to my room," she ordered the guards. They were disappointed. Had she been taken to the cells, they could have fucked her without any problem. It wasn't often such a fine looking woman came into the Bridewell.

Hobbling and half carried by the guards, Becky was taken along what seemed like miles of passageways and up several flights of stone steps. Eventually they arrived at a door with a small shutter set at eye level. The door was typical of many prisons. Vaguely through the tears and sobs that still wracked her body, Becky heard one guard knock on the door, the shutter open and a woman's voice questioning the guard.

"Mrs. Pearson said to bring her here Ma'am," the guard answered.

"You'd better bring her in then." Becky heard the door being unlocked. To her surprise the room was large and well lit. Sitting close to the windows were six young girls who, on Becky's arrival, stopped their sewing and stared sympathetically at her. They'd all had the same treatment. The woman took her hand. "Come on in girl. Let's get that shift off and see what you're like." Celia helped remove Becky's shift. Once again she was naked except for her socks and shoes and led her to a day bed. "I'm Celia, Edna Pearson's sister and I help her run this place. She'll be here when all the welcomes are finished. Were there many more after you?"

"Only one Ma'am," Becky stuttered.

"And your name is?"

"Rebecca Ma'am, Rebecca Morton."

"And do they shorten Rebecca to Becky?"

"The Masters didn't but everyone else does."

"Dry your eyes then and stand up so we can have a good look at you." Celia handed Becky a handkerchief. "Nice plump body. We'll enjoy playing with that. I hope you won't object to a little girl fun, if you know what I mean."

"Yes Ma'am, I know. I learned it when I first went to the Hall. I won't object Ma'am."

"Good. Now let's see what we can do to ease the pain in your bottom a little. Lay over the bed." One of the girls had already brought a bowl of water and some cloths and these she draped over Becky's arse. The cool water helped to ease the fire and swelling a little. Celia spread Becky's legs more than was necessary and her finger found its way inside her cunt. Not having the will to protest and rightly guessing, it was a sort of privilege to be in this workshop, Becky lay quietly and allowed the woman free access to her body.

When Celia moved away to get some cream, the girl whispered to Becky, "Let them do what they want with you. It doesn't hurt and being here is far better than in the main Bridewell." With those words the girl went back to her chair and picked up her sewing.

Edna came in soon after looking flushed and hastened over to where Becky lay still crying. Celia had finished putting cream on but as yet it hadn't relieved the pain much. "You picked a nice looking one this time Edna and from the way my fingers slide inside her, she's going to be a willing one too."

"I'm not surprised Celia, she comes from Bledgemoor Hall and you know what Kathryn Pontiford told us about the goings on there," Edna replied and then turning to Becky asked, "Do you know Kathryn?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Becky answered through her tears and then added, "I was put into bed with her and Master Peter on my first night there."

"Good, then you'll know what we'll require of you. First though, those welts will have to heal a bit."

*****

"You and Becky had quite a thrashing that time but the welts are gone now," Gloria remarked when Veronica came back to her time, "She must have jumped forward soon after the cream was put on."

"Yes, and do you know the whip was made from the prick of a bull? It hurt real bad I can tell you."

Becky took Veronica back to the Bridewell on a number of occasions and experienced many aspects of the life there including the lesbianism of the two sisters and the prick of the governor. And then one day Becky said, "Ronnie, this may be the last time I will take you back. It's nearly the end of my life. I've told you how I came to the hall for the last time and collapsed on the doorstep before Reggie had me put in that old chest in the cart house." Veronica had tears in her eyes when she nodded, "Yes." "But I haven't told you how I escaped from the Bridewell and made my way back to the Hall. I'll take you and you can see how I got away but I'll return you here before I get too far on the road otherwise I might not be in a fit state to do so. I don't know what would happen if I can't do that. I don't know if when I die a second time it is permanent or whether I can still return in spirit form. If you are inside me, then you might die too. It's too much of a risk."

"Then don't take me back to that time. Choose other times we've not been to. I don't want to lose you Becky." Veronica pleaded but Becky was adamant that Veronica had to know the whole story.

"Girls," Rube Pearson called for silence in the workroom. "Girls, tonight we are entertaining the Mayor of York and a number of other dignitaries for a pre Christmas party. I will need you to help with serving the food and drink and I hope you will give the gentlemen and ladies present any little pleasures they may require."

"He means we have to let them fuck us," whispered Jenny.

The party had been in full swing for two hours when an elderly man took Becky to one side. "Come with me Rebecca," he requested and led her from the room to a courtyard and then to a small side room that was nicely furnished. Becky knew some of the senior staff lived on the premises. "I'm Jacob. The Pearson sisters don't usually allow us access to their girls so this is a treat for me." Becky could tell from his slurred speech, Jacob had already had plenty to drink. She decided to keep herself sober in case there was a chance that she could get away. Master James should be at the Hall now. It had been eight months since her 'welcome' and Jacob's quarters were very close to the main entrance.

It wasn't much of a fuck. Jacob barely got an erection before he spurted his seed into her and lay down. Becky plied him with a large glass of gin, which he drank, and then started snoring. She went outside. It was cold and the thin revealing dress she was given for the party did nothing much to keep out the biting wind.

"Come in here, it's warmer," one of the gatehouse guards shouted.

"And we can warm you a bit too," called the other. Becky went into there little room and sat by a cheery coal fire.

The guards offered her some ale, which she accepted and then asked, "Wouldn't you like something stronger? I know where there's some good gin." Becky smiled impishly at the men. "Jacob's got nearly a full bottle. He's well asleep and will never know." To the men, this seemed a good prank and soon started filling their tankards with it."

"Bet he got his cock in yer." One commented.

"Not for long. Went off too fast."

"Well we can take care of yer needs," the one she heard called Bryn answered as he pulled out his weapon and showed it to her. Soon Becky was on her back over the guardhouse table and the prick was pumping into her. It was a better fuck than Jacob's was but it didn't produce any excitement. Her mind was elsewhere. Twice each of the guards took her before the gin took effect and they dozed at the table. A carriage came and halted at the door and Becky had to rouse a guard to unlock the gate. It was taking one of the dignitary's to his home.

"I'd better get back to Jacob's room," Becky told the sleepy men. Instead of returning, she stood in the shadows by the waiting carriages. A man in his late twenties she'd seen at the party came out and seeing her asked, "You're a pretty lass. Has someone forgotten to take you home?"

"Indeed Sir, that is the case." Becky mimicked the voice of the aristocratic ladies she met at the Hall and elsewhere. "Perhaps you would care to give me a ride?"

"I'll certain ride you young lady." Becky accepted and was taken to the White Horse Inn on the outskirts of the town. In bed, she learned the man was married but could easily spend an hour or two in her company but he would have to leave well before dawn and return to his unsuspecting wife.

"What a stroke of luck!" thought Becky when the man gave her a final kiss and left. Half an hour later she was on the road heading towards Leeds but not on the main road.

*****

"Don't go back again Becky. Please!" Veronica had spent an hour trying to persuade Becky not to finish her journey back to the Hall. "You might not come back again and I will have lost you for all time." Gloria held the distraught girl talking to her unseen friend.

It's something I feel I have to do Ronnie. I've told my story now. It may be that I will still be in limbo afterwards but it could also happen that I will really die. If that happens, please see I get a proper burial, perhaps in the tomb alongside James. Do that for me Ronnie please. I shall miss you too Ronnie but I will be at rest at last."

"Take me with you Becky. Life will not be worth living without you."

"No, Veronica, you're not going to lose your life at such a young age," Gloria interrupted although she could only hear one half of the conversation. "Go Becky please, while I hold her. May you rest in eternal peace."

"Ronnie I must go. It's something I have to do." Veronica knew tears were streaming down Becky face as she retreated toward the other side of the room. "Please make sure everyone knows about my life and bury me near James so we will be together at last."

"No Becky! Don't go!" Veronica screamed and struggled but Gloria held her fast as Becky voice faded.

A week later when Becky had still not made an appearance, Veronica had to admit she wasn't coming back. For the last two days she'd spent most of the time in the old carriage shed near the box that held Becky's remains but there had been no movement; no sightings of her.

"What do we do now Gloria?" she asked, "Can we just bury her? Or have we got to inform the police and stuff?" Gloria decided the police and coroner had to be informed. Forensics examined the remains and came to the conclusion the bones were of a young female who died between a 150 and 200 hundred years ago. Veronica and Gloria kept the knowledge of who she actually was to themselves. The public didn't need to know although there was much speculation in the local press as to how and why her bones came to be in an old box. Finally they were granted permission to bury the remains in the graveyard in the grounds of the Hall. At last she was near her beloved James.

Two months later, Gloria persuaded her companion to finish her book. "You owe it to Becky's memory Veronica. You promised her." Going through the text was a painful experience. It brought all the experiences back to life. Once again she felt herself in the young girl's body, reliving the good life as well as all the very painful times they'd had together. Finally, "Becky, the life of a housemaid" was printed and published. One critic wrote, "The wealth of detail in this remarkable historical account makes one feel the writer, young though she is, has personal experience of life in those times." If only he knew!

Finis.