To the corsetiere

The coach made its way through the crowded streets. Victoria sat silently opposite the Tutor avoiding his eyes. Eventually the coach stopped and David opened the door. Mr Bartlett disembarked, and indicated that Victoria should follow him.

Blinking in the daylight after the darkness of the coach, Victoria looked round. They were in a fairly unremarkable mews, which was dominated by a large house. It was towards this house that Mr Bartlett led Victoria. It seemed that they were expected, for as they approached the door was opened. Inside they were met by a tall slim woman who led them into a plain room, furnished with chairs and couches. Here they were greeted by a further woman, whom Mr Bartlett introduced as Madame Pauline Fournier.

The tall woman who had originally greeted them took Victoria to one side, offering her refreshments, whilst Madame Fournier and Mr Bartlett talked. Victoria could not hear what they were saying, but gathered that she was being discussed since frequent appraising glances came her way.

At last Mister Bartlett returned to Victoria.

“Madame Fournier is a corsetiere, Victoria. I have engaged her to provide you with a range of garments to replace your existing outfits. You will now go with her and her assistants and be measured. “

Victoria wanted to protest, to ask what was wrong with her current undergarments, and how he, a man, could possibly determine such a thing, although she was relieved that at least it seemed that she was to be allowed corsets, which would be an improvement on today’s outfit. However before she could speak, he had turned away and Madame Fournier’s assistant was assisting her to her feet. Dumbly Victoria followed the woman across the passageway into another room. This room was furnished more intimately with a soft pink hue. Inside the room were Madame Fournier and two more young women, clearly assistants to the corsetiere.

“Ah Victoria “ Madame Fournier spoke with an accent, but her English was good. “Please be so good as to disrobe and we will take your measurements. “

Victoria looked round for either a withdrawing room or a screen. The room seemed to be devoid of either. Madame Fournier clicked her tongue.

“Quickly my dear, your Tutor is waiting. “

“Where should I go to undress? “ Victoria asked

“Go? You may undress here, Emilié will assist you. “As she spoke one of the young women came forward. Victoria went pink.

“I’m not used to undressing in public” she said somewhat stiffly. However Emilié had already begun to unhook her dress. She tried to move away. Even as she did Madame Fournier nodded her head and Victoria suddenly found that her hands were seized by the tall woman who had greeted her on her arrival. Madame Fournier sighed. As Emilié completed unfastening her dress Madame Fournier sighed.

“Always you English girls are so modest, but your Tutor is a busy man, and so am I, so we will assist you. Please do not attempt to struggle or I will have to ask Mr Bartlett to come and help. “

Her words sent a chill down Victoria’s spine, and she passively allowed the young woman to remove her dress. She waited for the corsetiere to approach with her tape measure. It was therefore with surprise that she felt Emilié return, having hung up her dress, and seize the hem of her chemise.

“Is this necessary? “ she asked the corsetiere coldly.

“You did not think we would measure you over your clothes surely? “ To Victoria’s horror she felt her chemise being tugged upwards and over her head. Her protests were briefly drowned in a swathe of cotton until that garment too was gone. Victoria, who had gone from pink to bright red, grew even hotter as Emilié completed her task by unlacing Victoria’s drawers and drawing them down.

Only then did Madame Fournier approach her with the tape. Quickly and efficiently she measured Victoria. Victoria closed her eyes as she felt the tape wrapped around her breasts, constricting them, the corsetiere dictating each measurement to her assistant. There seemed to be no end of measuring to be done, and when the corsetiere commented on the marks left by the cane, and even traced them with her finger, commenting in French to her assistants, who all laughed at her comments, Victoria wished that the floor would open and swallow her whole.

At last they seemed to be finished and Madame Fournier handed the tape to her assistant. Victoria felt she could relax, only to squeal as the older woman reached out and gripped her breasts, stroking the nipples with her fingernail. Madame Fournier watched her with amusement, before reclaiming her measure to record the size of Victoria’s now erect nipples.

Only then were Victoria’s arms released and she was allowed to dress. She kept her eyes away from those of the women as she was led from the room and back to the waiting Tutor. He led her from the house and back to the waiting coach.