The Matriarch

“It’s down here.” She said to him. Her gentlemen cousins picked up her husband once again, and shook him upside down. Coins began falling everywhere. Only after several seconds did they repeat the same thing as earlier and lowered his head to her garter. He tickled her toes with his tongue and he managed to extract the garter from the floor.
“Not fair, “she giggled. “You know how ticklish my feet are.”
“Time to find out who the next groom shall be!” Her Great Grandmother announced.
With only her thumb to aim with, she turned her husband’s back to the crowd of gentlemen. Her gown cascaded to the floor and she placed her left thumb within the band of the garter and placed her hands on either side of his head.
“Kiss me and you’ll be mine.” She stated as she gazed into his eyes. As her husband planted his lips against hers, the garter flew into the air. A roar of approval rang through the hall as the gentlemen jumped at the garter. They broke their kiss and both turned to see who had caught it. The garter had squarely landed in the best man’s face and he had his teeth firmly clenched upon it.
“No hands.” The best man sputtered, and her guests all roared with laughter. The best man approached them and muttered something she could not hear. Her husband laughed and winked at her.
“He said it has an interesting taste.” Her husband whispered to her. She felt her skin glow once more as she blushed clear down to her navel.
“If only he knew how wet the top of my thigh’s been tonight.” She cooed in his ear. She recalled that if her garter had not been where it was, the inside of her stay-ups would have been soaked to her knees.
“One last job left.” She announced. Her bride’s maids all rushed forward and began picking the coins from the floor that had been shaken from her husband’s pockets. She held out her shoe and they began dropping the coins into it. At long last the remaining coins had been picked off the floor. Her sister held a coin purse forward for her to empty her shoe into.
“I’ll see you here tomorrow, sis. Better not keep you husband waiting.” She laughed. “I’ll hang onto this for you until then.” A gauntlet had formed and she took her husband’s arm once more.
“We’d best be off before they arm themselves with coins instead of confetti.” She chortled. The young couple took off at a brisk shuffle towards the open door. Her Grandmother greeted her at the door and gave her a brief hug.
“I’ll see you here tomorrow at one o’clock sharp.” Her grandmother commanded in a whisper. “Best not be late.” She guided her husband down the corridor towards their waiting car. Her driver stood with the door open and beckoned them inside. A simple change of clothing lay folded neatly on top of the single suitcase on the floor of the car. The door closed instantly behind them.

Her husband had barely seated himself when she pounced upon him. Their lips met with an embrace of passion as the car gently began to roll forward. She had fully disrobed him before the car had reached the gates of the great hall. Her gown felt as though it was burning her skin, and she struggled to free herself from its silken fire. His hands upon her body began to rekindle a lust from within her. She found herself completely nude before the clock had ticked a few seconds. Her husband began slowly kissing her neck and tops of her breasts as the partition slowly began to rise. She lay back into the seat as she noticed a reflection of envy in her cousin’s eyes as the partition hid the two of them from view. She gazed upon her husband’s engorged manhood and beckoned him closer to her. He abandoned kissing her breasts as she wrapped her legs around his hips. His erection met velvety warmth as her lower lips parted. She could feel every inch of him penetrating deeper inside of her as she closed the grip of her legs tighter around him. An orgasm flooded over her and shocked her completely. A spontaneous orgasm such as this, she had never experienced before. His full erection probed from deep inside her to the lips of her entrance as she loosened and tightened her grip around him with her legs. Their bodies rose and fell against each other as the car gently rocked down the roadway. Her nipples poked the skin of his chest as though they were made of steel. Her entire body came alive with passion as her driver steered the car around each corner.
“Fuck my brains out, darling” she demanded loudly. “fuck me hard. Make me cum again!” Her husband pounded her hips repeatedly, while her vagina began milking his penis.
Oh, yes, fuck me hard, darling.” She yelled in his ear. The familiar warmth of his sperm inside her womb triggered her final orgasm. Sweat glistened from their skin as her orgasm began to subside. They curled up on the seat together and she fell asleep. Her last thought reflected in the blissful smile on her face.
”Great Gran will be very pleased indeed.” she dreamed.

She awoke a short time later. Still curled in her husband’s embrace, she realised the car was slowly coming to a halt. She lowered the partition slightly. Her driver’s eyes appeared through the small opening.
“Yes Ma’am?” Her driver inquired.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Twelve-thirty, Ma’am.” Replied her driver.
“To the Hotel, and quickly.” She commanded.
“Yes, Ma’am.” As her driver kicked the accelerator, the car’s engine responded with a roar.
“Don’t ever let this happen again. We were supposed to have arrived at the hotel over an hour ago.” She stated.
“Sorry, Ma’am, but it seemed a crime to wake you. And arriving at the hotel with out either of you properly attired would have been scandalous.” Her driver stated calmly.
“I hope you remember how grateful I am, but being late today is unforgivable.” She spoke. She quickly collected her gown and her husband’s tuxedo from the floor of the car and packed them into the small case. The partition rose back into place as she roused her husband.
“Get dressed, darling.” She commanded. As she fumbled with the clasp of her bra, he quickly did as he had been commanded. She heaved the small case onto the seat beside her, and quickly checked the car’s interior. With only her skirt and blouse remaining on the seat, she snapped the case closed. She had barely finished dressing herself properly as the car’s partition slowly came to rest in it’s retracted position.
“Almost there, Ma’am.” Replied her driver. “I shall not let you be late again, Ma’am.”
Her driver halted the car in front of the hotel’s doors, and a doorman dutifully opened the car’s door.
“I shall wait for you before I retire.” She informed her driver, and she alighted from the car’s interior. Her husband reached for the locked case, and she beckoned him to leave it. The Concierge greeted them in the hotel atrium.
“Greetings, Duchess.” The Concierge announced. “My entire staff is at your disposal. I trust you will find everything in order.” He snapped his fingers and her luggage began arriving. The staff swept around the atrium and began disappearing through the staff corridors with her luggage.
“We wish to retire for the evening.” She stated quietly. The concierge ushered them towards the lift. She noticed her driver enter through a side entrance off the staff corridor as they departed the atrium. She stopped in a state of shock as she noticed a smaller copy of her ancestor’s portrait hanging above the hotel’s front desk.
“Where did that portrait come from.” She asked the concierge.
“It has always hung there, Duchess. Your great grandmother insisted on it taken and expertly cleaned recently.” He replied to her. “It was only re-hung yesterday.” The full impact of her grandmother’s words returned to her.
“The only day it is never fashionable to be late for anything is today.”
As the new Grand Duchess of Brougham she could not afford to disgrace the family’s honour. She now knew how many people were watching everything she did today. Some she knew could be trusted as they were also family and bound by the family’s code of honour, others were not family and were not to be trusted at all.
“Your sister arrived an hour ago and is waiting to see you, Duchess.” The concierge stated. The door to their suite flew open and she saw the last of the staff exit through the staff doors at the opposite end of the sitting room as she entered. The concierge snapped his fingers once more and the butler and maid, took their leave, joining the remainder of the staff.
“Inform my sister I have arrived. That will be all.” She commanded. The concierge bowed low and departed the suite. Her sister appeared a moment later.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Very naughty, sis.” Announced her sister with an evil grin. “Gran is going to be furious with you if you’re late again.”
“I know, I know… Discretion was required… hence my tardiness.” She stated as her driver entered the sitting room.
“Yes, Ma’am. Will you be needing me again tonight?” her driver asked meekly.
“Be sure I am awake before nine o’clock tomorrow.” She stared at her driver.
“It shall be done, Ma’am.” Her driver responded, as though relieved.
“I shall see you tomorrow at breakfast, sis.” Demanded her sister. And her sister departed behind her driver.
“Did I miss something?” inquired her husband.
“Not at all, but I shall leave you after breakfast. A car will be waiting to bring you to the hall for tea, darling. There is something I must do tomorrow, and I must do it with out you.” She stated with a smile. “In the mean time, you have me all to yourself, that is if you’re not too tired, darling.” she leapt into her husband’s arms and they kissed as his powerful arms carried her into the bedchamber.

They collapsed together onto the bed, and she began discarding her clothing. Her husband followed her lead and they wasted no time continuing from where they had been before falling asleep together in the car. Her body responded to her husband’s every touch. Shivers of excitement ran down her spine as she impaled herself on top of him.
“Make love to me, darling, until the first light of morning appears.” She whispered to him.
Her blonde hair cascaded in front of her; his hands became hidden beneath her golden locks. A fire was rekindled between her legs and her breasts bounced as he freed them from her bra. For the first time in her life, she was able to control herself as she made love to her man. She savoured every movement of their interlocked hips. His huge erection disappeared completely inside of her body. She amazed herself as her orgasm began to slowly build within her and she was able to hold it from overwhelming her. The familiar feeling of his erection pumping sperm into her did not trigger her to complete abandonment. She smiled with pleasure as she managed to exercise her inner muscles and keep his erection engorged. The night’s breeze from the open window cooled her skin and she remained on top of him. She collapsed on top of him as she noticed the first light of the dawn beginning to appear on the horizon. She rolled off her husband and curled up next to him, within his arms. She quickly sank into a blissful dream.
“Angry, yes but pleased at the same time. Very pleased indeed.” She continued to dream as she sank further to sleep.

She awoke hours later as her driver gently woke her.
“You did say to wake you, Ma’am.” Her driver whispered.
“Thank you. Help me get ready, please.” She requested. She threw the sheets over her slumbering husband, and headed for a quick shower. She felt vibrant and in control of her body. The shower felt refreshing on her skin. She found her driver had quietly arranged her clothes for her on her dressing table. She quickly rolled her wet hair into a tightly braided ponytail. Her driver prepared her garments for her.
“I wonder if he’ll still be asleep when the car arrives to bring him to the hall.” She giggled.
“Your sister informed me that she instructed the staff to ensure he meets the car on time, Ma’am.” Her driver replied.
She gazed into the mirror and sensed a change within herself.
“Do I look different somehow, today?” she asked.
“You look exactly like your sister did on her day after.” Her driver stated. “But I don’t think you sister enjoyed herself nearly as much as you did, Ma’am.”
Smiling brightly, she felt a blush come upon her. Her driver was right. She had teased her sister mercilessly on her day after about how her brother in law had fallen asleep on her. She was pleased with herself that she had managed to keep her husband fully awake and giving her everything her body needed to be satisfied.
“We had best be off and meet your sister, Ma’am.” Her driver quietly announced.
“I’ll be right behind you.” She stated. She glided across the floor to the bed and gently kissed her husband as he continued to sleep, and then she quickly departed the suite. Her driver was waiting for her next to the lift. They descended to the atrium and alighted from the lift. The staff curtseyed and bowed to her as she crossed the atrium. The concierge intercepted her at the doors to the dinning room.
“Pardon me, Duchess, your sister arranged for a private meal this morning. This way if you please.” And the concierge led her to another door off the atrium. Her driver followed closely behind her. The concierge bowed graciously and held the door for her and her driver. The door closed behind them quietly as they passed into the room. A small table had been set for four. She wondered who was to be joining her for breakfast. The door opened and her mother and sister entered the room a moment later.
“Let’s all sit and eat, shall we?” stated her mother.
“Join us.” She informed her driver. “You definitely need to be part of our chat this morning.”
“But Ma’am, I couldn’t possibly.” Resisted her driver.
“We’ve known each other since we could both walk, I’ll not hear a word more.” She commanded, throwing decorum completely aside. Her driver lifted her hat and her driver’s auburn hair tumbled out. The single braid of hair was the same length as her own hair.
“Mom, what’s so important today, that Gran insisted I attend?” The other three women were already married, hence had already been privy to the meeting she was about to attend.
“It is ironic you should ask. You are the last of your generation to be married.” Stated her mother.
“And the youngest.” Quipped her sister.
“You’ll have plenty of time to have your questions answered this afternoon.” Stated her mother, shooting a grin at her sister.
“Your great grandmother will be shocked to see you early for a change.” Her driver informed them. A moment of silence followed and all four of them burst into evil laughter. Their laughter turned into fits of giggles and snorts as their breakfast arrived. The staff eyed her driver closely.
“That will be all, thank you.” Announced her mother. The staff disappeared from view.
“The room has eyes as well as ears, Ma’am.” Whispered her driver. Her driver rose and walked to the staff door behind them. Her driver waited at the door for a moment and spoke quietly at the door. A scuffle of feet quickly followed and her driver returned to the table.
“We’ll have some privacy, but only for a short while. Their curiosity will get the better of them again and they’ll return again.” Her driver whispered to her.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“I know more about how the staff behaves than you do.” Her driver stated. “Ever wondered how I knew you’d have been in greater trouble last night had you been on time?”
“Yes, but…”she started.
“The staff likes to spread juicy little pieces of gossip. Especially if it concerns the family.” Her driver stated. It was a fact she could not ignore. She also wondered who it was had turned off the lights after she had retired.
“My Uncle is the concierge here and the staff dare not cross him, or the manager would sack them on the spot.” She stated with a smile. “How do you think I know where every staff door is located, even the hidden ones.”
“Do you mean? Someone could have been snooping last night and I wouldn’t have known?” She gasped with fright.
“Relax, my cousin’s run the night staff. One of them kept watch all night for me. Trust me when I say, you were not disturbed.” Her driver remarked. The four of them, burst into a chorus of evil laughter once again. They continued to laugh and exchange brief bits of information as they finished their breakfast.
“Watch this.” Her driver whispered to the three of them. She loudly snapped her fingers and staff appeared instantly and cleared the table. Her driver rose, coiled her hair braid around her head and donned her hat.
“I’ll bring the car around, Ma’am.” Her driver announced. She winked at her driver and her driver disappeared from view behind a sliding panel.
“I think you earned someone’s respect, sis.” Her sister stated.
“Someone you can trust.” Echoed her mother. “Why were you late last night by the way?”
“Its kind of embarrassing mom.” She whispered. “I fell asleep in the car and I wasn’t exactly at my best before I knew what time it was.” She winked at her sister.
“Playing in the back of great Gran’s car were you?” Whispered her mother.
“If you’re planning to surprise everyone and be early for a change, then we’d best be off.” Announced her sister. The three of them rose and left the private room. They entered the atrium and she noticed her driver waiting by the door speaking to a young man wearing a bellhop’s uniform. She slipped him a coin and the young man quickly disappeared into the staff corridor.
“The car is waiting, Ma’am.” Announced her driver. She passed a wink back at her driver and they smiled to each other.
“I really must speak to Gran about having you exchange jobs.” She whispered to her driver. “Think you’d mind being my driver permanently?”
“I’d be honoured, Ma’am.” Her driver nodded her hat and winked back at her.
“Gran is going to be pissed, sis.” Her sister chuckled. “I stole her last driver too!” The three of them passed the door to outside and found the mid morning sun shining brightly. The car stood with the rear door open, and they quickly hopped into the car’s interior. Her nostrils filled with a lingering scent. Her face hid her embracement quickly as she remembered the bliss she had enjoyed last night. The musky scent of sex still lingered within the car’s interior. Her nipples became taught and she dared not glance down, in fear she might confess to her sin of lust, which kept her from her duty. She promised herself that she would not allow such an indiscretion to occur ever again. Her sister eyed her mischievously. Her mother stared directly into her eyes when she looked up.
“They knew. How could they possibly?” she thought. Her mind raced in a thousand directions.
“What?” she asked innocently. Her mother still held her gaze.
“I know what you’ve been doing, sis.” Her sister sang. “I know, I know, I know… La-la-la-la-la-la-la…” And her sister burst in laughter. Her own mother could not sustain the charade and she too burst into laughter.
“You’ve been very naughty indeed.” Her mother giggled and joined her sister in a chorus of laughter. “Pleased with yourself?”
“Several times, actually.” She retorted. A silence fell into the car. Her mother sat as though her words were delivered with a slap. Her mother could contain herself no longer and an evil grin began to curl. Laughter broke out immediately after.
“How did you possibly know?” She asked as she continued laughing.
“That’s just it. We didn’t. You just confessed.” Laughed her mother. “Your grandmother is going to have a time with your lessons.
“What lessons?” she continued laughing.
“Your lessons on how to hide your innocence and retain decorum.” Her sister snorted.
“How do you think you’re going to learn to hide it from your daughters after they learn how to talk if you don’t have lessons?” her mother quipped, still in stitches.
“But Mom, What lessons?” she almost cried.
“That’s what this afternoon if for, for your grandmother to start to teach you. Your great grandmother wants you to be ready before your first daughter is born. Her mother snickered. The laughter began slowly receding, but erupted once again whenever they stared at each other and tried to be serious.
“Mother, you are not helping.” She roared with laughter.
“I know,” her mother giggled. “I still remember how you tried to hide your sister’s planted evidence in your bra when you told me she’d knicked your hair brush.”
“But how did you know?” she burst.
“Because your sister didn’t leave it on the floor for you to find.” her mother laughed.
“You did?” she giggled. “Do you know how painful my boobs were and how long before they settled down?”
“Almost a full day.” Her mother giggled back.
“I had to use your breast pads in my bra to try and hide them.” she cried.
“I know… you didn’t hide those to well either.” Her mother roared.
“And to think you thought that it was mine!” her sister snorted.
“Wasn’t it?” she continued crying. She held her sides. The laughter seemed to be doing everything except make her forget how horny she was.
“Actually, it was your father’s.” giggled her mother.
“No way!” she giggled.
Yes, way.” Her mother snorted back. “And how did you manage not to fondle yourself ‘til the next day.”
“If you remember, I spent most of the time in my room, brushing my hair!” She continued to giggle. “I had to keep my hands occupied somehow!” They all roared together.
“If you’d discovered how to frig yourself off that day, you might have saved yourself the agony of having your nipples erect for that long.” Roared her sister.
“I discovered that later that week.” She snorted. “I was so shocked the first time I came. I didn’t know what it was, but did it ever feel good!”
“I remember how you tried to hide the stain on your bedspread.” Giggled her mother. “Your scent filled your room for days. Just like this car is going to be!” She could no longer hide her horniness. The thin material of her bra strained against her taught nipples. She didn’t know what was more agonizing. Being horny, or laughing hysterically. She noticed her mother’s nipples also taught against her blouse’s fabric and her sister’s skirt had shifted slightly revealing a glistening crotch. The three of them continued to laugh. As the car passed the portal of the hall’s gates, the three of them gave each other a huge hug and their laughter subsided. She held her mother and sister close to her as they all cried on each other’s cheeks. Today was indeed the day she needed her answers. Those answers would be coming very soon. The car rolled to a gentle stop and she noticed her driver wiping tears. She reached through the partition and hugged her driver. They both exchanged looks of shared memories from the past. She knew that today of all days would be the last time her great grandmother would lead the family. She also knew that all the women of the family who were already married or about to be married would be in the great hall this afternoon, gathered around the portrait.
“I know you’ll do us all proud.” Her driver wept with laughter. “Please let me go and open the door, Ma’am.” Her driver alighted and rounded the back of the car and opened the door for them. Her driver continued to shed tears as she rose from the car and stared at her again.
“I’ll be seeing you inside, later.” She commanded quietly.
“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll be at my place in the hall. You’ll not see me before then. I have other duties to attend.” Her driver smiled as her tears diminished.
“C’mon, sis.” Her sister said as she too wiped her last tears. She took her mother’s arm on the side opposite from her sister. The three of them composed themselves as they walked towards the open doors of the hall. She heard a quiet sniffle as the car’s driver’s door swung closed.

The entrance hall was abnormally silent and void of all but the footsteps of the three of them. She noticed that no lamps were ablaze. A short distance from the grand staircase stood a single small round wooden table just large enough to hold a single candlestick, an inkbottle, a quill, and a single piece of parchment.
“This is odd.” She thought to herself. As the three of them approached the table, her mother and sister halted and gently beckoned her to step forward from them. She lit the candle and read silently to herself, what was written on the parchment.

“The Coronation of the Twenty-Seventh Grand Duchess of Brougham
Shall be Witnessed by all Robed Family Members
On this Day at One o’clock in the Afternoon.
All Family Members are Expected to take their Place in the Great Hall.”

She turned around, expecting to find her sister and mother still standing behind her, but they seemed to have vanished into thin air. She frowned and remained wondering what was going on. She glanced at the clock standing next to the library door and read the face. It was twenty minutes after ten.
“What am I supposed to do until One o’clock?” She stated quietly.
“Learn your first lesson, my dear.” Stated her grandmother’s voice, shattering the silence. “I am pleased to see you are early, my dear. Extinguish the candle and follow me.” Her grandmother stepped from behind her and opened the door to the library. She froze when she saw the great book was unlocked and lay open on its stand, in the library’s centre. In all her life she had never seen this book open. Her Grandmother beckoned her to stand with her in front of the book.
“Read the first eight pages aloud for me.” Demanded her grandmother. She began reading aloud. She stumbled on not a single word. She punctuated her voice as though she had already memorized each sentence. The book was written in Latin and she remembered every single rule of the language she had been taught in grade school. Her pronunciation left her grandmother wondering what accent was in her voice. She amazed herself as she spoke the final sentence, and completed her grandmother’s demand without having made a single mistake.
“I would not have believed it possible if I had not heard it with my own ears. I, myself, made so many mistakes reading my passage that my grandmother forbade me from reading further. I was the same age as you are, my dear.” Her grandmother spoke with a level of praise she had never heard her grandmother give her. The room filled with silence.
“And like so many before you, my own reading took place on the day following my marriage. Do you understand what you have read?” asked her grandmother. She pondered the entire passage for a moment.
“I understand the message I am meant to find, completely.” She responded in Latin. The sound of her own voice shocked her just as much as it did her grandmother.
“For only the eve before, the day of and the fore-noon following my marriage, several tasks shall be set before me. Their design meant to test my ability to reason, to test my strength of character, to test my acceptance of responsibility, to test the limits of my modesty, and to prove my ability to be merciful.” She once again responded in Latin. Her grandmother gasped. She knew, she had said the words, for she heard her own voice. But she never in her life expected what she now saw. Her grandmother crossed the room and closed the great book. From beneath the book where the cover of the great book had rested was a chain with a key. Her grandmother snapped the lock shut, locked it and held the chain open.
“Ma’am, forgive me for bringing you hardship and making you study when your sister was allowed to do the things you were not.” Her grandmother pleaded in Latin as her grandmother placed the chain over her head. She could not believe that her grandmother was calling her “Ma’am.”
“Was it true?” she quickly pondered. “Was she destined to truly become the Duchess?” She only ever remembered that at all the weddings that had taken place when she was a little girl, the bride had been allowed to become the Duchess for only one day. She now understood why. No one had passed the tests before now. No one. The knowledge of this fact humbled her.

“Gran,” she wept and sank to her knees in from of her grandmother. “ I could never have done this with out your help. All my life you made me feel like I had to prove something. I always felt like I was proving myself to you, but all the time I was proving it to myself, and now I understand why you made me study so hard. You saw something in me I never saw in myself until just now. You have taught me well. Teach me the rest of what I need to learn.” She stated with more of the same tears she shared in the car earlier.
“Please, Gran?” she wept. “I will make you proud of me.” As she clutched the key tightly in her hand.
“You already have, Ma’am.” Quietly stated her grandmother. “Let me help you find your mother and sister. You can tell them the good news.” She remembered the meanings of the colours of the family’s robes. She remembered there was only ever one robe, which was plain white and bore the Family coat of arms and was otherwise with out decoration.
There were no cross swords, not a single diagonal mark, nor golden braid nor Maltese upon this plain white robe. And one woman in the family only ever wore it. This afternoon, She was going to be wearing that robe and presenting herself to the entire family. She knew it with out anyone having to tell her.

“Gran?” She asked.
“Yes, Ma’am.” Her grandmother replied.
“Who is going to be wearing the white robe with swords?” She asked. Though in her mind she already knew who would be. For the swords was a mark of honour given by the matriarch to the member whose trust she valued most. The member with whom the matriarch would always be able to confide in and trust to keep her secrets. There had not been a presentation of swords since her third cousin had passed away several years ago. The swords were represented in all the other colours but not white.
“I think you know who it is already, Ma’am.” Her grandmother stated as fact. “You’ve both known each other since you could walk. She too has work very hard.”

Her mother and sister were talking quietly outside on the patio. The arrival of the two of them together meant only one thing to her mother and sister. The test was completed.
“Well?” her sister asked. “Good or bad, Gran?”
“Not good.” Her grandmother stated, hiding her news completely. She saw instant disappointment in her mother’s and sister’s faces.
“She was Perfect!” cried her grandmother. Her mother and sister almost fainted with shock. “I told you the day she was born, that she was the one.” Her sister nearly fell off the chair she was sitting on.
“Perfectly?” Her mother asked. She held the great book’s key in her open hand.
“No way!” shrieked her sister.
“Yes, way!” she responded. “I think I need to return to the hall, Gran, and light the candle before anyone else arrives.
“It has already been done, Ma’am.” Sounded a familiar voice from behind her. “and the table has been moved to the doors at the entrance hall.”
“Thank you.” She said to her driver with out looking behind her. “I trust you will have no trouble finding your robe for this afternoon?”
“Ma’am?” asked her driver.
“I expect to be able to see your swords.” She quietly commanded.
“Swords, Ma’am?” Her driver’s voice quivered. “I have only earned …”
“Well, I can’t have you stand behind me with out your swords on, can I?” She interrupted.
“I shall be where you shall always find me.” Her driver stated, and her driver disappeared quickly.
“I shall have a very hard time finding a replacement for her.” Her grandmother stated. “If I recall, the last time I had to replace a driver, it was when someone else got married.” Her grandmother shot her sister a look.
“But Gran!” Her sister said innocently. “You never drive anywhere.”
“Precisely.” Stated her grandmother. The four of them burst into laughter.

She retired to the small alcove behind the curtain outside the Great hall. There she found her white robe. She examined the Family’s Coat of Arms. She moved the chair towards the back of the alcove, opposite the panel she had discovered as a child. Her driver appeared from behind the panel a short while later. Her driver wore the same white robe as the robe that she was to wear, except that her driver’s robes bore swords across her left breast. She could hear all of her relatives arrive at the doors as the clock within the alcove ticked towards one o’clock. With out a single word, her driver held her robe for her much like the secretary had held her gown for her the day before. She shed her clothes and turned around. Her driver draped her robe on her shoulders then reached from behind her and fastened the front clasps. She was completely nude beneath her robes as was the custom. Her breasts ached as the silken material imprisoned her torso. Her robe fell in folds from her waist, hiding her legs from view. She snuck a peak through the alcove’s curtains and she found her mother, sister and grandmother had already positioned themselves in the hall. They wore robes of emerald green denoting their station within the family. Her grandmother’s robes bore the coat of arms denoting the head of her House. Her mother wore the braids of gold denoting second of the House. Her sister’s robes bore no decoration. The hall was a sea of colour. The colours running the spectrum. Black, Brown, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, Grey, Violet, and Red. There were ten houses in all, but there was only one house that wore white and only four ever wore the white robes at one time.
“I am wondering who’ll be joining us wearing white today. I think Ma’am should still be one though I think she’d be wearing braid. But I don’t know who’ll be wearing the Maltese.” She spoke quietly.
“I know who should be wearing the Maltese, but you have to announce her appointment.” Her driver responded. “No one will be wearing braid for some time. That will be your daughter’s station if she earns it.” She pondered her driver’s words. Her heart was telling her one thing, but her mind was telling her something else. She would still have time to consult the great book later before announcing her choice.
“I remember the last time we stood in this alcove together.” She whispered.
“As do I.” Her driver whispered from beside her.” We were not supposed to be here then and we’d have been in a lot of trouble if we’d been caught.”
“And no one but us will ever know.” She whispered.
“I dreamed that day that we’d be waiting here, and that you’d enter the hall precisely as the clock strikes one.” Her driver whispered to her.
“And that you’d emerged from behind the panel under where the portrait is hanging. You and my sister used to have races to see who could do it the fastest.” She whispered to her driver once more.
“I remember those times well.” Her driver whispering still. She wrapped her arms around her driver and they hugged each other.
“For luck.” As she kissed her driver. “Think you can slide the panel open and not be seen.?”
“Definitely.” Her driver hissed. “Have you ever wondered where that portrait was hidden?”
“Yes, Where?” she asked. “my sister told me yesterday she had seen it and she’d sworn to Ma’am that she was to keep it secret and never tell me.
“Your sister and I got caught together. We both had to swear to Ma’am.” Her driver whispered almost silently. “Your sister’s punishment was to torment me by reminding me about the importance of keeping secrets. Hence your green robes. Oh, how I envied you then.”
“And your punishment was keeping it a secret from me as part of your lessons?” she continued to whisper.
“Yes, My final test was yesterday, when I had to keep you running late all day. To see if I’d be able to earn your respect and be merciful to me when I fell short.” Her driver whispered close to her. “I knew you’d make us proud, but never expected to be honoured with white robes. After my own reading, I thought I would only ever wear robes of grey.”
“But once I am crowned Duchess, I can command my sister to tell me and you’ll not break your vow.” She winked. Her driver sighed in relief. She scanned the hall once more and found her aunt and cousins had gathered in their positions. Their grey robes resplendent. They seemed nervous, they were looking about as though searching for their sister, her driver. Her Aunt’s robe bore swords across her left breast. She knew her aunt would be very pleased when her driver would emerge wearing a white robe.
“For that, I shall never give you reason to doubt me. After the ceremony I can show you where the passage is, nothing more. I know it’s stretching it a bit ” Her driver winked back at her. Startled slightly she understood that her driver had given her a hint.
“A final task?” she responded.
“You’ll have less than an hour to return after you’ve entered the passage.” She warned her. “You are allowed to use any means or anyone’s assistance you choose, to help you.
“You shall be with me the entire time.” She quietly commanded.
“I shall have an hour to complete my own task.” Her driver stated in a whisper.
“I know, the great book is very detailed. Our tasks take us both to the same chamber.” She whispered almost in silence.
“But how can you know? I read from the great book on my day too.” Her driver whispered once more. “…Unless,”
“There is a different passage for every family station.” They said together.
“You read from the first page and from another part?” she asked.
“Yes, but how do you know.” Her driver shook nervously.
“I read aloud the first eight pages. After reading the second page, I knew Gran had overstepped herself and had given me all eight pages with out having me read the first page only.” She whispered.
“Then Gran knew, what I already knew. That your station is indeed as the head of the Family.” Her driver whispered back.
“It is almost time.” She spoke aloud. They both watched the hands on the face of the clock. They waited together for the chime to shatter the silence around them. The doors of the great hall swung closed and she heard the lock click.
“How am I supposed to…” she started to say.
“By following me through the passage.” Her driver said. “Hurry up and we can be at the panel under the portrait before the clock strikes.” The panel her driver had appeared from earlier glided open silently. She followed her driver into the darkness. She could hear the rustling of their robes as they raced forwards. The cool air in the passage formed goose bumps on her exposed thighs as her own robe fluttered behind her as they ran the length of the passage. They halted behind the panel’s interior and waited, catching their breath.
She heard the rustle of robes behind her and turned to find her great grandmother standing behind her. She had expected to see her great grandmother wearing the same robe she had seen her wear many times before, but the dim light of the corridor reflected from a robe of deep red. The family coat of arms was in the same position as her own robe.
“Ma’am,” She curtseyed. “I did not expect to see you before the ceremony. But why are you wearing red?”
“It is my station, my dear. Only one may wear white, you know that.” Her great grandmother spoke softly. “It has been a long time since I have worn the true colour of my station.”
“But I don’t understand…” she started.
“You now wear the white robe.” Her great grandmother spoke once again softly. “It is your station. I also heard you read this morning and show wisdom beyond your years. I am pleased you’ve also chosen who shall stand with you.” She knew it must be so close now and trembled slightly as her ears strained to listen for the chimes.
“We shall enter the hall together when the clock strikes.” Her great grandmother spoke quietly.
A clock above them chimed the hour and her driver pulled the panel’s catch. The panel slid silently open and she stared into the candlelight of the hall. Her robe seemed to radiate light itself from the glow of the candlelight.
“I present Our Grand Duchess.” Boomed her great Grandmother’s voice into the hall. She glided forward, her robe reflecting light everywhere. Her driver followed closely behind her, and her great grandmother held a long staff that appeared in her hand from an unseen location. A torch glowed from the top of the staff illuminating the portrait hanging on the wall. Light began to flood the hall as more candles were lit. It only took a few seconds as she noted that everyone in the hall now carried a lit candle in front of them.

“You are our light and Matron. We swear our allegiance to you and shall not waiver from the duties of our stations.” Spoke the voices of all her family members in Latin. She noticed their robes all fall from their shoulders. Her entire family stood completely nude within the hall. She felt her own robe flutter to the floor behind her as she released her robe’s clasps. The cool air of the hall whipped her skin and her body began aching for her husband’s touch. Her loins throbbed and her nipples engorged themselves as she imagined her husband’s hands on her body.
“I shall honour your allegiance with wisdom and mercy. I shall never give you reason to doubt my loyalty to all of you.” She announced in Latin. Her robe had been draped upon the same chair she had presented herself in front of yesterday afternoon. She lowered herself into the softness of the upholstery. Her entire body trembled and her mind raced.
“I was never prepared for this.” She whispered to herself. She felt a warm hand on her right shoulder as her driver took her place beside her.
“I too shall honour the duties of my station and never leave our Matron’s side.” Her driver announced in Latin. Applause rang through the hall. She noticed her aunt and cousins’ tears of joy at their sister’s proclamation.
“Way to go, sis.” One of her cousins wept to her driver. Her great grandmother stood before the hall, and held her hand for silence. Her grand mother turned to her.
“Depart from us and return before the striking of the second hour with the relic of your station.” Her grandmother spoke to her.
“I shall not again wear my rode until I have proven my final worth of station.” She whispered to her driver. They disappeared together into the hidden passage, still completely nude, their braided hair hanging down each of their backs was their only attempts for modesty. The bouncing of her breasts as they ran down the passage continued to torment her. Her nipples were fully taught and her womanhood begged for release.