Lisa's Dream

by Susan Heywood

Part 3

 

The next day was more or less a repetition of the Tuesday and Lisa made good progress. She was also getting used to the 4-inch heels! Having completed their work for the day Lisa and Jenny went upstairs to change ready for the return of their mistress.

Jenny said, "You may wear this tonight," and held up a stunning dress in a delightful peach colour. It was ankle length with a high round neck, tight waist, long back zip and short puff sleeves. It clung to every curve of Lisa's tight-laced body and was teamed with white 4-inch heeled sandals. Lisa was breathless with excitement as she contemplated that dress. No time to waste, though, as Jennifer helped her complete all the preparations of yesterday. Adorned with a long white chiffon scarf and gold jewellery Lisa was made to wait whilst Jenny finished her transformation. Whilst assisting Lisa to change, Jenny had worn her favourite pale green satin wrap, which could not hide a generous cleavage and very well rounded hips. Lisa wondered if green was Jenny's favourite colour but was totally unprepared for the vision that entered the room some minutes later. Jenny was wearing a beautiful blue version of the same dress as Lisa had on. Once more it was that same blue that matched her eyes. With matching heels and her hair once more piled regally on her head Jenny looked absolutely stunning. Turning with her back to Lisa she said, "Zip me up, please, darling" and Lisa, thrilled at this endearment, lovingly eased the zip upwards to join the two halves of the dress together against that gorgeous body. Lisa just couldn't resist giving Jenny's neck a quick kiss but Jenny suddenly turned and said, "Last makeup check, then let's go downstairs".

The evening was very much a repeat of the previous one and this routine carried on for some days. Lisa's life was a constant round of office work and getting to know the others in the evenings.

One afternoon a week a beautician visited the house and attended to Lisa's every need. This included waxing, electrolysis, hair styling, manicure and pedicure, facial and so on. As time went on, this treatment became part of the routine for Lisa, almost as though she had always attended a hair and beauty salon. (Later, when Lisa's experience and confidence had grown, she delighted in accompanying Jenny to the salon for an afternoon's pampering at the hands of the experts there. Nothing was ever said about the type of treatment and Lisa wondered whether they had been forewarned about her 'status'. Certainly both girls were welcomed as valued clients deserving the best of attention and total discretion).

Lisa's daywear, as it was winter, was inclined to be warm colours and styles. Miss Armitage clearly liked certain outfits because she kept glancing at them whilst they were working together.

"You look especially lovely this morning, my dear" she would say, and Lisa would feel a delicious shiver travel down her spine at the compliment.

One day, after dictation, Miss Armitage announced "I am entertaining some guests this evening and I would like you to assist Jennifer. She will show you what to do."

At about 3 o'clock Jenny interrupted Lisa who was getting the filing up to date after finishing her day's work. Jennifer had returned from her shopping trip and was wearing a three-quarter length red wool coat and carrying black gloves and matching handbag.

"Come on, upstairs with you for a good bath and shave", (although it seemed that shaving was becoming a less time-consuming affair than at first - it must be something to do with the daily cocktail of medication, Lisa thought) "and I'll show you what to do. We will then get everything ready for the mistress's guests so that all we have to do is welcome them."

The guests this evening consisted of a number of Miss Armitage's clients (all female) and their friends (again, all female). They were of various ages and wore their success and wealth for everyone to see. Clothes, jewellery, makeup and hair all combined to spell the word 'rich'.

Mind you, Jenny and Lisa looked and felt like a million dollars themselves in matching pale blue mini-dresses and strappy silver high-heeled sandals. With Jenny's blond hair in waves below her shoulders, and Lisa's auburn curls, the two girls looked stunning. Lisa was a little anxious about this evening but Jenny gave her hands a quick squeeze, said she looked gorgeous and made a kissing sound as she hugged Lisa and they touched cheeks.

Lisa felt very vulnerable in her mini-dress. She had not previously worn anything so short and was self-conscious to start with. Jenny put her at ease, however, and let her into a little secret. The little dresses that they wore were not only to make them feel good but also to give the guests something to ogle!

Jenny showed Lisa how to dispense drinks and snacks and then waited on the guests as required. Lisa came in for a fair amount of scrutiny and it wasn't long after Miss Armitage entered the room that one of the guests inevitably came out with, "Come on then, Harry, tell us where you found her."

"An Employment Agency, dear!" joked Miss Armitage and firmly resisted any further questioning!

Lisa was thankful for that small mercy: she didn't want her life history aired in front of these women. After a few comments about her legs "nice!" and smile "sweet but shy" the subjects of conversation turned to other matters (mainly finance) and Lisa was, to her intense relief, largely ignored, except of course when a glass was in need of a refill! (Her status appeared to have been neither questioned nor discussed, which intrigued her. Did they know? Had they been forewarned? Life in this household was becoming more puzzling by the day!)

After a while Jenny left Lisa to look after the guests while she went to complete the meal. A little later she called Lisa into the kitchen to prepare for waiting at table.

By the end of the evening, after all the courses had been served, all the plates and dishes cleared and the guests settled with yet more drinks, Lisa thought that she had done quite well. Jenny, however, was ecstatic.

"That was brilliant, darling, and you were stunning!" she enthused after the dishwasher had been loaded.

With a few minutes to themselves once the bulk of the chores had been done the two girls took advantage of the opportunity for a little 'girl-talk', about the guests, clothes, make-up and other things that mean something only to those doing the talking.

Lisa was, however, getting a little confused and not a little hurt. She got the distinct impression that, despite their obvious early feelings for one another, Jenny was inexplicably keeping a distance between them. Lisa had not yet raised the questions that had beset her since her arrival but merely savoured the intimate moments as they arose, and let Jenny make all the running. Unfortunately the effects of Jenny's training, and Lisa's feminine side (which was now controlling all her thoughts, fears, actions, mannerisms, likes and needs) had combined to drive her to a point where only a relationship as a woman would give her the fulfilment she needed so much. Indeed that relationship really had to be with 'her' Jenny: Lisa could not bear the thought of losing the one whose love she most desired. Of course she now even dreamed of being loved by Jenny but could not see a solution to her conundrum, that is, how could she, Lisa, become a woman whilst loving 'her beautiful Jenny?' In addition thoughts were surfacing that, after all these years, did she still want to be a woman if Jenny made her feel the way she did? The trouble was, and Lisa knew this full well, that she wanted to be made love to by Jenny, with her, Lisa, as the passive partner. What sort of a situation had she now found herself in? And what was she to do about it?

One Friday evening after dinner, while the three of them were sitting in the drawing room, Miss Armitage said "You have worked very hard, Lisa, and fitted in here very well. I know that you have been for short walks around the block during the evenings but you need to start getting out more. Tomorrow you can go shopping with Jennifer. I suggest that you go to the Grand Centre in town: you can go by bus; it will be good experience for you. Jennifer has a list of items that we need and it will be good for you to begin this aspect of life as a woman as soon as possible."

Whilst she was keen to make her first big outing in public Lisa was very anxious about being 'read' and thus letting down both Jenny and Miss Armitage. She therefore bathed and shaved with meticulous care, then put on her laced corset. Lisa was, as usual, a little breathless afterwards and so it was a relief to sit whilst Jenny attended to her makeup. Lisa had been doing her own for some time but was quite happy to leave it in the hands of an expert for today.

As it was almost mid-winter, Jenny suggested for Lisa warm separates, teamed with a camel-coloured full-length single-breasted coat with fur trimmed collar. Jenny again wore her red wool coat. Taking up gloves and shopping bags, and after a final check in the mirror, the girls headed for the bus stop.

Lisa was very excited but also very nervous as her heels clicked on the pavement. It felt very strange but delightfully thrilling for her first major public outing, even though there was hardly anyone about and they were only going shopping! Lisa was still shaking a little when they had boarded the bus and found a seat. Jenny giggled and whispered conspiratorially, "Well here we are, your first shopping expedition, enjoy!" Lisa relaxed quite a lot during the journey, particularly when she realised that no one was taking any notice of her. After all, in a bus full of women with shopping bags, two more women with shopping bags just didn't stand out at all!

Having arrived at the shopping centre the girls slowly wandered around the various stores, just to give Lisa some breathing space and allow her to settle her nerves a little.

"Don't worry darling" said Jenny, "I'll do all the talking for now. You only have to turn on that sweet smile of yours in order to charm the shopkeepers into submission!" Lisa was worried that she would be 'read' but knew that Jenny would not let her get into difficulties. As it happened there were no problems and, at about noon, Jenny said, "My feet are killing me; I am in urgent need of coffee and a sandwich".

Lisa felt so good sitting with Jenny in the café and very quickly she relaxed and enjoyed the experience. At a carefully selected table in a quiet corner Jenny was able to continue Lisa's education, explaining how to deal with situations she might meet.

After lunch, and a visit to the ladies' room to repair makeup, Jenny said "There are some more things that we have to get, and then we can have another look around the clothes shops. I rather took a fancy to those gorgeous black strappy sandals in Belles and that dress you liked will be simply ideal for the office. I'm sure Harry won't mind us spending a few pounds, particularly as we will all benefit! We'll also visit the department store beauty counters so that you can learn how to test and choose make-up and fragrances. You never know, we might get a free make-over!"

Lisa was puzzled by the reference to Harry. It sounded very disrespectful for Jenny to refer to their mistress by her 'nickname'. Unfortunately the opportunity to ask Jenny about it slipped by as Lisa was pulled through the bustling shopping centre towards the boutique and perfumery.

Eventually the two, tired but happy, staggered back to the bus stop, their arms laden with not only the items on their shopping list but also gifts for Miss Armitage and, of course, themselves, including a bottle of a delightful new fragrance for Lisa.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was the last day of February and snow covered everything with its blanket of white. Icicles hung from gutters and pipes, window sills and railings and all around was a magical land where hardly anything stirred.

Lisa had been dreaming of a Valkyrie (who looked a lot like Miss Armitage) riding the wind and scooping her up to take her away to a world where she wore a beautiful white dress and spent all day being kissed (by a woman who looked a lot like Jenny).

Suddenly she was awake, not sure what had disturbed her, but with eyes trying to pierce the night. She sat up in bed and shivered, then reached for her wrap. She fumbled for the bedside light and turned it on. There was no obvious sign of anything that could have disturbed her but still her sleepy eyes scanned the room. Nothing appeared to have changed since last night except that, when she scanned the room for a second time, she noticed a long bulky parcel on her dressing stool. That had definitely not been there when she had retired for the night. Female curiosity would not let it stay there until dawn and so there was nothing for it but to go and get it. She slowly got out of bed, went over, took up the parcel and returned to her bed. She found the little card attached to the top of the gift. The card simply said, 'Happy Birthday to our Darling Lisa'.

How did anyone know the date of her birthday, she wondered? After a little thought it finally came to her. Of course! Miss Armitage had her personal details from Kennedy & Wise.

Kennedy & Wise! It seemed a lifetime ago! Lisa was no longer keen to be reminded of those days and, giving a little shudder, pulled the bedclothes over her again. Then she remembered the parcel and reached out for it. Eagerly she tore open the wrapping paper and then gently undid the box. She removed the contents and held it up to examine it by the light of the bedside lamp. Then, clutching it to her, she burst into tears!

That was how Jenny found her when, as was her custom, she went into the bedroom to wake her. Jenny, again in her green satin wrap, was just about to plant her usual kiss upon the tousled head when she noticed that Lisa had been crying. Not just crying but breaking her heart, if the state of the pillow was anything to go by! Stirring slightly, Lisa turned and her tummy flipped when she saw Jenny gazing down at her with a worried look on her face. Jenny quickly sat down on the edge of the bed, took Lisa's hand and held it.

"Lisa, darling, are you ill?" she asked.

Lisa shook her head. Then, thinking that Lisa had not liked her present Jenny made to take it away but she held it all the more tightly. "No! No! P...Please don't take baby Caroline from me! She's s...so b...beautiful", sobbed Lisa, "I've never had a little g...girl of my own before. She's so b...beautiful, with such lovely eyes and a sweet f...face and gorgeous clothes. Even C...Carol would not let me p....play with her dolls when we were ch.....children! I am such a lucky girl, being here with you and the mistress. I just d....don't know what I've done to deserve this, I really d....don't!" And again she was engulfed in floods of tears.

Jenny bent down again to comfort her but, suddenly, Lisa's arms were around Jenny's neck, pulling her down onto the bed. All Lisa's pent-up emotion went into that kiss and the tearful convulsions that followed. Lisa had rarely if ever felt so desperately in need of loving as she did then and Jenny responded by holding Lisa tightly against her while she sobbed her little heart out.

Jenny knew that she would get no sense out of Lisa for a while so just continued to hold her until she had calmed down. Finally she asked, "Tell me, why were you crying so?"

Lisa pulled herself together just a little and said, huskily, "I am crying because, although I already love my little girl so much, I am sad that I will never be able to have children of my own, real children. I am also sad because I am hopelessly in love with you and know that I can never be yours. There, I've said it now! I've been trying to face the fact for ages. Now you will tell the mistress and she will throw me out, and it serves me right!" Another bout of sobbing racked Lisa's body as she again buried her face in the pillow.

More sobbing followed and then, suddenly, Lisa was conscious that someone else had entered the room. She turned over and through tear-filled eyes, looked up and saw Miss Armitage. She was petrified with the shock of seeing her mistress looming over her and her heart missed a beat.

Miss Armitage picked up the dressing stool, very slowly put it down beside Jenny, sat on it and regarded Lisa with her little smile.

"Well! Happy Birthday, Lisa! It was supposed to be, but we seem to have upset you a little. No! Don't try to speak; I overheard most of what you said. Perhaps we have been, what you might call, 'victims of our own success' because we really do care very much for you, both of us. We therefore need to consider your future with us a little earlier than we had at first thought."

Had Lisa been in full possession of her faculties at that moment she might have again wondered at the use of 'WE' and 'US'. Instead all she heard was the words 'CONSIDER YOUR FUTURE'. She cried out "Oh please, ma'am, don't send me away! I have never been as happy as I am here and couldn't bear to be parted from you." By then she had released her vice-like grip on Jenny's neck and, clutching the doll, turned her face away.

Miss Armitage gently stroked Lisa's curly auburn hair and, kissing her gently on the cheek, whispered, "Lisa! Lisa! Sssssh! We have absolutely no intention of sending you away", and with such gentleness that it almost took Lisa's breath away, Harriet Armitage cuddled her until her crying had again subsided.

Then, with her arms around both Jenny and Lisa, she said very softly, "I think that the time has come for us all to have a little talk. We completely failed to anticipate the difference that you would make in both our lives when you came to live with us. We also had no idea that you would immerse yourself so quickly and completely into the female role that we had planned for you. Clearly things have now come to a stage where we must be completely honest with you. You have more than fulfilled our hopes and dreams for you and now we need to discuss where we go from here."

At last Lisa's senses were becoming tuned to the way of the conversation and the two words that were repeated time and time again. She pulled away from Miss Armitage and regarded her with puzzlement.

"You keep saying 'WE' and 'US'. What exactly is going on? I thought that Jenny worked for you as I do".

"Yes," replied Miss Armitage, "Jennifer is, in fact, my maid and housekeeper but the situation is more complex than that. It appears that now is as good a time as any to properly introduce you to Miss Jennifer Armitage!"

Lisa, her face still wet with tears, was thunderstruck at this revelation but over the next minute or so a number of emotions crossed and re-crossed her mind. Firstly she had to try and comprehend the fact that her Jenny and the mistress were related. Anger (which didn't last for long) that they had deceived her and used her in some devious scheme of their own, puzzlement about the nature of their relationship, fear that she would still be put out on the streets, all these and more warred for attention in her brain. Concentration was not helped by the fact that it was still very early in the morning.

Harriet Armitage defused the situation a little by saying, "Look, you two, forget the work this morning, we need to talk. When you are ready, come down to the drawing room. I will make some coffee and we can sit and discuss this once we have had some refreshment. Don't bother to dress yet, let's get everything straightened out first."

Shortly after the events in Lisa's bedroom the three gathered in the drawing room. Lisa had brushed her lengthening auburn hair into some semblance of order but Jenny had not yet bothered and looked as though she had been pulled backwards through a hedge. She still, however, looked stunning to Lisa and the latter was regarding her with curiosity, tinged with all sorts of other emotions including love. All were sipping strong black coffee. At last Harriet spoke.

"Lisa, both Jennifer and I have confessions to make and it would be easier if you didn't try to speak until we have finished. Also I suggest that you put your coffee on the little table there as what you are about to hear may cause you to spill some and I don't want to have to deal with burns and scalds as well as......well, other things."

Lisa was shivering a little, and not from the cold. She was still suffering from the effects of the birthday present, the shock revelation about Jenny and an awful feeling that the news that she was about to receive was going to be unpleasant. Over her nightdress she was wearing a long quilted satin dressing gown which effectively came down to her ankles, but still she shivered. She had never before been with these two ladies in this state of undress but even the sight of her Jenny in her green satin wrap (and not much else), together with the mistress in red silk pyjamas, didn't distract her on this occasion from what Harriet Armitage was about to say.

Before she allowed Harriet to speak, however, Jennifer looked at Lisa and her eyes shone with love. With a little smile she said, "My darling Lisa, If I could have avoided it I wouldn't have put you through all this, it just wasn't fair, either to you or to Harry. I am leaving Harry to tell you about us, as I don't think that I could get through it all without breaking down in tears. I just want you to know that I love you very much. Oh, yes, I've tried to tell myself that it wasn't true because I wanted to spare you the pain of finding out about me. You may recall a number of occasions when I tried to be distant with you. But I just couldn't resist you, sweet Lisa, and every time you turned those eyes and that smile upon me I just melted and all my resolve evaporated. And so, here we are. I am sure that, after hearing what Harry has to say, you will want nothing more to do with either of us, especially me, but I want you to know that I have never before met anyone like you and I love you with all my heart."

Lisa turned this over in her mind and found Jenny's statement exciting but puzzling and disturbing. What was this dark secret that her Jenny harboured, that kept her at arm's length for so long? Under other circumstances Jenny's declaration of love would have left Lisa overjoyed. But now she was numb: the events of the morning seemed to be happening almost in the third person, just as though she were a spectator. She was trying to fit all the pieces of this giant jigsaw together but was getting nowhere fast and the banging inside her forehead was definitely not helping!

Then Harriet Armitage took up her story.

"Our tale is quite complicated and I hope that, at the end, you will feel able to forgive us the little deception which we have played upon you. We both love you very much - in our own ways - and have only your happiness at heart."

Lisa stole a glance at Jennifer but the latter now sat still, almost frozen like a statue, save for a constant, almost silent sobbing. Yet it seemed that her face wore an expression of utter relief, as though glad that this tortuous saga was now coming to an end. Harriet went on.

"As you may by now have worked out, I am Jennifer's sister. All through our childhood we both had different feelings from those of other children and thus spent a lot of time in each other's company. I was always the tomboy, climbing trees, playing football (in fact that's when I was re-christened 'Harry') and I eat, drank and slept mathematics. Jennifer was more interested in classical music, art and fashion. This got her into all sorts of trouble at school but she survived, mainly thanks to my protection. Being quite tall I could successfully threaten many of the boys. Those who still persisted in being silly got their ears boxed or kicked somewhere most unpleasant and my sports agility made me too quick for them to be able to retaliate. After a good mauling they usually left us alone. Being boys, they didn't like to have to admit that a 'mere' girl had got the better of them and had beaten them up.

"Eventually I went to university to study accountancy. Jennifer went to college, where she honed her dressmaking and household management skills and was, amazingly, treated very well. She then came back here and looked after the house for us whilst I finished my degree course. I returned home to her for weekends and holidays and we never lost the thrill of being in each other's company and sharing our little secrets. It was always in our grand plan that, after I achieved my degree, I'd start clawing my way up the business ladder while Jennifer cut all ties with the past and lived with me as my housekeeper and maid. I was twenty one when our parents died and left us this house. Jennifer and I love each other dearly, have always known everything there was to know about one another, I hated housework and Jennifer loved it. I am, as you now know, Jennifer's sister and we only adopted the 'mistress/maid' ruse to help you adjust to your chosen role.

"Now you may be thinking that there's nothing particularly unusual in what you've heard thus far but there is one small detail that I have yet to tell you:

"Jennifer was my brother!"

 

To be concluded…………….

  

  

  

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