The Bath Chronicles

Miss Standfast had been away for several days, attending upon her elderly Aunt in Cheltenham who was now fortunately recovered. Unbeknown to Miss Standfast, Mrs Knightley had arranged a welcome for her; a party of all their friends. Miss Standfast was due to return by the early evening coach and had been advised by letter that she should arrive dressed for the theatre, to ensure she did not feel underdressed for the occasion.

And so it was that the coach which bore her to Bath was duly met by Dr Knightley's carriage and she arrived chez Knightley as the Abbey's bells tolled the ninth hour of the evening. One may readily imagine her surprise as she passed into the large entrance hall, to find her dear friends assembled en masse and in their finery.

The nauseating Curate Clench had escorted Miss Rose Garten, the American lady who had nearly come between our two heroines. She wore a shocking pink confection which rather over-emphasised her charms. Miss Mountshaft was there, seated like a large vulture in black taffeta and a boa. The Reverend Dr Knightley wore his customary clerical grey and collar while Mrs Knightley was demurely but beautifully attired in a cream gown which became her most appropriately. But it was Jane for whom Jessica yearned and was devastated to find her absent from the throng. Many other guests had been invited and Miss Standfast was set about with friendly and kindy enquiries after her Aunt and her own health. She dealt with them all patiently but all the while her mind was absorbed with the question she dare not ask, 'Where is Miss Austen?'

A delicate hand lighted upon her shoulder and she turned. Her eyes fell upon Miss Austen and her joy was quite apparent. 'Oh, Jane, how lovely to see you.'

'And you, too, my dear. I hope you are quite well? I have missed you.'

'As I have missed you; I may not say how very much.' Their kiss was such as society might approve but as they parted the swell of Miss Austen's bosom was perhaps a little more rosy than hitherto. She led Miss Standfast to a quiet corner.

'I have wanted for intercourse since you left, my dear. Bath has been the emptier without you. But your fine gift has kept me mindful of you. I have used it every day. It has given me enormous pleasure, far more than a quill could.'

'It is as I had hoped. Maud is a good girl and her ministrations have provided me with some comfort while absent from you. But delicate though her fingers may be, she never braids my hair quite as you do. Have you seen much of Miss Garten? There seems to be a lot of her on view tonight!'

'She is a little, shall we say, obvious? Curate Clench clearly finds it most uplifting! His pleasure is outstanding.'

Good manners precluded their spending a great deal of time together through the evening. Whenever it seemed appropriate they would sit aside from the others and gossip, occasionally touching hands but always aware of propriety.

It will not, therefore, come as a surprise, dear Readers, that their greatest joy came when they retired to Miss Standfast's room. Maud had packed her clothes away and the dresser had warm water, toweels and soaps for them. The bed stood ready, a warming pan airing the freshly laundered sheets.

As Jane unlaced Jessica's corset, she leant forward and lightly kissed her shoulder. Jessica let her head and now untamed tresses fall back onto Jane's shoulder with a sigh. Miss Austen removed the corset.

'I have a surprise for you tonight, my dear.'

'Oh? What might it be?'

'You must wait until we are abed. Hasten your toilet as I shall mine and we shall retire.'

The last coverlet pulled over them, the two ladies faced each other in the flickering light of their bedside candle. Their hair spilled across the pillows and their mouths were so close they could each taste the other's sweet breath. Beneath the covers, their bodies touched at breast, belly and thigh, separated only by the silk of their nightgowns. Miss Standfast gasped as she felt the whisper of silk on her leg as her nightdress was slowly lifted. She kept her eyes locked on Jane's as the silk rose ever higher and found she was holding her breath.

Jessica felt first the touch of Jane's lips on hers, then her breast was gently lifted from its silk and she felt those same lips as they closed around her pinnacle. And then came the exquisite surprise that Miss Austen had promised. She felt her legs being pushed apart and then a touch at her very core, not the touch of a warm hand but of something smooth, cool and deliciously shaped. It's intrusion became more insistent and she allowed herself to relax around it. The soft bristles of Mr Jolly's finest hairbrush caressed her thigh as its handle served its true purpose. Her breath came in short, whimpering spasms as Jane led her ever higher in passion. She grasped Jane's arm and urged it to greater effort then, screaming silently into her friends neck, she gave in to abandon and wanton climax.

'Mr Jolly welcomes you home, my Dear.'

At breakfast the following morning, our two friends sat quietly masticating as Dr Knightley entered the room. 'My dear wife has left early for the shops. Apparently she urgent need of something from Jolly's. Do you have any idea what that might be, ladies?'

'Perhaps, Doctor Knightley, Mrs Knightley has need of a new hairbrush?'