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Bridewell, my Penance, my Pain

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Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain Pt 7

I am shocked by what I hear. My god, I cant believe it. This can not be happening. I feel like my world is spiraling out of control. How can I survive Bridewell with everything turned against me. Both the Matron and Miles Coward smile at me as the realization of his words sink in. “Parker, time to get “little miss high and mighty”chained to the machine.”Says the matron. “My favorite nephew shouldn’t be kept waiting.” A stiff shove in my back gets me moving “ No sense delaying this Pennyworth. Move that scrawny ass.” I lurch forward, almost falling. I try not to make eye contact with the men as I move past them but I can tell they are fixated on my bobbing breasts. I can’t see them but I can hear their comments. I flush with embarrassment as I hear the four men discussing my body...my frame, the size of my breasts, my bottom covered by my drawers, and even my legs that are bared from the knees down. It sounds like they are evaluating horse flesh at an auction, but it is my flesh they are evaluating and my flesh that they mean to punish. I feel extremely fearful as my wrists are shackled to the push bar of the capstan. The dungeon is cold and damp and I fell the goose pimples form on my exposed skin. My nipples harden in response to the cold.

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“ Looks like she is all ready for us boys” I hear Miles Coward say. “I’ll get the first thirty minutes, then Raymond gets the second thirty, Johnny gets the third, and Jasper you get the last 30 minutes. Don’t hold back. She owes all of us a lot money. She should have told that useless husband of hers not to gamble away her money. Look at her , she has a strong back she can take our best. Let’s strive to give her our very best.” The matron added “ Sorry boys you will have to be satisfied with the strap tonight. I can’t take the chance of damaging her before the new governor gets here. But don’t worry the strap really smarts. You won’t draw blood but she will scream plenty. Sorry we have to keep her bottom covered but I can’t take the chance of finding out that she has a whelp in her belly when the new governor shows. So you won’t be getting randy with her tonite. That don't mean you can’t do no touching, but no poking if you know what I mean. In another month or so after I feels the governor out, maybe anything will go on the next visit. Got a table and chairs with a good view over by the wall and feel free to help yourselves to those jugs of ale.”

I turn my head to watch the men take their places at the table and fill their mugs. I don’t notice Miles Coward moving up behind me. Not until I feel his hands reach around my body to grasp my bare breasts. He squeezes them and pinches my nipples hard. “ nice titties, Pennyworth” he says .I gasp. His hands move downward on my sides until they reach my drawers. He slides his fingers under the waistband and soon has each bottom cheek in his hands. He squeezes not too gently “ Buttocks are pretty firm too.” I squirm trying to pull away from him but his weight has me pinned against the arm of the capstan.
“ Let’s check out that sweet spot between your thighs” he said as his hands move inside my drawers to the front. He uses his hands to pull me back toward his pelvis. I can feel his hardness pressing against my bottom. I fight his grip, wriggling.

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“ What a wanton you are Pennyworth. Wiggling your arse like that.” He said “But aunty says there will be none of that tonite. So you’ll have to be satisfied with this.” As he parted my nether lips with his forefinger and shoved it deep into me.” I squeal as he wiggles his finger inside me, much to the delight of the watching men who laugh aloud. I can feel the warm flush of embarrassment flow over me. “ So tight and wet and warm in there, Pennyworth. So much to look forward to on the next visit. I think she likes it boys, see how flushed her skin is and how far her nubbins are poking out.” I glance down at my breasts and cry out in embarrassment once again. My nipples are hard and erect. I am even shocked at the length of my nipples. I blurt out, “ You will never have me you bastard. I hope you rot in hell for your misdeeds.” Miles laughs aloud “I do believe that it is you that has four years of hell in front of her. So many lessons for you to learn during those four years. Shall we start with your first lesson.“ Never anger the hand that wields the strap”.

Miles Coward takes a long step to the left of my body chained to the horizontal bar and carefully measures the distance. He says “ Count out loud for me Aslin. If you forget or miscount we add ten minutes to your session. Don’t fret , that won’t be a problem, we have all night.” He reaches way back with his right arm and as he steps into a viscous lash, I hear him yell “Move.” I hear the strap snap loudly just a moment before my back explodes in pain. I grimace but no sounds come from me. The air is forced from my lungs as I lurch forward and I gasp for air. I have never felt such pain in all my life. It starts at the point of impact and radiates trough my whole body. I struggle to get the machine moving. I bend my back and dig my feet in trying to push to get it started. I can already tell that I must maintain my momentum because it is so much harder to push from a standstill than it is to keep the machine moving. I am approaching the starting point again as I slowly turn the capstan before I remember I have not counted. I cry out “one” just before I pass where he stands.

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As I pass him, I see him reach back again. I hear the whistle of the strap as it approaches my back for the second time. I feel my body tense awaiting the bite of the lash. This time the sound and the explosion of pain is almost simultaneous. The pain is much worse with this stroke. I fight back a scream, I won’t give him the pleasure of hearing me scream. I grunt “two” and keep pushing slowly, turning the machine. My back is burning, my eyes are tearing as I approach him for the third time. He has the same smile on his face now that he had the day I slapped his face. He had approached me at the party that day, innocently enough, making small talk but eventually asking me to his home to lay with him. I politely declined but when he touched me inappropriately, I turned and slapped him across the face. I remember his cronies laughing at him as I stormed from the room hoping that our paths would never cross again. Fate would not have it that way and although I did no wrong, now I am suffering for it.

This time as I pass him he says “ Faster you little bitch” and lays into me with two consecutive hard strokes. My head flies back and I scream for the first time. My back is on fire. It feels like someone has dropped red hot coals between my shoulder blades. I bow my head, my hair falling over my face as eyes. I really dig in with my toes, pushing harder with my legs trying to pick up my pace and avoid another stroke. I am in a quandary, if I don’t pick up the pace I get more strokes…if I do pick up the pace, I pass him more often and receive more lashes.

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I am passing him again and stiffen as the strap strikes my lower back. I see the men at the table erupt from their chairs pointing at me “ She forgot to count “ they yell. It is true. I have forgotten to count. Myles Coward smirked “ You are not even 5 minutes in Pennyworth and already you owe us another 10 minutes.” For some reason, I don’t know why, I begin to cry uncontrollably. It’s not because of the burning pain, it’s not because I am almost completely naked in front of these strange men, I believe it is because I realize that there is no way that l can survive four years in this hell called Bridewell. I am quite sure that I will not survive this very night.

But survive the night I do. The five minute rest breaks between the ten minute sessions are too short but do help me survive the ordeal. Each man has their turn with me. I scream and scream until my voice becomes hoarse, but the strap keeps falling and the pain becomes my whole world. I am numb with pain by the time the last man finishes. My feet are blistered, my hands are cramping and my wrists raw, my legs ache so badly I can barely stand, my back hurts so much I know it can’t take another blow. I slump over the bar exhausted, waiting for them to unshackle me.

Suddenly Miles Coward steps forward. “Not done yet, Pennyworth. You owe each of us ten more minutes for the miscounts.” I finally break down” Please, Please I beg you. I can’t take any more. My back can’t take another stroke. Please sir have mercy.” Coward turned to his colleagues “ How about it men. We can show Pennyworth some mercy if she agrees. I say we turn her around and each of us gets two swats at her bubbies” Of course the men agreed whole heartedly. “ Well Pennyworth, is it to be your back or your breasts. I dropped my head and in a voice even I could barely hear, I whispered “my breasts”.

The men move quickly to unshackle my wrists. Their hands roam over my body as they turn me. My back hurts more and more with each small movement. I am now facing the vile man Miles Coward holding the strap. The men called Johnny and Jasper each take a wrist and pull my arms out straight to each side. Coward says “Brace yourself , Pennyworth” as he steps into the first stroke. The strap snaps across both breasts, hitting my nipples dead center. I cry out in pain, my knees buckle. This pain is different, the flesh so tender. It feels like someone is holding fire to each breast. Before I am ready the second strike hits home. I scream loudly and pull at the hands that hold me but the men hold fast. The fiery pain radiates thru the front of my body, to add to the awful pain in my back, worsened by my struggles. I don’t believe I can take six more strokes, surely the strap has already drawn blood. My nipples burn as if their their tender skin has been ripped by the strap. I look down at my breasts, there are red streaks across both but I see no blood.

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Suddenly I see Coward reach back and send another lash across my chest. This knocks the breath from me and before I can get air in my lungs a fourth stroke burns across my nipples. My scream is ear-splitting. “ You bastard” I yell, “ you said two strokes each.” He smiles at me “ such foul language from a woman, Pennyworth. I believe you are confused. I believe six strokes each was the agreed upon punishment.” I look beseechingly at the Matron and Parker still standing in the far corner. “ Pennyworth are you accusing my nephew of lying? Who would ever take the word of a convict over that of a gentleman? Trust me things could be much worse and believe me in the future they will be. You’ll look back at this night as a walk in the park.” I scream as the strap finds my breasts once again and strikes with unimaginable venom. (To be continued)
 

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Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain Pt 8

I am reduced to a babbling, sobbing mess by the time they finish with me but I do remember Miles Cowards last words to me as I am escorted away by Mrs Parker. “You are learning your place Aslin Pennyworth. By the time you leave this place you will be broken. You will be spoiled goods. No one else will have you. You will crawl to me begging to share the warmth of my bed.” I try to look defiant but I am afraid that I only look pitiful in the state I am.
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Parker takes me directly to the prison hospital. I am surprised that the prison doctor is there. He examines me, touching and probing as he had done after my initial bath. I stand and he instructs a trustee “nurse”to apply salve to my raw back. I am not sure if it is the salve or the pressure of the woman’s hands but the process is extremely painful. Next they turn to my breasts. The doctor says he will perform this task. Remembering his hands exploring my body during the entrance physical, I turn away saying “ Don’t touch me again . Let her do it.” The doctor smiles and says “ Nurse hold the patient now” I feel the strong hands of the nurse grasp my upper arms from behind and pull my arms behind me.

The doctor pulls a small brush from his pocket and says “ I think a bit of debridement is in order.” I cry out as he scrubs my reddened and swollen nipples with the stiff bristled brush. “ Please stop. It hurts so much. Please, please” as I struggle unsuccessfully to pull away. He looks me in the eye, continuing to scrub the tender buds “ Is the patient ready to follow the doctors orders?” I blurt out “ Yessss….oh please stop. I will obey. I willlll!” He stopped, grabbed the ointment and began to apply it not so gently to my tender breasts. I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood, but I did not fight his lewd ministrations.

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Twice a day the doctor would administer salve to my breasts, making sure the medication was well rubbed onto all areas.
After 5 days I was deemed fit enough to return to my work duties. I left hoping I would not need to return to the hospital for a long time. I wanted to steer clear of the doctor almost as much as I wanted to steer clear of the Matron. When I returned I found out it was wash day as we were sent outside to the sunny courtyard to wash our work dresses, our bedclothes, and our underclothes. We are given thin shifts to wear with no undergarments while performing the tasks. I feel embarrassment as we are ogled by the male guards and male prisoners who are toiling in the courtyard. The thin shifts are almost transparent in the sunlight and I do my best to cover myself as I work.

We hang our things to dry, on clothesline’s made of hemp rope and are ushered back into the women’s side of the prison. But instead of returning to our spinning wheels we are brought to another section of the prison on the men’s side. We are lined up in a row in front of wooden blocks, upon which sit strange objects that look somewhat like cornstalks. We are each handed a heavy wooden mallet and told to start pounding .Elsbeth, having performed the task before is selected to show us how it’s done. I watch as she lifts the heavy mallet high over her head and slams it down on the wooden block. At the urging of the guards she pounds the stalk and over again with the mallet until fibers begin to separate from what looks like a hard woody core.

The Matron then enters the room “The British Navy is in need of rope for its growing fleet. This is a task usually saved for the male prisoners but parliament has now included “ beating hemp” as a task for female prisoners. Because the men usually occupy this room during the day, we will use this activity as “ night time education session” for those of you who choose to keep collecting demerits and not following the rules. You all will spend the rest of the day “ beating hemp” for the British Navy”
As she turned to leave the room, the matron’s eyes met mine “ By the way Pennyworth, you earned your doubled demerits for the past 5 days. Twenty demerits total for not cleaning your sleep area and not making your daily quota of work.” I begin to plead “ But I was in the hospital because…” She quickly cut me off. “ Recovery from punishment is no excuse for shirking your assigned duties.” I could tell by the look on her face that I best not utter another word.

After a full afternoon beating hemp all of us are exhausted. Almost too tired to eat hardly anyone speaks at the evening meal. Usually the time is blessed with endless chatter. I think if the time spent pounding with the mallets is meant to send a message, I believe the message is clear to all of us. We all are in our bunks, in deep sleep, by the time the candles-out bell rings.

The next weeks are rather uneventful as the prison staff is busy getting Bridewell ready for its new governor. Rumor has it that he will be arriving in a few days and the Matron and guards are on high alert. We are told to toe the line or the consequences will be swift and painful. On the day of his arrival the place is practically on pins and needles. But everything is ready by the time James Abbott, the new governor, arrives. After a brief meeting with staff, he tours the prison. It is mid morning so all of the prisoners are working in their assigned areas. I am sure he gives the same speech at each workplace.

“My name is Captain James Abbott. I am the new governor of Bridewell. You will refer me only as Captain Abbott. You need to know only two things with regards to my leadership style. One, I demand obedience in all things, at all times. Two, expect no leniency, if rules are broken there will be no leniency. Your stay at Bridewell is meant to be punishment and punishment it will be.” He stated as he stood before us in our workroom. He walks among us, stopping to talk to several of us as we work. He asks me my name, my age, and how long I have left on my sentence. I answer immediately. He tells me to smile. I smile for him. He pats my shoulder as he moves on to talk to another prisoner. I think that he doesn’t seem so bad.

The next morning after breakfast the Matron calls out three names, one of which was my name. The other two named were both on the prison wagon with me , Ashley the pretty young girl who stole a loaf of bread and Nita, about my age, also pretty who tried to poison her lover. We were escorted by two of the guards to the governors office. Ashley and Nita were told to wait outside the office and I was escorted in. Captain Abbott, motioned for the guard to leave and moved to sit atop his desk facing me. He was shorter than I remember and thicker in the middle. He motioned for me to turn around so I oblige but he says “ slower woman, turn more slowly”. I do as he asks but feel very self conscious.

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He soon begins to ask me questions. “Pennyworth are you married ?” he asks.” Where is your family?” I answer that my husband was killed in an accident and I have only some distant relatives in Wales. He then tells me about himself. He says that he captained a British Navy Vessel for many years but left service to his country to be with his ill wife. Alas, she died and he decided to become a part of the nations corrections system. “You see girl, a prison and a boat are similar in that discipline is the key factor to success of each”. He asks me about my experiences so far at Bridewell. I answer, choosing my words carefully. I tell him that I have learned much since I arrived. I still have no idea why I am here. That soon changes.

He starts with “ Aslin, may I call you Aslin?” I answer “ Yes Captain Abbott, you may.” “ My dear Aslin, when we are alone please call me James” he says. I think I am beginning to understand, especially when he says “ A widower can get very lonesome. I’m sure you, of all people can understand that, having lost your own husband. I can make your stay here very bearable, even pleasant,Aslin. If you should choose to lie with me, to help me shed my loneliness, you would warrant my utmost gratitude.”

I am shocked. Once again a man, a man of prominence, has propositioned me. I don’t think, I just speak without heed for my words “No, I can not do that. I am no common slut. I will warm no mans bed unless he is my husband. You are despicable, Sir. What kind of woman do you think I am?” He straightens to stand straight right before me, the veins in his neck sticking out. He shouts at me “The type of woman who should know how to save herself a lot of pain. The type of woman who is smart enough not to disobey authority. Or maybe it’s the type of woman who wishes to spend another night in the closet, toiling turning the capstan, or pounding hemp. Your choice Pennyworth. You have until tomorrow to change your mind.” He then yells out” Guard, get her out of here.”

I see Ashley and Nita shaking as I am led by a guard from the governors office. I feel no pity for them, but only for myself. What have I done? How have I made so many enemies? My situation keeps worsening and spiraling out of control. All of my protagonists, Miles Coward, Elsbeth, the prison doctor, the Matron and now Captain Abbott, all want the same from me, my body. It is not theirs to have. If only I can withstand the challenges that are soon to come to me. ( to be continued )











 
Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain Pt 8

I am reduced to a babbling, sobbing mess by the time they finish with me but I do remember Miles Cowards last words to me as I am escorted away by Mrs Parker. “You are learning your place Aslin Pennyworth. By the time you leave this place you will be broken. You will be spoiled goods. No one else will have you. You will crawl to me begging to share the warmth of my bed.” I try to look defiant but I am afraid that I only look pitiful in the state I am.
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Parker takes me directly to the prison hospital. I am surprised that the prison doctor is there. He examines me, touching and probing as he had done after my initial bath. I stand and he instructs a trustee “nurse”to apply salve to my raw back. I am not sure if it is the salve or the pressure of the woman’s hands but the process is extremely painful. Next they turn to my breasts. The doctor says he will perform this task. Remembering his hands exploring my body during the entrance physical, I turn away saying “ Don’t touch me again . Let her do it.” The doctor smiles and says “ Nurse hold the patient now” I feel the strong hands of the nurse grasp my upper arms from behind and pull my arms behind me.

The doctor pulls a small brush from his pocket and says “ I think a bit of debridement is in order.” I cry out as he scrubs my reddened and swollen nipples with the stiff bristled brush. “ Please stop. It hurts so much. Please, please” as I struggle unsuccessfully to pull away. He looks me in the eye, continuing to scrub the tender buds “ Is the patient ready to follow the doctors orders?” I blurt out “ Yessss….oh please stop. I will obey. I willlll!” He stopped, grabbed the ointment and began to apply it not so gently to my tender breasts. I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood, but I did not fight his lewd ministrations.

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Twice a day the doctor would administer salve to my breasts, making sure the medication was well rubbed onto all areas.
After 5 days I was deemed fit enough to return to my work duties. I left hoping I would not need to return to the hospital for a long time. I wanted to steer clear of the doctor almost as much as I wanted to steer clear of the Matron. When I returned I found out it was wash day as we were sent outside to the sunny courtyard to wash our work dresses, our bedclothes, and our underclothes. We are given thin shifts to wear with no undergarments while performing the tasks. I feel embarrassment as we are ogled by the male guards and male prisoners who are toiling in the courtyard. The thin shifts are almost transparent in the sunlight and I do my best to cover myself as I work.

We hang our things to dry, on clothesline’s made of hemp rope and are ushered back into the women’s side of the prison. But instead of returning to our spinning wheels we are brought to another section of the prison on the men’s side. We are lined up in a row in front of wooden blocks, upon which sit strange objects that look somewhat like cornstalks. We are each handed a heavy wooden mallet and told to start pounding .Elsbeth, having performed the task before is selected to show us how it’s done. I watch as she lifts the heavy mallet high over her head and slams it down on the wooden block. At the urging of the guards she pounds the stalk and over again with the mallet until fibers begin to separate from what looks like a hard woody core.

The Matron then enters the room “The British Navy is in need of rope for its growing fleet. This is a task usually saved for the male prisoners but parliament has now included “ beating hemp” as a task for female prisoners. Because the men usually occupy this room during the day, we will use this activity as “ night time education session” for those of you who choose to keep collecting demerits and not following the rules. You all will spend the rest of the day “ beating hemp” for the British Navy”
As she turned to leave the room, the matron’s eyes met mine “ By the way Pennyworth, you earned your doubled demerits for the past 5 days. Twenty demerits total for not cleaning your sleep area and not making your daily quota of work.” I begin to plead “ But I was in the hospital because…” She quickly cut me off. “ Recovery from punishment is no excuse for shirking your assigned duties.” I could tell by the look on her face that I best not utter another word.

After a full afternoon beating hemp all of us are exhausted. Almost too tired to eat hardly anyone speaks at the evening meal. Usually the time is blessed with endless chatter. I think if the time spent pounding with the mallets is meant to send a message, I believe the message is clear to all of us. We all are in our bunks, in deep sleep, by the time the candles-out bell rings.

The next weeks are rather uneventful as the prison staff is busy getting Bridewell ready for its new governor. Rumor has it that he will be arriving in a few days and the Matron and guards are on high alert. We are told to toe the line or the consequences will be swift and painful. On the day of his arrival the place is practically on pins and needles. But everything is ready by the time James Abbott, the new governor, arrives. After a brief meeting with staff, he tours the prison. It is mid morning so all of the prisoners are working in their assigned areas. I am sure he gives the same speech at each workplace.

“My name is Captain James Abbott. I am the new governor of Bridewell. You will refer me only as Captain Abbott. You need to know only two things with regards to my leadership style. One, I demand obedience in all things, at all times. Two, expect no leniency, if rules are broken there will be no leniency. Your stay at Bridewell is meant to be punishment and punishment it will be.” He stated as he stood before us in our workroom. He walks among us, stopping to talk to several of us as we work. He asks me my name, my age, and how long I have left on my sentence. I answer immediately. He tells me to smile. I smile for him. He pats my shoulder as he moves on to talk to another prisoner. I think that he doesn’t seem so bad.

The next morning after breakfast the Matron calls out three names, one of which was my name. The other two named were both on the prison wagon with me , Ashley the pretty young girl who stole a loaf of bread and Nita, about my age, also pretty who tried to poison her lover. We were escorted by two of the guards to the governors office. Ashley and Nita were told to wait outside the office and I was escorted in. Captain Abbott, motioned for the guard to leave and moved to sit atop his desk facing me. He was shorter than I remember and thicker in the middle. He motioned for me to turn around so I oblige but he says “ slower woman, turn more slowly”. I do as he asks but feel very self conscious.

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He soon begins to ask me questions. “Pennyworth are you married ?” he asks.” Where is your family?” I answer that my husband was killed in an accident and I have only some distant relatives in Wales. He then tells me about himself. He says that he captained a British Navy Vessel for many years but left service to his country to be with his ill wife. Alas, she died and he decided to become a part of the nations corrections system. “You see girl, a prison and a boat are similar in that discipline is the key factor to success of each”. He asks me about my experiences so far at Bridewell. I answer, choosing my words carefully. I tell him that I have learned much since I arrived. I still have no idea why I am here. That soon changes.

He starts with “ Aslin, may I call you Aslin?” I answer “ Yes Captain Abbott, you may.” “ My dear Aslin, when we are alone please call me James” he says. I think I am beginning to understand, especially when he says “ A widower can get very lonesome. I’m sure you, of all people can understand that, having lost your own husband. I can make your stay here very bearable, even pleasant,Aslin. If you should choose to lie with me, to help me shed my loneliness, you would warrant my utmost gratitude.”

I am shocked. Once again a man, a man of prominence, has propositioned me. I don’t think, I just speak without heed for my words “No, I can not do that. I am no common slut. I will warm no mans bed unless he is my husband. You are despicable, Sir. What kind of woman do you think I am?” He straightens to stand straight right before me, the veins in his neck sticking out. He shouts at me “The type of woman who should know how to save herself a lot of pain. The type of woman who is smart enough not to disobey authority. Or maybe it’s the type of woman who wishes to spend another night in the closet, toiling turning the capstan, or pounding hemp. Your choice Pennyworth. You have until tomorrow to change your mind.” He then yells out” Guard, get her out of here.”

I see Ashley and Nita shaking as I am led by a guard from the governors office. I feel no pity for them, but only for myself. What have I done? How have I made so many enemies? My situation keeps worsening and spiraling out of control. All of my protagonists, Miles Coward, Elsbeth, the prison doctor, the Matron and now Captain Abbott, all want the same from me, my body. It is not theirs to have. If only I can withstand the challenges that are soon to come to me. ( to be continued )











I fear her bottom will pay a high price for her attitude.
 
Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain. Pt 9

I can remember very little about the rest of the day. I worked as if I was in some type of trance. I concentrated on my work, trying to push the events of this morning from my thoughts. It was halfway through the morning work session before Ashley and Nita returned from the Governors office. I did not speak to them, nor did I even glance their way. Even at lunch break, I kept to myself and others seemed to want to avoid talking to me too. I think they could sense that there was something afoot. The afternoon work session was more of the same.

By candles out I was exhausted from my anxiety. I fell into a deep sleep but alas that only lasted a few hours. I slept little the rest of the night contemplating my situation, trying to find the right words for the Governor. Even without sleep, morning came way too early. I had barely had time to get cleaned up and change into my work clothes before I was summoned by one of the guards. I was taken directly to the office of Captain Abbott.

I was made to wait in the office, accompanied by the guard for what seemed like an eternity before the Governor arrived. With a nod, the guard was dismissed leaving the two of us alone in the office. “Well Pennyworth, I hope you have put much thought into your answer”. Were his first words. “ I have sir. I have strong conviction and still believe in virtue sir. I can not agree to such an amoral request. I will never lay with you in such a way” was my reply.

I could see his face redden, once again I could see the cords in his neck stick out.
“ Pennyworth , you stupid sot. Of the three, you the most educated, yet you refuse me. Are you not smart enough to see that there will be dire consequences? I will break you Aslin Pennyworth. I will bide my time and enjoy your suffering. I will never ask you again to lay with me. No, it will be “you” who crawls to me on your hands and knees and begs for me to take your worthless body into my bed. But maybe I will not want you anymore. Maybe I will find your suffering more alluring.”

I wanted to speak but no words would come out. “ Guard, get her out of here he yelled. I was escorted from his office immediately, relieved that it was over. But was it over. My virtue remained with me but at what price? I hope that I will not come to rue this day.

The days passed slowly. I was diligent to do my work, obey the rules, and keep my mouth shut. At night I slept fitfully, wondering if I was to be summoned to some awful place. Ashley and Nita were each summoned a number of times by the guards. I do not judge. I am happy it is them and not me. I hoped that if they kept the Governor happy he will forget about me. That hopefulness was ill founded.

It was three weeks after I had refused the Governor when things changed. It was the night of the day we wash our clothing and linens. We all sleep in the sheer shifts that we wear when our clothes dried in the outside air until retrieved the next morning. My shift is very tight, almost ready to burst at the seams. I am summoned from a deep sleep by Mrs Parker.” Your night to beat some hemp, Pennyworth. Be quick now.”

I am relieved as she leads me past the closet and the stairway to the capstan. We proceed to the men’s part of the prison and back to the hemp room. I am shocked to see the male guard Davey, the brutal guard who had flogged the girl at the cart tail the day we arrived, overseeing the hemp room. The only other people in the room are two male prisoners. Brutes both of them, very large and dangerous looking.

All eyes turn to me as I am escorted into the room. I quickly try to cover myself with my arms, remembering the tight, sheer shift I am wearing. It really doesn’t matter as I am soon handed a heavy wooden mallet and told to start pounding.
“Why am I here with these men?” I asked. “Shut up Pennyworth” shot back Mrs Parker. “ She’s all your Davey” she said as she made her leave. “Just get to your work, girl or you’ll feel this” said the male guard holding up a short single tailed whip. I can feel their stares as I begin to pound away. I’m sure my jiggling breasts and bottom are quite obvious beneath my shift. Urged on by a couple of painful whip strokes across my bottom, I pick up the pace a bit.
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Soon I am perspiring even in the cold damp room we are in. The sheer material of my shift begins to cling to my body and I become very aware of all three men staring at me. The two prisoners have slowed their pace considerably but I was still the only one being spurred on by an occasional lash. The next thing guard Davey said almost made me stop mid swing. “Pennyworth say hello to your companions, Alby and Ronny, both rapists. Now the Governor he don’t think much of rapists. He says many a woman wants to gets to choose who they lay with but rapists don’t give no heed to that.” I step back, feeling very vulnerable.
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Guard Davey smiles at me and says “ I can feel a shite coming on. You boys don’t mind watching Pennyworth while I’m gone, do you?” Alby was quick to answer “ why surely we will Mr Davey, Ronny and I’ll takes the best care of her.” I shriek as the guard closed the door behind him as he leaves the room. I lift my mallet threateningly as the two brutes come at me. I am soon overpowered as Ronny grabs my mallet with both hands and Alby grabs the neck of my shift and rips it from my body with his big meaty hand.

I can feel my nipples harden from the cold and fear. Soon Ronny has my arms pinned behind my back as Alby paws at my breasts and twists my nipples. “ This is a fancy lady, Ronny” he says “ She probably is used to gettin’a tonguing before she gets poked. Hold her tight now” I try to squirm away as he drops to his knees, first fingering me before his tongue enters me. No one has ever done this to me before and although I am mortified a feel a warmth and a tingling in my womanhood. I fight hard, with all my might, to get away but they are too strong. I begin to feel weak, my legs feel wobbly as his tongue keeps working away at me.
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I think she’s just about ready for us says Alby as he pulls his tongue out of me. I am petrified with fear but I feel so wet down there when they lift my body and bend it over one of the large pounding blocks.
“ You can have first go” says Alby, as he moves to the front of the block to hold my wrists. I can feel Ronny behind me fumbling with his britches and the realization comes over me….I am to be raped by these two brutes and there is nothing I can do about it. I hear a moan come from behind me and feel something warm and wet running down the back of my legs. “ Damn it “ exclaims Ronny “ I never even got it in her before it started shooting out.”

“That ok, Ronny” said Alby. “Move around and hold her hands. I’ll take her in the arse so she’ll still be fresh for ya, she will. Give you a chance to ready yourself again.” I start to scream out at the top of my lungs. Just as Alby is moving behind me, the door burst open. In rush Davey and two other guards “ Stop what your doing boys. Get these two out of here” he yells to the other guards. It’s funny, I wasn’t even embarrassed being naked in front of the guards, I was just relieved that I wasn’t raped.

I was visibly shaken and tears ran down my cheeks, but Davey just handed me a mallet and said “ Back to beating hemp, Pennyworth”. Suddenly I am so very aware of being completely naked in front of this man. A man who has no qualms about striping me with his whip should I not maintain the pace he wants. I feel the lash’s scalding kiss on my back, my bottom, and the backs of my legs. I am bathed in sweat before my first rest break comes.
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Guard Davey encourages me and almost becomes friendly. “Bring the mallet further behind your head.” “ Widen your base” “ You can do it” “ Keep up that effort” but suddenly his demeanor changes a bit.
“ Obey your superiors and all will be well”
“ It’s better to make friends at Bridewell than enemies” “ You don’t want to be on the wrong side of the governor ”. Then comes the inevitable question “Pennyworth if you service me with your mouth, I will be all the easier on you when it’s time for your welcome or farewell.” It never fails, just as with all the other men, everything is carnal in nature. Every man wants to have his way with a woman.

For the third time since coming to Bridewell I turn down such an offer from a man. The refusal results in more whip strokes over the final hour. I do admit they smart on my bare skin but the whip is not heavy and I can bear them. Finally he brings me back to the women’s side of Bridewell. I cover myself the best I can with the remnants of my shift. As he turns me over to Mrs Parker he says “The governor wants you to know that you were saved this time, he says next time you will not be so lucky.” And for good measure guard Davey says “ I won’t forget that you denied me the favor, I so await the opportunity to give you a proper Bridewell welcome.” I now believe it is my lot in life at Bridewell. Another day and I have made yet another enemy. (To be continued)
 
Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain. Part 10

Thankfully I do not need to spend time with the doctor after my night of beating hemp. I do not favor his his wandering hands. I shudder at the thought of the two brutes trying to rape me. I can still feel their filthy rough hands, I can still smell their fetid breath. What the brute Alby did to me with his tongue still vexes me. I was shocked when his mouth found that sacred spot between my legs but I have to say, what I felt deep within was nothing like I had ever felt before. The way my juices flow just thinking about it are testament to that.
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I still feel anxious all the time, a feeling of impending doom. It wasn’t bad enough that I have only served two months of my 4 year sentence but I am still without any friends in this god forsaken place. I seem only to be able to make enemies. I think, for my sanity, I must try to get someone to befriend me. Then I remember Alice Walker, the woman in her early thirties that I had paired with on the spinning wheel my first day in Bridewell.
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I seek out Alice at the dinner table after the morning work session. I can tell she is also lonely. She thanks me again for helping her my first day. She has become much more proficient spinning. We become fast friends. Really the only friend I have in Bridewell. We spend almost all of our free time together. I’m sure that fact isn’t lost on anyone. About a week later we are talking again before lights out. She tells me of her husband leaving her and her child for another woman, her little girl dying of the flux, prostituting herself for just food for the two of them. I see that others have it, harder, even than I.

I hear Elsbeth calling out to me as the candles out bell rings. “Come on Pennyworth, time to leave your girl friend. Just get that skinny little ass of yours into bed. I’m cold. Come, warm up old Elsbeth. Hurry now.” I bid Alice goodbye and slink back to our bed to the sniggers of the other women. The large woman as usual cuddles up to me pawing away at me as I ignore her “You should pay me a little attention, Pennyworth, you might need some of my comforting soon. I had a word with Ashley when she come back from her roll with the governor. Seems tomorrow he’s announcing the plans for our welcomes. Nones the same, he changed em all, she says. Being at odds with the governor likes you is, don’t wants to be in your shoes, I don’t .” I want to be strong but I begin to shiver uncontrollably. I fear for what tomorrow will bring.

The next day starts the same as every other day. The morning work session was quiet, no one is talking ,especially the half dozen of us who are still waiting for our “welcomes. The word has spread that today is the day we find out when and what those welcomes will be. I am especially apprehensive as I know how vindictive the governor can be. I pray he doesn’t use me as an example to the others but I fear that will be the case. Even the staff seems a little at edge today. It s not until after the afternoon work session that we see the matron enter the room. She calls for our attention “ Our governor, Captain Abbott, has declared Tuesday next as punishment day. Those of you sentenced to your welcomes and farewells by the court will find that those sentences have changed, as is the governors right. Those of you who have not met your work quotas or have been disobedient will also feel the governors wrath.
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Matron Wilby posts a sheet on the wall of the workroom with the sentences for punishment day. “ Those of you who can’t read, ask someone who can” she said. The posting read as follows:

Welcomes:

Elsbeth Barton 18 strokes cat of nine tails Back
Ashley Miller Forgiven her Welcome
Nita Turner Forgiven her Welcome
Kelce Lipton 18 strokes bulls Pizzle Bottom
Aslin Pennyworth 24 strokes birch rod. Back
Plus 24 strokes birch rod. Bottom

Other Punishments:

Margaret Mead Laziness 12 strokes of the cane Bottom
Dora Canter Laziness 12 strokes of the cane Bottom
Lydia Best Laziness 12 strokes of the paddle Bottom
Aslin Pennyworth Disobedience and laziness 8 hours in the Pillory
Alice Walker Disobedience and laziness 24 strokes Bulls Pizzle

Farewells:

Lily Lemps 18 strokes of the paddle

I am not surprised. Ashley and Nita are rewarded with no “welcome” for laying with Captain Abbott. I am the only one singled out for double punishment. Obviously I Am to be the showpiece of the new governors first punishment day. I know little of the birch rod but I know it must be far worse than the strap I was originally sentenced to. I do know the pillory. I have seen it used. I have seen men and women in the market square, entrapped in the devise for an hour, maybe two hours. They are besot with pain, unable to move, bent in such an uncomfortable position. How will I survive 8 hours trapped in its embrace.

Then I see Alice’s name. I am shocked. She has always met her work quota , never been in any trouble. Twenty four strokes of the pizzle on her bare backside is a brutal sentence. Her only crime is befriending me. My heart sinks. It’s not enough for the governor to punish me. No, he aims to punish anyone who gets close to me as well.
( to be continued )
 

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Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain. Part 11

Alice didn’t deserve this. What can I do to keep this from happening to her. She is my only friend left in the whole world and now she is going to suffer because of me. I can take my punishment but I don’t know if I can take watching my best friend whipped just to teach me a lesson. Virtue or no virtue, I have to do it. Even if I have to crawl to him on my hands and knees and offer myself to him, I’ll do it to save her. Alice pleads with me not to do it but my mind is made up.

After the wake up bell the next morning I ask the guards to take me to see the governor. They say that no one sees the governor without his ok. I plead with them to ask the governor to see me. They seek him him out for me. They return from his office with a message. He will agree to see me. I am relieved until I hear the rest of the message. He will see me, but not until after punishment day. I suddenly realize that this is going to happen no matter what I say or do, but I still have to try.

Although Alice assures me that she will bear it and begs me not to make things worse ,I try again, begging the guards into taking me to the governor, to no avail. I ask to use the bathroom during the morning work session and I immediately head down the hallway toward Captain Abbott’s office. I reach his office before anyone notices but his office door is locked. I knock but no one answers. I head back towards the work room but I am quickly intercepted by two male guards who each take me by the elbow and drag me back to my work group. Once they tell the Matron that they found me near the governors office, I know that I am in trouble.
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“Pennyworth, you have become a thorn in my side. You just refuse to obey, you just wont follow the rules.” Yelled the Matron. “Maybe spending the rest of the day in the closet will teach you not to be so defiant. Take her away. Everyone else get back to work.” The guards drag me down the hallway toward that awful space they call the closet. I fight as hard as I can, I scream as they push me in and slam the door behind me. I immediately start to panic and begin to gasp for air. It is very warm in the closet and I begin to sweat, soon my clothes feel soaked. The cramping begins and I try to shift my position,what little the tiny space allows. My head is bent forward by the low ceiling. I try to press against a wall to take the pressure off my aching feet, I have my forehead and knees pressed against the wall but soon they begin to hurt. I try to use my arms but they are pinned to my sides by the narrow walls.
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I hear myself begging for release from this horrible place but no one hears, no one comes. I am consumed by pain. It becomes my whole world. Tears stream down my cheeks, my face is a constant grimace. I have spasms in my legs, my back, even my arms ache. My feet become numb, it feels like I am standing on hot needles. I try to rock my weight from heel to toes but nothing helps. My mind begins to play tricks with me. I seem to lose consciousness but then the pain brings me back to reality. Over and over again it happens. I feel my sanity slowly draining from me. I am a babbling, slobbering mess by the time they open the door to release me.
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I fall into the guards arms as the door is opened, cool air floods over me as the drag me out of the tight space. My legs and arms don’t work, I hurt everywhere. As the guards lift me between them, I hear a familiar voice. “ No, I beg of you- please don’t put me in there. Please no.” The voice pleads. I hear the door slammed shut and the board slid across it. Then I realize who the voice belongs to…..it is Alice’s voice I hear. They have released me from that hell only to subject Alice to its fury. No. No No. It can’t be because of me. I am so sorry Alice. I am so sorry.

The guards take me back to the sleep room. I am exhausted but sleep escapes me as I think of Alice suffering in the closet. I know how she is hurting , I imagine her struggling to find a comfortable position that just does not exist. I feel her pain, I cry her tears. Finally the exhaustion overtakes me and I sleep. When I awake the next morning, I am happy to see Alice in her bed. How long did she have to bear the torment of the closet. I decide not to ask. I decide it is best for Alice if I stay away from her for now. It is two days before punishment day. I don’t want to make things any worse for her.

The Monday before punishment day we are told that it is wash day. We make our way to the courtyard and get our first look at the new platform that we heard being built over the past few weeks. It is larger than the previous platform with bench’s surrounding the two sides and the back. The benches are low in front , with the row behind them slightly higher, and the row behind that higher yet. But it is what is in the middle of the platform that catches my attention. There stands the whipping post with manacles high up it’s sides, a whipping bench with wooden pieces at both ends to hold the hands and feet, and another structure that had not been on the previous platform…a pillory.

I look at the pillory knowing that tomorrow I will become very familiar with its embrace. Elsbeth, seeing me staring at the platform can’t pass up the chance to goad me. “ I sure be glad they didn’t build no pill’ry for me. Spent two hour in it once. Worst day of m’ life. You gonna be crying heavy after 2 hour and be begging by 4 hour and that before they even start to birch your arse.” I shiver to think about it but Elsbeth is probably right. I was more worried about the birching but surviving the pillory may be the real challenge. I wash my clothes with the others and hang them out to dry.
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The next morning the others are sent out to collect the laundry while I am instructed to dress in my shift. As the others, including Alice, returned with the laundry I am escorted toward the platform by two burly male guards. The morning is unusually warm and the air, heavy and still. I am forced up the steps and stand before the wooden monstrosity that will imprison me for the next 8 hours. Governor Abbott climbs the steps and stands facing me with the pillory between us. He nods and the guards lift the top of the pillory and bend me forward, forcing my arms and head into the waiting half circles. They immediately drop the top piece in place and I am locked in the pillory.

The governor walks up to me and moves my hanging brown hair away from my face. “Pennyworth, all of this could have been avoided. It’s going to be a long hot day for you. We’ll really get to see what your made of today. All the seats around you will be filled with people. People who are here to see justice administered. To see you suffer for your disobedience and laziness. We won’t let them down, will we girl?”

The governor leaves me and I begin to feel the toll that being pinioned in the pillory will have on my body. I am perspiring heavily now. I can’t see behind me but I know my sweat soaked shift is clinging to every curve of my body. My back aches and my hands and feet are becoming numb. The tears are already flowing by the time the crowd begins to filter into the courtyard. Many of the crowd stand in front of the platform staring at me. Whispering comments to each other and laughing. I know they are laughing at me. I close my eyes, thinking if it can’t see them, maybe they can’t see me.
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I hear footsteps climbing the platform steps. I open my eyes for an instant seeing the gaily dressed group of aristocrats making their way toward me. I cringe as they surround me, inspecting me, before making their way to the raised seats set around the platform. I try to close my ears to their comments but I cannot. “ Good god girl, you may as well be naked, that shift conceals nothing” “ Nice titties but not very wide in the beam. Not much padding for the birching” “Looks like a trouble maker. I think I’m going to enjoy this.” Were the comments from the women. The men said nothing but I could feel their lewd eyes upon me.

I closed my eyes again as that first group make their way to their seats. I hear footsteps as another group approaches. I hear a woman. “ Is this the one? The one who owes you the money? Not too impressive in the tits and bottom area is she? Not sure what anyone would see in her?” Then I hear him, “ Well Pennyworth, what have you gotten yourself into now? We have come today to enjoy your suffering. To see you naked and screaming as you experience the birch rod. By the way , Might I introduce you to my new wife Livia.” It is he. The man who is responsible for me being in this awful place…Miles Coward! His wife, Livia, looks me in the eye “ I will ever so much enjoy your birching dear. When I was a young girl I can remember our servants screaming something terrible when father applied the birch to their naked backsides, almost drove them crazy. Put on a good show for us today, Pennyworth!” Suddenly I am very conscious of how much I hurt already and dread the embarrassment and pain I am soon to bear.
( to be continued)
 
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