Reggie meanwhile had sauntered into the kitchen where Mary was in process of lifting the kettle from the hob. The deuce of it was that his prick had thickened up again and he wondered whether the girl would see it. She had a fine young bottom, he told himself, and he had viewed quite a number that day, albeit clothed.

'That was a funny strap you found, Mary', he said while she poured hot water into the teapot.

'I, sir? I didn't find one'.

'The one with a split end, you know, that you found behind a cabinet', said Reggie patiently.

'No, sir, honestly, cross my heart and hope to die-I didn't find nothing, I didn't', Mary said in the manner of one being accused of a great crime.

'Ah, well then, frightfully sorry, must have misunderstood', came the mumble of one who was even more confused.

'I 'spect the Vicar found it or left it or something like that, if the Mistress didn't', Mary offered with bright innocence, this causing Reggie to gawp somewhat for he could not imagine what a reverend gentleman would be doing with such a thing about his person. There was clearly something odd afoot which he could not fathom. Or at least not for a long moment. In fact it was not until he was sipping his tea that a distant memory swam back to him. He had perhaps been only about twelve at the time and had been staying with Vanessa at their Uncle Frederick's house. Running indoors from the garden to get himself a glass of water, Reggie had heard smack-slapping noises and squeals emanating from the morning room and had tiptoed towards it to see what was afoot.

Just at that moment his aunt had swept out of the selfsame room, her face not a little flushed, and behind her he had glimpsed-but for a brief moment-one of the servant girls bent over the table, her skirt to her hips and his uncle standing behind and to one side of her and steadily strapping her naked bottom with-yes!-by jove, that strap had looked much the same as the one on Vanessa's bed.