Poor Edward could not guess the lady’s age. He stared helplessly at the smooth, unlined skin of that serenely commanding face. She might have seen close to twice his years, or she might have been but a few seasons older than he. Were he to guess, he could only have hazarded somewhere between perhaps nineteen or twenty years and some thirty. js_anon has a talent for writing verse, and some of his poems feature the governess, as in The Governess and The Cane; The Governess - Much Angrier; and The Husband's Governess. The latter concludes with: Why, yes Miss," replied cook. "But the master had a proper bathroom put in upstairs. The range provides all our hot water."

The eldest was first taken to her dressing room and prepared for the rod, and then conveyed to the boudoir by the governess, who at once administered the discipline. The younger one was then prepared and received a wholesome flagellation [on the bare posterior], the delinquents being tightly strapped to an ottoman during the castigation, at the conclusion of which they had to kiss the rod and thank the governess, when they were permitted to retire. Edward reached for the brass knob, then stopped. Though the door muffled the sound, the voice still did not seem that of the affable old Mrs. Jeffers. He would have done almost anything to avoid having to confess to her what had happened—yet what if there was another lady in there with her as well? How mortifying! His shame scarcely could be uttered. His face burned as he stood there hesitating.She felt weak and could barely breathe. "I don't understand," she said. But perhaps she did understand. He stared so. Almost avid. Then with a shrug he took up the leather strap and moved behind his handsome target. He had never been able to chastise his daughter, but sisters, cousins, maids, the odd harlot and even his wife had been under his hand, although it had been a while. http://voiceinthecorner.com/2009/11/04/a-victorian-governess-founder-of-the-markham-project-fact-or-fiction/ I feel I have to mention the so-called Markham Project, because as fascinating as it may sound, it is likely to be a complete fabrication. Stoltz Sinatra in his brief essay The Markham Project - Fact or Fiction?, explains the project was allegedly named after a professional Victorian governess and educationalist called Elizabeth Markham. Between the 1880s and the early part of the 20th century she aimed to encourage best practice in the training of governesses and the education of young women by creating a network of like-minded governesses and others who who were trying to set-up some sort of academy to further their aims. They supposedly "advocated corporal punishment of young women over the age of 16 and unmarried ladies up to a late age."

A lot of spanking/flagellation erotica of the Victorian period imitated the debates over corporal punishment in school and domestic settings, some manifest as tongue-in-cheek parody. And outside the fictional context were people like Theresa Berkley (see The Flagellation Brothels of Old London by Februs in Vol.1, No.5.) who ran high-class flagellation brothels specialising in chastisement and whipping. Such women acting out the role of a strict governess made a good living by administering vigorous discipline to their clients. During this period, governesses were sometimes linked with fallen women. Why? Because like the prostitute, many a governess was propelled into the domestic heart of the upper and middle classes from the world of financial desperation and reduced circumstances. They were,” replied the young lady blandly. Her voice was measured and calm, yet somehow he almost sensed a faint smirk in her husky tones. “Now they are mine, Master Edward. I am your governess from henceforth.” Surely, he reflected with a twinge of shame, his notice of such features was only the result of his own peculiarly sensual predilections. This lovely young lady was no “actress” posing dishabille on one of those French postcards one sometimes saw passed around at school—she was a proper Englishwoman, one whose moral standing was by definition beyond reproach. The desired effect of her costume, he was sure, was to inspire respect and obedience, and despite the stray thoughts which he tried to banish from his mind, he indeed did feel an almost frightening reverence for this stern young new governess. Among my books, I have a copy of Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. Agnes became a governess. It was not a very attractive life. She had no authority and at least once wished she could use a birch rod on her pupils. Miss Violetta resumed her seat slowly, her jaw firm. Her nostrils flared, but her voice was deliberate. “Lower your trousers, Master Edward.”Much of the pornography of the period is marked by an obsession with flagellation or the English Vice. The circulation of pornographic material concerned with spanking, flogging and whipping reached epidemic proportions during the Victorian era - and many were the tales of schoolroom spankings. In this case the setting was either a girls' boarding school or a private classroom and the plot typically involved a governess whipping her pupil, who might be an adolescent girl or boy, for some petty misdemeanour such as sullenness.

Elizabeth Markham's philosophy was to show that women were not frail creatures and that spanking, caning, birching and other "robust forms of punishment" were essential for discipline and the well-being of "females of all social conditions wishing to better themselves." Miss Glenwood's face had become as red as fire; her eyes flashed with anger. "You sir, are no gentleman," she hissed, "to force a lady to strip almost naked, like a common trollop! Is humiliation a part of my punishment as well?"Mm,” she said without moving those glossy red lips. Then the corners of her mouth curved up in faint amusement. “Perhaps I begin to see some of the propensities which led to your expulsion from school.” You will punish my daughter whenever you feel you must, and I'll never interfere. But on any day you've had to whip Alice, you will report to me after she's in bed, and I'll do the same to you." I am pleased to meet you, Miss Violetta,” gasped Edward, grateful at least to be able to call this imposing lady by some name. Even the lower estimate still seemed something of a formidable age to young Master Edward, of course. After all, her power stemmed not merely from mere seniority of years but from her unquestioned position of authority. Her dress and her demeanor made Miss Violetta more formidable still, and her very status as his governess sealed her power. This lady, he knew all at once within his trembling frame, would brook no slight or disobedience, however minor. She was so young and beautiful, so coolly commanding—

The first strike stung like fire and sounded like a canon. Even Sir Richard jumped a little. Caroline jumped a lot and jerked on the desktop.Sir Richard turned and contemplated the well rounded and nicely present bottom before him. It was as luscious as he remembered and he wondered briefly he if he was not taking advantage. Yet at home…well, despite his age, he still felt like a little boy, and the attitudes of his distant, moribund father only made matters worse. Edward already might have reached the age of legal majority, but as he had been told countless times, in the event of his father’s death, he still would not inherit until age twenty-six. Controlled first by his clinging, nervous mother, then by the aloof oversight of his taciturn old father, later by the suave solicitors who would administer his father’s substantial holdings in coal, Malayan rubber, and silks, indigo, and tea from India, poor Edward sometimes despaired of ever reaching true adulthood. Why, he still had a governess as if he were twelve, for pity’s sake! Habitually, though, he stifled his unvoiced protest, scowling inwardly, for of course no resentment could be revealed. He had long believed himself to be possessed of discernments rather different from those deemed common in polite society, and he was well used to hiding his true self. Until now, that is…