The Lady of Chadwick Manor (part 1)

Editor's note: for those of you that have read some of my previous material, will notice that this deviates from the normal elements I use. But give a chance to our heroine to tell her tale... this will be a long tale.

How did I end up in this predicament? It's hard to phantom how everything led to this. But I'll try to start from the very beginning, and I'll tell you the story of how I became the lady of Chadwick Manor.

You can't imagine how excited was I when John asked for my hand in matrimony. I barely knew him, but his reputation as one of the wealthiest industrialists preceded him. His father had survived the Great Depression, and by whatever means was able to buy farms and processing plants of less fortunate business owners. During the Second World War, their businesses grew as they supplied food for the war effort. Contrary to some other prominent families, the Chadwicks always kept a low profile. John was as the sole owner of a significant fortune after his parents died in a tragic plane crash in the late 40s. It was after this tragic event that a teenaged John became a markedly isolated and eccentric magnate, building a mansion not far from Chicago, which he seldom left.

I should have been surprised, but I was too excited. I always considered myself a normal mid west girl, on the verge of completing high school, and looking to find a secretary job at a nice office while waiting for my prince charming. I never expected that my "prince" would be John Chadwick. He was know as eccentric, but I didn't care. John arrived to our home in his flashy black limo and asked my father directly, and father agreed in no time at all. Father didn't consult me, but I would have agreed. Father worked as a supervisor in one of the Chadwick's corn processing plans, but the only time him or basically any of the other employees saw John Chadwick was during the traditional Christmas party. It was on one of those parties in which he first laid eyes on me.

I never learned the exact details of the conversation between John and my father, but I did learn that John offered my father an extremely generous cash buyout package from his job at the plant, with the condition that he should never pursue future paid work. On return he got my hand in marriage, with plenty of strings attached. I did learn of the conditions that directly applied to me. Or at least some of them. After high school graduation I would move to Chadwick House and start etiquette and deportment training by an etiquette teacher provided by John. During the training, which would take at least there months, I would have no contact with my fiancé or my family. Once properly trained to the satisfaction of my teacher, a date for the wedding would be set. While it seemed bizarre to me, a teenage girl during the early 50s generally didn't have much say regarding those matters.

During the days preceding my highschool graduation I visited Chadwicks House once,  in the company of my parents. That first time I was impressed by the sheer scale of the place. The property was surrounded by tall stone walls, with a wide driveway leading to a grand entrance of the mansion. The main building was a Victorian style building, there stories high and at least one hundred meters wide. Two wings  extended towards the back of the building, surrounding a beautifully kept Victorian style garden, complete with stone statutes, and wrought iron fences guarding rose gardens. Two parallel cobblestone paths led away from the house, and continued farther than I could see.

We had dinner in the elegant dinner room. The room was lit by crystal chandeliers, and the walls were covered in rich red fabric. The whole place was very opulent. Even though father had bought for me a new fancy dress, I couldn't but think I was underdressed for the occasion. We were served by several maids, all wearing Victorian style floor length dresses, in plain black wool with high necks, white caps and aprons. John was most interested in the protocol of the formality of dinner, but I could see that he couldn't take his eyes off me. It was like a fairy tale, frozen in time in Victorian times. I left with butterflies in my stomach.

The next time I saw John was at my graduation. He arrived just in time for the ceremony, causing quite a commotion. However, he left quickly after I received my diploma, leaving a note excusing himself, as he preferred not to overshadow the graduates on their big day. I was sad that he left, yet my classmates where jealous for all the attention I was getting from him.

Shortly after my graduation I left home for Chadwick House. I was sad for leaving home, I had never been away from my parents, but I was excited about my future. As per the directions from John's assistant I took only a small suitcase, since I was going to be getting a new wardrobe. I climbed onto the limo, and waved my parents goodbye, looking forward to seeing then again once the wedding came around. I enjoyed the ride in the limo, all while seeing the buildings pass by, and then the fields in the early morning sun.

When I got Chadwick House I was greeted by a maid dressed in the black servant's dress, and by a lady dressed in what seemed even more formal attire. Her outfit was black, but unlike the maid she was not wearing the white cap or apron. Instead of a dress, she seemed to be wearing a tight bodice reaching down to her hips and high up her neck with a tight collar, and a full length skirt dressing elegantly some her knees. She looked to be in her late thirties, and had her black hair pulled into a tight bun. She looked very elegant, but her dress seemed very heavy and hot for a summer day. I figured she was suffocating under that stuffy looking outfit.

By her posture and elegant demeanor I imagined she was going to be my teacher. Her waist was minute, and very well defined by her tight bodice. My own young waist was slender, but I instantly regretted not putting on one of my more severe girdles. I made a mental note of changing into the long boned girdle I had in my suitcase as soon as I had some privacy. Her stern looked flashed a slight smile as she courtesied to welcome me.

"Welcome to Chadwick House, miss Evelyn. I am mistress Barbara, and I've been hired by Mr. Chadwick to prepare you for your wedding. We have plenty to do, so the sooner we start the better."

She led me through the entry hall into one of the side wings, which I had not seen during my previous visit. The opulence of the entry hall faded onto utilitarian grey walls and simple fixtures, with very little decoration. After climbing two different stairs to the third floor I was led into a small bedroom, sparsely furnished with only a narrow bed and a simple table and chair. The small room had a small window looking out to the beautiful gardens.

"I apologize for the room, but it's the most convenient location as we start your training. In addition Mr. Chadwick has indicated that you should be kept away from his living quarters, as any contact before the wedding would be inappropriate. You can leave your things in your room, and please change into the hospital gown on your bed. We will begin with some routine tests."

I was led into the infirmary. It was a large room with an examination table in the center. Several other medical apparatus, most of which I had never seen were arranged around the room. The room felt chilly in the very revealing hospital gown I had been given. It seemed that the mansion had air conditioning, something very modern in such a Victorian looking place! I thought maybe that was the reason the servants were wearing such heavy and hot clothing. One of servants, wearing a face mask and a white doctor's gown helped me to the table and began examining me. Weight, height, blood pressure, a finger prick, the usual tests. She also took extensive measurements of my body. She tried to make me as comfortable as possible during the process. I later learned her name was Mary and she had studied to become a nurse. After this test, I was led to another room. This was a smaller room with a dentist chair, and most of the tools I was used to seeing in a dentist office. A man in a white doctor coat came in, and without so much as an introduction began examining my teeth. With Mary as his assistant, he proveeded to take molds of my teeth and then proceed to clean them throughout, which was a slightly unpleasant feeling, but I one had already experienced.

"We have some more work to do. I'm going to give you a little bit of gas to make you not comfortable."

He produced a plastic mask and held it to my mouth and nose. I started to feel drowsy, my arms and legs felt heavy until I could not move. He removed the mask and placed a clear thin tube around my face. Two prongs went into my nose.

"This will keep you calm."

He placed two plastics spreaders to keep my lips apart and started working. My head was flying, but I started to get worried as I saw a lot metal pieces going into my poor mouth. He was putting braces on my teeth! I couldn't move to protest, but after what I think was hours, the nameless dentist was done.

"We're done. You will feel a bit of pressure as the effects of the gas begin to fade, but it shouldn't be too bad." He unhooked the gas tube from my nose, and left the room. Mary stayed with me as I began to regain my mobility. Soon after, my mouth started to feel sore, and my teeth had a dull throbbing. I started to explore my mouth with my tongue. I could feel the metallic taste, the wires on the outside of my teeth, the brackets that held the wires together. Everything that my lips or tongue touched felt rough. I had never expected to be fitted with braces. I never knew I needed them, but I was sure father would never had been able to afford them. John was sparing no expense!

"Let me know when you feel better and can walk. Don't worry about trying to talk right now. You'll soon get used to having your braces. Dr. Garrett is a great dentist. When you're ready I'll take you back to your room."

Mary helped me back to my room. My legs were a bit wobbly, but my head was no longer cloudy. And my mouth hurt. On my room there was already a tray with my dinner. It looked like some kind of porridge. It was obvious I could not eat regular foods for a while. On the bed there was a long white nightgown.

"Very Victorian," I thought. I changed and got into the bed. I don't know what it was, but I was tired. It had been a very emotional and long day. I thought the throbbing in mouth would keep me from sleep, but I was soon in a restless sleep.

The next morning I was woken early morning by Mary. She gave a very light breakfast, consisting of some sort of applesauce. I was grateful since my teeth were still throbbing by the pressure of the braces. After I finished my breakfast, Mary had me change into a medical gown and ushered me to the infirmary to continue with the procedures John had deemed necessary. I tried to enquire further but Mary said she was in no position to elaborate, and she suggested that I stop asking questions.

When we arrived to the infirmary, mistress Barbara was there with three other servants. All were dressed in their usual severe woolen outfits, and this time even mistress Barbara had a white apron on. I was told to undress and lay on a metal table. The table was cold, but the water that they used to wash me down was even colder. They took a good time to scrub me down. Then they slipped me into a body suit, made out of a thin soft stretchy material. It reached from my neck to my ankles and wrists. I would later learn this was called a stockinette.

Barbara approached the side of the table and placed her hand in my in my forehead. Meanwhile the other assistants where moving some sort of metallic structures with dangling straps around the table.

"Mr. Chadwick has spared no expenses in getting you ready for your big day. You must feel fortunate. Some of these procedures might seem tiring, but they're the newest advances in science, used by the finest society ladies."

She squeezed my hand, and I tried to remain calm, but all the attention was unsettling.

In a matter of seconds Barbara and the three other assistants took hold of my extremities and strapped them to the metal framework.

They tightened straps around my ankles, knees, and wrists. There were solid bars between my wrists, my knees, and my ankles. The were also bars crossing from my wrists to my knees, and from my knees to my ankles.

"The next treatment you will be submitted to is called plaster therapy, and will help you get your figure in shape for your wedding. This is not an easy treatment, so you must be a brave girl. Things will go easier if you do not resist your treatment."

I tried to wiggle in my bonds, but they were snug. I was held with my hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees. My arms were held away from my trunk, and my elbows were also bent at 90 degrees.

"The plaster will help open up your pores and help your body rid itself of toxins. Your body will be held immobile for the duration of the treatment. This will soften your muscles and allow easier slimming of your figure." I could see the benefits of the treatment, but it still sounded scary.

As Barbara was explaining the procedure, the other assistants were busy. They were covering my extremities with some kind of soft padding. I tried to be brave but I could feel tears running down my cheeks. They inserted a short and thin backboard under me, which went from the small of my back all the way to support my head.

Once my whole body was covered in the padded gauze, I saw two large tubs being wheeled into the room. One of the assistants took charge, and mistress .Barbara stepped back.

"We're going to being applying your cast. To make sure the therapy is as beneficial as possible, we need you to remain as still as possible. The plaster will become quite hot as it's curing, nothing to be afraid of. We're going to begin with your arms and legs."

They began wrapping my arms in legs in wet plaster strips, layer by layer. I could feel the weight of the material, but my arms and feet were held immobile by the metal structure. Little by little I saw my skin disappear, replaced by the smooth white plaster. It only took a few minutes before the material began to harden. I tried to remain calm, but it was a scary feeling. I heard a mechanical sound and my body was raised a few inches above the table. I felt both the backboard in which my back and head were resting and the metal structure holding my extremities rise in unison. Then they started to tightly wrap more plaster strips around my chest and stomach. They wrapped the backboard inside of my cast, which forced my back against it and into a very straight position. They somehow shifted whatever was supporting my backboard, to be able to wrap it completely in plaster. The weight of the wet plaster made it feel like someone was sitting on top me. They left a large opening in my crotch, to allow basic bodily functions I imagined. Quickly they plastered my whole body, joining the individual casts on my extremities with the main cast around my trunk. They extended the stockinette up my hands and feet and proceeded to also wrap my hands and feet. Soon only my fingers and toes were free. They had even applied plaster strips over the cuffs that held my wrists and ankles. They also covered with plaster the solid bars that went between my wrists, knees, and ankles. Finally, they placed a strange metal piece over my stomach and wrapped it around my trunk with thick straps. Then they covered the whole apparatus with more plaster. It looked heavy, but given I was already many layers deep, I couldn't even feel it.

The heat inside the cast was increasing, and they turned on two large fans to help me keep cool. Barbara was by my side, and she would towel off the sweat from my brow.

"You're doing great, enduring this precedure is no easy feat." Barbara tried to comfort me.

I tried to look around, but the assistant who seemed to be in charge held my head to the backboard and tied it down with a broad band of the soft gauze. Several more plaster strips were then wrapped around my forehead and the backboard.

"Relax my dear, we need to keep your head stable throughout the procedure to keep you safe."

I tried to move but the plaster was already as solid as concrete. The permanency and overkill of my restraints made me uneasy. Soon everything was snow white, and I was trapped inside.

"Can you wiggle your toes? ... Great, now can wiggle your fingers?... Great" I did as instructed. There was very little else I could move.

The hustle died down and I was left lying on the table. They had put a diaper on me, and had left my plaster to dry.

The cast itself was not uncomfortable, but how long could I stand being immobile? I tested my plaster prison. There was no give. I was excited about being treated like a lady, despite the obvious inconveniences.

I don't know long it took, but Barbara came back to check on me.

"How do you feel my dear?"

"It feels tight, but not too much. And I'm really hot inside all of this." I said. Or at least I tried to mumble, my face full of unfamiliar metal.

"Do you feel any pain? Any undue pressure in any spot?"

"No, but the pressure in my chest and stomach is hard to get used to it."

"Try to remain calm and take short breaths. It will be easier that way. You have been very brave, and you haven't even asked any questions. That's shows that you're very obedient. I can see why Mr. Chadwick choose you..."

Then she proceeded to answer a question I had in my mind, but hadn't dared to ask... "I'm sure you must be wondering how long your procedure will take... We hope that your procedure will take around four weeks. After two weeks we will remove your cast and measure your progress. Then we will reapply the cast for two more weeks. This might seem too much, but Mr. Chadwick has requested that we take extraordinary measures to ensure you are ready for the wedding as soon possible."

"That's barbaric. I can't stay in this cast that long!" I started to cry.

"But you will, my dear. That's why we extended your cast all the way your hands and feet, to make sure you don't try anything funny. Don't worry, the cast is strong enough to make up for lack of willpower. Now try to relax. To ensure you're kept as comfortable as possible, we're going to place you in a special chamber where we can regulate the ambient temperature and humidity. I also want to prepare you, because the chamber has a special mechanism that will flip you."

I heard a mechanical sound, but I couldn't turn around to see what was happening, as my head was strongly held by my cast. After a brief pause I saw a metallic mechanism slide out of the chamber and engage the metal object that they had attached to my cast. Barbara locked the two pieces in place with big looking screws. The struts that had been supporting me on top of the table were lowered, so that I was left hanging by the strange mechanism.

Barbara double checked the framework holding me in place.

"As I was telling you before, the mechanism will flip you every so often to ensure we can relieve any pressure points, and prevent any sores. This is part of the reason why it's important to immobilize your whole body. Try not to fight it. You will feel less discomfort that way. The machine will rotate you at random intervals, but not too often, so that you can rest. "

The machine came back to life and with a jolt it started to retract into the cabinet. With my head firmly encased in the cast, it was hard to look around. But it was dark, and the cabinet seemed just barely big enough to fit my body in its almost fetal position. There was a low humm, like a fan.

"Now I want you to keep calm. You can try praying, some girl say it helps them get through this ordeal." Barbara said as she closed and locked the cabinet door. I was alone in the darkness, the low hum of a fan drowning my sobbing as I was held immobile inside my massive cast.

... Part 2