... part 3
Teetering on my high heels and trying not to buckle under the weight of my clothes, I was led outside the fitting room for the first time in... I didn't even know how long I had been in there. Between the cast and the fitting of my corset, I had lost all track of time.
I was helped into the dentist chair. Between my suffocating corset, tall stiff boots, and all the layers on top, it was hard for me to walk, let alone get myself into the dentist chair. I was sure I wasn't getting out of the chair without some serious help.
The dentist wasn't there, but a nurse was quick to replace the wires of my braces, tightening their grip around my poor jaw. I was glad there were no new surprises at the dentist chair. I had had enough for the day.
I was hauled out of the dentist chair by two of the assistants, and led to a room, which I was told was my study. It was furnished with a small writing desk, a simple table and two chairs. It was very sparsely decorated, just like the bedroom I had slept in the first night.
"It's time for us to start your education... We have no time to loose so we'll start today."
"Great, can you please remove this awful cape so that I'll be able to write."
"Dear, you're already done with your academic education, so you have little use for your hands. What were going to be doing is mostly comportment and behavior lessons."
That first day was spent practicing how to move like a lady, while trusses up like a turkey. There was endless walking back and forth in my study. Sitting down and standing up while encumbered by all of my hot and heavy garments. In no time I was gasping for breath and sweating profusely, all of my body heat trapped under layers upon layers of stuffy wool and leather.
"Can I at least remove my cape? It's too hot in here."
"My dear, but it's only a cape. And, it's part of your uniform, so you might as well get used to it."
And with that, I was kept in the smothering cape. But of course the cape had secrets. I did not know at that time, but the hem had pockets with small leaden weights, to ensure that not even the strongest gust of wind would reveal even an inch of my ankles. My ankles were encased in thick leather boots, but none the less whomever designed the cape had made sure it was staying put.
The only time my cape was removed was for three small meals. I couldn't eat much with such a tight corset, and it was a struggle to even finish those small meals. But I wasn't allowed to stand up until I finished.
Bed time finally came, and I was exhausted. I looked forward to getting rid of the hot and heavy clothing I was wearing, and taking a full breath of air without the constriction of my corset. Fond memories of the relief of removing my tightest girdle after wearing it all Sunday came to my mind. And even my firmest girdle was nothing compared to the corset I was wearing.
I was led back to my room, where Miss Barbara and one of the maids removed my cape. Next my dress was removed. It was a relief to have it off, but my body was still covered in many garments, including the tight corset, gloves, and boots.
I was led to a stool and my boots removed. It was bliss to feel the cool air around my toes.
An ankle length sleeping gown was brought out and slipped over my head. It was heavily frilled with lace ruffles.
"But I'm still wearing my corset."
"Yes, my dear. But we need to make headway in your waist training."
"So you expect me sleep in my corset."
"Yes, dear," Miss Barbara responded nonchalantly. "And your gloves and your special sleep boots. You need to get used to them."
"That's ... barbaric."
"No dear, it's all part of your deportment training. The sooner you get used to it the better. Lot's of girls in similar social circumstances to yours are subject to the same regime. For now let me ease your shoulder straps a couple of holes so that you can lay flat on your back. Let us help you get your sleep boots on and into bed."
Soon my toes and foot were again imprisoned in my "sleep boots." These appliances (as they couldn't really be called footwear), looked exactly like my daytime boots, but they lacked a heel.
"How can anyone walk in these boots? They don't have a heel!" I protested.
"Exactly, these boots are not for walking, they're specifically built for sleeping. We will help get to bed."
A fitful night of sleep followed, reminding me of the claustrophobic first nights in the cast. No matter how I twisted and turned I always felt like I was being strangulated. I was hot, my feet held in an unnatural strain, and laying flat on my back was the only position in which the corset wouldn't pinch me in awkwardly. Finally late at night, I succumbed to my exhaustion and fell asleep. But even then sleep came in fits and starts. Eventually I was woken by a gentle hand.
"How did you sleep, dear?" It was Miss Barbara.
"I didn't get much sleep. This corset is just too stiff and tight. How can anyone properly sleep in it?"
"I know my dear," Miss Barbara replied in a condescending yet matter-of-fact tone. "Sleeping in a corset is a restraint we all dislike exceedingly in the beginning. But it's a necessary step to keep proper figure. Eventually nature takes its course and we get used to it, one way or another. There is no discipline without some sacrifice of freedom and comfort. And we do have to adapt our lives to the restrictions of our stays and other apparatus. However you will always look good in a corset. You will look disciplined, composed, focused, alert, and well put together, and your future husband will appreciate that. But for now, it's time to get you ready for your morning walk."
Miss Barbara led me to the dressing room, where that medieval torture device hung: the lacing bar. One of the maids was already there. Between the two, I was quickly changed into a fresh underwear and dressed in my convoluted uniform:
Long frilly bloomers
Chemise
The dreadfully constricting corset
Long woolen tights
The padded corset cover vest
Four petticoats, including the leather petticoat to restrict my gait and a billowy quilted one to give volume to the dress.
Long leather gloves
The wool coif covering my head
The high heel boots
The grey wool dress with the suffocating collar and tight sleeves
And of course the heavy cape to top it all off.
Just recounting everything I was wearing was exhausting, but I knew that my trials for the day we just starting. After all of the hustle and bustle, I realized that the lacing of my corset had actually gone quite quickly, and I only had been hanging from the lacing bar for less than fifteen minutes. Maybe I was already getting used to the constrictions of the corset?
I was lead downstairs to garden. It was my first time downstairs since I had arrived at Chadwick Manor. I was looking forward to some fresh air. Navigating the stairs was a challenge, my legs hindered by the layers upon layers, and my feet balanced on the tiny heels. I couldn't really see the steps in front of me. The leather petticoat barely gave me enough stride to go down one step. Having my arms pinned to my side by the uniform's cape, I couldn't use them to balance. Miss Barbara held my arm to steady me on our way down the stairs.
"You're doing great dear, it will take a while to get used to navigate the stairs with your new uniform."
I was looking forward to some fresh air, but I should have known that things were never that easy at Chadwick Manor. "
Let me put on your cloak..."
"A cloak!? In this weather!?"
"Yes dear, the cloak well ensure your privacy as you walk around the grounds of the estate, or elsewhere. You can't be too careful nowadays."
The cloak was taken out of a closet, but it was just a big bundle of black cloth. It wasn't until the garment was closed around my shoulders that I could see the shape. The cloak covered me completely, and included a very heavy hood. I was rendered shapeless by all of the folds and pleats. While the wool material was not a heavy as the cape I had underneath, the amount of fabric made it very heavy indeed.
"This will keep your demure as do your daily walks around the grounds. The hood can also be extended significantly to hide your face if we leave the grounds. But for now the hood is kept retracted with leather straps to allow you to look forward."
I was led outside to courtyard in the middle of manor. The clean air was invigorating, even though the corset prevented me from taking any deep breaths.
"We'll start walking around the courtyard, since the hard surface will be easier to navigate with your heels. We'll start with 10 laps."
Walking on the stone courtyard proved to be easier said than done. My feet were unstable in the precarious heels. The tight heavy boots provided some support to my ankles, but balancing was still hard. The courtyard was over 150 yards long. In the first lap the maid walked by my side, to make sure I did not loose my balance. I could see that she herself was struggling in her own heels.
Completing the first lap was quite an accomplishment, but Miss Barbara was quick to point that I had just started. "Do not lounge around, you still have 9 more laps to go."
I could feel my pulse speed up, and a headache creeping in. My legs felt fatigued, my boots felt heavier with every step I took. I felt my body drenched in perspiration, even though the early morning air was chilly. It took my full concentration to land every step, keep the balance in my tiny heels, and manage my billowing skirts.
"And that was the last lap. Well done." said Miss Barbara. I had lost track of how many laps I had left. It was hard to calculate how long I had been walking, but I couldn't have been less than an hour.
"I'm exhausted. My poor feet are killing me, they feel like they're on fire. Can I please take off these wretched boots?"
"I understand, my dear, but you will have to get used to it. It's common to have girls complaining about their boots after just a few hours. Girls tend to find the boots to be very warm, even to the point of distraction. This is often because girls are less used to wearing closed or laced up shoes than male trainees. The reality is that these boots are made of heavy duty leather, reinforced with metal stays and laced up tightly to work with the special orthopedic insoles. Proper fastening of the boots is vital to support the girl's feet and ankles. The cause of that 'burning feet feeling' that you mention is simply that you're wearing boots and insoles that don't breathe, and cannot, based on the requirements of your training. And it just takes time for any child to adjust. The boots are very considerable, between the stiff outer leather, the leather lining, and the padding in between that ensures the boot fits very closely to the foot. Without air circulation around your feet, they can get hot and sweaty. That's why you're wearing a good pair of long tights. Girls would naturally chose slip on shoes with no support or orthopedic capabilities, so requiring girls to wear full leather heavy duty boots for 14 or more hours a day takes time to get used to. I'm afraid it takes most girls up to 6 months to become accustomed to and break the boots in. The orthopedic insoles can make your feet feel hot and strained but unfortunately these need to be worn with the boots in order fulfill the orthopedic requirements of molding your arches to wear high heels proudly and properly. But just like the corset, with constant wear and discipline you will get used to."
I could feel tears flowing down my face, but I could not even wipe them with my hands trapped underneath my monstrous uniform. Needless to say I could neither remove my boots on my own.
"But this was a great start, tomorrow we'll start timing your laps to make sure you slack off. For now let's go back upstairs, to start your comportment lessons for today."
part 5
