The Arrangement [Box Set] (21 page)

—Thank you, Jake. You’ve been a darling.

What Midge did next surprised April even more.

—And I don’t want to eat breakfast in a messy room. Would you mind making the bed too?

Jake stood where he was, uncertain of how to proceed. The poor man probably didn’t even know where to look. How was he to make the bed with April still in it? April was embarrassed by Midge’s game, and she
knew
it was a game, but she felt she had better make poor Jake’s life easier and get out of his way.

She got out of the bed and felt a little thrill of her own as Jake’s eyes devoured her naked body.

—Thank you, Jake, she said, trying to sound as confident and nonchalant as Midge.

—Madam, Jake said using as professional a tone as he could muster. April and Midge, naked as forest nymphs in some mythical tale, watched him work.

—Jake, April said, has my husband left any messages?

—None that I’m aware of, madam.

April remembered then that her house was completely without telephones. Walter, in his anger, had ripped them all out. She wondered if they had one in the staff quarters but couldn’t ask. It would just draw attention to how poorly she was being treated by Walter.

She also wondered if Jake knew about the fun she and Midge had been having with Carla. He must have known, the house wasn’t so big that they could get away with behavior like that. And besides, there were only three servants in the house and April knew they told each other everything.

—Be a darling, Midge said, and set up the breakfast, would you, Jake?

Midge was such a flirt. She was definitely being a bad influence. She seemed to like nothing more than getting naked in front of the servants. It was probably fun for her to have a holiday from her usual servants so that she could tease April’s.

The bedroom was really two rooms joined together. There was the bedroom proper, with double doors of dark wood leading to the fabulous bathroom. Beyond a set of marble arches however was another room, a small sitting room with a breakfast table surrounded by windows. April hadn’t ever used that area, she and Walter certainly weren’t in the habit of having lazy breakfasts in the bedroom together, and she was happy now to get a chance to enjoy it with Midge.

Midge went out to the beautifully bright breakfast area and took a seat at the table. She crossed her legs and sat in a polite and perfectly normal posture apart from the fact that she was completely naked. Jake had to set the table right in front of her, even standing behind her seat as he set her place. It was so obvious that Midge was just having fun with him, forcing him to look at her naked body, and April thought she might as well join in the fun. She didn’t want to seem like a prude.

She walked through the arch and into the sunny area and took a seat.

—Thank you, Jake, she said when he’d finally finished setting them up.

They were both naked at the table now. In front of them was fresh, hot coffee in a cafetiére, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a selection of pastries and preserves. The butter looked like it was homemade. There was also melon and berries in a little crystal bowl.

—If that will be all? Jake said.

Midge nodded and let the poor man out of the room.

—April! Midge said. You should have made him stay.

—Whatever for?

—It’s fun.

—Is it?

—Of course it is. Don’t pretend you didn’t get a thrill out of that.

April nodded. It was fun to tease the butler. There was no denying it. She still felt it was highly improper though. She just wasn’t at the same level as Midge when it came to enjoying her sexuality. At least, she wasn’t yet. It worried her that she was changing so fast. She didn’t know where it would end, and what kind of a person she would become if she stayed within this arrangement for too much longer.

If she kept hanging out with Midge she would probably become a complete slut. She’d already had her maid eat her pussy. She had Jake set the table for her while she sat at it, naked. Now she was eating breakfast nude. What next? she wondered.

As if on cue, Midge said, —So, what do you feel like doing today?

April was thrilled that Midge asked. She wanted nothing more than to spend the day with Midge. She’d been so lonely. She could also learn from Midge, there was so much to learn in this new world. But she also just wanted the company and kindness of a friend. If she admitted to herself how lonely she was she probably would have burst into tears.

—What are the options? April said as she dipped the corner of her croissant into her coffee.

—Well, Midge said, there’s a great spa down in the city. I love going there. They have all sorts of beauty treatments. They cover you with volcanic mud, rub you with salt, dunk you in ice water.

—Sounds terrific, April said mockingly.

—It’s great, Midge said, ignoring her tone. You’ll feel ten years younger when we’re done. Believe me.

III

A
PRIL WAS EXHAUSTED BY THE
time Midge dropped her off after the spa. It was a far more intense experience than she’d been prepared for. There were invasive massages by Swedish women with the strongest fingers she’d ever felt, she’d had coarse salt from the Dead Sea rubbed all over her skin till it was raw, and she’d lain in a mud bath for two hours with cucumber on her face.

She kissed Midge goodbye and as she walked into the house she actually felt sad that her friend wasn’t joining her. Frank was going to be home and Midge wanted to be there to have dinner with him. April wondered if Walter would be home too but she didn’t have to wonder for long. Carla was waiting for her with a handwritten note.

—Did you take this? April said to Carla as she read the note.

—Yes, Carla said and April sensed a defiance in her voice.

—Where’s the phone?

—There’s one in the kitchen.

—So you took the message on the phone?

—Walter, I mean Mr. Masterson, came home earlier.

—Oh, did he?

—Yes.

April tried to judge from Carla’s temperament if she was acting guiltily or not. She couldn’t tell.

—Did he, you know?

—Fuck me?

April was taken aback by Carla’s frankness.

—Did he, Carla?

—He did.

April was crestfallen. She’d been riding high after all the fun she’d had with Midge but this brought her back to the reality of her life. Her husband was a bullying brute and he was fucking the maid, creating a challenge to her own position in the household.

Carla must have noticed April’s distress because she softened her manner. She had been defiant, challenging April openly, but when she saw how insecure she made April she changed her behavior.

—April, she said.

April was surprised that Carla used her name but she was more surprised by the sound of kindness in her voice.

—Yes, Carla.

—Sit down. You look ready to faint.

April did feel faint and she was glad of the chance to sit down and collect her thoughts. She sat on a little settee in the hallway and Carla sat next to her.

—You don’t have to be afraid of me, Carla said.

April looked at her and felt such gratitude at the kindness she saw looking back at her.

—What do you mean?

—I know you feel threatened. I know it’s not right. If Walter was my husband and he was fucking the maid I’d be distraught too.

—Really?

—Of course I would, April. Any woman would feel threatened by it.

April reached out and touched Carla’s arm.

—Thank you for saying that, she said.

—I just thought you needed to hear it.

—I did, Carla.

Carla put her hands in her lap.

She said, —I know I’m just a maid to him. The only reason he’s fucking me is because he knows he can. He likes the feeling of power.

April nodded. —I’m not jealous, she said. I don’t even really love Walter anymore. At least, I don’t think I do.

—I know. I’ve seen men like him a hundred times before. They like throwing their weight around, taking what they want.

—They do.

—Don’t let it get between us.

—Do you really mean that?

—Of course I do, April. We’re the ones who have to live here. We have to work together. He’ll come in and do what he’s going to do and then go back to the office. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to challenge you. I’m not. I’m just doing my job.

April burst out crying. She felt so bad for the way she’d treated Carla the night before. She’d been acting as brutishly as Walter did. She’d been throwing her weight around, showing Carla who was boss and getting her to humiliate herself sexually. It wasn’t right.

—I’m so sorry for what happened last night, April said.

—It’s ok, April.

—No. It’s not alright. We never should have treated you like that. You are a person and you deserve as much respect as everyone else.

—That’s true.

—It’s just, with Midge, that’s the way she is with her servants and I got carried away with the power.

—I knew you were doing it because of Walter and me.

—I was doing it because I was being mean. I knew you had to do what I said and I got carried away with it.

—Well, don’t worry about it, April. I knew what I was getting into when I applied for the job here. It’s pretty well known among servants. We talk. You know how much they pay us?

—No.

—A thousand dollars a week.

—Not too bad.

—Where I come from it’s amazing.

—Well, that’s great.

—It is. But you know it comes with strings attached. Any serving jobs that come with pay like that mean the husbands get frisky with the staff.

—And the wives?

—Definitely.

—Well I never wanted to be a person like that. I don’t want to be a bully.

—Look, don’t worry about it. To be honest, sometimes I get as much of a thrill out of that stuff as you do.

—Really?

—Totally.

—You’re kidding.

—Not at all. You’ve got to know the feeling. Being told exactly what to do, not having a choice about it, it’s a turn on.

—You’re serious.

—I am.

—Even when it’s with women.

—I guess. Sometimes. If I’m in the mood, had enough wine.
You
must know, hanging out with Kit and Charmaine.

—What do you mean?

—April, the servants all talk. I know enough about Kit Kingsley to know she’s probably had her way with you.

April blushed bright red. —It’s true, she said. God, I’m so embarrassed.

—Don’t be. Just try to go with the flow.

—Well, I guess we’re all in the same boat, April said.

—We are, you know.

April nodded her head.

—Well, she said. I’m glad you opened up to me, Carla. And I promise I’ll never be cruel to you again.

Carla shrugged. —It’s all the same to me, April. To be honest, I had fun. It was nothing compared to what Walter likes to do.

—What does Walter like to do?

—You’re his wife. You probably know better than I do.

—Not what he does with other women.

—Well, maybe we’ll sit down and talk about it another time.

—Maybe we will, Carla.

Carla got up to leave and April realized she hadn’t even gotten the message from Walter yet.

—Carla, wait. What did Walter say?

—God, I totally forgot. He said he’d be needing your help with something tonight.

—What is it? April said.

She had a sinking feeling in her gut. A message from Walter was seldom good news.

—I guess they’re entertaining clients tonight. They’re calling you and Midge in to help keep them
satisfied
.

April rolled her eyes. —Carla, we really are in the same boat, you and I.

—Don’t I know it, Carla said. Anyway, there’ll be a car at seven so be ready. You’re meeting them at a hotel downtown.

—Which one.

—The Saint Regis. Do you know it?

—I’ve heard of it but never been.

—It’s something.

—You’ve been there.

—Not really. Just for a date.

—With Walter?

Carla nodded.

—It’s ok, April said. I’m really not jealous. Like you said, we can’t let him get between us. We’re the ones who have to live together after all.

Carla nodded and turned to leave.

—I better get back to work. I’ve got a hundred things to do.

April watched her hurry off. It was such a strange situation, she thought. Midge was her best friend and everything had been sexualized. That had been Kit’s doing. Now she was friends with Carla too but this time it was because of her own behavior that the relationship had been sexualized. Sex seemed to just get into everything here.

She felt like all her innocence was gone. Just a few short weeks ago she’d been living a completely normal life. She had a husband who she thought she loved. She’d never exactly been head over heels about Walter but their marriage worked. They had two lovely daughters. The biggest question in her day was what to buy for dinner at the A&P.

Now she’d just had a heart to heart with a woman who was her servant. She’d forced her to eat her pussy last night. She’d spent the day at an exclusive spa with Midge and tonight she’d be at the Saint Regis being used like a prostitute by God only knew who.

She looked at her watch. It was almost five-thirty. She’d better go upstairs and figure out what she was going to wear if she was to be ready by seven.

IV

A
PRIL SAT ON THE CHAIR
in front of her mirror and looked at her face. She felt like all she did lately was look after her body and have sex. She looked closely at her skin and was delighted at how fresh and clear it looked. All that time in the steam room and the expensive spa treatments were really doing their job. She looked at her reflection in the glass and thought she really did look like a model on the cover of a magazine. It was as if she’d already been airbrushed. There were perks to being rich.

She took off her clothes and stood in front of the mirror. She was in great shape and her light brown skin seemed to almost glow with health. She was a little worried that all the fine wine and fancy food might start to show up on her hips or waist but so far she looked great. She decided to find out about a gym and getting a personal trainer. There must be good gyms around here and Midge would know where she could get a trainer.