Nanny Diaries 3 - Pride and Prejudice

Earning a Treat

"It is quite a view...but if it is cooler up here, how hot is it down there?" Nicola sighed as we stood against the garden wall, staring down across the south of France towards the sea in the distance. Our holiday villa was up in the mountains, and it was probably was cooler than anywhere at sea level, but at the height of summer, it was still baking hot. We were wearing thin summer frocks, all flowers, with just our nappies underneath, which was about as casual as we would get, we reckoned, and we were still boiling. "Last year, you let us run around in just our diapers...slathered in suntan lotion, obviously."

"Obviously...but things were different last year...Mama and Auntie Susannah sunbathed too and modesty was only required when we left the villa," I remembered, a little dreamily. Nicola was right, that holiday had been totally different. Helen and Colin had only just agreed to turn their three daughters into nurslings four weeks before, and the family was still living in London at the time, well away from the social pressures of the village. Helen had still been dressing normally at home, which was modest but no more so than the other ladies of Kensington, who were a rich, conservative bunch at the best of times. So, the holiday had been quite relaxed for everyone, although the three girls were still settling down to their new lives and dear Caris was about to be transformed, as we prepared to move to Meadvale. But a year on, I could not really say that anyone was particularly relaxed in hot, sunny France. Us girls were under just as much control as I had imposed on my nascent litter twelve months before, I suppose, but the attitudes and behaviour of our responsible adults was very different, which changed everything. Turning away from the wall, with Nicola holding my hand, I looked along the terrace, to where the five Daughters of Eve were taking a mid-morning coffee in the shade. They were all dressed in their usual gowns, tightly corseted and probably wearing all the usual undergarments, none of which were keeping them very cool, it was safe to assume. "I don't think they will be doing much sunbathing this year..."

"But it is fine for the men...it is so sexist."

" " I said, quoting Peter chapter three from the bible without any difficulty after months of bible study. Nicola looked at me and rolled her eyes. "It is all in the holy bible, Nic...we should be obedient and the rules are different for men!"

"Hmm." She replied, not convinced by my argument, as mum looked up and noticed us.

"Come here girls." Mummy said, holding out her hand to us. We hurried over, still holding hands, like the good little girls we were. "Why aren't you playing with your sisters?"

"We were just stretching our legs, Mummy." I responded, as I took her hand and she drew me closer. Helen took hold of Nicola. "Nanny said we could, I promise."

"She will take you for a walk later, I expect." Mummy suggested, as she slipped her hand up under my floral dress to check my diaper. Helen was doing the same to her daughter. "We need some fresh food from the village and it's not too far."

"Aren't you coming too, Mummy?" I asked, ignoring what she was doing.

"No, darling...we will take a walk this evening...when it is a bit cooler." She replied, patting my dress straight, once she was sure that I was clean and dry. "You can all have a swim after your naps this afternoon and then we are giving you tea here before we go out to dinner. Nanny Ford and Nanny Stewart are staying here to babysit."

"Thank you, Mummy." I responded, as expected, and received a cuddle for my pains. It was the routine I had expected, in many ways. I had put my litter down for naps in the afternoons so that they could stay up a bit later in the evenings. And sleeping in the hottest part of the day makes sense, which prompted me to speak my mind, a little. "Aren't you hot, Mummy?"

"No darling, thank you very much for asking...we are all quite comfortable...and Daughters of Eve must dress modestly according to the doctrine, at all times." She replied, as she put an arm around me. "But we are enjoying the view and watching you all play...so, run along and make the most of your holidays...go play with your sisters."