Drinking Games

Victoria returned for her shopping trip with nothing to show for it. No gift for her brother’s birthday party that evening. Only a strange encounter with ex-suitor, Omar. Walking in she knew she was late. Dinner will have been served and his guests will have arrived and been seated. She was still in her day dress and not her party dress.

And her father will be most unhappy.

It was 1889 and Victoria and her brother James lived with their father in their townhouse in Baltimore. While her father allowed James to get away with anything he was far too dominating with her. Victoria always wondered about his motivations with her, sometimes she feared that it was more than a simple desire to protect her.

Running up the stairs to her bedroom, she called for a maid to help her into a green off the shoulder party dress for dinner. The maid then pilled her hair up to have a cascade falling over one shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she descended the stairs and stepped into the dining room.

James hadn’t seen his sister all day. He made sure to not peek so that what she got him would be a surprise.

He had cleaned the place like he did when he was nervous about his friends and family mingling and he had set the things up. Simple tasks to keep his hands busy. When his guests arrived he smiled. Buddies from battle. The best and the brightest. He was a bit disappointed when his sister hadn’t arrived yet and they had already started eating, but when she walked in the room several men whistled and that caught James’s attention.

He got up and walked over to his sister and kissed her on the cheek before hugging her.

“You look lovely. So lovely. Come and have a seat next to me. I get the head of the table today because it’s my birthday.” He looked at her and laughed softly as if sharing some private joke with her.

“James! Happy birthday, brother.” She beamed at him, kissing his cheek. “Where is father?” She noticed that he was absent from the table and that made her nervous. James shrugged at the question of where father was. He had no clue. Breathing a sigh of relief, Victoria fell into character in front of the guests. Taking her place at his right hand side, she sat and smiled at the table,

“Please excuse my tardiness.” She looked over the faces recognizing some of them but not all. “What have I missed?”

“Nothing much. The boys here were being their usual charming self and we started on the meal.” A servant brought Vicki her meal. She thanked the servant and looked at her brother.

“How’s your day been? Have you been enjoying yourself?” She leaned into asking him quietly but swallowed.

“I suppose, been looking forward to my gifts though.” He grinned at her.

She had no gift… well… she had a gift. One that she had been wanting to give him for so long. Though she was afraid. He’d hate her. He’d yell. He’d tell father and the shame…. Clearing her throat, she accepted the glass of wine the servant poured for her.

“Now are you and your friends planning for some shenanigans later tonight?” She raised an eyebrow at her brother, smiling as she sipped her glass.
James nodded and laughed.

“We do though!” He looked around at all the men. “We’re planning on going to the next town over and getting royally drunk and then making our way around the town in a shenana-….shinaganinin-…. A cluster full of messes and games!” He laughed at his inability to say the word and went about eating his dinner. He kept one hand on his leg and when he was sure no one was looking he reached over and patted Vicki’s leg to reassure her. He could tell she was nervous. “Will you join us?”

Taking a deep breath and blink she looked at her brother and laughed along with him. Feeling his hand on her leg created a legion of butterflies in her stomach. She was ashamed to acknowledge the affect that simple gesture had on her person, though she was sure it was apparent, she looked down at her plate and could see a flush of her skin that tucked itself down into her dress.

“I… I’m not sure that it’s appropriate for women my age to be out that late…and….drinking….” She giggled nervously. She wanted to grab his hand, to squeeze it, hell to bring it further north. She felt like such a coward. “But it’s your birthday and if you don’t mind dragging your little sister out, I’d be happy to join you.” She pulled her eyes reluctantly from his and took another sip of her wine. “How shall I dress?” She looked over at the few girls present and they were wearing day dresses she noticed. They had come prepared for this. No one had got the reaction she did however. She was showing more skin then the other ladies. Another thought that made her blush. Her eyes fell on the men in the group and wondered what they thought the evening would be like.

James smiled and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. “I will loan you some of my clothes, sister dear. These lovely girls have…volunteered to be hunted tonight.” There was a glint in his eye that said trouble was going to come. “We men will get drunk and then we use our skills and know how to hunt down these lovely ladies in the town. Like a fox hunt but with women.” He smiled and laughed loudly as the group joined it.

Looking at him she let her eyes fall to the ladies once more. A fox hunt. Interesting…

Leaning in again he whispered to his sister, “And these men get handsy. And I’d really not like you to hurt them.”

Feeling his breath on the side of her neck made her nipples hard.

“And what will I do? Carry your jackets?” She smirked, keeping her face near his.

He laughed lightly. “No I figured you and I could take a stroll down the bay and enjoy the night. They all want sex. And I want to spend time with my baby sister.” He tweaked her chin, “Besides, if we both joined them, you and I would end up paired together and how silly would that be?!” He laughed softly in her ear.

She sighed and bit her lip. Nodding she looked back at him.

“It’s your birthday… you should… be… trying to get laid.” She whispered back. “But… if you’re content with spending time with me…” She bit her lip again, “I don’t think Daddy will know…. He is out of town. Are you sure you’d rather spend time with me?” She felt her hands trembling slightly.

He nodded and kissed her cheek before smiling. “Yeah! Of course I do.” He turned back to the group. “Good news gents! She’s agreed to join us for the hunt tonight!” The men cheered.

She laughed nervously and finished her wine starting to feel warm from the alcohol.

“I suppose I should go change.” She looked at her brother, “You said something about borrowing clothes?”

He nodded and kissed her cheek. “Yes, please do. They are in my drawer. You know the one.”

“Yes of course.” She pushed back her chair and realized something, “Um… James, may I speak with you for a moment?” She stepped away from the table and pulled him aside. He looked at her as he got up and heard the jeers from his fellow men.

“I’ll need help dressing. I can’t get in and out of my corset alone. I’m afraid the servants will tell father that they dressed me in men’s clothes.”

“Darn! I forgot about that. I’ll help dress you.” He smirked at his sister. “Now up to your room!”

Nodding, she walked quickly up the stairs and to her room, leaving the door cracked a little. She began undressing as best as she could on her own. It was very difficult, but she managed her jewelry and accessories. She tried pulling the dress over her head but the under skirts got her all twisted up and she found herself on the floor, cocooned in fabric.

If James finds me like this, I’ll never live this down. She thought trying to scramble to her feet.

James walked up and knocked on the door as he saw his sister laying there in a cocoon of her clothes. “Well well well. If it isn’t the caterpillar trying to be a butterfly. You’re already beautiful enough. You don’t need to be a butterfly. Not for anyone else. You’re already one to me.” He bent down to help her un-cocoon and stand up before kissing her on the cheek.

Blushing furiously, Victoria was grateful for his help, even if it was a dreadfully embarrassing moment.

“So…” She looked at the door, “Are we going to be watching them, you and I or are we doing are own thing?” She asked in hushed tones. Untying her underskirts and bustle she stood in her pantalets, corset and chemise. Turning so that she had her back to James she looked over her shoulder. “Will you unlace me please?” She asked.

He nodded as he set about unlacing her corset.

“Well I figured that we would let them have their sport and eat some desserts while they play and screw. And if one happens to find you… I’ll wring his neck. No one will take you from me tonight. How does that sound sister dear?” He finished unlacing her and kissed her shoulder slowly. “Do you think you’d enjoy that?”

Her heart skipped a beat and she closed her eyes at his kiss. She was acting like a idiot. The visit from her ex beau threw her off and she just hadn’t found her footing again. That had to be it.

“Are you suggesting to use me as bait!?” She turned looking at him, wide eyed, “I like it, yes, as long as you protect me.” She kissed his lips chastely as she stepped forward and wiggled out of the corset. Turning she looked at him, scandalously dressed in front of her brother.

“So, clothes. Shall we to your room?”

James laughed loudly before quieting himself. “I’ll bring the clothes to you. You stay here.” And with that he dashed out. Returning a few minutes later he walked in and held out the clothes to her. “These will work!” He hugged her tightly. “I love you so! This is the best birthday ever!”

“Seeing me in my knickers is the best birthday present ever?” She raised an eyebrow.

He laughed and shook his head. “No. you playing with me. Like we used to. I miss those times.” He smiled at her as she went to go get dressed.

Walking around the dressing screen with the clothes that he brought, her face was flushed and though she teased him, her mind wandered back to her…. possible present. How could she know if he would be…comfortable with it without asking? Thinking about it, dreaming about it.