Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Emily

The next few hours passed in a whirlwind of introductions, small talk, and feigned wonder at the museum's exhibits. I did my best to maintain the wide-eyed Alice persona, gushing over displays of Victorian toys and marveling at the ornate decorations. All the while, the plug in my bottom served as a constant, intimate reminder of my true status.

Lord Adrian kept me close by his side, his hand often resting possessively on the small of my back. To the other guests, it likely appeared as a gentlemanly gesture. But I knew the truth - it was a subtle claim of ownership, a reminder that beneath the Alice costume, I remained his little girl to do with as he pleased.

As we paused before a display of antique dolls, an older woman in an elaborate Queen of Hearts costume approached us.

"Adrian, darling!" she exclaimed, air-kissing his cheeks. "How delightful to see you. And who is this charming young lady?"

"Lady Edna, allow me to introduce Alice," Lord Adrian said smoothly. "Alice, this is Lady Edna Winthrop, an old family friend."

I curtsied awkwardly, my face flushing as the movement caused the plug to shift inside me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

The noblewoman's eyes raked over me, her expression a mixture of curiosity, suspicion, and disdain.

"How quaint," Lady Edna said, her tone dripping with condescension. "And tell me, dear, where did Adrian find such an… enchanting young companion?"

I felt Lord Adrian's hand tighten slightly on my waist. "As I was telling the press earlier, Lady Edna, Alice and I met quite by chance at a charming little garden cafe," he said smoothly. "It was as if she had stepped right out of the pages of Carroll's book."

I nodded eagerly, channeling Alice's wide-eyed innocence. "Oh yes, it was like a fairy tale! Lord Adrian was ever so kind to invite me to this wonderful party."

Lady Edna's eyes narrowed slightly. "Indeed. And what is it you do, Alice dear? Aside from playing dress-up, of course."

I felt my cheeks flush hot at her thinly veiled insult. "Oh, I… I'm between jobs at the moment," I stammered, suddenly unsure how to respond. "But I love to read and explore museums like this one!"

"How… quaint," Lady Edna repeated, her lips curling into a barely concealed sneer.

Lord Adrian cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse us, Lady Edna, I believe they're about to start the tour of the new exhibit. Alice has been so looking forward to it."

Lord Adrian smoothly guided me away from Lady Edna, his hand firm on my lower back, his fingers descending just a little, onto my tailbone, so that I couldn't help chewing the inside of my cheek at the memory of his plans for later. The plug's subtle movements inside me sent jolts of helpless, taboo need through my body. I frowned a little, trying to maintain my innocent expression.

"Well handled, young lady," Lord Adrian murmured in my ear. "Lady Edna can be quite… well, bitchy, frankly. But you managed to charm her, I think."

I wasn't so sure about that, but I nodded anyway. "Thank you, Da— Lord Adrian," I whispered back, catching myself just in time. The praise, somewhat to my dismay, brought a real glow of affection to my chest. Lord Adrian Mallory was clearly a very naughty boy, but didn't that suit a bad girl like me?

We joined a small group gathering for the exhibit tour. As the guide began speaking about Victorian childhood, I tried to focus on her words. But the constant presence of the plug, combined with Lord Adrian's possessive touch, made it difficult to concentrate.

Halfway through the tour, I felt a familiar pressure in my bladder. I shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of the diaper beneath my costume. The idle thought of… of using it here, surrounded by strangers, made my cheeks burn with humiliation.

I leaned close to Lord Adrian. "I need to use the restroom," I whispered urgently.

He glanced down at me, a wicked glint in his eye. "No, you don't," he replied softly. "Little girls use their diapers, Alice. That's what they're for."

My eyes widened in horror. "But... but I can't," I protested weakly.

Lord Adrian's eyes hardened slightly. "You can and you will, young lady," he murmured, his voice low but firm. "Unless you'd prefer to explain to everyone why you're wearing a diaper under that costume?"

I bit my lip hard, tears pricking at my eyes. The pressure in my bladder was becoming unbearable, but the thought of deliberately wetting myself in public was mortifying.

"Please," I whispered desperately. "I can't…"

Lord Adrian's hand slid lower, cupping my bottom through the layers of my costume. He squeezed gently, the pressure causing the plug to shift inside me. I had to stifle a gasp.

"You have until the end of this tour to obey, little one," he said softly. "After that, there will be consequences."

I swallowed hard, nodding miserably. As the tour guide droned on about Victorian schoolrooms, I struggled with my body's needs. The diaper felt thick and obvious between my legs, though logically I knew no one else could tell it was there.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, I let go. Warm wetness flooded the diaper, and I had to bite my lip to keep from whimpering. The sensation was intensely humiliating, yet also strangely… freeing.

Lord Adrian must have sensed what was happening, because his hand squeezed my bottom again. "Good girl," he breathed in my ear.

As the mortifying warmth kept spreading through bulky fabric, I felt my face burn with shame. I couldn't believe I had done it, had peed on command, surrounded by other museum guests. The diaper grew heavy between my legs, the plastic pants containing the moisture but doing little to ease my embarrassment.

Lord Adrian's hand remained on my bottom, squeezing gently. "Such a good little girl," he murmured in my ear, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "Daddy is very pleased with you."

I bit my lip hard, torn between humiliation and an unwelcome surge of pride at his praise. How could I possibly feel good about this degrading act? And yet… the glow inside reignited at his approval.

The tour continued, but I could barely focus on the guide's words. Every movement reminded me of the wet diaper, the plug still nestled inside me, the evidence of my submission to Lord Adrian's will. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to adjust, but nothing distracted me from my utter degradation.

"Stand still, young lady," Lord Adrian warned softly. "Unless you'd like everyone to notice your predicament."

I froze, realizing my fidgeting might draw unwanted attention. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stay motionless, even as the wet fabric chafed against my sensitive skin.

Just then a bell rang. The guests moved into the museum's grand entrance hall, where round tables welcomed us, elegantly set for a sumptuous dinner.

Lord Adrian guided me to a table near the center of the room, his hand still resting possessively on my lower back. As we approached, I saw several other costumed guests already seated — a man dressed as a Victorian gentleman, a woman in an elaborate frock that looked like it might come from a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, and to my dismay, Lady Edna in her Queen of Hearts costume.

"Ah, Adrian!" the Victorian gentleman called out jovially. "Do join us. And bring your charming Alice, of course."

My stomach churned with anxiety as Lord Adrian pulled out a chair for me. The wet diaper sagged heavily as I sat, and I had to fight to keep my expression neutral. The plug shifted inside me, sending a thrill through my body that made me gasp softly.

Lady Edna sat on Lord Adrian's right, with Sir Geoffrey on her other side. To my left was a man who introduced himself as Johann Stier, and told me he had come from Switzerland for the gala.

"Are you quite alright, dear?" Lady Edna asked, her tone dripping with false concern. "You look a bit… flushed."

I felt my cheeks burn even hotter. "Oh, I'm fine," I said, trying to inject some of Alice's cheerfulness into my voice. "Just a bit overwhelmed by all the excitement!"

Lord Adrian's hand came to rest on my thigh under the table, squeezing gently. A warning.

"Indeed," he said smoothly. "Alice is still getting used to high society events. It's all quite new to her."

The gentleman — whose real name, I learned, was Sir Geoffrey — leaned in conspiratorially.

"Well, my dear," he said with a wink, "the key is to just relax and enjoy yourself. We're all friends here."

I nodded, trying to smile despite my discomfort. "Thank you, Sir Geoffrey. Everyone has been so kind."

As the first course was served, I found myself struggling to participate in the conversation. The wet diaper chafed uncomfortably with every small movement, and the plug seemed to make its presence known with each shift in my posture. Lord Adrian's hand remained on my thigh, alternating between soothing strokes and warning squeezes when I fidgeted too much.

Lady Edna kept shooting suspicious glances my way, her eyes narrowing each time I stumbled over my words or blushed at an innocent comment. I could tell she didn't quite buy the innocent Alice act.

"So, Alice dear," she said during a lull in the conversation, "tell us more about your background. Where did you grow up? What does your family do?"

I felt Lord Adrian's fingers dig into my thigh as panic fluttered in my chest. We hadn't discussed a backstory beyond our chance meeting.

"Oh, well," I began hesitantly, "I grew up in a small town. In America, as I'm sure you've noticed. Nothing terribly exciting, I'm afraid. And my family… they're quite ordinary. My father works in an office, and my mother stays home."

Lady Edna's eyebrow arched skeptically.

"How... quaint," Lady Edna said, her tone dripping with disdain. "And what brought you to England, my dear? Surely not just the chance to play dress-up with Adrian?"

I felt my cheeks flush hot at her thinly veiled insult. Lord Adrian's hand tightened on my thigh in warning.

"I… I've always loved English literature," I stammered, trying to channel Alice's wide-eyed innocence. "I came here hoping to see all the places I'd read about in books. It's been like stepping into a fairy tale!"

Lady Edna's eyes narrowed further. "Indeed. And how convenient that you happened to stumble upon a wealthy lord to fund your little adventure."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Lord Adrian cut in smoothly.

"Now, now, Edna," he chided gently. "There's no need for that. Alice has been a delightful companion. Her enthusiasm for our culture is quite refreshing."

He squeezed my thigh again, this time in what felt like reassurance. I gave him a grateful smile, though inside I was a mess of conflicting emotions. The wet diaper, the plug, the constant need to maintain this facade — it was all becoming overwhelming.

Just then, a waiter appeared to clear our plates. As he reached across me, his elbow accidentally jostled my arm. I jerked in surprise, causing the plug to shift dramatically inside me. I barely managed to stifle a gasp at the shockwave of sensation traveling through my body. My face flushed hot, and I gripped the edge of the table, trying desperately to maintain my composure.

"Are you quite alright, dear?" Lady Edna asked, her eyes glittering with barely concealed suspicion.

"I'm... I'm fine," I stammered, forcing a smile. "Just a bit startled, that's all."

Herr Stier, to my left, leaned over and murmured in my ear, "I shouldn't wonder, with that Lady tormenting you to get at your companion. Courage, my dear: Lord Adrian did well to come tonight, and to bring you. I'm a real-life Swiss banker, as tired and pompous as that sounds, and… well, we know these things."

"She is awful, isn't she?" I whispered back. "I like Lord Adrian very much, but…"

"Yes?" prompted Herr Stier.

"Well…," I started.

I hardly realized that my voice had begun to rise in volume with the gradual increase in ambient noise in the hall. As I continued, though, I suddenly became aware that a lull had arisen in the conversation among Lord Adrian, Lady Edna, and Sir Geoffrey. My next words, already begun, would be clearly audible to them, and the glass of wine I had drunk kept me from caring, though a moment later I knew I should have cared very much indeed.

"The rest of the British are just… insufferable."