Grace and Mrs. Miller

"Carol Miller speaking."

"Oh hello Mrs Miller, it's Alice Lockwood here, I gather you wanted to speak with me?"

"Yes, thank you for returning my call. I hope you're well."

"Very well thank you, how may I help you?"

"I don't know if you remember me, I covered the bowls tournament for the Chronicle last August."

"Yes of course, you wrote a splendid article but I'm afraid your pen picture of Grace as the attractive, trendy face of the sport rather went to her head."

"Oh, how is Grace?"

"Oh much the same, I'm hoping her sister's wedding provides inspiration for her to get her skates on, and find a suitable young man for herself. If she doesn't watch out she'll miss the boat."

"She's a delightful and very attractive woman, she can't be short of admirers."

"Dear me yes, you're quite right, she could have the pick of every eligible bachelor in Middlesex, but she doesn't show the slightest interest."

"Well it's the wedding that I was phoning about actually, I don't know if you are aware, but the Chronicle often features local society weddings and I'd very much like to report on Fiona's wedding if you'll allow me?"

"I'd be delighted, you'll need an invitation to get into the reception, I'll send one to your office."

"We'd also like a photographer to take some pictures at the church and the reception, just two or three photos to appear in the article, and he'll be careful not to tread on the toes of the official wedding photographer."

"Yes that's perfectly acceptable, I look forward to seeing you at the wedding."

"Splendid, would you give Grace my best wishes, and tell her that I'm looking forward to renewing our acquaintance."

"Yes of course, she'll be delighted, she often says how much she enjoyed the day she spent with you last summer, and how disappointed she was to miss you on the day of the finals."

"Oh! Really?"

"Oh yes, look I must dash, I'll see you at the wedding, and I'll be sure to tell Gracie that you'll be there, goodbye."

"Goodbye and thank you."

A warm tingle spread through Carol's chest and travelled down her spine as she replaced the receiver. The news that Grace remembered her and had spoken of her had reawakened Carol's considerable fondness for her. She put the wedding date in her diary and started to think seriously about a new outfit to wear so that she looked her best.

On a bright but chilly Saturday morning in mid May, Carol dressed herself in her new grey, knee length sheath dress with wide lapels, a smart red cloche hat and black heeled shoes. It wasn't acceptable for a lady to dress up and go bare legged, so she unfurled a pair of tan coloured seamed stockings along her shapely legs, and clipped them to her short waist girdle. As she did so, she became slightly aroused, wondering why she found women's lingerie so seductive and sensuous.

She got into the photographer's car for a lift to the church and showed rather more shapely stockinged leg than she intended; the photographer, who she knew well, gave a low wolf whistle followed by a cheeky grin.

They encountered heavy traffic, and arrived at the church just as the bride and bridesmaids were preparing to enter. Most of the guests were already seated. Grace, as chief bridesmaid, was bent down straightening the train of her sister's wedding dress. As she got up, their eyes met, neither woman could hide their delight at seeing each other.

"Mrs Miller, Carol, how lovely to see you. Please don't dash off before we get a chance to catch up."

"Hello Grace, you look absolutely beautiful, stunning, and so does your lovely sister of course. Perhaps we can have a chat after the ceremony?"

"I'd love that, I'll look out for you later."

During the ceremony, Carol sat at the back of the church and could see nothing much of Grace except the back of her fair haired head. Nevertheless, she kept stealing glances toward her. As Grace followed the bride and groom out of the church, her eyes met Carol's for what seemed like the longest moment. Carol felt a flutter in her breast, and overwhelming urge to embrace the young woman and shower her with kisses.

Grace managed to look fresh faced, beautiful and alluring all at the same time in her floral headdress and her large posy, setting off her expensive calf length bridesmaid dress and white heeled sandals.

From a distance, beneath the shade of a large maple, Carol watched the formal wedding

photographs being taken. Eventually, the wedding photographer reached the point where he no longer needed the bridesmaids. The morning chill had gone and it had become a fine, warm day. As Grace walked over to her, Carol excused herself from the conversation she was having with two of the guests. Not knowing quite how to greet each other, a clumsy attempt at a handshake turned into a brief hug. Grace kissed Carol on her cheek, and immediately felt that she had overstepped the normal boundaries of middle class English reserve.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable, I think I was a little over familiar."

"No, no Grace, please don't apologise, it was nice," said Carol as she took hold of Grace's right hand and caressed her forearm.

In a show of affection, emboldened by Carol's words and gesture, Grace embraced her again, just long enough for their breasts to press against each other, and for Carol's lips to brush her neck. Still holding each other's hands, their eyes met and locked together for several seconds. They gazed at each other with mutual, unspoken attraction, until they were interrupted by one of Grace's aunts, who couldn't wait to tell her how beautiful she looked, and how it could be her turn next, if only she would reciprocate the attentions of one of several eligible young men that she knew couldn't help but admire her.

"Please stay after the reception, I'd really like to talk to you," said Grace as she was led away by her aunt, to be shown off and paraded in front of some of the groom's friends.

Carol felt light headed for a moment, her breasts still tingled and her nipples hardened at the memory of Grace pressing against her. She touched her cheek where Grace had kissed it, and watched the beautiful young woman tiptoe elegantly between the gravestones as she was led away by her aunt.

It was unusual for Carol to sit with guests at the reception of a society wedding that she was covering for the newspaper, but Alice Lockwood had ensured that she had a place at one of the tables, so she made small talk with a group of guests, and waited patiently for the formalities to be over before seeking out Grace. The reception venue boasted several large rooms, and the two women gravitated to a corner of one of these.

"I hope you won't feel offended if I tell you that I almost dozed of during the speeches," said Carol with a smirk.

"Dear me, it was so tedious, daddy especially, and the best man, where on earth did they get him from?"

They shared a chuckle at their assessment of the speeches before Carol said, "I've thought about you a great deal since we met last summer."

"Oh, me too, I'm so sorry that I let you down on finals day."

"You didn't let me down, I understood that you needed to be with your sister, I'm only sorry that you missed your mother's victory."

"Oh don't worry, my mother has plenty of victories for me to witness, she's had one today, her eldest daughter married off to the son of a knight of the realm, it doesn't matter that she was crying on my shoulder last night because she doesn't love him. Oh dear, I've spoken out of turn, you won't put that in your article will you?"

"No, don't be silly, I could have written my report on this wedding without coming anywhere near it. It's just a game really, the Chronicle gets to show the little people how the other half lives, and the families concerned get their egos massaged."

"I see, but not all of your work is like that is it."

"Well there's a fair amount of routine about it but I do get some interesting assignments now and then."

"I wanted to talk to you about being a reporter. I took English Language and Literature A levels at school and passed with distinction."

"Well done, did you go on to university?"

"No, my parents didn't see the point of sending me because I was a girl and girls don't have careers, they get married and have babies."

"What a shame, it would have been so good for you, you can settle down with a husband and babies any time but women don't get many chances to learn and develop professionally."

"I know, that's why I'm determined to get a job with a newspaper, can you help me please?"

"Why yes, I'll see what I can do. I can't promise anything, but I'll have a word with my boss and see if we can find something for you."

Grace took Carol's right hand in both of hers and squeezed it gently, "I'd be so grateful Carol, really grateful."

Carol felt a tremble of excitement, her nipples tingled again and she took hold of Grace's right forearm with her left hand, "Look, why don't we meet for lunch on Friday? It's a quiet day for me, so I'll have plenty of time to discuss it with you properly."

"Yes, I'd love that. It's my birthday on Friday, it'll be a lovely treat."

"Jolly good, we'll celebrate. Let me have your phone number and I'll ring in the week to confirm."

"No, please, let me ring you at your office, I don't want questions being asked by my mother."

"Very well, ring me on Monday afternoon, I should have had a chance to speak to the editor by then."

At that moment, Mrs Lockwood approached, "You two look as though your having a very earnest discussion. I hope you're convincing my remaining 'single' daughter about the benefits of marriage Mrs Miller."

"Something like that Mrs Lockwood, would you mind if I got a couple of quotes from you now, and allow me to check out some of the wedding details, then I can be off and out of your hair?"

"Yes, of course, let's go where it's a little quieter and I'll fill you in."

"Say goodbye before you go Mrs Miller," said Grace as her mother led Carol away.

Grace watched her mother and Carol talking to each other for five minutes or so before they shook hands and her mother rejoined the reception. Carol looked around for her but Grace was by her side before she knew it.

"It was so lovely to see you again today Carol, I really like you, can we be friends? I'd like you to be my friend."

"As far as I'm concerned, we're friends already," said Carol as they took hold of each other's hands again.

"Do you really have to go now?"

"Yes, I must, but I'll see you on Friday and we'll really get to know each other."

Grace embraced her friend and they kissed each other's cheeks before releasing their lingering hold.

"We're becoming very French with all of this kissing and hugging," said Grace.

"I've told you, I like it," said Carol with a smile as she turned to go to the taxi that she had ordered earlier.

********************

As the Monday morning editorial meeting finished, and the reporters left Reg's office, Carol hung back to ask a favour.

"Reg, could I have a word please?"

"I can give you five minutes Carol, what's up?"

"I've got a young acquaintance who's desperate to become a journalist, I wondered if we could find an opening for her. She can type and has secretarial and office experience. We could perhaps start her in the back office, if we can find something for her to do."

"How young is she? I'd need to see a reference from her current employer."

"Of course, she's almost twenty two and mad keen. She could shadow me on assignments from time to time and we can see how she gets on."

"Hmm, okay, you know I trust your judgement, go and see Sue in personnel and tell her to draw up a part time contract on a starter's wage. She'll get the reference sorted out, and you can agree a start date with your young friend."

"Acquaintance," corrected Carol, not really sure why she was playing their emerging friendship down.

"Okay, who is she anyway, where did you find her?"

"She's one of Alice Lockwood's daughters. I met her last year at the bowls tournament and again on Saturday at the wedding."

"You are moving in exhaled circles these days," grinned Reg.

"Thanks Reg, I owe you one."

"No you don't my girl, you've amassed plenty of brownie points over the years, so it's about time you used a few up."

Carol thanked Reg again and made straight for Sue in personnel. Afterwards she worked on her wedding article, choosing the photos to accompany it. Unusually, she included a picture of the bridesmaids on their own. She sat looking at it for several minutes, running her forefinger over the image of Grace. She was brought out of her reverie by the shrill ringing tone of the phone on her desk. It was the switchboard.

"Mrs Miller, there's a Miss Lockwood for you."

"Oh good, put her on please."

"Hello Grace?"

"Yes, hello Mrs Miller."

Despite her feelings for her, Carol was glad that her young protege had the sense to address her formally in the work environment.

"I've got very good news for you, I asked Mr Moore, the Editor, whether we might find a place for you and he agreed without question."

"Wonderful, I'm so thrilled, thank you Mrs Miller."

"It's only part time at first but, if you impress, I'm sure they'll want to make it full time eventually."

"Oh thank you so much, it's a dream come true."

"We'll still need to meet for lunch on Friday, I need to be able to discuss it with you in person. Hopefully we'll have a reference from your current employer by then, and we can talk about your duties and a start date; and I haven't forgotten that it's your birthday."

"You'll be... I mean it will be a delightful present, I can't thank you enough."

"I'm looking forward to it very much."

"Me too Mrs Miller."

"Till Friday then, goodbye Grace."

"Goodbye and thank you again."

Carol replaced the receiver. She sat for a moment relishing the feeling of elation in her chest, then she detected another feeling, a faint glow in her pussy which grew into a tingle, then a twitch. Her pussy felt damp and she squeezed her stocking clad thighs together to savour the feeling. There could be no doubt in her mind now that she felt sexually attracted towards Grace.

The same evening at home, she said goodnight to her husband earlier than usual, and spent a long time playing with makeup remover and moisturiser, while she contemplated her desires at her dressing table. She felt aroused as she got into bed, so she closed her eyes and reached down beneath her nightdress. Her pussy was wetter than she could ever remember, it had only been a couple of weeks since she had last masturbated, but she felt a strong urge to have an orgasm tonight. She tried to imagine her usual scenario of a man, vaguely like her husband, disappointing a sexy Amazonian woman in bed before she threw him out and pleasured herself. It was no good, she was highly aroused and her fingers were slick with her juices, but it wasn't enough.

The scenario evaporated, and was replaced by her imagining that she was slowly running her hand up beneath Grace's bridesmaid dress as they lay in a bedroom at the reception hotel, kissing each other. She saw her hand making progress, inch by inch, up over Grace's stocking tops until she reached a suspender clip. She placed her forefinger underneath the suspender strap and her thumb on top, then she slid her hand along its length, stopping level with her pussy. Next she slipped her fingers inside the leg of Grace's panties, and buried them deep into her warm wet cunt. As Carol cried out with delight at the best orgasm she'd ever had, she imagined Grace climaxing long and loud with a sexy 'come' expression on her lovely face.

That was it, that was the moment in which she could no longer pretend that she wasn't sexually attracted to women, and one woman in particular. It was a revelation, she felt a sense of relief as she realised that, whatever else happened now, there was no going back; she wanted to explore this new feeling.

Grace, on the other hand, at almost twenty two, had never had a serious boyfriend, had never been aroused by a man, had never masturbated and had only ever believed that touching herself was dirty and forbidden. She went to sleep dreaming of her new job and Carol. She felt a close attraction to Carol that she did not yet fully understand, but it felt as pleasurable as the time that her best friend at school kissed her in the science lab store room.

********************

Grace spent Friday morning deciding what to wear, and getting ready for lunch with Carol. She had several dresses out on her bed and had tried them all. She felt as though she was getting ready for a romantic date, she wanted to impress. Eventually, she chose a summer dress with a swing skirt that swayed to and fro as she walked along the High Street in her blue heeled sandals and seamed stockings.

Carol had arrived early and was sitting at the table she had booked at the restaurant. She was sipping a gin and tonic as Grace breezed in and flashed her a warm smile. She rose from her chair and the two women hugged and kissed each other on the cheek.

Carol looked very desirable in a new navy blue halter-neck pencil dress, with white polka dots and a sweetheart neckline. The broad white belt emphasised her wasp like waist and fulsome but firm breasts. She'd lost a few pounds in weight over the last couple of months, and the shapely dress made her look younger, she could easily have passed for a woman in her early thirties. She'd already attracted several wolf whistles from her colleagues at work that morning, and from two men delivering beer to a pub that she had passed on the way to the restaurant.

She wore circular knit seamless stockings, which were quickly becoming fashionable, in beige, with a pair of white heeled sandals. With a naturally firm shapely figure, she'd decided to try out a suspender belt rather than the short waist girdle that she normally wore. She felt sexy and available with a noticeable tingle in her pussy. She didn't care for the attention that she'd received from various men that morning, but she wanted to impress Grace, and she did.

"Oh my, Carol, you look wonderful, so... so lovely."

"Thank you Grace, you look pretty good yourself, I love the dress," she said as Grace sat down.

Carol delved into her handbag and pulled out a birthday card, and a small box containing a pale blue beaded necklace, and handed them to Grace.

"Happy Birthday."

"Oh Carol, you shouldn't have."

Grace opened the card, then she opened the box and took out the necklace.

"It's beautiful, you really shouldn't have, I mean we've only known..."

"Don't be embarrassed, it's your birthday, and I also wanted to mark the occasion of you starting work at the Chronicle. Here, let me put them on for you."

Carol arose from her chair, moved around behind Grace, and clipped the necklace around her slender neck. As she did so, she ran her fingers very lightly down the nape of her neck, then rested her hands on her shoulders, before running them down her bare arms to her elbows. Grace almost swooned with pleasurable sensations, she tried to regather her composure as Carol sat down again. Carol's intention had been to see whether she could sexually arouse her young friend and one look at her face told her that she had.

Carol broke an awkward silence, "So, lets talk about your new role, we've had a glowing reference from the Register Office, so you can start as soon as you like."

The two women had a leisurely lunch as they discussed Grace's new job. It was understood that she would perform office duties in the main at first, and would shadow Carol on assignments when the opportunity arose.

Their mutual attraction was obvious, and even Grace began to understand that this was more than just a burgeoning friendship between two women. She fingered her necklace, and Carol felt certain that whether Grace knew it or not, she could be seduced by her, but she would have to move slowly and carefully so that she didn't frighten her off.