Conrad,
I cannot thank you enough for your assistance with Rachel's condition; I found your devise very useful in treating her. I am writing to you for another reason, however. I am ashamed to say that the stress of managing Rachel's illness has taken a terrible toll on me both physically and mentally. I am no longer capable of making sound decisions about her well-being. My mind has been clouded by emotion and weakened by lust. I did not intend to be so frank in this letter, but I feel I must confide in you. I fear for my granddaughter, and I do not know how she will survive after my passing. I must risk your contempt if it means salvaging her welfare.
I have had my lawyer draw up legal documents outlining my wishes for Rachel's care, as well as certification of her mental state. As you are a doctor, I trust you will review these documents and give me your opinion. You will also notice that I am requesting that you be entrusted with Rachel's well-being as well as with my estate after my passing. I have thought long and hard about who I can entrust her care to. I believe that there are people who would take advantage of her condition for their own perverse desires, and those who would be too lenient with her, which would make her condition far worse. Please Conrad, put my mind at rest and say you'll accept.
I realize that in asking this of you I am asking that you neglect your own pursuits, professionally and personally. I selfishly wish that you possess the moral fortitude and wit to resolve Rachel's condition where I have failed, and become her husband as you once intended. I do not presume to meddle in your affairs, Conrad, and I entirely understand and respect if you have other plans. Naturally, caring for Rachel will be a challenge, but in giving you control of my estate, I should hope you will see it as a means to court society ladies befitting a man of your station.
Please send word as soon as you can.
Sincerely,
Josiah
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Conrad hastily set the letter aside and opened the large folder beneath it. Inside were indeed legal documents outlining precisely what Josiah had mentioned in his letter. Additionally, the household expenses were neatly outlined, and a substantial allowance would be awarded to him in order to pay all expenses and see to Rachel's comfort. He noted that a significant amount remained after expenses. Conrad set the folder down, and poured himself a drink, his hand shaking slightly as he did so.
Thoughts flashed through his mind; he had scarcely dared to imagine what Josiah would do with that chair, though he knew all too well. Imagining the implications of Josiah's "mind ... weakened by lust," intrigued and aroused him. His penis grew stiffer in his pants, and he let his fingers brush against it through his trousers absently. Unbidden, he imagined Rachel nude, strapped into the chair, and forced to endure treatments to resolve her hysteria. His penis throbbed, straining to be released. He had hardly believed that Josiah would accept, much less use, the chair. Now that Josiah was entrusting Rachel's care and his entire estate to him, the potential for treatments were limitless. Conrad's entire body trembled with the thought.
He had been eager to experiment with the condition that had intrigued him since he had first studied it at University. That Rachel suffered from an incurable form of hysteria and was considered an invalid, he would have complete power to try anything, once he signed the documents in that folder. He rested his chin in his palm and took a deep breath. He sat down at his writing desk and pulled out his stationary.
Dear Josiah,
I am writing immediately to let you know that after giving your proposal serious thought, I am accepting. Enclosed you shall find all of the signed documents.
- C
Conrad addressed and mailed the package immediately, then returned to his small apartment to ponder. He paced for many minutes before he eagerly snatched a scrap of paper and began sketching madly. By the time he had finished, his eyes were red with fatigue, his hands stained with ink, and the clock tower had chimed four.
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Josiah's mind was immediately put at rest. Though Rachel's episodes had grown from increasing frequency to an unbearable constant, he knew at once in reading Conrad's letter that all would soon be put right. Josiah had refused contact with Rachel after her last treatment. So terrified was he of her and his own lust that he ordered her unrestrained except at night and handled by the household staff as usual, and she was not to touch or pleasure herself in anyway, or she would be whipped. Josiah himself remained locked up fast in his study with that awful chair, a constant and pervasive reminder of his weakness and moral failure.
He learned from the maids that Rachel's bed sheets were stained red the following month, as usual, and he fell to his knees to thank God for his mercy. Conrad wrote again to inform Josiah that he would arrive as soon as he could leave London. In the meantime, mysterious packages began to arrive at the house. Josiah did not dare to open any of them, but instead had a wing of the house aired and made ready, per Conrad's instructions, and all of the packages delivered there.
When Conrad finally arrived, he found the old man beside himself.
"My old friend, thank God you are finally here," The gentleman said, taking Conrad's firm hand in his thin and shaking one.
"My God, Josiah, you look haunted."
"I did not dare tell you in my letter, though I am sure you understood," Josiah turned away to pour two whiskeys for them. He squared his now thin shoulders. "I have failed her in every way - I have betrayed her and broken the laws of God. I should have turned her over to a hospital long ago, but I ... I couldn't bear the idea of it. I couldn't -"
"Sit down, sit down," Conrad led the shaking man to a chair and pushed him into it. "You did the right thing, I'm sure of it. We both know the inhumanities that occur in hospitals. She would never have been cured - she would probably have died, and never been treated, abused at the hands of a mongoloid, butchered or worse." He looked over to see Josiah had turned white at the thought. "Please believe me, Josiah, I have seen the insides of those places. The smell alone would make any man certain you have made the right choice."
"I cannot live with myself, Conrad. I know what you say is true, but it cannot excuse my own... my own sins."
"Josiah, I can only tell you that you are a man, a mortal man. I agree that as her grandfather, you are too emotionally involved. However, you are also a man, and as a man, you have the same weaknesses that befall any man." He raised his hand to stop the old man from interrupting. "You are a noble inspiration to the rest of us; your ability to control the primal impulses that rule the wild savages - truly, you have lived a life anyone would be envious of, a life free of the vices that seduce most men. Even now, you have refused to let a moment of weakness drag you down - I was told you haven't seen Rachel since it happened?"
"That's is correct." Josiah sighed wearily.
"Then truly you are a better man! To give in to such a temptation but then never repeat it? Josiah, do you not see?" Conrad knelt before his friend. "Your mental strength is staggering. Any other man would see it as reason to continue such abuses."
"I am not such a man!" Roared Josiah hoarsely, his fist clenched.
"No, sir, you are not. You are not most men. You are a noble and wise gentleman, a man truly worthy of his title and status. I am honored to accept your request and assume the role of guardian over Rachel. I promise you, she will be in good hands. You have made the right decision - one I don't know any other man would make. I fear too many men would be poisoned with lust."
Josiah sat back in his chair, looking small and feeble for the first time in his life. The weight of the past few weeks weighed heavily on him, even now. Conrad watched his friend worriedly.
"You must not torment yourself, Josiah. Allow me to prescribe something for your nerves." Conrad lifted his black bag, rattling with pills and potions, but Josiah shook his head.