"A textbook case of hysteria if I've ever seen one," the physician announced.
Ernestine shrunk down on herself. First the the mood swings, dizzy spells and occasional fainting, now this. She didn't dare look at her uncle Aloysius, who had taken her to this doctor after her condition had not improved on its own. It had been most generous of him to take her in after her parents had died four years ago, but he was such a stern man. Surely he would disapprove of her falling into hysteria…
And indeed, he clicked his tongue as he always did when she disappointed him somehow. "I was afraid that would be the case. Ernestine always seemed to take after my late brother's wife, bless her soul… What treatment do you recommend?"
"Well," the physician said. "Many theories have been spun to explain the cause of hysteria and how to resolve it, from magnetism affecting the female body to ailments of the brain. I for one am inclined to believe that my French colleague de Sauvages has the right of it."
He didn't elaborate on what that meant as he retrieved his glasses from the table and went over to the towering book shelf covering an entire wall of his office. Ernestine risked a glance at her uncle. He looked every part the scholar at a prestigious university that he was, tall and imposing with his piercing dark eyes and the immaculately tailored suit… he had a way of making everyone around him feel drab.
When he didn't respond to her pleading gaze, she gathered all the courage she could muster up and asked, "What does that mean, uncle Aloysius?"
"I study natural history, not medicine. Let the physician explain when he is ready."
Thus rebuffed, Ernestine once more directed her gaze at the physician's desk while said physician was looking for some book or another. The ticking clock in the corner of the room seemed unnaturally loud in the silence. Tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc…
"Pardon me," the physician said. "I merely want to find the reference work for Aloysius to take home, so he can continue the treatment there... Ah, here it is." He pulled a thick tome from the bookshelf and placed it on his desk, face down and with the spine facing away so Ernestine couldn't read the title. "Be a dear and undress for us now, Ernestine."
Ernestine looked at her uncle again, who nodded. At seventeen, she was long past the age where undressing in front of male strangers was appropriate, but how could she refuse when uncle Aloysius wanted her to? If not for him, she would have been out on the streets after her parents' death.
With shaking fingers, she began undoing her clothes, layer by layer, stalling by neatly folding them over the table until she stood in front of the physician in nothing more than her shift and pantalettes. It was cold in the office like this. She shivered, clasping her hands together.
"All of it," the physician said.
"A-all of it?"
"All of it," the physician repeated. "How else are we supposed to treat you?"
I don't even know what kind of treatment you will give me, Ernestine thought. She didn't say it. Doubtlessly uncle Aloysius would tell her off for talking back to his friend who had taken time out of his busy schedule to treat her silly affliction. Don't be so ungrateful, Ernestine… don't forget who saved you from life as a street rat.
She never had forgotten. Even so, anything other than full obedience never seemed to be enough for uncle Aloysius.
The last few pieces of clothing joined the rest on the chair. Ernestine stood stark naked in front of her uncle and the physician.
"Now bend over the table."
"But-"
"Ernestine," uncle Aloysius said. His tone was mild. Even so, Ernestine knew it would not stay so if she kept arguing.
It felt awful to expose herself like this, knowing that even pinching her legs together wouldn't remove her privates from sight.
Then something pushed inside of her. She cried out and scrambled to move away, but a sharp slap on her rear end told her that would not be allowed.
"Extremely tight," the physician said. "Even with just a finger. She is untouched, then?"
"Naturally."
"Rather a shame to defile such a pure young lady, isn't it? But I suppose it can't be helped. But we should prepare her a little before starting..."
The physician's hand brushed against that part of her. She'd touched the little nub by accident while bathing sometimes. It had made her feel strange. This was a hundred times worse. She squirmed under his demanding touch as an odd warmth spread through her body. The finger pumping in and out of her didn't hurt as much like this…
"What do you mean by… by defile?" she asked, voice trembling. Surely they couldn't be talking about doing… that? It wouldn't be right. That was something a woman should only do with her husband.
They ignored her completely.
"I dare say this is enough," the physician finally said as he pulled out his finger. "Now then, I will…"
"Allow me to do the honours," uncle Aloysius said.
"You? Oh, very well. If you insist."
Ernestine couldn't help it. She turned her head to watch.
Uncle Aloysius took position behind her exposed body, unbuttoned his trousers and pulled out his… his penis. Even thinking the word felt scandalous. She shouldn't be seeing her uncle's penis. She shouldn't be seeing any penis before her wedding night.
"Now be a good girl and hold still," uncle Aloysius said. Then he plunged inside of her.
Ernestine screamed. She couldn't hold it in. It was too much. He was tearing her apart.
"Silence, you silly girl." Uncle Aloysius slapped her on her rear end again. "This is for your own good."
For her own good? How could it be? This was wrong. This felt wrong. But Aloysius, as he always said, knew better than her in the end… She bit her lip, swallowing down her screams.
If this somehow cured her hysteria, then she could take it… maybe…
"Remember that she needs to be pleasured too," the physician interjected. "It won't be as effective if she does not experience orgasm. I recommend clitoral stimulation. It tends to work very well in cases like your niece..."
"I know, I know." Uncle Aloysius also began rubbing over that part, making her squirm again. Thankfully he didn't discipline her for it. "Speaking of which, though… did you not recently speak of wanting to try an addition to this treatment?"
"Ah! Yes, yes. If you have no objections? De Sauvages never wrote of this, but I suspect it may serve to be helpful..."
"Go ahead."
The physician rounded the desk, entering Ernestine's field of vision. He, too, unbuttoned his trousers and pulled out his penis, then nudged it at her face. "Open up now, Ernestine."
"Open ummmph!"
The physician had shoved his penis right past her lips the moment she had opened them. She coughed and sputtered, but he wouldn't pull out. Instead, he slowly pushed deeper. This wasn't right either! That wasn't supposed to be where that went! But she didn't dare pull away. Uncle Aloysius must be watching her with eagle eyes right now…
Maybe it was as a reward for her obedience. Uncle Aloysius started rubbing at her private parts with more vigour. A strange sort of pressure built up in her nether regions and no matter how hard she squirmed, there was no relief from it until it bubbled over. Her back arched and she gasped into the penis still sliding in and out of her mouth. What was this? It felt so strange, so overwhelming… she couldn't stop twitching…
"That takes care of that," uncle Aloysius said. "Good girl. Now hold still while we finish."
They both sped up, thrusting into her limp trembling body with reckless abandon. In her addled mind, Ernestine had no idea how long they went at it before their hips snapped forward harshly, first the physician's, burying his penis deep in her throat until she gagged, then her uncle's, bottoming out in her. Was this supposed to happen? They weren't moving anymore…
"That was pleasant," uncle Aloysius said before finally, finally stepping back and pulling out. "I look forward to continue her treatment at home."
"The book I've picked out for you gives additional treatment options and ideas. If you would be so kind as to take notes on their effectiveness. As you well know, more data is always a positive."
"Naturally. Ernestine, clean yourself up at that sink over there and get dressed. We will return home afterwards..."
They left the room after that, leaving Ernestine to clean up the same strange liquid seeping out of her privates that she could taste on her tongue.