The Nanny Diaries

The rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks was a constant companion, a steady beat against the backdrop of Nicola's barely concealed frustration. I observed her from across the first-class carriage, her posture stiff, her straw boater still perfectly perched despite the two weeks of enforced 'nursling' life. Beside me, Bella stifled a laugh, catching my eye with a shared understanding.

"Oh, definitely not," Bella had whispered earlier, when I'd suggested the girls might not last the two-hour journey without a 'messing' session. Nicola had hated it, of course, the forced regression, but after a single, firm application of my trusty paddle, her resistance had crumbled. She'd complied at the station, tears welling as she concentrated on the task, a clear sign of her unwilling capitulation.

Now, she sat by the window, her small, pink pacifier moving steadily, a stark contrast to the rebellious sixteen-year-old she truly was. The June sun streamed through the glass, making the carriage bright, almost mocking the internal storm I knew was brewing within her.

"She isn't really a convert, though...is she?" I mused, settling back into my seat, the gentle sway of the train already lulling me. My first real assignment was going smoothly, and the prospect of full-time employment, far beyond this temporary gig, was a pleasing thought.

Nicola's small hand rested on the table between us. I reached out, giving it an encouraging squeeze. Her parents awaited, and with them, the next phase of her 'reformation' was about to begin.