With thanks to my proof-reader Esu.

Chapter One: Outside

It was four in the afternoon, on a perfect summers day. Bethany lifted her head and stretched backwards to ease her cramping muscles. It was nearly done; the large lawn spread out before her - pristine. Bethany rested her well-padded chin on the top of the rakes handle. She breathed in deeply, savouring the sweet July air 'Bliss' she thought. She heard a slight cough behind her, and swiveled her substantial shoulders. Mr. Groome stood behind her, his crumpled appearance oddly out of place in so much perfection. He cleared his ancient throat.

"Master Hubbard has asked me to talk with you, Beth..." He started.

"Oh no, what have I done wrong, I've tried so hard - I loves it here Mr. Groome!" Bethany's face reflected her genuine concern.

"Ahem, now calm yourself Beth, Master Hubbard is pleased with you, very pleased! He wants you to work elsewhere tomorrow - doing more vital work," croaked Groome's dry voice.

"Where, the vegetables patch, the nursery? Oh I'd like that caring for the young plants!" Bethany beamed.

"Even better, Beth," Groome paused and held up a scrawny arm, the long crocked forefinger pointed directly at the walled garden, "there, the inner sanctum!"

"But, but I'm only a casual, me work in the walled garden! Are you sure those were his words?" Bethany gazed, open-mouthed.

"Yes Beth, he feels you have something to give to the old place," Groome smiled, the first she had ever seen, "you m'dear are to be congratulated!"

"Thank you Mr. Groome, I'm so excited" Bethany turned back to her work with added gusto.

As Groome wandered away he heard her voice, she started to sing in her lovely lilting style, it was always the same song.

"Early one morning just as the sun was rising,

I spied a poor maiden in the valley below..."

Groome stuffed his slender hand deep into his trouser pocket, and withdrew a mildewed handkerchief. He paused his shuffling progress, just long enough to wipe the tears from his eyes.

"Old fool" He muttered to no one in particular.

Evening time arrived and Bethany's delight evaporated, it would soon be time for supper. She hated this more than anything else, the snide comments, the hurtful glances. Bethany sighed a big sigh, and trudged towards the despised kitchen. Her thoughts took on a familiar darkness 'Why do I have to be me, why am I so different?"

Bethany washed her hands in sullen silence, and then made her way to the supper table. Helen saw Beth coming, and she slid to the left crushing her side hard into George's.

"Sorry George, but I got to make way for porky Beth, I don't want to get flattened! I'm sure Tim don't fancy her enough to offer his lap."

Tim and George roared with laughter, and George blew his cheeks out grotesquely, lurching from side to side in a feigned wobble.

Macy spoke up.

"Leave her be! She can't help her looks, none of us can!"

Tim winked at George.

"I think you fancy her Macy - I seen you staring at Helen when she bends over in the garden. I thinks you're a bit of a cat flap"

"Cat flap?" queried Helen.

George replied for Tim.

"You know Helen, a cat flap - swings both ways!"

Macy stared hard at Tim.

"Just because I reject you, it doesn't mean I'm a dyke - I've just got taste!"

The table erupted into laughter again, except of course for Bethany, and her silence was as profound as it was angry.

The rest of the meal passed away in good-natured banter. Bethany said nothing, soon the clock chimed 10, and they all headed for their respective bedrooms, before the dim light became total darkness.

Bethany settled down in her secret spot by the window and waited, she knew she would not have to wait too long. Keeping her head well back from the window, she stared into Helen's window opposite her own. As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she could make out Helen on the bed, and yes, she was doing it again - playing with her young supple body - arching her back against her pleasure.

It was an odd and guilty pleasure that Bethany enjoyed, watching someone else, go where she had never been. Tonight was different, the moon was out and Bethany's view became increasingly clear. She could make out the detail of Helen's sensual dance in a way she never had before. For the first time Bethany was aware of her body, she wanted what Helen had.

She slid quietly from her window seat, and stood before her mirror. Raising her arms quickly she tugged the nightdress over her head. Her hands fondled the smooth slopes leading to her distended breasts and their heavy nipples. Then the moonlight flooded the room, the full moon had wrestled free of its cloud cover and a blue cast brilliance fell on everything.

Bethany saw her reflection, it was stark, and she observed all her faults, her large hooked nose, thin lank hair, and worst of all her body! Bloated breasts sagged between her chubby fingers, and her over-stretched belly took on a pasty, mottled hue. The spell was broken; Bethany sank to her bed and cried herself to sleep.

Chapter Two: Inside

When the new day dawned Bethany was up with the lark. Her sombre mood of the night before forgotten, she sang softly as she dressed. She slipped downstairs, avoided the kitchen and headed for the staff pigeonholes. To her amazement it was there, a lumpy envelope containing the key to the walled garden. She had only seen it once before, on the day of her induction - and now she was to work in the wonderful place!

Once outside Bethany virtually ran to the cherished gate, and she stood before it puffing madly. Her hands tore clumsily at the brown envelope, before extracting the key. She grasped it firmly and slid it into the lock, with all the care and passion a lover would use. Click, and the door swung open, one step and the garden engulfed her - the door swung to and locked itself firmly against the outside world.

There was a riot of colour, each shade carefully matched to the rest; it was as if she had walked into a Monet painting. It was an impression of paradise. Bethany walked past the flowing fountain, and breathed in deeply. The scented blossoms lifted her soul; she almost forgot that she had come here to work. Her lazy eyes ran along the borders - she could see nothing to be done - all was perfection. A light tap on her shoulder caused her to visibly jump. She spun and looked straight into Mr. Groome's friendly eyes.

"Sorry m'dear you'd drifted off, hadn't you - I do some times - breathtaking isn't it?"

"It's better than I remember it, Mr. Groome - I have never seen such perfect blooms!" Bethany whispered, overawed by the magical place.

"Yes, well quite so, but it's a lot of sacrifice, you know m'dear" Mr. Groome answered, quietly.

"So where am I to begin?" Bethany asked.

"The rose's, you are to feed the rose's - come this way, Beth"

Bethany walked along the perfect lawn side-by side with Mr. Groome, now she felt proud - his equal! Shortly they tuned a slight angled corner and Bethany saw them for the first time. Row upon row of gigantic roses in every conceivable shade and colour, from black to white and from deepest red to the palest of yellows it was stupefying.

"This will be your life's work, Beth" Mr. Groome announced, with a surprising flourish.

Bethany was amazed.

"You mean I'm being offered a permanency?" She enquired, dizzied by the thought of such luck.

"Indeed, a permanency, Beth" Mr. Groome smiled.

He then pointed to the myriad solutions and containers.

"These roses are not normal Hybrid-T's, no these are special hybrids. The blooms are used for the main house displays. They need tender care and a special touch - you have been selected for this privilege," Mr. Groome announced, imperiously.

"Roses are my specialty Mr. Groome, I will not let you down!"

"I know, m'dear, I know," he paused, as if to say some thing else, then shook his white mop of hair, "get to it then girl!"

Bethany beamed, and walked confidently over to the feeds and mulches spread out on the sackcloth that protected the lush grass. Her work began.

Mr. Groome locked the gate securely after him, and slowly trudged towards the main garden. Half way across the lawn a waving arm hailed him. 'Hubbard, damn him!' Mr. Groome thought, but still he respectfully made his way to his master.

"Groome, how is the new garden bride?" Hubbard rasped.

"Settling in, master, settling in"

"Well she better be up to it, the family's suffering Groome, we're getting scented blossoms - but little more, We can not survive much longer, without true sustenance!" Hubbard commented, rudely.

"Have I ever let the family down, master?"

"No, no Groome, you haven't"

"Apology accepted, master"

"Ah, yes, good day to you, Groome"

Cursing under his breath, Groome hobbled off to his other duties.

Bethany paused in her labour, and looked up at the bright sun. It was way past mid-sky, so it must be well into the afternoon - she must have worked for hours without rest. Strangely she felt fine, not in the least bit tired. Bethany took out her water flask and took a deep draught, swigging it back quickly.

Clumsy to the last, she missed her mouth with some of the water; it ran in rivulets over her sweating body - and finally dripped onto the parched earth. The soil drank just as deeply as Bethany, sucking the moisture into its darkness, and dampening the roses roots.

In the heat of the afternoon, the gentle breeze stirred the roses pollen into fertile clouds; they billowed across the still garden. Bethany took a deep breath, having finally slaked her raging thirst. She drew handfuls of the pollen-laced air deep within her nourishing lungs.