Free House Rules by G.C. Scott

you will find that out for yourself soon enough,’ Ingrid replied. ‘But I’m glad she didn’t insist on a hurried job. I do need some time with you.’
    ‘What are you going to do with me?’
    ‘Transform you into a woman, at least outwardly. That is what Margaret wants, for reasons she will tell you when she’s ready. But we can talk as I work. The more I know about you the better job I can make.’
    ‘And will I also learn about you as we work?’ Richard wanted to know.
    ‘We’ll see,’ Ingrid replied with another smile. ‘But now, will you promise not to run away if I leave you for a moment?’
    ‘Like this?’ Richard asked, gesturing at himself. ‘What would the good burghers of Soltau think of a naked man running out of your shop and down the street?’
    Ingrid smiled at the idea. ‘I only meant that I have to go through into the shop and fetch some things for you. Will you be good?’
    Richard nodded, and Ingrid disappeared into the front of the shop. She came back after a few moments holding a plastic bag with the legend Bergers Herrenmode on it. She handed it to Richard without comment. He reached into the bag and came out with a pair of trousers, a shirt, underwear and socks. There were shoes in a separate box.
    He looked questioningly at Ingrid. ‘Won’t Margaret be displeased?’
    ‘She would if she knew, but we are not going to tell her, are we?’ Ingrid replied with a conspiratorial wink. ‘Go on, get dressed. We have several things to do before closing time. If anyone comes into the shop you will be my nephew, visiting me from Berlin. You do speak German, do you not?’
    ‘ Ich habe meine Deutsch auf der Universität gut gelernt ,’ Richard replied.
    ‘Your accent is awful,’ Ingrid said, laughing. ‘Try not to talk if you can avoid it.’ She motioned for him to precede her into the shop. ‘Margaret wants me to dress you as a woman, so we need to spend some time picking a wardrobe for you. I think you would be about a size sixteen,’ she said, as she showed him a rack of dresses in that size. ‘You need to pick out at least three dresses, plus the same number of skirts and blouses. I will help you with the lingerie and accessories afterwards.’ She pushed Richard towards the dresses.
    Now that the moment had come he felt both excited and embarrassed. He remembered one or two occasions when, as a boy, he had dressed in his mother’s clothes. Even then he had known instinctively to keep it secret. Now he was being made to do the same thing in public. He felt himself flush hotly.
    Ingrid noticed. ‘Do not feel embarrassed. I have done the same thing many times for the men who pass through Margaret’s establishment. I am here to help you follow her wishes, not to laugh at you, or to judge you. Margaret is a forceful woman. She is accustomed to getting whatever she wants. And just now she wants you.’
    Richard began diffidently to sort through the clothing. Ingrid moved away to allow him to make his choices in private. He chose three dresses he imagined would look good on Helena, and then turned his attention to the skirts and blouses, using the same principle of selection. When he was done he started to call Ingrid. But at that moment the shop door opened to admit two ladies of about Ingrid’s own age. She turned to serve them, while Richard tried to appear inconspicuous. The two women seemed to take for ever to make their selections, and Richard wondered why he had been able to choose in such a short time. Perhaps there was some fundamental and unfathomable difference between the shopping habits of men and women.
    When the two women left, Ingrid came back to inspect Richard’s choices. ‘I see you have chosen the modern equivalent of Dior’s “little black dress”. That was wise. The other two, not so wise.’
    ‘What’s wrong with red and green?’ Richard wanted to know.
    ‘As colours, nothing,’ Ingrid replied, ‘but for someone who is trying to masquerade as a