Help: the word "charge" in a peculiar context

[LinguAnia]

Hello all,

I'm looking for insight about the word "charge" in the following context:

"The narrator of the story, a wealthy young man, meets a youth and, taken by his beauty and good manners, invites him home. Discovering a lapse in obedience in his charge, he commences to flog him, in the traditionally humiliating English manner. One can imagine his surprise when the young man, confounded in déshabillé, turns out to be a young woman of surpassing charms."

This is the main part of the description on the back of a book I picked up today. Victorian era... anonymous author... quirky, light erotica.

Any ideas?

[OrphanPip]

A charge is someone you are responsible for, in this case the youth.

[Calidore]

Another word often used for this is "ward". For example, Dick Grayson was Bruce Wayne's ward or charge.