Her Lord's Birch

by Maggie Ryan

  Who knew that silence could be so loud… that anticipation could hang so heavy in the confines of their carriage. She practically jumped out of her skin when the quiet was finally breeched.

  “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive,” Edward said quoting Walter Scott in a tone that had Louisa’s guilt growing. No other words could have been more appropriate either for she realized how ridiculous their plan had been as she’d stumbled over simply attempting to explain how they’d executed its first act.

  “I am extremely disappointed in you, Louisa. It was very naughty of you to lie to Mrs. Bremmer. I’d believed you’d learned a lesson about being deceitful, but it is obvious that my little lady needs another lesson.”

  Her head snapped up and her mouth opened. “No! I mean, I did. There is no need for… for that, Edward—”

  “Hush! We will continue our discussion at home. When we arrive, you are to go immediately to your room and put your nose in your naughty-girl corner until I join you. I suggest you remain quiet and think only of what you need to do to assure me of your contrition.”

  Louisa closed her eyes and stifled a small moan. She knew that her sister might be even now sitting on a hard chair with her bottom burning, but she also knew that her own bottom was evidently going to burn even hotter soon enough.

  She opened her eyes and dared a glance at her husband. He was looking down at her, his eyes stern, and she gulped before she whispered, “Yes, sir.”

  He nodded, and surprised her by reaching down and taking one of her hands in his, pressing it lightly. This simple, loving gesture caused her to want to leap across the aisle, to climb onto his lap and beg his forgiveness, but she knew it would not be welcome. There would be a time for apologizing as well as a time to take comfort in her husband’s arms. However, she knew from past experience that time was a long way in the future. Nothing else was said on the long drive home.

  Chapter 5

  The carriage passed through the gates of the estate and continued up the long winding drive bordered by ancient oaks whose branches formed a leafy canopy above them. With a slight rocking, they stopped in front of the stately manor and after Henri opened the door, Edward stepped out, turning to lift his wife down, setting her on her feet. She softly thanked him. He nodded, but addressed the driver, saying, “Louisa, has something to say to you, Henri.”

  His wife looked up at the older man. Edward knew that Henri had a soft spot for Louisa and knew seeing the look of disappointment clearly visible on his face would have her guilt twist inside her.

  “I’m truly sorry, sir. I feel horrid for abusing your trust. I won’t ever do it again.”

  Henri nodded at Louisa and said, “Thank you, miss, but I’m afraid that I’m not the only one you owe an apology. You caused my wife a great deal of distress when she went up to check on you. The household spent hours looking for you until the courier arrived with the message from the school. It was a very naughty thing to do.”

  “I-I know. I’m very sorry.”

  Edward nodded and looked down at his wife. “Go along, Louisa; I shall join you in a few moments.”

  “Yes, sir,” Louisa answered, turning to walk into the house.

  Edward watched as she climbed the stairs, her steps slowing with each one as if reluctant to go inside to face the very staff who had been drawn into the fruitless search. He couldn’t exactly fault her for that, but his thoughts were on a different topic. Giving Henri a nod of dismissal, he followed his wife into the manor. He walked into his study and poured two fingers of brandy into a heavy crystal glass. As he stood sipping, the smoky flavor rolling over his tongue, he gazed out the windows that overlooked the back gardens. He didn’t see the large shade trees, manicured bushes, or lush flowerbeds that filled the terraces that dropped down to fill his view. Instead, his mind’s eye was looking at the image of the two sisters standing side by side, their bottoms giving evidence of their misbehavior.

  He knew that if he were to be totally honest with himself, he would have to accept some of the blame for today’s actions. He had allowed his desires and even his steadfast rules to be broken the moment he had accepted Lucille into his household. If he had stuck to his guns and not given in to his wife’s pleas, perhaps Lucille’s bottom would still be sore for her own disobedience but Louisa would never have dared to take part in the deception. He finished his drink and vowed his leniency was over. It was far past time to take his household in hand as he had originally intended. Edward placed his glass on his desk and left the room.

  Walking into his bedchamber with the intention of changing his clothing, Edward stopped short when he realized he wasn’t alone. His eyes took in the sight of his wife, her hands linked neatly on top of her head, her nose pressed into the juncture where two walls met. He could see her trembling from across the room.

  Forcing himself to take a deep calming breath, he kept his voice low but firm, “Little one, what do you think you are doing?”

  Keeping her nose in the corner as she’d learned not to release until given permission, she answered, “I’m-I’m waiting for you, sir.”

  Edward shook his head even though he thought he understood her confusion. “Come here, Louisa.”

  Louisa turned and, seeing her husband open his arms, she flew into them. He closed his arms around her and she clung to him. “Oh, Edward, I am so sorry. I know you are disappointed but—”

  “Hush, Louisa. We will discuss all of this later, but for now, please explain to me why you continue to disobey me.”

  He released her and she stepped back just enough to raise her face to his. Her eyes were wide in confusion. “I don’t understand. You said to stand in the corner and wait for you in our room. I was waiting, sir.”

  Edward shook his head even as one hand came up to gently cup her chin. “I believe I said for you to wait for me in ‘your’ room in your ‘naughty-girl’ corner did I not?” He loved the emotions running across her face as the meaning of his order became clear. She flushed and attempted to look away. He kept her gaze on his by the force of his hand. “You do remember your room, do you not?” Her face turned even redder but she gave a slight nod. “I’m glad, my dear, but this isn’t your room is it?” This time she reluctantly shook her head a bit. Edward released her only to step to the wall and pull a bell cord.

  “But, I-I thought we… we weren’t going to… to do—”

  “To do what, little one? What weren’t we to do?”

  She twisted her hands together, her face reddening. “Use the… my… my room.”

  Edward smiled seeing both her discomfort as well as her fading hope that her life had changed when her sister arrived. He also accepted most of the blame for her confusion. “I have made a grievous error, little one, and can understand your confusion. It is my responsibility to inform you of your rules of behavior and, I confess, I have allowed my household to fall into disarray. That ends today. I promise to correct my mistake, and also vow you will soon learn to obey my every word.”

  Louisa wasn’t quite able to conceal her surprise to hear him admit he’d made an error, but she didn’t speak. Instead she watched as he left her standing alone as he removed his cuff links and began to unbutton his shirt, but when she took a step toward him, he shook his head.

  “Stand still, Louisa. You were given an order and disobeyed me.”

  “But, Edward, I meant to obey you. I—”

  “You are forgetting yourself. When we are in this house you are to address me properly. Your behavior today has only served to prove you are in dire need of additional training. It is my intention to continue to provide you with that training.”

  “But you-you can’t. What about Lucy?” Louisa asked. “You said that she-she needed time to deal with the grief of losing our parents. That you understood my concern that if she… if she… that it would be too much for her to learn how…” Her words trailed off.

  “Louisa, your sister will no longer be an excuse for your disobedie
nce. I know the death of your parents was an extremely sad event, and I’m forever grateful that you and Lucille still have each other. But Lucille does not run this house, I do, and I do not wish to discuss your sister at this moment. You would better serve yourself to think about my little Louisa and how she is to behave.” A loud knock sounded on the door and Edward pulled on his robe, stepped around his wife and strode to answer it.

  “You rang for me, sir,” a heavily accented voice asked.

  “Yes, Mrs. Bremmer. Please escort Louisa as she doesn’t seem to remember the way to her nursery.” Louisa gave a small moan as he emphasized the word, her eyes dropping to the floor.

  Anna Bremmer was married to Henri, and they had both served Wintercrest Manor for decades. She was as short and round as her husband was tall and lean. Graying hair was braided into neat plaits and twisted atop her head. Blue eyes shone as she smiled, expressing her approval at the request as she stepped forward.

  “Certainly, Lord Wintercrest. Come along, Louisa; your nursery is exactly where a naughty little lady should be!”

  Chapter 6

  Louisa’s face flamed at the command and her lips began to tremble as Mrs. Bremmer reached out to grip her arm. She shot Edward a pleading look, wanting to beg him to reconsider, but found herself being pulled out the door and down the hallway toward the narrow stairs at the end of the corridor. She almost stumbled, trying to keep up with the forced march.

  “Stop dragging your feet, Louisa. You brought his lordship great disgrace with your atrocious behavior today. You have been naughty—yes, very, very naughty—and I believe his lordship has plans to teach you a much-needed lesson. If you ask me, it has taken far too long for you to learn your place. His lordship has been lenient with you, and this is how you repay his kindness? What you need, miss, is a good hard thrashing! Believe me, the quicker you learn to obey, the safer your bottom will be.”

  Louisa was stunned to hear the housekeeper speak so boldly and so openly. Though Edward had spoken of his firm belief in strict obedience from the day he’d first started courting her, and had even taken her across his knee to prove his seriousness on a half-dozen occasions, she’d still not truly understood the depth of his convictions. She’d been highly embarrassed the first time his hand had smacked against the back of her skirts, even though the layers protected her from most of the sting. And when he had lifted her skirts and lowered her bloomers for the first time, she’d sobbed with absolute mortification as his palm landed on her bare bottom. It hadn’t been because spankings were new to her; their father spanked his daughters when they were young and she also knew he spanked their mother. But being spanked by Edward had been different.

  Sensations she’d never felt before had stirred within her even as her limbs churned in an attempt to swim off his lap. Being across Edward’s knees had taught her that, while he would be stricter even than her father, he was also the only man she desired. He always held her after he spanked her, always made sure she understood why she had been punished and reassured her that she was precious to him. It wasn’t until after they had wed that his more intimate proclivities became clear.

  The very night of their wedding, Louisa learned that while she was now Lady Wintercrest, she was never to be the true mistress of the manor. To her confusion, she learned that her husband chose to consider her more as a child bride than a fully-grown woman. Her rebellion at the idea had her flatly telling him he was a fool and that she had no intention of being his little lady no matter how special he thought she was. She was a grown, titled woman and would be expected to take her place in high society. Before she could draw another breath, she learned that she had bound herself to a man who meant exactly what he said, and had the means to prove it.

  Within moments, she was stripped naked, turned across his knees and spanked long and hard as he lectured her on the role he expected her to take in his household. By the time she had been let up, she was a sobbing mess, her bottom burning hotter than it ever had before. When he turned her to sit on his lap, his arms wrapping around her, she had buried her face in his chest and sobbed out her contrition. Confusion swirled in her mind. How could she feel such love and security when she should be demanding he change his ways? How could she find comfort as his hand stroked down her back when that same hand had just blistered her bottom? How could her body burn inside with the desire for him to take her as a husband took a wife?

  She didn’t know the answers to those questions, but Edward obviously did. He’d set her bum on fire and, in turn, the correction set her feet onto the path he had chosen for her. Her training had begun, though she hadn’t realized it at the time.

  Edward had continued to train her slowly, but made sure he was always consistent. The first time she called him Papa without being reminded, he’d beamed in approval and she’d been so very happy that she’d pleased him with nothing more than a word. She had learned that while Mrs. Bremmer might ask her opinion occasionally, any true decisions were made by either Edward or the housekeeper. Edward had chosen his mate very well as she found it growing easier every day to slip into her new role. Everything had been going exceptionally well, until the day the news came that there had been a horrid accident.

  Louisa’s family carriage had overturned on a sharp curve during a storm and rolled over several times. Lucy, who had miraculously been thrown from the wreckage, had been the only survivor. She was now orphaned, her only living relative her twin. Edward hadn’t hesitated for a single moment in taking the young, bereaved girl into his home. Truth be told, Louisa doubted he’d even considered the implications Lucy’s arrival would have on his personal life. He’d simply assured his wife that she had no need to worry. That, as always, she could depend on him to take care of everything. He’d even given in when Louisa pleaded for him to allow Lucille be welcomed into their home while remaining ignorant of the true nature of their relationship. The girls were identical in so many ways, and Louisa had made her choice, but she feared that her sister would be shocked at living in a household such as theirs.

  She’d been so relieved when Edward concurred that she hadn’t worried when he’d said that while he would allow her to be more grown up when her sister was in their presence, he would continue to treat her as his child-wife in their bedchamber. He’d added that the discipline, of course, would continue regardless of who might live with them. He would simply not tolerate disobedience, and he expected his wife to respect that fact.

  Louisa had eagerly agreed, and for several weeks now she had been allowed to be the woman of the house. She’d exchanged youthful dresses for fashionable couture that privileged woman donned on wealthy estates everywhere. She had not been forced to take naps and had not had a bedtime that she thought ridiculously early. Most importantly, she had not had to spend a single moment alone in the dreary room at the very top of the house. Being marched there now made Louisa’s heart pound and her blood race through her veins. She found she was far more terrified of what was going to happen in her own home than of the caning she had just received. Hearing Mrs. Bremmer speak so frankly caused her intense shame, and she knew the staff would soon be told that Lady Wintercrest was once again simply Miss Louisa.

  Reaching the top of the narrow stairs, she watched as Mrs. Bremmer pulled a set of keys from her pocket. Keeping one hand firmly around Louisa’s arm, she used the other to unlock the door before them. She stepped inside, and pulled Louisa in behind her. Louisa wasn’t released until Mrs. Bremmer had closed the door and dragged her charge into the center of the room. Louisa stood trembling, her hand absently rubbing at her arm.

  “I’m sorry for deceiving you, Mrs. Bremmer,” Louisa said softy, “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  “Of course you did, missy. You and that naughty sister of yours have been turning this household on its ear for weeks now. It is high time this foolery comes to an end. Now, what are you waiting for? Didn’t his lordship give you instructions about what you were to do?”

  Louisa blushed aga
in but her voice seemed to have deserted her, and she simply nodded as her gaze roamed around the room. The last time she had been in the room it had looked nothing like it did now. Instead of a dim room holding only a few pieces of furniture, it now looked exactly like a small child’s nursery. The walls had been painted a sunny yellow with bright white trim. Crisply starched white lace curtains covered windows located high up the wall. Several additional pieces of furniture had been added including a large rocking chair and an oversized ottoman. One wall featured a rather tall table and she moaned as she saw a stack of what looked like, but couldn’t possibly be, nappies. A green marble-topped washstand stood beside the table, a chamber pot tucked underneath.

  Turning in a half circle, Louisa could not believe her eyes. The largest crib she’d ever seen held a place of honor in the center of another wall. Fluffy yellow and white bedding filling the interior did not appease Louisa’s pounding heart as they didn’t quite hide what appeared to be leather straps tucked beneath the mattress. A million butterflies took up residence in her tummy as she thought of all the possibilities the restraints’ presence foretold.

  Her gaze turned to a low bookcase that ran underneath the row of windows. “When—when did he do this? Why… how…” Her gaze ran over the shelves where she saw toys and books she’d not seen since childhood. Her small mouth opened and her hand unconsciously reached out toward an item. “That-that’s my doll!”

  “Never you mind, missy. I don’t believe you have been sent to your nursery to play, Louisa. What did your papa tell you to do?”