“Yes, I would imagine that is true. He does deal with them on a daily basis, though.”
“Yes, he does, but I don’t. So, we chose not to go out much. The one night we did, we were spotted.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to check the tabloids to see what they’ve come up with now.” Oliver rubbed his goatee as he spoke.
“I-I don’t know. I didn’t look, and no one said anything. It’s so bloody rude anyway. I can’t believe the nerve of some of those reporters. Thank God my father’s paper isn’t like that! I bloody hell wouldn’t work for him if it was!”
Oliver’s brows rose at her angry outburst.
“What did you just say, young lady?”
Karia blushed, only then realizing the words she’d used when speaking to him. Now, she was in for it!
“I-I’m sorry. I just get so angry when I think of them and the way they invade people’s privacy. Not to mention the false things they print.”
“I understand your frustration. And I, too, am glad to know a reputable journalist like your father. Gordon Daly is one of the finest men I have ever had the pleasure of befriending. I know it hasn’t been easy for you since you’ve become associated with the royal family, and I am equally pleased that you will make it your life’s mission to be a good reporter, but that language is not befitting a lady of your background. Surely, you know this.”
Karia lowered her head and said, “Yes, Master Armstrong, I do know that. It just slipped out.”
“Just slipped out? And what were to happen if it ‘just slipped out’ and a member of the paparazzi were to hear it, do you think? Or, for that matter, a member of the royal family? Must you be reminded that as Gordon Daly’s daughter and the female interest of the heir apparent, you must conduct yourself in a ladylike manner at all times? And the academy? Do you think it bodes well that one of their prized students speaks in such a manner, angry or not?”
“Well, when you put it that way—”
“It doesn’t sound very nice, does it?” he finished for her.
“No, sir, it doesn’t.”
“Well, then, since you agree with me, let’s get this punishment out of the way. Then we can both call it a day. Shall we?”
With tear filled eyes, Karia looked up at him. “Must we? I mean, it’s our first day back, and I did apologize.”
Oliver stood and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you quite finished, Miss Daly? You know better. Now, stand up and bend over the desk.”
With a reluctant sigh, Karia stood and did as he asked, but she wasn’t happy about it at all. She’d had such good intentions for her return to school. It was all the stupid paparazzi’s fault that she was being punished. They’d angered her, but she would be the one to pay the price, or her bottom would pay it, rather.
She waited while Master Armstrong went to the closet in his office and rummaged around. She knew what he was looking for. A caning on her first day back! How could she have been so bloody stupid? Oops, she really was going to have to watch that.
When he returned to her, he quickly lifted her skirt and warmed her tush with his hand. Several smacks cracked down on her cheeks, smarting as they did. Karia tried to control her emotions, knowing the worst was yet to come. But when he went to pull her serviceable white cotton panties down and the cool air hit her heated bottom, she gasped. The gush she felt between her legs told her that she was anticipating this a little too much, which greatly embarrassed her. What would Henry think if he knew? He’d seen her on the wrong end of a punishment in the past, but that was before they’d become lovers. Would he be appalled or angry?
“Karia Daly, you will submit,” Oliver said at the same time she heard the swoosh of the cane coming down just before it made contact on her skin.
“Oh,” she squealed as she kicked her legs in an effort to diminish the sting. Another stripe landed, and she closed her eyes tightly.
“You. Will. Speak. Like. A. Lady. At. All. Times.” Each word was emphasized with another stripe. “You. Will. Submit.”
“Y-yes, Master,” she stammered, tears rolling down her cheeks now.
“Karia Daly, I am your Master. One day, you will submit fully to me.” And then, as though he just realized what he’d said aloud, Master Armstrong stopped. He told her to put her clothes right and to leave.
Karia wasted no time in doing just that. She pulled her panties up, pushed her skirt down and grabbed her book bag. Then she headed to the door and practically ran to her room in the girls’ dormitory.
Once she was in her room, with the door safely locked behind her, she went to the bathroom to splash her face and change her clothes. What had just happened? What had he meant when he said that one day she would submit fully to him? And most of all, why did his words excite her? Why did the thought of him using the cane on her bare behind make her juices run freely down her inner thigh? What in the world was wrong with her?
She belonged to Henry. But more than that, she and Master Armstrong could never be together in the way she and Henry were. Could they? No, it was crazy. She enjoyed making love with Henry. He was her destiny. She knew what it would mean to her future, but it would all work out. Wouldn’t it? It was for the best. She continued to berate herself for her feelings as she took a long shower, hoping to calm herself down before Colleen came to the room they shared.
It wasn’t Master Armstrong who excited her. It was the punishment. She was sure of it. Maybe this was a subject she should bring up with Henry the next time they were alone together. She knew that he, as a royal, wasn’t supposed to inflict punishment unless she was his wife, but who would know if no one else was around?
From now on, she would go out of her way to avoid Master Armstrong. Except for her classes and meetings with him, she had no reason to speak with him in the hall or in the dining room. That was what she would do. Having come to that decision, she pulled on a pair of leggings and topped them with a sweater. She was just brushing her hair when Colleen came in.
“What a bloody day!”
Karia inwardly cringed. “Don’t let the Master hear you say that word,” she said.
“Uh oh. I take it you have had experience with that, from the way you said it.”
“Maybe. Or maybe someone else told me that.”
Colleen laughed. “Likely story. You are the queen of punishments around here. Let me change, and we can go to dinner.”
“Okay. I am getting a little hungry. Then I need to come straight back up here and study.”
“Yeah, me too. They piled on the work our first day back, didn’t they?”
Karia had been able to avoid being the topic of conversation at lunch, but she wasn’t as lucky when they sat down to dinner with Rhiannon and the others.
Rhiannon asked immediately, “So, Karia, spill it. We all want to hear about your week with Prince Henry.”
She took her time buttering a roll, then she took a drink of water before answering. “It was very quiet, actually. Henry had business to attend to when I first arrived, so I spent some time with Princess Emma.”
“Then what happened?” one of the girls asked curiously.
“Not a lot. Like I said, we spent a quiet week. We took walks, went riding, and one night we attended a play. I enjoyed the grounds and being with Emma and Henry. Of course, Emma had to go back to school on Monday, but she came home again on Friday afternoon. Henry divided his time between his duties and me. When he was working, I worked on my article. The gardens at the palace are beautiful, so I enjoyed being out there, reading, part of the time.”
“Sounds boring,” Rhiannon said.
“I think it sounds quite lovely,” another girl said.
“I think just being there, with him, is excitement enough,” yet another supplied.
“Really, they are just like a normal family at home,” Karia reiterated. “They work, eat meals together whenever possible, go riding, take walks.”
“When will you see him again?” Colleen asked.
“I rea
lly don’t know. He has some traveling coming up. I promised my parents I would spend the holidays with them, so we really didn’t firm up any plans.”
“Now, that’s the part I wouldn’t like. He is always so busy.”
“True, but then, so am I. My life doesn’t hinge on waiting for him to call. I have my own things to do,” Karia reminded them.
“I did see some photos of you going into the theatre with him,” Colleen said.
“Oh, I’m sure you did. The paparazzi was right there, waiting for a glimpse of us going in and coming out.”
“How did they know you would be there?” Colleen asked. “Does someone leak this information to them?”
“I think they hang out near the palace and follow the cars coming out the gates. Unless you’re right, and someone is feeding them info. I never thought of that. Either way, it’s annoying.”
“I want to know what you wore,” Rhiannon said with a giggle. “Was it elegant?”
“Well, as usual, Princess Emma loaned me a dress with matching wrap, shoes, and a purse. The queen loaned me some jewelry. Not from the royal collection, so don’t get excited. Just some things she keeps on hand for guests to use from time to time.”
“Wow,” they all said in unison.
“Can you just imagine?” one girl asked in awe.
“You all come from affluent families, so why does this interest you so much? I’m sure if you went to a ball or the theatre, you would have a nice gown too, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course, but to borrow from the princess and the queen, that’s just cool.”
Karia rolled her eyes and took a bite of her food. The conversation started drifting to other things then, and she was glad when it was time to take her leave.
“I have studying to do. I’ll see all of you in the morning. Colleen, are you ready?”
“Yes, I’ll go too. Bye, everybody. Have a good night,” her roommate said as she stood.
Karia sat down on the bed carefully when they got back to the room and pulled her book out of her bag to start on her work.
Colleen followed suit, and all was quiet for the next two hours. Finally, she closed her book and said, “I’m going to get ready for bed. I’m beat.”
“I took my shower earlier, before you got in, so you can have the bathroom first. All I need to do is brush my teeth.”
“All right. I won’t be long. My bed is calling me tonight. And not to study in, either.”
“I hear you. I’ll make us some cocoa while you’re showering.”
After that, the girls chatted over cocoa and were soon ready for bed. Karia had taken some over the counter pain medication to ease the stinging in her bottom for the night. Hopefully, she would be able to sleep.
It took a while for her to drift off. Her thoughts were racing back and forth between Henry and the master. She was so conflicted. On the one hand, she had just spent a week in the home of her boyfriend and his family and a romantic weekend in the country with him. It had been exactly what they’d both needed. But then, on the other hand, if she was in love with Henry, why did Oliver’s punishments turn her on? Yes, they did. There was no other way to say it. The dark, handsome, young professor made her tummy do flip-flops. What did it mean? That she liked being punished? Well, if that was the case, maybe she should incorporate that into her relationship with Henry. It wasn’t proper, she knew, but who would have to know? What they did in private was no one else’s business, was it? This was going to have to require some serious thought.
But for now, it was time for sleep.
Chapter 9
The days flew by after fall break. Everyone was getting excited about the holidays, including Karia. She didn’t know what to buy for Henry. Even though she was going to spend the time away from school with her parents, he had suggested they get together for dinner one night to exchange gifts and celebrate the season together. She was sure her parents wouldn’t mind sharing her for one night, so she had agreed.
Karia muddled through each day, still unsure of her conflicted feelings. She attended classes, tried her best to behave and avoid Oliver unless she had a class or a meeting with him and spent her evenings studying.
It was Saturday, and Colleen asked if she’d like to take a walk around the grounds and then join some of the others to watch movies. She agreed, glad for a distraction. She had only heard from Henry once, as he was busy with engagements and was preparing for a trip to France. Oh, what a life she would lead if she chose to make their relationship permanent. But, deep down, was that really what she wanted?
She grabbed a jacket and followed her roommate out the door. While they were walking, she commented, “It feels like snow is in the air. I wonder if we’ll have a white Christmas?”
“I hope so!” the other girl exclaimed. “So, you’re going home, right?”
“Yes, that was the deal. But Henry and I have plans to get together on Boxing Day to have dinner and exchange gifts. What will you be doing?”
“I’m going home, but Peter will be joining us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’ll be going to his parents’ house with him on Boxing Day and staying for a few days.”
“This sounds like it may be getting serious. Is it?” Karia asked.
“As serious as it can be for now. My parents have made it very clear to both of us that I must finish my studies before we make any major decisions. And then, of course, I’ll need to decide how I wish to use my Art degree. There are so many different choices.”
“Yes, just as in Journalism,” Karia agreed.
“But you won’t have to worry on that front. You automatically have a position with your father’s publication, right?”
“That’s the plan, unless I decide to go another way.”
“Are you? I mean, what exactly are you saying? Does this have anything to do with Henry?”
“Well, if, and it’s a big if right now, I choose to eventually marry him, it would put an end to my career. Of course, if I don’t marry him, I could always teach or write novels or even apply at different publications, but I doubt I would do that. Still, it’s something I need to give some thought to, just in case,” Karia responded thoughtfully.
“Since your last visit with Henry went so well, are you leaning more to a future with him?”
“I-I really don’t know. It would be a huge adjustment. I care for him, and I’m sure he cares for me, but what I’m not sure of is if it will stand the test of time.”
“You have plenty of time to figure it out. And if you are not sure, you shouldn’t make any rash decisions.
“Let’s talk about something else, shall we? Are you ready to head back now? It’s really getting cold and windy out here.”
“Yes, let’s go see if the others are ready to start the movies yet,” Colleen said as she pulled her coat tighter around herself.
When they got to the game room, several of their friends, including Rhiannon, Calista, and a few others, were already there looking through the choices.
“Hey, it’s about time you two got here,” Rhiannon said as she looked up. “I thought I was going to have to send out a search party. Come over by the fire and get warm. There is tea on the table.”
“It feels like snow out there,” Colleen said as she warmed herself in front of the fire.
“Good day to stay in and watch movies,” one of the girls said.
Karia was pouring a cup of tea for herself and one for Colleen. She walked over to the fireplace to join her roommate and handed one to her.
“Thank you. The fire feels really good. I think I have feeling back in my toes now.”
Karia laughed. “You are such a drama queen. I think the cool air felt good.”
“You would!” Colleen retorted.
Soon, they had their coats, hats, scarves and gloves off and had joined the others to settle in to watch a popular romantic comedy. After that, they chose a drama, and when it was over, they went upstairs to get ready for dinner.
That night, Henry
called just after she’d gone to bed.
“Hi,” she said as she picked up the phone.
Colleen lay in the bed next to her making kissing noises. She ignored her and tried to listen to what the prince was saying.
“Hi, yourself,” he said. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Not at all. I had just gone to bed. Colleen is annoying me, though.”
He laughed. “That’s normal, isn’t it? Tell her I said hello.”
She relayed the message and settled back to talk. “She says hello. Are you all ready for your trip to France?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. I wish you were going with.”
“That would be nice. But I’m stuck here studying and working on my article. It’s coming along nicely, though.”
“Glad to hear that. So, we’re on for Boxing Day, right?” he asked. “I’ll get back from my trip on the twenty-second, have the traditional Christmas with the family and then drive over to your parents’ house on the twenty-sixth.”
“Yes, my folks said they’ll be glad to see you again, believe it or not.”
He laughed. “That’s a good thing. How did you spend your Saturday?”
“Colleen and I took a walk, then we watched movies. It was pretty laid back. I’m sure you were busy getting ready for your trip.”
“Oh, yes. Meetings most of the day. It’s never ending, it seems.”
“I’m sorry. I know that must be hard for you to get used to.”
“I’m adjusting. Some things, I truly enjoy. Others, I could do without.”
“That’s true of just about any job, I think.”
“I’d better let you get some sleep. Do you have church in the morning?”
“Yes, Colleen, some of the others, and I are going. A driver will take us and pick us up.”
“Well, enjoy the rest of your weekend. Get your work finished so you can enjoy your holiday. I love you.”
“Love you too, Henry,” she said just before the call ended.
Karia and the Prince (Avalon Adventures Book 2) Page 11
