by Maggie Ryan
"No, little one, don't clench your bottom. It will be easier if you relax."
Ettie couldn't contain a soft yelp as the lubricated nozzle was slowly worked into her body. "That's a good girl. Stay just like that while you take your enema." A click sounded and the water began to run down the tubing. When Molly's hand patted her bottom, Ettie groaned and began whining, promising she'd never be naughty again.
"Ettie, you are not receiving an enema because you were naughty," Molly assured her, bending to push escaped strands of hair from the girl's cheek. "You are having your bottom filled to ease your tummy ache. Believe me, if you were lying here for the purpose of punishment, that bag you think is so large, would seem tiny compared to the amount you'd be given."
"Oh," Ettie whispered, her eyes darting to the bag hanging over her head.
"It is easy to promise to be a good girl when you are facing something painful or embarrassing. The important thing is to submit to the lesson, Henrietta. I want you to think about the consequences of your actions and the path you are choosing for your future. Obedience is one thing but, sweetie, total submission requires far more."
Ettie tried to think about all that Molly had conveyed but found it quite difficult to concentrate when her tummy began to rumble. She squirmed and moaned, her hands clenching the pillow beneath her cheek.
"Please, I need to go!" she pleaded, only to be told once more to settle. The water continued without stopping, sluicing into her until she truly felt as if she'd burst. "Please, Nanny, please! I-I think I'm going to be sick again."
"There is a basin right here in case you need it, but, little one, you will accept the entire contents of the bag, understood?"
Ettie sniffled and finally surrendered. "It's just so… so awful!"
"The less you fight, the easier it will be to accept," Molly said as she sat down on the bed and ran a cool cloth across her patient's face and the back of her neck until the last drop had been delivered. When Ettie heard the click, she began to squirm but Molly placed a hand on her hip.
"No, sweetie. You'll hold for ten minutes before I take you to the potty."
"What? I can't!" Ettie squealed, new energy found as her stomach rumbled louder than before. "I've got to go now! You can't—"
"I can, Henrietta," Molly assured her. "The enema needs time to work or the entire process will have been for naught and will have to be repeated. Just relax."
Only after the full ten minutes had passed did she instruct her charge to clench after the nozzle was pulled from her. No longer concerned about embarrassment, Ettie leaned on the nanny, whimpering with desperation as she was helped from the bed and led to the potty. Once she was done, her stomach feeling empty, she collapsed into tears when Molly took her onto her lap and rocked her.
"I'm sorry, Nanny Molly."
"Shh, it's over. You did well, little one. How does your tummy feel?"
Ettie wasn't even aware of the fact that she remained half-naked on Molly's lap. All she was aware of was that she felt much better. True, she was horribly embarrassed and hadn't forgotten what she still had due, but for now, she had to admit the enema had worked. "Better, thank you."
A knock sounded and Lucas entered. Ettie held out her arms and he picked her up.
"I'm so sorry, Lucas. I was just so awful today."
"I'm glad you realize that, sweetie. I'm just sorry that it was such a tough lesson to learn." He turned away as Molly helped her into the nightgown and drawers he'd brought from her room. Once she was done, Lucas picked her up and placed her in Lucy's crib. Tucking her doll into her hands and the blankets around her, he bent and kissed her cheek.
"Just sleep. Tomorrow will be a better day."
"I hope so," Ettie said with a yawn. "Thank you, Nanny Molly. I'm really sorry to have caused such trouble."
"I know, little one, and you have my forgiveness. Now, just rest and I'll be right here if you need me."
"Yes, ma'am," Ettie said, closing her eyes and turning onto her side. The pain in her tummy was gone but her heart still ached. She had indeed been dreadful, and all it had gotten her was a dear sister who had to think she'd attempted to ruin her day; Dr. Fielding ordering her to take an embarrassing enema; Louisa and Lucy spanked; and her bottom awaiting its own turn to be reddened further. Lucas had said tomorrow would be a better day, but she had to wonder as she finally accepted the fact that everything that had happened could be laid at only one person's feet—and those feet were even now tucked up beneath the quilt she was lying under. Swiping a tear away, she knew that she had a great deal to think about and not all of what needed to be contemplated focused on finishing her punishment. Though she was presently lying in a crib, she was a grown woman. Some very serious decisions needed to be made. She no longer felt ill, but it was a long time before she drifted into sleep.
* * * * *
The next morning, Molly took a deep breath as she finished dressing for the day. She'd checked on her patient throughout the night and found her sleeping peacefully each time. With the sun's arrival, she knew Ettie's peace was about to be interrupted. Tucking the tawse into her apron pocket, she had to wonder if Ettie remembered that she was owed the remainder of her punishment. It wasn't how she'd like to start her day, and was quite positive it wouldn't be the youngest Huntington sibling's first choice. Opening the door to the nursery, Molly had to shake her head. Thinking she'd find Ettie still slumbering, she was absolutely stunned to see the girl in the corner she'd occupied the afternoon before, her nightgown lifted to her waist and her bloomers in a puddle at her ankles. While it was a totally unexpected sight, it made Molly exceptionally proud of this vivacious young woman.
Taking a seat on the chair, Molly called for Ettie to come to her. Ettie obeyed instantly, her eyes lifting from her bare feet.
"I'm so sorry I caused so much trouble yesterday, Molly… I mean, Nanny Molly. I feel just awful. I-I've been naughty before but I never really did something so selfish that it had so many different people being hurt."
"I'm very glad to hear that, Ettie." Molly took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I realize that you had already received your hand spanking, Henrietta, however, warming your bottom before using a tawse will make it less painful."
"That's okay, Nanny Molly. It's my own fault."
"While that is the truth, what I was going to say is that punishment is not something I enjoy, and its purpose is not to harm you, little one. It is to teach you to be a better person. I'm going to spank you with my hand and then I'm going to give you fourteen strokes with the tawse. That will have you receiving the same amount as Lucy."
Ettie shook her head. "No, I-I deserve more. I did know you meant for me to stand in the corner with my-my dress up and my, um, bum bare even though you didn't specify anything but to put our noses in the corner. I-I didn't even do that until you came into the room. Thank you for your kindness but-but I won't feel right unless I take my full dose."
Molly didn't allow her surprise to show. With a nod, she agreed. "You are showing maturity, little one. I'm proud of you. Place yourself over my lap and let's get this done, shall we?"
The hand spanking was not as intense as the day before, however, crisp slaps sounded in the room until the surface of Ettie's plump bottom was entirely pink. Soft gasps, a few louder yelps and mews were issued but the girl remained in position, her hands flat against the floor and her toes supporting her weight behind her.
"Count these, please," Molly instructed, as she tapped the tawse against a rounded globe. "You'll begin at two."
"Yes, ma'am," Ettie said, her buttocks clenching in anticipation.
Thwack
"Oh… two."
Thwack
"Three."
Thwack
"Ow, four… oh, please," Ettie moaned, her hand lifting.
"No, sweetie," Molly admonished gently. "Hands on the floor and unclench your bottom. Accept the punishment that you've already admitted you need to feel forgiven."
Thwack
> "Five."
After another five, Ettie's count was given through tears, her bottom beginning to wag from side to side.
"I'm sorry!" Ettie wailed as she gulped in air, her fingers digging into the rug and her toes scrabbling to find a grip as she'd already been chastised for kicking up her feet. Thwack "Eleven, oh please, Miss… please. It hurts so!"
"I know it stings, Henrietta, but allow the pain to remind you that acting without thinking is a certain path to trouble." Thwack
"Twelve!"
The tawsing continued, every stroke landing with the distinct sound of stiff leather striking bare flesh, followed by a cry and, after a few deep breaths, a number being offered. At eighteen, Molly had to use all of her strength to keep the small body tucked in tight against her waist. She knew it was her responsibility to deliver the discipline, and yet also knew that this girl had no idea that the strokes she was receiving were light compared to those she'd witnessed being delivered to the twins' backsides. Still, this was Ettie's first experience under the Scottish implement that many a young lad or lass referred to as belonging to the Devil as they learned it was able to light a raging fire in a naughty bottom.
"Last one, Ettie," Molly informed her, giving her a moment to recover from the nineteenth one that had been placed along the crease where buttocks met thighs. Rubbing the tawse along the same spot caused Ettie to whimper and attempt to arch back. "No, relax and let's finish this."
"No, wait…"
Thwack
The loudest wail of all filled the room as Molly ignored the plea and gave the last stroke in the same place as the previous. This sensitive spot, now reddened, would ensure that Ettie felt the physical reminder of her punishment for a couple of days. Molly hoped it would serve to remind her that she was but one member of a family, and her behavior could have unpleasant consequences for others. Setting the tawse on the table, Molly pulled Ettie up, intending on allowing her to stand. Instead, the girl wrapped her arms around her neck and curled up in her lap. Holding her and gently rocking back and forth, the nanny gave Ettie all the time she needed to calm from her discipline. Only when the cries had stopped and her face wiped and nose blown, did Molly lean down and kiss her forehead.
"You did very well. I'm proud of you and know that your brother will be, as well."
Ettie nodded and after allowing herself to be put onto her feet, she quickly gave her backside a rub, knowing it wasn't really permitted and yet totally incapable of resisting the urge to give her poor, hot nates a teensy bit of comfort. If Molly observed the illicit rub, she ignored it.
"You need to stand in the corner for a bit in order to allow the full punishment to make its mark in your heart. I'm going to go get your clothing for the day and then we shall join the others for breakfast."
"Yes, Nanny Molly. Um, may I please use the necessary first?"
"Yes, and then place yourself in the corner as you did earlier. I was very proud of you this morning, Ettie."
"Thank you, I'm so sorry you had to punish me."
Molly gave her a hug. "I am as well, but I have no doubt that you will not be as quick to disobey me again."
"Oh, yes, of that you can be positive," Ettie said with her first giggle of the day. Molly shook her head, a small smile on her lips as well.
"Go potty and then go to the corner." Molly waited until Ettie moved into the water closet before leaving the room, showing that she truly did trust Henrietta to finish her punishment.
Ettie was startled when they left the nursery to find Lucas waiting in the hall. It seemed that not only had she forgotten about the sudsing she'd earned for cursing, she'd also forgotten about the additional strokes she had earned. Though she'd wanted to prove her contrition by presenting herself in the corner early that morning, she wasn't eager to have five additional bands of fire added to the furnace that was her bottom. Sighing, she turned and walked back into the room without a word, Lucas following, and Molly giving them both a sympathetic glance before she went downstairs.
"I believe that finishing this will be far better than allowing it to hang over the both of us," Lucas said as he pulled the chair from its place.
"I-I guess…" Ettie agreed reluctantly. "Are-are you going to use a tawse?"
Lucas shook his head and pulled her to his side. "Ettie, it is difficult for me to discipline you or your sisters, but it is my responsibility. I'd much rather be building snowmen, decorating trees or simply playing games but, little one, it wouldn't do you any good to allow you to believe that being naughty and then being recalcitrant in admitting to that naughtiness has no consequences."
"I know," Ettie said, sighing deeply as she allowed him to pull her across his lap. He lifted her skirt and petticoats and then tugged down her drawers until her bottom was bare. Five rapid fire strokes were delivered to the very center of her cheeks, and though they were given with nothing but his hand, she cried out with each solid clap of his hard palm against flesh that was already quite tender. Lifting her up, he allowed her to restore her clothing and then pulled her to sit on his knee.
"Ettie, I love you so much and I realize that you might have questions about your future. Honey, you need to think about what it is you want and what sort of life you wish to lead. You have such a generous heart and a loving soul, and so much to give to others. Any man you choose will be receiving a wonderful gift." He bent forward and kissed her forehead. "You have grown up in a household that offered a different view of marriage than the example set for most young ladies in society, and we all know how much Maman and Father adored each other. However, the choice of a different lifestyle is not one to be made easily."
"I-I don't know what I want, Lucas," Ettie confessed. "I see how happy you and Lucy are and remember our parents. But I'm not sure if that is the path I want."
"All I can tell you is that you need to listen to your heart, sweetie. I promise, if you do, you'll discover the answer." After another kiss, he grinned and patted the back of her skirts. "I will tell you this, though. Regardless of the path you choose, is also a husband's duty to discipline his wife. And, sweetie, it would do you well to remember that husbands who are also papas, discipline far more often and far more thoroughly. I think you need to be doing quite a bit of thinking."
"Yes, sir," Ettie said softly. She'd done quite a bit of contemplating her future over the past few hours, but with her bottom throbbing and her family all aware of how horridly she had behaved, she knew it was time to give all things serious consideration.
Lucas lifted her from his lap and gave her forehead another kiss. "I adore you, Ettie, and just want you to be happy. Please, give yourself all the time you need. Deciding on a future is far more important than deciding on which candy to sneak."
"I think I'm going to stay away from sweets for a while," she said with a giggle. "But I would like something to eat to cover the taste of soap in my mouth. Nanny Molly is quite thorough in both spanking and mouth washing!" Her brother chuckled as he led her into into the dining room.
Ettie promptly moved to where Franny was seated. "I'm very sorry for everything, Franny. I promise I will try very hard to think before I act in future," she said.
Franny nodded and gave her a smile. "Thank you. I heard you were ill last night. Are you okay?"
Any remaining tension about the previous day's events evaporated as Ettie nodded and then rubbed her bottom, rolled her eyes, and giggled. "My tummy is fine but I'll have to let you know about my backside. I'm just glad that we aren't Scottish." Lucy and Louisa couldn't hold back their own giggles, both nodding in total understanding of the statement. Ettie carefully took her seat with only a slight wince and proved her tummy had fully recovered as she filled her plate with her favorite breakfast fare.
After finishing their meal, the girls went into the library to find Molly instructing them to sit at the table as they had letters of apology to write.
"Miss Molly, I would like to work on my sketch of Cleo," Franny said, gathering her drawing pad and some
pencils.
"That's fine, dear," Molly said as she rummaged in the desk drawers, turning to place the stationery before the other three girls. Franny left the room, and Molly pulled her knitting basket close, keeping a watchful eye on the repentant miscreants as she worked on finishing a scarf she was making for Joseph.
After searching downstairs for the cat, Franny went upstairs. Not finding Cleo in Molly's room, she entered the nursery and smiled. The white ball of fluff was curled up on the windowsill with her tail wrapped around her body. Taking a seat at the desk, Franny was quickly lost in her own world as she sketched. Her pencil had soon transferred the image to paper as her mind thought back to the previous day. Despite her assurance to her sister that she didn't believe Mr. Benedict had been truly angry, she felt her pulse race just a bit. After being courted by only one man, who had been so demanding to the point of causing her to feeling actually afraid, she'd thought perhaps she'd never wed. Living a life in quiet was far more preferable to one where she felt as if she were on pins and needles. Meeting Samuel at the dinner party had revealed that perhaps she'd been a bit hasty in deciding she'd remain a spinster. A soft smile played on her lips as she remembered the touch of his fingers against hers and hoped that Mr. Benedict wasn't already thinking of a way to inform her that he had no wish to court a girl who was related to such naughty creatures.
Turning a page in her pad, she began another sketch from memory. She gave a startled cry when Cleo, having awakened from her nap, leapt onto the table, scattering pencils and knocking a book to the floor.
"Goodness, you scared me," Franny said, reaching out to pet the cat, smiling when the animal purred and rubbed her cheek against her hand before jumping to the floor again. Franny picked up the book which had opened in its fall. Checking the spine for possible damage, she was relieved to see that the book appeared to be undamaged. Closing it, she realized a few pages had wrinkled corners and opened it again to attempt to straighten them. Despite herself, her eyes skimmed a few lines of neatly written text and she felt her cheeks heat. Closing the book, she read the title and understood that the volume was not truly a book but was instead some sort of journal. Looking around the room, she opened it again and skimmed another page. Blushing hotly, she slammed it shut. Glancing around again, she truly took in the nursery. While she'd actually seen it before Lucy ever took up residence, she'd not given it much thought. Seeing it now, and reading evidence that more than sleeping occurred in this pretty room, she felt her hands shake as she set the book back onto the desk. Standing, she wandered about the room, her fingers drifting across furniture. Another startled cry was given when the door opened and she turned to find Molly standing in the doorway, her own cheeks a bit pink. The two women looked at each other, both obviously unsure what to say. Franny walked back to the desk and picked up her pad.
