by Maggie Ryan
Lucy clenched her eyes shut, her body trembling, but with a loud sob, he saw her make her decision. Bending forward, she grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it up until she could reach the ribbon of her drawers. Untying it, she gave another sob as the fabric swished down her legs to puddle at her feet. Stepping out of them, she turned, stumbled to the chair and threw herself across the thickly padded arm. She reached back and pulled her clothing up and off her bottom until it lay in a mass at her waist.
Edward nodded, pleased at the choice she’d made, knowing it had been a difficult one. She looked exactly like a naughty child, baring her bottom to her betters, accepting her need for discipline. About to remind her, he was further pleased when her feet slid apart. They moved slowly, but he was proud of her.
With a sob, she said, “I’m sorry, sir. I’m so, so sorry. Please… please, thra… thrash me.”
It wasn’t exactly correct, but hearing her request a thrashing instead of a strapping pleased Edward. Her subconscious was dictating her submissive need to pay for her sins. Her choice of the word told him that she expected to be strapped quite soundly, and he intended to live up to her expectations.
“That’s a good girl. I know you will learn from this, little one. Now, lift your bottom high and do not reach back or close your legs. If you do, I shall have to tie you down and thrash you anew. Do you understand?”
As he stepped forward, she said, “Ye… yes, sir.”
She gripped the opposite arm of the chair and laid her head down on the soft cushion. Her feet were flat on the floor but, with his quiet order to ‘present’, she pushed up onto her tiptoes, her bottom presented to her guardian. Behind her, Edward nodded at her quick obedience. Perhaps it wouldn’t take as long as he’d thought for this young woman to learn the lessons she needed. But no matter the time it took, he’d be prepared to deliver every stroke she earned. Lifting his arm, he began.
Louisa flinched and spilled a spoonful of her soup when Lucy’s first scream rent the air. Her hand trembled, and her eyes closed as another floated down the hall. She knew that her sister would be in a great deal of pain by the time Edward was done with her. She had been shocked when Lucy had cursed and then fled the house, but knew the price those choices would require. She, too, had once attempted to flee, but had just as easily been caught. She hadn’t been able to sit comfortably for two days. As cry after cry filled the house, Louisa felt a tear slide down her cheek and clapped her hands over her ears in an effort to drown out the sounds. She felt another’s hand on hers, and saw Mrs. Bremmer pulling her hands down, placing them back on the table.
“Don’t you be naughty, Louisa. If someone else chooses to misbehave, you know what happens to their little bottoms. Your sister needs to learn that lesson, and you shall do well to bear witness. Your papa wants you to eat your dinner, so I suggest you do so. I’d hate for you to have a turn in the study as well.” Louisa’s hand shook as she picked up her spoon again, dipping it into her soup. Though most of it spilled back into the bowl, she managed to put the spoon into her mouth. Mrs. Bremmer nodded and then her voice softened.
“I know it is hard, little one, but your papa is a good man. You just eat your supper, and if you need your nappy changed, you let me know.” Louisa nodded, as she continued to take small sips of soup as the thrashing went on and on in the back of the house.
Chapter 6
Lucy felt as if she would soon die. Her entire backside hurt. The strap bit into her bottom again and again, and then moved down to lick at the backs of her legs. She screamed and begged and promised to be the best girl ever, but the strap continued to fall. Never before in her life had she been so punished. This was truly the thrashing of her life, and she prayed she would not only survive it, but never ever be subjected to such pain again. Edward stopped only long enough to remind her to open her legs and lift her bottom. Every time he did, she automatically obeyed, wanting to do nothing that might prolong her punishment.
She had released the chair’s arms and had pushed her hands under the cushion as if to both gather comfort from hugging it, as well as keep her hands away from where they wanted to go. He laid another dose of the strap over her bottom and again down her legs. She tried to maintain position, but would occasionally kick up a foot, only to immediately lower it again. She’d stopped trying to count the strokes after the first few, accepting the fact that he would continue to lay the leather across her flanks until he considered her very well-thrashed indeed. She was so deep in her submission to his authority that she wasn’t even aware of the fact that her strapping was over for several minutes. She lay over the chair, her tears soaking the cushion, her bottom and thighs throbbing.
At Edward’s instruction to stand up, she did so, her legs wobbling, her hands going behind her back to clench her bottom. Her guardian shook his head but allowed her a few quick rubs before he said, “Hands at your sides, little one. You need to let that bottom burn. Now, thank me properly and we shall go have our dinner.”
She couldn’t imagine eating but heard herself saying, “Th… thank you for… for strapping me, sir. I won’t… won’t run away again.”
Edward nodded, and stepped forward to cup his palm against her cheek. “It doesn’t have to be this hard, Lucy. Learn to obey and your life shall be easier.”
She shuddered at his touch, even as she was shocked to discover she wished she could cuddle into him. Her heart ached almost as much as her bottom. How could he be so kind, when only a moment ago he was stripping the skin off her bottom yet again? He dropped his hand and moved to put the strap away. When he turned back, she was calmer, and softly said, “I-I didn’t mean to curse at you, sir. I just…” Sighing, she shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
“If you’ll allow yourself to listen, to open your eyes and really see, Lucille, I know you’ll find the answers you seek.” She flushed as he bent to pick up her discarded drawers and handed them to her. “I doubt these will feel good against your punished bottom, but you need to dress for dinner, my dear. It wouldn’t be proper to be naked beneath your clothing when seated at our table.” Evidently she failed at concealing her shock as she saw his lips twitch. “Unless, of course, if you were required to do so as an additional form of punishment,” he added.
The shame of knowing that anyone who wasn’t stone deaf in the manor already had heard her getting strapped was bad enough. Thinking of anyone discovering that she was sitting on a red hot bottom that was completely bare beneath her clothing was absolutely appalling. She slowly pulled the drawers on and over her bottom, hissing as the fabric raked across her skin. She tied the bow with shaking fingers, not knowing how she’d be able to sit on her chair. She dared to ask.
“May… may I skip dinner, sir? I’m… I’m not hungry.”
“No, Lucy. Little girls need a good supper before they sleep. You will eat a proper meal, and only after will you be allowed to find your bed. Now, come along. There is no need to feel ashamed of getting your bottom thrashed. Naughty girls get strapped and then are forgiven. It is over, and need not be discussed, unless you choose to misbehave again.” He bent toward her and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “You took your thrashing very well, little one. Though I doubt you believe me, I am very proud of you, Lucy.”
Trying to process all that had happened in one short day, Lucy found herself allowing him to take her hand and lead her to the table. She grimaced as she took her seat and allowed him to push her up to the table. She thanked Mrs. Bremmer when a bowl of soup was placed in front of her. She couldn’t look at her sister, her mind and heart churning in confusion. Her bottom burned and clenched as it tried to adjust to her body weight. The meal was quiet, Edward seeming content to eat in silence as she and Louisa attempted to process all that had occurred over the last few days.
When the meal was over, Lucy meekly asked, “May I be excused, sir?” Edward looked at her and smiled.
“Yes, my dear. You may retire to your room and seek your bed. I want you to get
a good night’s sleep before you begin your studies again tomorrow. Goodnight and try to have sweet dreams.”
Lucy slipped from her chair. “Thank you, sir.” Without looking at her sister, Lucy said, “Good night, Louisa.”
“Good night, Lucy,” Louisa returned softly.
Lucy wasn’t surprised to see Molly in her room, obviously having been informed by Mrs. Bremmer that her mistress had finished her dinner. The girls didn’t converse as Molly helped Lucy out of her clothing. Lucy heard her maid’s quick intake of breath but was grateful when Molly didn’t mention the condition of Lucy’s posterior. Lucy knew the maid was most likely wondering when her mistress was going to learn how to behave so that her backside wasn’t red and striped. Molly helped Lucy into her nightgown and when Molly presented a fresh pair of bloomers Lucy shook her head, no longer concerned that someone would be privy to the fact that she was naked beneath her gown. Molly was different. She was both a servant and the closest thing Lucy had to a friend in the manor. Molly turned back the spread and sheets of the bed and Lucy bit back a cry as she crawled up onto it. She immediately turned onto her stomach, her bottom throbbing. Molly gently drew the covers up, but when Lucy groaned, she removed all but the thinnest sheet.
“Sleep well, Miss Lucy.” Lucy didn’t answer, she just began to cry softly as Molly began to gather up the discarded clothing. She turned as the door opened. Lucy also heard it but was just too tired to sit up. She bit back a groan as Mrs. Bremmer entered.
“Molly, you may retire,” the housekeeper said, “I’ll finish here.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Molly said, giving her superior a curtsy. After shooting Lucy a look and an encouraging smile, she left, pulling the door closed behind her.
Lucy was exhausted and just wanted to fall into oblivion. She had so much to think about, so much to consider, so many questions she wondered if she would ever be able to answer. She watched as the housekeeper moved to pick up the clothing Molly would have taken care of, hanging it back into the armoire. Lucy’s eyes drifted closed and she remained still until she felt the sheet being drawn back. She whimpered as she felt her gown being drawn up to expose her bottom.
“Shhh, little one. Just be still; I’m going to put some salve on your poor bottom to help reduce the swelling.”
Lucy’s face burned and her eyes clenched tight as she felt a glob of something being applied to her bottom. She braced herself, expecting pain, but moaned as immediate relief flooded through her. The salve was wonderfully cooling and she was soon limp beneath Mrs. Bremmer’s expert hands. Anna’s fingers were gentle as she slowly and carefully worked the salve into every welt and bruise. Lucy sighed as the older woman continued to apply the salve down the backs of Lucy’s thighs.
“Open your legs.”
Lucy hesitated, but only for a moment, the comfort offered far too soothing to chance its end. Anna smoothed more of the slick cream on the places where the strap had wrapped to nip at the extremely sensitive skin of Lucy’s inner thighs. Anna’s fingers slipped between Lucy’s parted legs going from one welt to another, the cooling ointment sliding against the hot skin. Lucy felt something change when Mrs. Bremmer’s fingers paused at the junction of her thighs.
“Open your legs wider, sweetie. Let me see if the strap bit into your sweet little pussy.”
Lucy’s face flooded with color at the command. Though she’d heard the word whispered among her school friends, it was the first time anyone had openly referred to her most private, intimate area with such a crude word. The command caused her heart to beat faster but after only a moment’s hesitation, she opened herself a bit wider.
“That’s a good girl,” Anna praised, her fingers slowly sliding down Lucy’s thigh to barely touch the pouch of Lucy’s sex.
Tensing, Lucy drew a ragged breath and held it as the servant’s fingers moved to settle in a place Lucy had never truly thought about. The touch was nothing like the one she felt when she cleaned herself during her bath or after using the chamber pot. She quivered, not understanding what she was feeling, only knowing that the touch felt good. When they moved again, nails giving the briefest flick against her skin, Lucy moaned.
“Shhh, don’t fuss, sweetie. Lie still and let me take care of you.”
Surrendering, Lucy settled, moaning against as the finger slid across her sex, applying the cream to a part of her anatomy she had never before known existed.
“That’s a good little girl,” Anna said very softly as she removed her fingers to once again smooth some salve into undercurve of each buttock of Lucy’s bottom. “You will feel better tomorrow, but I hope you are learning a valuable lesson. It will be much easier on this poor precious little bottom if you learn to obey his lordship’s rules.”
Lucy felt conflicted as the servant spoke, giving a final few strokes of her fingers against the bottom under discussion. She realized she had exposed herself to a woman she would have sworn she hated and yet that woman had shown her nothing but tenderness as she soothed her aching bottom. Anna patted her again and then stood, gathering her pot of salve. Lucy’s nightgown remained well up on her back, leaving her bottom bare and shining with the salve, but when she reached back to draw it down, the servant’s voice stayed her hand.
“No, Lucy. Keep your gown up so your bottom will cool and the salve dry.”
Lucy didn’t know what to say, not sure if she was aching due to her strapping or because she felt bereft with the disappearance of the woman’s soothing fingers. She didn’t know what she needed; what she wanted. She shut her eyes again, and as Anna bent to kiss her cheek before she extinguished the lamp, she muttered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Sleep well, little one.”
As Lucy drifted into sleep, Louisa was being changed on her table. Edward hadn’t allowed her to excuse herself from the table until she had to admit that she was wet and needed a fresh nappy. He knew this was something to which his little lady would always have an extremely hard time adjusting. He would keep her in nappies during her naps and would use additional diaper time as punishment. It promised to be very effective in helping keep his little girl in line. When she had asked to be changed, tears sliding down her cheeks, he hadn’t praised her. After all, she was simply obeying him. He had placed his napkin on the table next to his plate and held out his hand. She blushed the entire way to her nursery, her gait awkward with the weight of her sodden diaper between her legs. She didn’t speak as he cleaned her, but quivered as he ran the cloth and then his fingers over her shorn skin. He hadn’t bothered diapering her again. It was time for her to be tucked into bed and he simply put her in a nightgown and led her to their room.
He was rewarded with her first real smile in hours as she realized she wasn’t going to be spending the night in her crib. Edward was aware that she wanted the comfort of her papa’s arms around her; she needed to feel treasured and desired. Though he was extremely pleased that changes in his home were happening quickly, he knew his little one was still struggling with the fact that her secret had been revealed. Lucille had only just begun to ask her questions and his bride would have to face her sister and her questions soon. However, that could wait. It had been a rather trying few days and Louisa needed to rest.
“Are you coming to bed too, Papa?” she asked softly as he tucked the covers around her.
“I’ll be up soon,” he promised, bending to kiss her gently. “Close your eyes, little one. Tomorrow is another day.” Her eyes closed as she gave a soft sigh and turned to curl up on her side. Edward blew out the lamp and left her to sleep as he went back downstairs. He walked to his study and found Mrs. Bremmer waiting with his glass of cognac. He thanked her and waved her to a seat.
“Tell me, how did you find our newest little one?”
Anna smiled, sitting on the edge of her chair. “You were right as usual, sir. She was extremely grateful for the application of the salve. She is such an innocent she has no idea of what is happening to her. I found her pussy slick even an hour a
fter the strapping you gave her. She is struggling mentally and is far more stubborn than your little lady, but her body is responding to the need to be taken in hand.”
Edward took a sip of his drink and nodded. He had truly hoped to find Lucy as receptive and as submissive as Louisa. Their father had been correct. Both of his girls, like their mother, needed not only loving men, but men who were capable of being extremely strict. The Furniss women craved men who would never hesitate to flood their little ones with attention, even when it was painful and unwanted. He knew that even though they were simply born with the deep seated need to submit, they would only find true happiness with the one man who touched all parts of their souls. He was that man for his beautiful little Louisa. He could only pledge to find the man who would both be able to guide his ward, discipline her when needed and protect and love her with every beat of his heart.
“Did she fuss at all?”
Mrs. Bremmer smiled and shook her head. “No, my lord. She was a perfect little angel. She opened her legs wide and even when I told her to open them further, she barely hesitated. She was grateful for the salve, but I think she was even more grateful for the tender care. She probably misses her poor departed mother and needs someone to remind her that though she will be most thoroughly spanked, she’ll also be forgiven. It’s obvious that her poor little bottom is aching, but I believe she understands that she brought the pain upon herself. I know teaching her will continue to be a challenge, but, sir, I believe she will make some man a wonderful little child-bride.”
