“Do you think that you have learned your lesson, Nessa? Will you keep quiet, or do I have to spank you again? I will remind you that I only gave you a sample of what I hold in the palm of my hand and that there are many, many more where they came from. As my girls will tell you, the last place they wish to be is over their Lordship’s lap.”
Hatefully staring back into his handsome face, Vanessa moved her hands to clutch the single aching spot. “You have no right to beat me.”
“Spanking is not beating. Up to this point, I had no intent to take this little meeting any further that a firm talk but I see that you don't understand the severity of your situation.” The man shook his head. “Stand in the corner and take some time to think about your behavior.”
“I will not. Release your hold!” Vanessa protested as he calmly guided her to the corner with her ear firmly grasped between his thumb and index finger.
“Leave this spot before I give my permission and you will find yourself over my knee for a real spanking across your bare bottom. After that, you will write lines,” he said firmly against her pale cheek.
“You’re a beast,” she spat, facing the wall. "I don’t like writing lines.”
“You don’t have to like it; you just learn how to live with it. I am also the beast who is now in charge of your life and who is also responsible for your health, happiness, and safety. It would be to your greatest benefit to mind me.”
“Beating a woman into submission is illegal.” Her protests grew weak in the face of her predicament.
“And who will you report this perceived infraction of the law in a country where it is illegal not to discipline the unruly?”
“I’ll go to the Head of State and file a protest against you.”
He laughed, an infuriating chuckle that started at the back of his throat. “There are several flaws to your plan, my dear. First, spanking is not only legal but mandatory. Second, I am the one who not only makes the laws but also who enforces them. And finally, the Head of State is my father and a much more challenging and demanding taskmaster than I. The majority of these laws started with him. Why do you think that Marie begged not to go back? She had worked for Father before being assigned to me.”
Patting her bottom in response to her silence, he excused himself after reminding her to stay put and to think of how she could make her new life better for herself and those around her. He paused and returned to kiss her on the cheek.
“One final thing, my sweet. You will call me Poppa when you are I are alone.”
“Poppa? Why would I call you Poppa?”
“Because it pleases me and is what I wish for. Because it will also remind you of the manner that I will care for you. Whether you are sitting on my lap to be comforted in my arms or laying over it to be corrected by my hand upon your bottom, you will always know that Poppa will be there for you.”
Chapter 3
The twenty minutes that he had left her standing in the corner felt like hours. After her dismissal, she felt nothing but resentment and an undeniable desire to escape a future of further degradation and humiliation. She made no attempt to hide her narrowed eyes each time Harrison came into view and watched with a slight twinge of jealousy as he interacted with the multiple girls on his staff. The pleasure they had being in his presence was evident, as was the joy they received from his praise. Would she ever receive the same affection that he showed them? Likely not since she refused the blind following of his every command or to keep her opinions to herself. Her animosity grew as she determined never to become one of the silly geese that flocked around the mighty master of the house.
He attempted to draw her into a conversation, but she refused. Shrugging, he asked the girls about their morning at the public baths, their lessons and other conversation that one would never appropriately direct towards a servant. If the lack of propriety was not enough to ruffle her feathers, the presence of the valet at the table for the midday meal set her on edge.
“Nessa? You’ve met Edward, haven’t you?”
“Only by his position as a guard and the announcement that he acted as your valet. I was not given his name nor was I aware that servants dined with the lord of the house,” she responded tightly.
“This young lady is a bit uppity given her station. I gather that her anger with me starts with the knowledge that I reported her disobedience.” Edward chuckled, patting the taller man on the shoulder.
“I think her anger extends to all who inhabit this planet at this moment. In response to your question, my dear, servants do not ordinarily dine with the Lord and Lady of the house unless they are part of the family. Edward is my third cousin and in training as a husband to take our little Marie as his wife.”
“You would have your cousin’s betrothed serve as a maid?”
“Her training as a wife requires that she learns to run the household. What better way than to begin as a parlor maid for His Lordship?” Edward smiled.
“She is no longer a parlor maid. I had to punish her for interfering again.” Harrison advised.
Edward rolled his eyes. “Oh dear. What did she do this time?”
Cheerfully, Harrison explained Marie’s attempt to dissuade him from disciplining their newcomer and his observation that the little maid frequently intervened due to nosiness rather than concern.
Edward laughed. “It is for these reasons that your favorite cousin is glad to have you break her of these bad habits before he is wed to the little minx.”
“Tis my delight, my boy. Your happiness is mine.”
The logic made no sense to the freethinking and agitated young woman. “Exactly who determines what is considered perfection and do you expect a woman to be flawless?” Vanessa asked incredulously.
The men looked at each other and nodded. “In principle, yes. Our system allows her to enter into the relationship without any known or unacceptable bad habits, significant weaknesses or irreconcilable faults. Her betrothed accepts her at this value and cannot criticize her for any known traits that he gains when they marry. If she develops negative behaviors that are not immediately corrected, it is assumed that he finds those actions permissible. Regarding your question, the man determines the degree of perfection,” Harrison explained.
Edward further explained. “You see, Miss Vanessa, our positions as husbands require that we are to provide for our wife’s every need. If she is unhappy or dissatisfied, that is our responsibility.”
“Yet, you punish her for that dissatisfaction.”
“No, we discipline if she chooses to show defiance rather than discuss her needs. That is why our accountability to one another is so extreme. The ladies are close in this community, and there are no secrets.”
“This is pure madness.” Vanessa shook her head. “Secrets are like weeds. Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.”
“You will understand soon as you experience our way of life.” Harrison patted her hand. “Are you done with your meal? You’ve hardly eaten anything.”
“Being around you two has made me lose my appetite.”
“Still saucy, are we? I think you need a nap. Some rest will do well for you and your disposition.”
“A nap? I am too old to take a nap. Furthermore, the voicing of my thoughts and opinions does not mean I am tired.”
“Yes, a nap. I think that I will incorporate that into your routine on a daily basis. When you awaken, you will complete the chores assigned to you without argument or complaints.”
“Chores? I am not your maid.”
“You will learn all the domestic duties necessary to manage my house. There will be no discussion regarding that task. Until you learn these skills and have met with the approval of the
“This is unbelievable!”
“If I may, Cousin?” Edward intervened, taking the woman’s hand. “You are in an exceptional position, Vanessa. Ordinarily, an unwed woman is not permitted to practice her accomplishments under her fiancé’s supervi
sion and is sent to hone her skills in the home of either her parents or a relative of her future husband. In our situation, that includes the Head of State’s mansion. I can assure you that is one place that you would ever wish to be.”
Vanessa remembered Marie’s panic about being sent back. “Why is that?”
“My father is a strict taskmaster and has no tolerance for foolishness of any kind,” Harrison explained. “Likewise, my mother has forgotten the joy of youth and is equally demanding of the unwed. She has my father’s ear as well and enforces a stricter routine that the girls fear greatly. They are both unmerciful and impatient, and leave no room for errors.”
“That is Harrison’s gentlemanly way of calling his father a cold, hard bastard and his mother a heartless reptile. She and I do not see eye to eye on anything.” Edward grunted.
“She isn’t capable of seeing eye to eye or compromising with anyone,” Harrison said in agreement. “I believe that the woman enjoys making people’s lives miserable simply because she can. She’s done that my entire life.”
“And, pray tell, why did she not submit to you? You are a man, are you not?” Vanessa asked with a frown, her confusion growing.
“A woman is only required to submit to her husband and to obey the rules of her employer. Being a man does not mean that we are absolute in authority. Unless you are Harrison, of course. All must submit to him, man or woman,” Edward patiently explained.
“This is a lot to take in. You need some time to process it so that you can learn to ask the right type of questions. Yes?" Harrison asked the girl who entered the room and nervously curtseyed before him.
“I beg your pardon for interrupting, Your Lordship, but Miss Vanessa's chambers are completed as you requested.”
“Excellent! Thank you, and please tell the other girls that you all get extra sweets for your work today. Come with me, Nessa. I have something to show you.” Harrison held out his hand.
“My name is Vanessa or Miss Pankhurst, not Nessa,” she mumbled as she numbly accepted his hand and followed him up the stairs.
“I like giving my little girls pet names, so get used to it.” He led her to a room at the end of the hall, opened the door and stepped aside for her to enter.
“What is this?” she asked. The room was alight with giant vases of floral arrangements of heather and irises, linens of pale white and ivory lace, and indigo silk cushions and velvet curtains. A thick gold and white floral Persian carpet covered the majority of the wooden floor, and a fire crackled merrily in an iron stove.
“I had these chambers decorated just for you. I even had a coal stove brought up so that you could have more heat. Do you like them?”
“How did you know that irises were my favorite flower? Where did you find such an unusual colored blossom?” She fingered a dark violet-colored petal with awe.
“I am a student of the mind,” Harrison said, presenting her with a splendid bloom plucked from a large crystal container. “I’ve always had the uncanny ability to match a person with their preferences. The day I presented her Majesty with red geraniums was the day that she awarded me the position of Lieutenant Governor to represent this country in her name.”
“How much power do you have?” Vanessa asked.
Sitting her on the gold velvet settee, he removed her boots and then patted her calf. His gray eyes met her with a certain warmth. “More than I would ever need. I answer directly to the queen and no one else. It makes for many enemies, especially those like my father who desire absolute sovereignty and dominion over this land and the people.”
“You don’t care much for your father, do you?”
“He is as warm as a witch's tit. He and my mother make the perfect pair.”
“I’ve learned over time that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. How soon before I experience the same type of behavior from you?”
“I’m a patient man and am asking that you allow yourself time to learn to trust the process and to keep your mind open as you are exposed to different things.”
Vanessa grunted. “Your way of life goes against everything I believe in, Mr. Ansley. How can I trust something that I oppose?”
“You oppose it for reasons that do not apply here. In you go,” he said, drawing back the covers to the beautifully made bed.
With a loud sigh of resignation, Vanessa climbed in and settled amongst the piles of large, fluffy pillows. “You have made it abundantly clear that I have no escape from this gilded cage. Hence, my agreement or disagreement regarding you or your country’s legal process carries no account.”
Harrison nodded. “I do understand. I will offer you another promise and give you my word as a gentleman. If you still oppose to our way of life after you have given yourself the time and effort to adapt to it, then we will work together to discover the flaws and adjust our system to make improvements. Is that reasonable?”
“You would change things based on my opinions?” Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“I would consider altering things based on your experience. You are correct in that the women here are raised in this culture, and few question it. Therefore, any flaws in the system may not be obvious. As Man grows and the people are exposed to others from adjoining countries, we have to be aware that immigrants might be attracted enough to desire to join us. I made my intent clear in the beginning that once we marry, I wish to appoint you the First Lady of Man. That would include incorporating you as part of the Lieutenant Governor’s Cabinet.”
“Why would you ever consider such a ridiculous thing? My voice would never be heard, and you will be named a laughingstock.”
“I beg to differ. Her Majesty is a woman and has the most powerful voice on this planet. She taught me that neither a person or a country can grow if we either are afraid of or impede upon, progress. Nessa, darling, I believe that your intentions for the betterment of others supersede your own need for comfort. Your actions against the magistrate and the Prime Minister proved that.” He stroked her hair from his place on the edge of the bed. “Just be cognizant that I can’t elect you to the position until you have completed the training and are permitted to wed. I need you to help me if we are to succeed in this venture.”
“Would your parliament and council of advisers allow a woman to sit on it?”
“My assembly has men who are intelligent and know that the strength of our country demands wise counsel. Plus,” he said with a smile as he kissed her forehead, “if they give me any problems, I’ll make sure that her Majesty the Queen knows that they refused to listen to your experiences solely based on your gender. She is a formidable woman and one that no intelligent or sane man would wish to cross.”
“That is extortion,” Vanessa commented with a slight smile.
“The Scotsmen use the term ‘blackmail’ and yes, it is. Sometimes we do as we must for the betterment of our future. I don’t want any of Man's politicians to repeat the actions of Britain’s prime minister, or for any to have to suffer under that type of dictatorship. He is an evil man with an agenda, and that starts with lining his pockets without regard for anyone else. I will not have that type of person governing my country.”
“At last, Mr. Ansley, we might have found something that the two of us agree on.”
“What did I ask you to call me?”
“You requested that I call you ‘Poppa.'” She yawned, feeling her eyes start to close. “I do not understand your reasoning. Is that a title used by everyone here as well?”
“It is another tradition that we have adopted. It helps to remind us of the depth of responsibility that we have in taking a wife.” His voice was soft as he continued to stroke her face with his warm hand. “Does that term bring you to a place of discomfort?”
“No. I only addressed my sire as ‘Father’ and therefore have no connection to your request. It’s just odd.” Her voice lowered to a murmur. “Did you drug me again? I’m suddenly so tired.”
“No, darling. The events are just catching up
with you. Now rest. I’ll have Marie come and retrieve you in an hour or two.”
***
One week later, her maid gently touched her shoulder to rouse her from her daily nap. “Miss Vanessa? Lord Harrison wishes you to observe chore time.”
“I can’t believe that I fall asleep each nap time,” Vanessa said, sitting up in bed and stretching. “I’ve never done this before.”
“We enjoy our naps here. His Lordship learned of the daily practice of napping when he visited Spain and experienced something called a siesta.” Marie helped slide the boots onto the other woman’s feet. “Not every household practices it, but I must admit that naps are much nicer than being outside with the men and raking muck in the rain. Cuddling next to Edward is so much more delightful.”
Vanessa shook her head. “I’m not much of a cuddler. So, is that an option? To either sleep or work with the men to clean the stables?”
“Basically, yes.” Her head bobbed. “His Lordship will nap with you if he has time. We have a good life here and are allowed to leave the burdensome and more unpleasant work for the men. That includes tending to the animals, chopping and hauling wood, carrying coal, and heating kettles of water. They are also responsible for scrubbing the ironware, cleaning the hearths and doing repairs.”
“Men clean pots and pans? Finally, at least something in this place makes sense. Have you ever left this island?”
“No, Miss. I have traveled to the different districts with my father. He serves as the housing advisor to His Lordship.”
“Does every district abide by the same rules as the governing state?”
“Yes. Ours was the last to adapt to the practices that we have. The only difference is that Lord Harrison has encouraged the equality of voice between men and women. His father, however, does not. I’m sure you have deduced that those two are frequently at odds.”
His Lordship's Lap Page 4
