Her Lord's Claim (The Forbidden Saga #4) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,12

after you are properly dressed as we both know.”

Lucy understood the promise and blew her nose, feeling years slip from her as she was treated far younger than her chronological age of eighteen. The final item to don was a pretty white pinafore before she was turned back around and Anna quickly had the ribbon around her waist tied into a huge bow in the center of her back.

Anna led her to her desk and pulled out the chair. Lucy stiffened remembering what had happened the last time she had been led to this chair. She fought the urge to bolt away knowing she’d only be caught. Anna didn’t bother reassuring her young charge. She simply took a seat on the chair and then turned Lucy away from her, keeping her in place between her knees.

Lucy saw Molly picking up the wooden hairbrush that resided on top of her dresser and didn’t dare breathe as her maid passed it to the housekeeper. Lucy shuddered with relief as she felt the bristles of the brush being run through her hair after Mrs. Bremmer released it from its plait she’d worn to bed. Once freed of tangles, the curtain of her blonde hair was left hanging down her back, and a wide yellow headband was placed on her head to keep her hair off her face. Mrs. Bremmer finally stood and held out her hand.

“Come, Lucille,” she said as she led her from her room. “We must hurry as I’m certain the others are finished with their breakfast by now.”

Lucy neither cared what the others were doing or about breakfast. All her thoughts were consumed with how she must look and what everyone would think, seeing her wearing this childish dress, the lacy cuffs of her drawers in evidence beneath the hem of her petticoats and dress. She hated the feeling of relief she felt when she found herself being grateful to see the lace. She knew its absence would mean she was either in a nappy, or, God forbid, totally naked beneath her clothing, her bottom easily accessible for discipline. Questions of what else would be expected of her flooded her mind as she walked quietly beside the housekeeper.

Chapter 4

Anna drew her reluctant charge into the dining room. All eyes turned to see their entrance. Lucy’s sister gave her a smile as if she were used to seeing her sister dressed this way every day. Edward smiled as well, but it was Lucas who captured and held Lucy’s gaze. He stood and approached her and then bent to kiss her cheek. Lucy felt her stomach flip, but her heart continued to pound at her shame. Surely he would send her back upstairs to change, as he had grown accustomed to seeing her dressed, if not in the latest fashions, at least in clothing far more mature than this frilly yellow dress.

“Good morning, kitten,” Lucas said and took her hand from Anna’s hold. “Come and eat your breakfast quickly.”

Lucy remained frozen in place when she realized that he had shown no surprise at her appearance, and she understood he had not only requested this change, he found absolutely nothing wrong in her attire. She pulled her hand from his as he attempted to lead her to the table.

“Lucy, come, you don’t have much time to have breakfast and—”

“No!” Lucy cried out, her body stiffening, her hands clenched into fists. “I bloody well will not eat breakfast, and I will not wear this bloody dress! I am your betrothed, Lucas Huntington, not a bloody baby!”

Though her words caused Louisa to gasp and Edward’s attention to focus on his ward, Lucy only had eyes for the huge man who was standing a few feet from her. Though a part of her brain was screaming for her to be silent, another part was pushing her to continue as if she needed to test Lucas in some way. She raked her hands down the pinafore, lifting it as she stamped her foot.

“Charles would never expect me to dress like this. He always said how nice I looked when he escorted me out. He was far more interested in my mind than my wardrobe. I’m sure he’d—”

“Oh, Lucy, don’t.”

Lucy heard her sister’s words and she knew they had come too late. She saw Edward give his wife a quick warning glance to remain silent. Louisa flushed and pressed her lips together, but Lucy understood that she was about to encounter a thorn. Lucas didn’t speak for several