Her Lord's Claim (The Forbidden Saga #4) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,16

soap sliding down her throat. Lucas smiled and lowered his voice. “Sweetheart, you must know that I am going to wash out your mouth, so know this as well. If you don’t immediately obey me, we will be even later for services for you shall also undergo your additional cleansing immediately. Perhaps you’d care to explain to Pastor Reed why we were late. I’m sure he would find it necessary to speak to you.”

Suddenly Lucy couldn’t open her mouth fast enough.

“That’s better,” he said with a nod. “Now stick out your tongue.”

She whimpered but obeyed, grimacing the moment the soap hit her taste buds. He began scrubbing every surface of her mouth with the soapy cloth. Lucy was soon sputtering, bubbles pouring from her mouth, as he made sure he made his point. He removed the cloth but kept her chin in his hand.

“Are you going to curse again?” he asked and her head shook as much as possible within his hold. She attempted to verbalize her answer but it was garbled, as he had not allowed her to spit out the soap. Lucas smiled and finally released her. “Spit,” he instructed as he turned her to the sink.

Grateful, she spat into the sink, not caring that servants were working in the kitchen, though no one approached the sink. She whimpered as he took her chin and repeated the entire process twice more. When she was allowed to spit for the third time, she understood she had cursed three times and received a cleansing for each one. She was handed a glass of water and she rinsed her mouth and spit repeatedly. Lucas wiped her face and bent to press his lips to hers. She lifted her arms and clung to him, desperately needing his comfort. Lucas held her close for a few minutes but then put her away from him.

“You know you are mine, and that I love you, kitten,” he said, and she nodded slowly. “I want you to be the best person you can be so that you are happy and fulfilled. You will learn that because I care I will never allow you to behave like a hellion, no matter how often you test me.”

Lucy heard his words and though spoken softly enough that she was the only one able to hear, she felt as if he were making a claim that every person in the world would have no reason to doubt. She swallowed and grimaced at the taste still filling her mouth.

“Yes, sir,” she said, just as softly. Lucas bent to give her a final, light kiss. By the time Lucas took her arm to guide her back into the dining room, she was not only embarrassed—she was exhausted. Her stomach was roiling, and not just from the small amount of soap she had inadvertently swallowed. It was churning with the uncertainty of what additional punishment this man would demand. Her buttocks clenched with the certainty that no matter what price he demanded, they would pay.

Edward stood and helped Louisa from her chair when he saw Lucas return. The four walked to the foyer, where the men accepted cloaks from Molly and draped them over the girls. The trip to the church was taken in silence which Lucy knew was directly due to her behavior. A brief glance across the small aisle between the couples allowed Lucy to see the compassion on her sister’s face which only served to make her even more nervous. She wished she could restart the day but knew that wishes weren’t being granted as the carriage pulled up in front of the church.

Once inside, they discovered the nave empty, the sounds of many voices lifted in praise, as the opening hymn was sung. Edward led the way down the long center aisle to their usual pew. He stepped into the pew, followed by Louisa and then Lucy. Lucas entered and drew the hymnal from its place on the back of the pew in front of them and opened it to the correct page. His voice soon joined in the chorus. Lucy attempted to sing, but her voice stopped in mid-note when she looked up to discover that Pastor Reed seemed to be staring directly into her soul.

Chapter 5

As Edward had predicted the night before, the sermon was about obedience and submission. Lucy’s guilt grew as Pastor Reed spoke about the need for husbands to remain firm and consistent in leading their wives down the proper path. He spoke of