Her Lord's Desire (The Forbidden Saga #3) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,65
impulsively lifted herself onto her tiptoes and brushed a kiss across Edward’s cheek. “Yes, sir,” she said, and then giggled before she tucked the small cloth away again. “This is one order I must say that I am truly looking forward to obeying.”
Edward’s loud laugh echoed about the room, causing many a head to turn to look at the two of them.
Chapter 14
The façade of the ball being one from a childhood fairy-tale was peeled away a few hours later as Louisa and Lucille climbed the stairs to the second floor. Lady Eddinberg’s maid had given them directions where they might go to freshen themselves. As they reached the top of the stairs and turned into the corridor, they saw a couple a few feet in front of them, the girl’s upper arm being held by her companion. Before the sisters even heard the girl speak, they knew she was in some sort of trouble.
“Please, sir, please! I’m sorry. I promise I won’t do it again. Please don’t span… spank me,” they heard the girl pleading softly.
The twins looked at each other and silently moved to the left side of the hall intending to slip past unnoticed. They’d not yet made it past when the man turned, his eyes finding the sisters.
“Ah, good evening, girls,” he said as if he greeting them while holding a large wooden paddle in his free had was perfectly normal.
Louisa spoke first, while Lucy’s shocked stare moved between the man she instantly recognized and the beautiful young woman whose face had turned scarlet and was already showing traces of tears.
“Good evening, Pastor Reed,” Louisa said, and gave him a curtsy. After straightening, she softly hissed, “Lucy.”
Reminded of her manners, Lucy followed suit though her curtsy was wobbly and her greeting was a far softer and hesitant, “Sir.”
“Does your papa know you are running about upstairs, Louisa?” Reed asked.
Louisa nodded. “Oh, yes, sir, we are just going to… um, freshen ourselves. Papa is waiting downstairs,” she answered, her hand tightening its grip on her sister’s.
Lucy felt her face heat, the awkwardness of both the conversation and situation keeping her silent.
“Very well then,” Reed said. “See that you both return to him quickly, young lady. Heaven knows little girls are tempted to forget their places when allowed to run about without supervision. Being allowed to dress like women tends to foster naughtiness.” Though he was directing his comments to Louisa, his eyes were boldly raking up and down Lucy’s small body, causing her to shudder and catch her breath as he continued, “All of you girls should be properly attired instead of flaunting yourselves in these ridiculous gowns, thinking it acceptable to act as if you are adults.”
“But we—” Lucy began.
“Do not interrupt when I’m speaking, young lady,” Reed snapped.
Lucy saw that she wasn’t the only one to flush at the disgust evident in his voice, though she had to wonder if the other two were a bit angry as she was. He’d cut her off before she could remind him that they were actually all adults no matter what roles they played.
“I suggest you pay attention instead of attempting to interrupt your elders, young lady.”
Remembering Lucas’ words, Lucy forced herself to sheath her claws. The look in his eyes as well as the implement in his hand, helped in her decision that the safest route to take was to remain silent. “I apologize for interrupting,” she managed, her refrain in addressing him as sir again, a tribute to the lioness Lucas had spoken of.
Obviously her slight slipped right past the pastor as he gave a grunt before continuing. “As I was saying, perhaps if little Camilla were wearing a proper dress, she might have remembered it is not appropriate to flirt and flaunt herself when she believed her betrothed wasn’t looking. Acting like a common harlot is severe naughtiness that must be corrected just as severely.”
Reed paused for a moment, his gaze moving back to the culprit. “Lift your skirts, young lady,” he said almost casually.
Camilla moaned at his order, and Lucy could easily imagine the poor girl’s bottom clenching at both her shame and the thought of her impending punishment. She felt Louisa give her hand a squeeze as two pair of identical violet eyes watched as Camilla lifted her skirts and petticoats slowly.
“Please, Pastor Reed, please not here,” Camilla sobbed.
His answer was to lift the paddle and use it to motion for her to continue.
Camilla clenched her eyes shut as she obeyed and lifted