the tawse continued to punish her thighs, she finally submitted. Once her hands were flat on the floor, the tawse was returned to her bottom. While the pain was still dreadful, it was less than the inferno burning on the backs of her thighs. Time seemed to stretch into eternity before the tawse finally stopped falling though the servant continued to rub the leather over the welts she had painted onto Lucy’s bottom. Lucy continued to sob and gulp for air as she wagged her bottom from side to side. She swore she was burning more than she had under her guardian’s leather strap or even Headmaster Thorne’s cane She moaned and continued to promise to be a good girl, not even truly aware she was speaking. Anna allowed her to cry for several minutes.
“Your tawsing is over. You are to rise and go stand in your corner. Keep your gown up and that naughty bottom displayed,” Anna instructed as she released the girl. Lucy continued to sob, her chest heaving as she pushed herself off the housekeeper’s lap and stumbled to the appropriate corner.
“Gown up, Lucille,” she heard and sobbed harder realizing that Edward had stayed to witness her discipline. Lucy raked her gown up to bare her hot, aching bottom. She shifted from foot to foot, the burn so intense she couldn’t remain still. When she felt a large hand pressing against her lower back, she instantly stiffened at the contact.
“Settle, little one. I know your bottom is burning but you must show your contrition and remain still during your corner time. If you continue to move about, Mrs. Bremmer will simply give you another dose,” Edward warned her.
Barely managing to cut off the wail she began to utter at his words, she nodded and with a last little shuffle, she forced herself to still her legs. He removed his hand and used it to brush her hair from her face. She turned her head just slightly but when she saw his look of disapproval, she immediately turned back and pressed the tip of her nose into the junction of the two walls.
“That’s my good girl,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Keep your gown up, your bottom out, and, Lucille, I shall see you in my study before bed.” Lucy couldn’t stop the cry at those words. Edward allowed it for a moment before continuing, “It has been several days since you’ve been given an appointment, Lucille. I am disappointed to discover you haven’t learned to be a good girl for me and Mrs. Bremmer. Perhaps another lesson this evening will help remind you that you’d rather behave than be put to bed with a hot, throbbing rear.”
Lucy lost her breath for a moment and then sobbed harder, her voice echoing her distress. She knew her bottom would eventually stop burning from the tawse but that the fire would be reignited this evening.
Watching Edward leaving the library, Lucy wiped her cheeks and once more picked up her needle. The memories of the day’s beginnings had only reminded her of how this day was going to end. The only thing she could possibly strive for now was to not make it any worse on herself. She made her stitches through the fabric as quickly as possible so as not to be late for her appointment. Lucille shivered as she made her final knot. She folded the garment and set it atop the pile that had gradually grown during the day. She twisted her hands together, massaging her sore and pricked fingers. She had been sewing for hours, and though grateful she was finally finished, she knew her punishment was not yet complete. She took a deep breath and forced herself to her feet.
Her face flushed as she felt her skirt slide down to cover her bottom. She had been sitting on the settee, her skirts lifted and wadded up behind her in order that her bottom was bare on the cushion of the settee. She had not been allowed drawers all day long and had been conscious of her nakedness beneath her new dress. Mrs. Bremmer had reminded her each time Lucy had to sit to lift her dress properly. Lucy had been embarrassed when having to stand after taking her seat at the dinner table in order to lift her dress. She’d done so as quickly as possible and could only pray that neither Edward nor any of the many servants had seen her bare