Read Lucy Surrenders Online

Authors: Maggie Ryan,Blushing Books

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #Victorian, #Regency, #Historical Romance

Lucy Surrenders (2 page)

BOOK: Lucy Surrenders
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"Happy?" he asked softly.

"Oh, yes.  She made the right choice," Louisa said.  "Lord Huntington is truly her Prince Charming, Papa," she said, looking up at her husband.  "Nothing is missing now." 

Edward bent to kiss her before taking her hand.
"Shall we go congratulate the couple?" he asked, and she nodded eagerly.  As they began the walk across the ballroom floor, Louisa became aware that, for one man, Lucy's choice had not been his.

Lucy was also aware of Charles.  She gently pushed against Lucas' chest and turned when she was reluctantly released.  Charles Lloyd stood before her, his eyes reflecting his disappointment.  He had been so positive that he had finally won the beautiful young woman.  His pride flared for an instant but just as quickly faded at the look on her face.

"Charles, I'm so sorry," Lucy said softly, one hand reaching out to him. Her face was flushed as she felt shame at causing this wonderful man pain of any kind.  "I ... I didn't mean ... I never meant to hurt you, Professor ... I mean Headmaster...."  Her voice trailed off as her words failed her.

"You have nothing to apologize for, my dearest Lucille," Charles said, softly stepping forward and taking her hand in his.  "I think I knew from the moment I saw the two of you together.  I just didn't want to accept it," he said and gave her a soft smile.  "You will always hold a special place in my heart." 

Lucy felt her throat tighten with emotion as he spoke to her.  She knew he was a wonderful man.  She knew he was capable of great kindness and gentle support.  She knew that he was going to make some woman a wonderful husband.  The deepest, secret part of her also knew that she would never have found all she needed with him.

"Thank you," she said softly, and stepped closer to brush her lips across his cheek.  "I will always remember your kindness to me."

Charles closed his eyes for a brief moment as he said goodbye to what might have been.  “I wish for you nothing but happiness, Lucy.  I fear your journey will be difficult at times, but know that Lord Huntington is the man you were born to be with,” he said, and saw her smile light her entire face at his words. 
"Be happy, Lucy," he said, and then stepped back and gave Lucas a small bow.  "Sir, you have captured her heart, and all I ask is that you remember what a rare gift that is.  Take care of her." 

Lucas nodded and shook the man's hand.
  "I shall, Charles, I promise I shall," he said, solemnly. 

Charles gave them both another nod and then turned and walked away.  The couple watched as he accepted defeat with his quiet dignity.  Lucy felt her eyes sting and prayed that her former professor would find his own mate, for he truly deserved nothing less.  As she brushed a tear from her cheek, she became aware that many people were converging on them.

"You've made me proud, little one," Edward said as he wrapped her in his arms and bent to kiss her forehead.  "Lucas is a lucky man." 

Lucy smiled and was soon in her twin's arms.  The two laughed and kissed each other, silently communicating their happiness in the special way of twins.  Lucas accepted Edward's hand, and then the two were pounding each other on the backs, their happiness just as evident.

"Well done," Edward said, and watched as Lucas nodded.

"I will owe you forever, Edward," Lucas said
, as he watched his future bride being hugged and congratulated by a dozen people.  "Thank you for your letter and for your trust that I was the one for your ward." 

Edward grinned and slapped Lucas on the back again.
  "You are welcome," he said and then chuckled.  "She might be a kitten tonight, Lucas, but remember, you are the one who told me our little Lucille is a lioness under that soft exterior.  You'd better prepare yourself to experience her claws." 

Lucas grinned and nodded.  He knew that while she had some knowledge of what could be expected of her, in truth his little kitten was an innocent in so many ways.  He would dedicate his life to teaching her.  What were a few scratches, when the reward begged to be stroked and taught the way of love?

Pastor Reed approached the couple.  Lucy unconsciously stepped closer to Lucas, her heart pounding, as the man seemed to stare into her soul.  Remembering that this man had not only given Camilla a harsh paddling, but had asked for permission to court her, caused her body to tremble.  Lucas gathered her to his side, one arm holding her close, his protection understood.

"Congratulations, Lord Huntington," Reed said and shook Lucas' hand.

"Thank you, Sir," Lucas said.  "I request you post the banns tomorrow and arrange for a special license as well." 

Reed wasn't the least bit surprised.  What man would want to wait to stake his physical claim on the beautiful young woman?  Reed had been extremely disappointed when Edward had refused his request.  From the moment
he had first seen Miss Furniss, he had wanted her as his.  Even as he had reddened Camilla's bottom earlier, it had been this woman's bottom bared to him as she submissively bent over his knees about which he fantasized. Seeing her in the hallway upstairs and recognizing the fear in her eyes, he had wished to hear Lucy's voice raised in misery, begging him to cease the paddling as her bottom danced to the tune of his discipline.  He saw her eyes shining with happiness to be in Lucas' arms; and wished instead to see her eyes shining with her tears as she promised she would be his good girl, if only the pain to her bottom would cease.  He wanted her body lying naked beneath his own, her poor punished bottom burning from his discipline as he took her.  He had wanted to be the one to teach the little beauty that complete and total submission and obedience to her husband was her only choice.  Lord Wintercrest had denied him the chance to live his fantasy, and Lord Huntington was even now staking his claim.  Reed forced his thoughts away from his fantasy and nodded his head.

"Certainly, Sir, it shall be my pleasure.  I shall tend to both this evening upon my return home," Reed assured Lucas. 

Lucas had seen the longing and emotions play across Reed's face as the man's eyes roved over Lucille's body.  Lucas pulled her a bit closer to him, his face stoic, but his intention of protecting the woman clear.  Lucas understood the man was most certainly not pleased but would do as expected.

Reed felt the tension emanating from the huge man and understood Lucas was well aware of his own thoughts. Stepping back,
the pastor had the grace to flush slightly. He saw Lucas nod his approval as the man distanced himself from the couple.

"We shall speak tomorrow, then.  Now, if you'll excuse us, I believe there are others wishing to extend their congratulations."  Lucas turned, and he and Lucy walked away and were soon accepting best wishes from several people.

"Thank you, Lucas," she said softly.  "He scares me," she confessed and realized that it was very true.  "He is an awful man."

"Lucy, you need not be afraid.  I will not let anyone hurt you," he promised, and she felt the tension leave her at his words.  She nodded, and her heart skipped a beat as he cupped her cheek and stroked her skin with his finger.  He bent his head towards her, and she closed her eyes, knowing he was going to kiss her again.  Instead of feeling his lips press to hers, she felt his breath as he spoke very softly.

"Despite your opinion, Pastor Reed is a man of authority, Kitten," Lucas said, knowing she needed to be reminded that she was to be respectful to any adult with which she might come into contact.  Lucy's eyes flew open in surprise at his words.  "You are not to refer to him with disrespect....”

"But he just wants to
spank..." she said, her eyes widening in disbelief that he was defending the man.  She saw him shake his head as he bent down to speak quietly.

"Lucy, do not interrupt me again," he warned firmly.  She swallowed hard, memories of what happened the last time she had interrupted her guardian flowing through her.  She stiffened in his arms and would have stepped away if he had allowed it.  Lucas simply tightened his hold.  "Pastor Reed is a respected leader of the church, young lady
, and deserves that respect."  He saw her shaking her head and continued.  "He may not be the sort of man that you wish, Lucy, but you will show him the respect his position deserves."  He saw her eyes darken as her anger grew.  He knew that this moment would define all the coming ones.

"Know this, little one:  you will learn that he is not the only man capable of lifting your skirts to bare your bottom and turn it a glowing, hot red."  Lucas watched as her violet eyes widened even further, her complexion turning a deeper shade of scarlet as embarrassment burned across her cheeks.  He cupped her burning face between his hands
, not allowing her eyes to stray from his.  "Engagement does not remove the need of corporal discipline, Lucille; it only passes the authority from your guardian's hand to my own."

Though everything inside her had demanded she choose Lucas, she felt herself trembling with the realization of what that choice would demand of her every day for the rest of her life.  She flushed as she remembered his hand slapping against her bottom in the library.  At this moment
, she understood her husband-to-be had just informed her that he would not ever hesitate to spank her, just as Edward had since her arrival at Wintercrest.  Lucas watched her emotions move across her face and gentled his voice.

"Kitten, you have not yet earned a spanking, but I fear you are extremely close to having your bottom heated.  Let's not allow Pastor Reed to taint our evening," he said, his tone soft but his words demonstrating his total authority and intent. 

Lucy was aware of Edward standing with Louisa, both silent as if waiting for the drama to come to its conclusion.  She raised her eyes and saw her sister standing in her husband's arms, her face showing her concern for her twin.  She felt Edward's eyes bore into her own as his face reflected his disapproval of her behavior.  She knew that if he had been the one standing before her, her bottom would already be making the apology for her behavior, and her color heightened even further.

"I'm ... I'm sorry," she said, her voice quiet and her lips trembling.  "I ... I didn't mean to be disrespectful to Pastor Reed and ... and to you, Lucas.  Thank you for not ...
not..." she stopped, unable to complete her sentence as her face burned and her eyes shone with unshed tears. 

Lucas nodded, his face softening as she made her apology.
"That's a good girl," he said and brushed his lips across her own.  "Come, Kitten, we need to pay our respects to our host."

She nodded as she attempted to regain her composure, slipping her hand once more into his.
"Yes, Sir," she said softly, and Lucas smiled. 

It would be the first of thousands of times his little one would answer in such a manner.  They walked across the room, the conversation about Pastor Reed put aside as they celebrated their engagement.  They spoke with Lord Eddington, who gave Lucy a kiss and declared that he believed she was a very lucky little girl for choosing a man who seemed extremely capable of keeping her in line.  Lucy had flushed but nodded and thanked him and Lady Eddington for such a lovely evening.  George smiled at the lovely little woman.  Her shy smile and the color of her cheeks acknowledged she was an innocent, and has much more to learn.  He thought back to the day he wed his own wife and found nothing but pleasant memories.  Through all the years of his marriage, he had found a great contentment in the education of his wife.  Lucas reminded him of himself when he had first begun the training of his own little one.  He put his arm around the woman he had loved for decades and only hoped that the young couple would also discover such contentment.  Lucas and Lucy accepted congratulations from several other
well-wishers.  As Lucy was kissed again and again, she realized another thing of importance.

Her life of the past several months had been lived surrounded by people of society that shared in this unusual lifestyle.  This ball had not been one where every elite member of society was invited.  The attendees might be titled, the men holding positions of respect, yet every woman here lived a special life.  These couples, sipping wine and champagne from crystal flutes, nibbling on delicious treats, dressed in elegant clothing, would transform with the coming day.  Women dressed in beautiful gowns soon would be donning childish dresses Beneath those dresses they would wear lacy drawers, split-crotch drawers, or even nappies that could be quickly drawn down to trembling knees, or pulled apart to bare their bottoms, in preparation of being spanked, paddled, strapped or worse.  They would be reminded that, though they had been allowed a magical evening, they were once again subject to strict discipline and expected submission.  She trembled as she acknowledged that her life as she knew it was now over.  She had declared her choice openly, and everyone accepted the fact that she was pledging not only her life but also her willing submission and obedience to Lord Lucas Huntington.  Lucas kept her close to his side, her hand always held firmly, yet tenderly, within his own.  When Edward approached and suggested they make their departure, Lucy found she agreed.  She was suddenly extremely tired and saw Louisa cover her own yawn with one hand.

The couples walked down the same stairs that earlier that evening they had ascended, though their status had changed.  From this point forward, Lucas would always be the man escorting Lucy, for the rest of her life.

"Your pumpkin awaits," Edward teased as he held open the door to the carriage and turned to bow with a flourish to his wife.  Both girls giggled, remembering their earlier conversation about the fairy tales they both enjoyed.

BOOK: Lucy Surrenders
7.4Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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