Lucy Surrenders (7 page)

"Yes," she whispered, her heart pounding as her entire body seemed to throb.  "I promise to give all of my heart, as well as all of my body, in submission to my husband to fulfill the pleasures he shall desire."  Lucas' own heart was pounding as he accepted her promises.  He tightened his hold on her hand as he felt it tremble within his.

"And, Lucille Rose Furniss, do you accept not only the role of wife to Lord Huntington but promise to fulfill the role of his little one, submitting to his lessons as he teaches you what both these roles require?" Reed asked as he did of every young woman who married these types of men.  Lucy's answer came slower as she was promising something she was still so unsure she could fulfill. Accepting the truth at last she said, "Yes, I promise to be Lord Huntington's wife and his ... his little one."  She felt her uncertainty evaporate as Lucas' eyes looked into her soul.  "I accept his right to possess me and teach me all that my roles will entail."

Lucas' smile enveloped her as she listened to his vows.  He promised to love and cherish her, to protect her and to guide her.  He promised to be responsible for teaching her what he might require as both his wife and his little one.  He promised to remember that to spare the rod would spoil the child, and accepted the role of disciplinarian should she fail to fulfill her duties in either of her roles.  Lucas surprised Reed by making an additional promise, one that was not a conventional part of the ceremony

."Lucy," Lucas said, with a slight hitch in his voice, "I give you this promise as well:  I promise never to give you, as my wife or as my little one, ever cause to doubt that all I shall teach you come from my deep and abiding love for you."  Lucy's heart stuttered, hearing the words spoken in God's house, and knew that he would spend his life fulfilling each vow.  A tear slid down her cheek.  Lucas smiled as he pulled something from his pocket and then allowed it to dangle from his fingers.  Lucy's eyes widened as she saw a beautiful gold chain from which a charm dangled.  She smiled, seeing it was a tiny cat that appeared to be cradled in the palm of an open hand.

"You shall not wear a ring, as I believe doing so confuses your dual roles," Lucas said as he kept his eyes on her while he opened the clasp of the necklace.  "I wish you to wear this necklace always so that you will know that, whether you are my wife or my little one, you will always and forever remember that you, Kitten, are my heart, my life, and forever my love."  Lucy's tears of joy continued to flow as he lifted his hands to settle the gift around her neck.  He fastened it, laying the charm to rest between her breasts.  Lucy's hand immediately lifted to close around the charm.

"I promise never to remove it," she said, her face seeming to glow with her joy.

Louisa stood, tears on her cheeks as well, her hand in her own husband's, the vows reminding her of her own ceremony.  She too had made these promises and accepted Edward's promises, as well.  She knew it was far easier to repeat words than it was to fulfill those same words when faced with lessons she had never considered.  She looked to see Edward smiling
down at her and knew without a doubt that she would do the same thing again a thousand times over.

Reed, slightly shaken by the intensely spoken vow, finally acknowledged that the two people before him truly and unequivocally were made only for each other.  He said a final prayer and the ceremony was finished.  Lucy signed her name to the license and then squealed as Lucas lifted her off her feet and whirled her around.

"I love you, Kitten," he said as he set her on her feet, one arm pulling her close, his free hand at the back of her head as he bent to kiss her.  She was grateful for his support, as his kiss seemed to draw all strength from her.  She moaned against him, her body instantly aching for pleasures she had never experienced.

"As I do you, Lord Huntington," she whispered, when he finally released her.  The couple accepted Reed's blessing on their marriage and were congratulated by Edward and Louisa.

"I trust you will accept my decision not to place a ring on her finger?" Lucas said with a grin as Edward hugged him.  Edward chuckled, remembering their conversation of the night before.

"It is a beautiful gesture," he said, his face turning serious.  "I believe it is the perfect symbol of not only your claim of possession, but a true symbol of your love for our little one."  Lucas nodded and smiled, watching Louisa finger the small charm as Lucy smiled.  The four were soon in the carriage, the tension of the morning no longer lingering in the air.  Edward shook his head as Lucas kissed his bride several times and Louisa giggled.  They arrived home, and Lucy found herself being lifted from the carriage and twirled once more.  She accepted his kiss, her heart light and carefree.  He set her onto her feet and led her to the door.  Mrs. Bremmer was waiting with Molly in the large hallway.

"Anna," Lucas said, his arm tight around Lucy.  "May I present my wife, Lady Lucille Rose Huntington."  Lucy flushed as she heard her new husband speak of her title for the first time.  Mrs. Bremmer smiled, understanding that the little boy she had watched grow into maturity had finally found his life-mate.

"Congratulations, Lucy," Anna said and saw the girl's smile dim just a bit.  As far as Anna was concerned, the woman needed to be immediately reminded that, Lady or not, she was always and forever to be a little one to those who shared her life.  "I'm very happy for you, Lord Huntington, and trust that our little girl will learn to be a proper wife and obedient little one for you."

"Ummm, thank you, Ma'am," Lucy said, receiving the intended message.  Lucas grinned and after giving Anna a kiss on her cheek, turned and helped Lucy out of her cloak.  Lucas reached out and cupped his new wife's cheek.

"Lucy, go wait for me in the study," he said softly, and reality slammed into her.  Lucy's smile slipped from her lips, and her mouth opened as if to speak.  She raised her eyes to his, her face flushing hotly as she was aware that everyone heard his order and knew the meaning behind those simple words.  She saw his eyebrow quirk as if asking whether she had so quickly forgotten her promised spanking as well as the vows she had just made.  Swallowing hard, Lucy closed her mouth and nodded.  It felt as if her back were being branded as she felt the weight of several pairs of eyes watching her as she began her solitary walk down the long hallway.  Lucas gave a small smile when he saw her back straighten, and her steps grow more sure as she obeyed the first order given by her husband.

Edward was handing Louisa's cloak to Molly as he heard Lucas' order to Lucy.  He didn't speak as he watched her silently walk down the hall.  Louisa turned to Lucas, her hand reaching out to touch his arm.

"But, she just married," Louisa said, her voice pleading.  "Lucas, please, you are barely wed.  Couldn't
you...”

"Be silent, Louisa," Edward said, sternly.

"But, Papa," she said her heart aching, "it isn't fair....  It's just this once...”

"Louisa Michelle Wintercrest," Edward said, reaching to take her arm.  "As you say, Lucy just wed, meaning she also just gave her vows.  I suggest you remember yours, as well.  Have you forgotten that Lucille earned the spanking she is to receive by her unacceptable behavior this morning?  We all knew that she would be punished upon our return home."

"Yes ... yes, I... but ... she said she was sorry.  Maybe Lucas could..." Louisa attempted, not aware of the look of shock on Anna's face as Louisa continued.

"I find you are forgetting a great deal, young lady," Edward interrupted, his voice showing his disapproval.  "You are to respectfully address Lord Huntington as Sir, or, now that he has married your sister, Uncle Lucas shall suffice.  However, you are not to be so familiar that it allows you to forget your proper place nor his proper authority," he said, and was pleased to see her flush with embarrassment at her improper address.

"Yes, Sir," Louisa said. “I’m sorry, I ... I didn't mean to be disrespectful.  It ... it is just ... well, it is Lucy's wedding day, and I thought ... what could it hurt if...”

"Enough!" Edward said, louder.  He was amazed that she continued to ignore his warning and argue.  "Marriage, as you know, little lady, does not negate the need for discipline.  In fact, marriage demands a husband take an even firmer hand," Edward said sternly.  He was stunned when he saw her mouth open as if to continue her argument.

"Louisa," he said, reaching out to cup her chin.  "Young lady, you are to remain absolutely silent.  If you so much as utter another word, I promise you shall spend the rest of the day not only with a burning bottom, but you shall have a gag pressed into your disobedient little mouth to teach you to bridle your tongue!"  He was pleased to see the realization that she should be far less concerned about her sister's fate and far more concerned about her own immediate future.  He released her chin and turned to Lucas, who had stood quietly while Edward dealt with his wife.

Edward took Lucy's cloak from Lucas and passed it to Molly who was silently witnessing the scene.  Edward reached into his pocket and extracted a small key, which he passed to Lucas.

"Are you sure you won't need it, as well?" Lucas asked Edward.  He heard Louisa moan and watched as her face grew pale, as if only now realizing her husband might intend to spank her, also.  Edward shook his head.

"I have all I shall need in my chamber," Edward said, and Lucas nodded, slipping the key into his own pocket.  Lucas turned to speak quietly with Anna, who had been a silent witness to the scene.  She listened intently and assured him she understood his request.  They all watched as Lucas turned to follow his bride.

Louisa watched him leave and understood she had truly overstepped boundaries she had no wish to cross.  "I'm sorry, Papa," she said quietly.  I just don't want her hurt on her wedding day."  Edward shook his head, not believing she had already broken his order to remain silent.  Despite the fact that she was making an apology, he knew she had just earned a much more physical lesson to remind her to obey his every word.  He took her hand and led her to climb the stairs.

"He will not harm her, Louisa," he said firmly.  "I promise that, even as I blister your bottom for your behavior, which I promise will hurt a great deal but also will not truly harm you.  Your sister accepted her husband's decision with far more grace and respect than my own wife, who has far more experience in these matters.  While Lucy's spanking will also hurt, it will serve as her first lesson to behave as her husband expects.  My hope is that your own blistered rump will remind you of lessons you seemed to have forgotten." 

Louisa was no longer concerned about her twin.  Edward didn't make promises lightly, and she knew she would soon be dancing to the tune of his discipline.  She knew that when he promised to blister her bottom, blistered it would be.  She remembered the vows both girls had given to these men, as he opened the door to his bedchamber and pulled her inside.

Lucy was unaware of her sister's plight as she pushed open the door to the study.  Her eyes immediately went to the large armoire, and she shuddered.  Not wishing to think of which implement her new husband would choose, she walked to a corner and turned into it.  Her blood was racing through her veins.  She felt a tear slip from her eye and angrily brushed it away.  She had known better the moment she began her tantrum and had spent the past few hours anticipating paying for that choice.  She tore her thoughts away from the upcoming spanking and remembered the promises made as she gave herself to Lucas in marriage.  As the words echoed in her mind, her heart stopped pounding, and her racing pulse slowed.  She reached up and fondled the charm hanging between her breasts, feeling a sense of acceptance and peace flow over her.  When she heard the door open, she vowed again that she would obey her husband in all things, though some of those things would definitely not be of her choosing.

Lucas saw his wife standing in the corner, her nose pressed into the wall.  He turned and closed the door behind him.  He didn't speak as he removed his coat.  He laid it across the back of a chair and saw the license peeking above the pocket where it had been tucked.  He smiled as his love for his wife flowed over him.  He forced his eyes away as he rolled up his sleeves, knowing that this session would likely set the tone for all future ones.  He understood Louisa's concern for her sister.  Lucy's first lesson would be one that would cause her pain, instead of the pleasure he so wanted to teach her.  Steeling himself, he also remembered his vow to guide his wife and administer discipline for her misbehavior.  He pulled the key to the armoire from his pants pocket and quickly unlocked the doors.  He pulled the doors open and smiled.  Edward was a very thorough man, and that included having a large variety of implements available to teach his own little one lessons in obedience.  He turned from the cabinet and gazed again at his wife.  He walked to stand in front of the settee.

"Lucy, come here," he said quietly.  He watched as she stepped away from the corner and turned.  She lifted her eyes to his and gave him a soft smile.  Lucas' heart lurched at the look of complete acceptance on her face.  He saw her hand drop from where it had been cupping his charm.  As he had that morning, he extended his hand to her.  Lucy walked forward and placed her own into his.  He took her other hand and stood her in front of him.  He sat and drew her to stand between his spread knees.

"Tell me, Kitten, why did you choose me?" Lucas asked.  The question surprised Lucy, but she didn't hesitate to answer.