The Inheritance (26 page)

"Y-yes s-sir,"
she moaned.

"Yes indeed.
You are a very bad girl and you shall be dealt with accordingly. I
did warn you that if I had occasion to punish you for speaking out
of turn again it would be on your bare bottom. You have nobody but
yourself to blame."

"Y-yes s-sir,"
she replied, knowing full well he was right.

"Remember, you
are in the house. Do not cry out. If you do I shall be forced to
gag you," he warned. "You shall receive a dozen fiery smacks on
each of your bare cheeks. Beginning now," he declared, and pulling
the white cotton fabric as far aside as was possible, slapped his
hand down with gusto. She let out a hissing sound, and James
quickly decided he would spank her rapidly. It would shock her, and
the naughty young woman deserved nothing less.

"Disagreeing
with Lord Michael," he barked, slapping hard and fast, "shame on
you, shame, shame, shame!"

She kicked out
a leg and let out a suppressed squeal. The twelve smacks, though
swiftly delivered, had been dispatched with considerable force and
she couldn't stop herself from moaning and wiggling her hips back
and forth.

"Be still," he
snapped, and she instantly stopped her gyrations, but not before he
had caught a peep of her full pink lips peeking through the backs
of her thighs.

One of these days
, he thought,
I shall be gazing upon their full beauty, slicing
my cock through your sweet wetness
.

Sliding back
the opposite flap of her drawers, he gazed adoringly at her robust
bottom. Placing his open palm against the scorched skin he smiled
with gratification, then slithering across he allowed it to rest
upon the cool virgin cheek.

"And the same
for suggesting you would punch a man on the nose! My goodness!" he
scolded. "You may say such things to me in private, but never, ever
in mixed company!"

"Y-yes s-sir,"
she whimpered.

Holding the
fold firmly back, he began to smack the fresh, untainted skin.

"Embarrassing
me and yourself by saying something so outlandish," he barked,
spanking just as he had on the previous cheek, with rapid fire,
stinging slaps. "Shame on you, shame, shame, shame!"

"Ooooohhhh,
Sir," she cried.

"Be quiet," he
declared, as he finished the twelve, "and release my ankles."

She had been
holding them with a white-knuckle grip, which he was sure had
helped her suppress her cries.

"Stay as you
are," he ordered, then crouched down and lifted the fabric that was
covering her face. The upended position, with her dress dropped all
the way over her head, was just as much a part of the discipline as
the spanking itself.

"I promise you
my dear, should you ever disagree with any of my esteemed
colleagues ever again, I shall take the cane to your bottom. Do I
make myself clear?"

"Yes - Sir,"
she trembled.

Having been
blessed with the quick glance of her cunt, he decided to take
advantage of her current state. He wanted - and needed - to see
more. Returning to his position and leaning over her, he pulled her
drawers far apart and back from her reddened backside. Peering down
he could see it. And it was glistening. He grinned happily. It
would be a vision he would be taking up to his quarters that night,
and many nights to follow.

But his cock
was bursting and he decided he couldn't wait for the quiet privacy
of his bedchamber. He walked behind her and freed his throbbing
member, and staring at her rosy moons, jerked himself quickly. His
moment was already a hair's breadth away, and he imagined how he
would take her maidenhead, and all the ways he would fuck her after
that. How he would spread those moons one day, and teach her the
lewd joy that could be had there...

...the gush
almost took him by surprise and he had to clench his teeth in order
to suppress his groans of orgasmic joy. He crunched his eyes as the
spasms grabbed him, and he stumbled back into the chair by the
desk, his cream dripping down his hand. Looking around he was
dismayed to see there was nothing to aid him. Grimacing he wiped
his fingers on the side of his trousers, promising himself to make
sure handkerchiefs were now kept in the study just in case of
another episode.

"You may raise
yourself," he said, fixing his attire and attempting to keep his
voice even.

She struggled
but couldn't bring herself upright. Striding forward he knelt on
the couch next to her and helped her up by her shoulders. As she
straightened up she glanced at him, red-faced and clearly
distressed.

"Sir, I'm so
dreadfully sorry. I realize what a terrible mistake I made. I shall
apologize to Lord Michael again when I see him," she promised,
tears brimming in her eyes.

"Yes. That
would be appropriate," he agreed, his voice still firm. Her eyes
were twinkling and he couldn't help but notice her mouth - so moist
and ripe and full.

"Now you will
retire to your quarters without hesitation and remain there until I
decide to fetch you. You need to consider things further. Your
behaviour and your discipline. We shall discuss both at length
later tonight."

"Yes, Sir,"
she replied, demurely.

Was there to
be more lecturing? More scolding?

Little did she
know that James had something entirely different in mind. Taking
her by the arm he helped her to her feet, and she smoothed her
dress as he opened the drapes and unlocked the door.

"I think it
best that you leave by yourself. But straight to your quarters," he
repeated.

"Yes, Sir,"
she replied, and gingerly walked out.

He waited a
few minutes, then peering around the door made a quick check of the
foyer. It was empty, and he hurried up the stairs to wash and
change his clothes.

In his
quarters Lord Michael was sleeping peacefully. The events of the
week had culminated in a very dramatic day, but everything had
resolved itself beautifully.

Elizabeth was
also sleeping, but not well. Her head was pounding and would wake
her, but then she would drift away. She knew she had allowed
herself to be fooled. She had not listened to her Master. She had
thought him mistaken about Andrew Carrington. Not only had Lord
Michael been right, he had rescued her from the man's evil
clutches.

She promised
herself she would never doubt him or defy him ever again.

C
hapter Fourteen

Happiness
Times Two

That evening
was unusually quiet at Hanley Hall. Lord Michael had woken around
seven and had no wish to dress and take himself to the drawing room
for brandy and cigars. No one had knocked on his door which meant
Elizabeth was still sleeping.

Leaving his
bed he found one of his favourite books and settled down in the
comfortable armchair by the window. The lantern on the small table
next to the chair proved more than sufficient to read by, and by
eight-thirty he was ready to return to his bed and sleep through
the night.

Elizabeth was
still fighting her headache and was suffering from a terrible
thirst. She had been out of bed several times to pour herself some
water from the pitcher in her bathroom, but each time she woke up
she felt a little better. Around nine p.m. she finally fell into a
deep, restful sleep.

So it was that
James and Lydia ended up alone in the dining room at seven p.m.
James had knocked on her door at six-thirty, and ordered her to
dress and meet him downstairs. He gave cook orders to lay out a
buffet of sandwiches, cakes and cold meats, wine, lemonade and cold
water, and to leave it on the dining room table throughout the
night. He thought it entirely possible that Lord Michael or his
sister may wake up hungry, and he wanted to be sure something would
be available should they venture down.

James and
Lydia ate lightly. Lydia appeared to be distracted and James
wondered if he had punished her too severely. When he suggested
they retire to the drawing room for a nightcap and a little
conversation she eagerly agreed, but asked that she might have tea
instead. James gave the orders and once the tea tray was set down
on the table in the middle of the room and the servants had
withdrawn, he stood from his chair by the fireplace and sat next to
her, as she perched on the edge of the sofa and poured the tea.

"Lydia, there
is something on your mind and I insist you tell me what it is. Do
you think I was too harsh with you this afternoon?"

"Oh no,
James," she blurted out, putting the teapot back on its stand
mid-pour. "Not at all."

"Then please
tell me what has you so distracted," he asked.

He had not
known her to be this quiet since the first day he had arrived
unannounced at her door.

She stared at
him intently, then placed her hands together and began twisting her
fingers around each other.

"The thing
is," she said slowly, "I know you believe me to be too outspoken
and I agree with you. Sometimes it's as if my tongue has its own
mind and I have no control over it whatsoever."

"Well you know
that's ridiculous," he commented. "It's simply a matter of self
discipline, which I fully intend to instil in you."

"Yes, James, I
do understand that. But the thing is," she repeated, "what I am
about to say is... I mean, I have thought about it and thought
about it, and while it is completely inappropriate for me to say -
um - this particular - uh - thing - I'm afraid I simply must. I
cannot hold back any longer."

Her face was
filled with anxiety, her eyes wide and a heavy frown was creasing
her brow.

"My dearest
Lydia, what on earth could it be?" James asked, unsettled by her
nervousness. "Please tell me immediately. I am becoming very
concerned."

"James, oh my
goodness. This is frightfully difficult."

"For heaven's
sake girl. Tell me before I spank it out of you."

"Oh goodness!"
she breathed. "The thing is, James, Sir - I am in love with you.
Completely and utterly in love with you and I cannot imagine ever
being without you. There! I've said it," she finished, gazing at
him in complete desperation.

James was
stunned. Of course he believed that she loved him. And he most
certainly loved her, but he never imagined she would blurt it out
so brazenly... though there was the poem she had recited to
him...

"Please say
something," she cried. "Or I shall simply die, right here."

"Lydia, I'm
sorry, I am just startled. Of course I love you - of course! My
dearest I love you madly. Come here!" he exclaimed, grabbing her by
the shoulders.

She fell into
him and he gazed upon her pert, pretty face, then pressed his lips
to hers.

He had kissed
her lightly from time to time on their walks, had held her hand and
placed his arm around her waist, but this kiss - this kiss was
different. This kiss sent sparks flying through Lydia's head; it
made her heart pound with a thousand hammers; and the warm wet
sweetness that engulfed her nether regions was soaking her
drawers.

James wanted
to lift her off her feet and carry her straight to his chambers and
make love to her for hours. He was almost dizzy with his need, but
finally shifting his mouth from hers he kissed her neck, held her
tightly, then pushed her away.

"I will wait
until our wedding night," he promised. "I will not dishonour you by
taking you sooner than that, though it is difficult indeed," he
said, breathing heavily.

"Oh James. Our
- uh - are you - are you...?" she stammered, unable to say the
words.

"I most
certainly am," he replied, falling down on one knee in front of
her.

"Please tell
me you will make me the happiest man on earth. Please say you'll
marry me."

"Aaaah," she
squealed. "Yes of course, of course, of course, of course!"

James jumped
up, and grabbing her off the couch, picked her up by the waist and
spun her around the room.

They kissed
and talked and kissed and talked for an hour or more, then both
retired to their respective quarters. Lydia was grinning from ear
to ear, very pleased that for once her outspoken ways had actually
worked to her advantage.

James was
grinning from ear to ear, very pleased that for once her outspoken
ways had actually worked to his advantage, but he would still spank
her for it.

It was in the
very early hours of the morning that Elizabeth woke up. Completely
and totally woke up. Her head was clear and she had no desire to
close her eyes and go back to sleep. What she did have a desire for
was food. She was famished. Sitting up she reached in the darkness
for her lantern and put it to flame. It wasn't very cold but she
did feel a slight chill, and finding her robe wrapped it tightly
around herself and headed out the door, hoping there might be a
bowl of fruit on the buffet.

Treading
quietly and carefully down the stairs, when she entered the dining
room she was thrilled to see a vast array of foodstuffs, but first
poured herself a large glass of water. Moving about the room she
lit candles until there was sufficient light, then settled down to
eat. After consuming several sandwiches she took a deep breath and
relaxed. With some food in her stomach her thoughts now returned to
the dreadful events of the day.

She was
reaching for a cake when she heard a sound. Startled, she turned
around and let out a gasp. Standing in the doorway, also in his
robe, was Lord Michael. He too had woken up hungry and had ventured
down to see if there was anything on offer, and if necessary to
make his way to the kitchen.

"Elizabeth,"
he said, softly. "It appears we both woke at the same time. And
both hungry."