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Authors: Helena Harker
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say.”
Our eyes meet. “Ten strikes of the paddle.”
He licks his lips. “But first, let me tell you a secret. I know I am arrogant. I know I am flawed. But I try to be good to my daughters. And sometimes I still bed my wife because I want to pretend everything is all right, that we have a normal relationship, that we are a couple in every sense of the word. I do not wish to hurt her, so I slake my thirst for women elsewhere. My hunger for men will never disappear, so I accept it, give in to it. I now embrace all aspects of my personality, even if society does not.” He strains against the wrist cuffs. “What are your secrets, Miss Covington? For we all have them, and I believe yours are darker than my own.”
I lower my eyes, for I feel as though he can see inside my soul. We are even more alike than I first suspected. What a horrible thing to discover. Is there anything else I should know about myself?
“Punish me,” he says. “Then release me.”
My arm swings back. “You will count every strike out loud.” The paddle swishes in a wide arc, landing hard on Aldridge’s arse, and the blow reverberates up my arm.
He doesn’t stifle the cry, and it is loud and pained. “One.”
From behind me comes a sharp gasp. I spin around. Lady Aldridge holds her hand over her mouth, and she sags against the door.
“Virginia!” Aldridge cries out, twisting at the end of the rope. “Leave immediately. Leave !”
“Silence!” A second time, I strike his reddened buttocks with a pleasing thwack ! Aldridge grunts, and his eyes screw shut. “I invited her. Come in, Virginia.”
Her skin is as white as fresh cream. She takes halting steps until she is standing before her husband. “I did not know what to expect.”
He hangs his head, hiding behind a tangle of blond hair.
She examines my breeches, my flimsy camisole, and backs away. Then she glares at her husband. “You have caused me endless suffering. My greatest fear has always been that someone would uncover your lust for men and the scandal would ruin us all. Think of our daughters.” Slowly, she circles him, and her eyes widen when she sees the red marks on his backside.
“I’m sorry, Virginia.”
“An apology will never suffice. Do you know what my second greatest fear is?”
He stares blankly at the floor.
“That our daughters will marry men such as yourself, and they will experience my torment.”
He gazes at her, his chest rising rapidly with each anguished breath. “I cherish them. I wish them only happiness.”
Despite his many flaws, he truly loves his daughters. After his trip to the milliner’s he took them to another shop for tea and cake, listening to them prattle about their teachers at finishing school, the new dance steps they learned and Sarah’s upcoming debut.
“This is the instrument you use?” Virginia tilts her head at the paddle and holds out her hand. “May I have it?”
I place the paddle in her open palm. Her slender fingers close over the handle.
“I have never seen such an instrument. It is specially designed for punishment.” As she looks at her husband, legs spread helplessly, arms over his head, a vengeful gleam lights up in her eyes. She holds the paddle out to me. “Continue.”
Aldridge stutters. “N-no, Virginia!”
“I wish to see her punish you,” she says.
Perhaps I should allow her to feed the current of anger that runs through her. After all, Aldridge betrayed her, not me. She might find that playing the role of punisher has a soothing effect on her soul.
I shake my head and refuse to take the paddle. “Virginia, it is up to you to confront him and mete out sufficient castigation. I will watch and offer instruction.”
Her pale pink mouth opens, and her lips tremble. “Me? You will give me power over him?”
“Never wait for anyone to give you power, Virginia. You must take it !” Grabbing hold of her arm, I guide her behind Aldridge, stopping within prime striking distance of his
Our eyes meet. “Ten strikes of the paddle.”
He licks his lips. “But first, let me tell you a secret. I know I am arrogant. I know I am flawed. But I try to be good to my daughters. And sometimes I still bed my wife because I want to pretend everything is all right, that we have a normal relationship, that we are a couple in every sense of the word. I do not wish to hurt her, so I slake my thirst for women elsewhere. My hunger for men will never disappear, so I accept it, give in to it. I now embrace all aspects of my personality, even if society does not.” He strains against the wrist cuffs. “What are your secrets, Miss Covington? For we all have them, and I believe yours are darker than my own.”
I lower my eyes, for I feel as though he can see inside my soul. We are even more alike than I first suspected. What a horrible thing to discover. Is there anything else I should know about myself?
“Punish me,” he says. “Then release me.”
My arm swings back. “You will count every strike out loud.” The paddle swishes in a wide arc, landing hard on Aldridge’s arse, and the blow reverberates up my arm.
He doesn’t stifle the cry, and it is loud and pained. “One.”
From behind me comes a sharp gasp. I spin around. Lady Aldridge holds her hand over her mouth, and she sags against the door.
“Virginia!” Aldridge cries out, twisting at the end of the rope. “Leave immediately. Leave !”
“Silence!” A second time, I strike his reddened buttocks with a pleasing thwack ! Aldridge grunts, and his eyes screw shut. “I invited her. Come in, Virginia.”
Her skin is as white as fresh cream. She takes halting steps until she is standing before her husband. “I did not know what to expect.”
He hangs his head, hiding behind a tangle of blond hair.
She examines my breeches, my flimsy camisole, and backs away. Then she glares at her husband. “You have caused me endless suffering. My greatest fear has always been that someone would uncover your lust for men and the scandal would ruin us all. Think of our daughters.” Slowly, she circles him, and her eyes widen when she sees the red marks on his backside.
“I’m sorry, Virginia.”
“An apology will never suffice. Do you know what my second greatest fear is?”
He stares blankly at the floor.
“That our daughters will marry men such as yourself, and they will experience my torment.”
He gazes at her, his chest rising rapidly with each anguished breath. “I cherish them. I wish them only happiness.”
Despite his many flaws, he truly loves his daughters. After his trip to the milliner’s he took them to another shop for tea and cake, listening to them prattle about their teachers at finishing school, the new dance steps they learned and Sarah’s upcoming debut.
“This is the instrument you use?” Virginia tilts her head at the paddle and holds out her hand. “May I have it?”
I place the paddle in her open palm. Her slender fingers close over the handle.
“I have never seen such an instrument. It is specially designed for punishment.” As she looks at her husband, legs spread helplessly, arms over his head, a vengeful gleam lights up in her eyes. She holds the paddle out to me. “Continue.”
Aldridge stutters. “N-no, Virginia!”
“I wish to see her punish you,” she says.
Perhaps I should allow her to feed the current of anger that runs through her. After all, Aldridge betrayed her, not me. She might find that playing the role of punisher has a soothing effect on her soul.
I shake my head and refuse to take the paddle. “Virginia, it is up to you to confront him and mete out sufficient castigation. I will watch and offer instruction.”
Her pale pink mouth opens, and her lips tremble. “Me? You will give me power over him?”
“Never wait for anyone to give you power, Virginia. You must take it !” Grabbing hold of her arm, I guide her behind Aldridge, stopping within prime striking distance of his
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