Read Online Tainted by Temptation by Katy Madison - Free Book Online

behavior are the true measure of beauty.”
    Iris scowled. Not according to her mama. “How can beauty be a curse?”
    Miss Campbell’s lips tightened. She picked up the book covers and dropped them in the dustbin. The dustbin clinked. “You must never destroy a book again. Is that understood?”
    “Are you going to punish me?”
    “Do you not think you deserve to be punished?” asked Miss Campbell. Her voice was even and calm. She opened a cupboard and peered inside.
    Iris felt a little bit as if she were swimming beyond her depth. Was Miss Campbell biding her time or was she too busy snooping around to care what happened? “You didn’t tell Papa.”
    “I hoped you would inform him. As it is, you will have to tell him and apologize for destroying his property.” She pulled out a bundle of squared sticks.
    “He won’t do anything. He never does.”
    Miss Campbell glanced over her shoulder at the splintered door frame. Her brows knit. “I do not think it would be wise to press him.”
    “What does relish mean?” asked Iris. “Like if you wouldn’t relish doing something?”
    “In that sense it would mean you wouldn’t enjoy it.” She unfolded the sticks and made them into a tripod.
    “Oh.” Why hadn’t Meg just said she wouldn’t like preparing the house for Miss Campbell? Although Iris couldn’t see that any preparations were made. She suspected Meg was just putting on airs.
    “Why don’t you get dressed, and I will too. And then you can show me where we eat breakfast.”
    “There won’t be any breakfast until Papa gets back from his swim.” Iris ran over to the window. “Look, you can see him down there.”
    Miss Campbell made no move toward the window. Instead she brushed off her hands. “Then you may pick out three of your dolls to give away at church next Sunday. I’m sure there are poor village girls who would love to have a pretty doll. Since you destroyed three books I think it would be fitting—”
    “No!” A wall of astonishment crashed down. “You can’t take my dolls.”
    “Well if you do not pick the three, then I shall. I do not think you will like my picks.”
    Iris ran into her room and grabbed a doll, flung open her window and tossed it out. It fell and fell until it smashed on the edge of the cliff.
    Miss Campbell went pale, which gave Iris a moment of gloating satisfaction.
    But in her resolutely calm voice, she said, “Now you will have to pick out four dolls.” She picked up Eve, the doll Papa had given her that he said Mama had chosen for her before she died.
    “Or I will choose her and . . .” She pulled three more of the best dolls off the shelf and lined them up next to Eve. “I’ll just take these until you’ve decided which ones you’d like to give away. And if you destroy another one, I will not return these to you.”
    “I hate you!” Iris screamed. Her chest felt like it would explode. “I’ll never let you teach me anything.”
    “That is too bad,” said Miss Campbell. “Because if you do not learn to play the piano, you will never play the harp.” She quietly closed the door behind her and left with Eve.
    Velvet dragged a second chair from the schoolroom into her bedroom and wedged it under the broken door handle. She was shaking as she laid the four dolls on the bed.
    She replaced the other chair and wondered if she had made a grave mistake. Obviously, Iris suffered from a lack of discipline.
    Hopefully, the mild punishment would lead to Iris feeling good about giving to a few less fortunate girls. Did the child have any playmates? The isolation of the house might preclude it.
    The door to the schoolroom rattled. “I want Eve,” wailed Iris.
    “I will return to the schoolroom when I’ve dressed. I suggest you do the same.”
    “I’m telling my papa. He’ll make you leave.”
    Velvet sighed. She should have consulted Mr. Pendar about the limits of discipline.
    Making quick work of stripping off her nightgown, she said, “Iris, please