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A crestfallen Alice stood aghast. “But, Edmund, my bottom hurts. It throbs and I know not if I can walk. Can we not please return to the house for respite?”
Edmund saw no reason to deviate from their original plan to tour the grounds. He had not spanked her that hard. “We shall walk and inspect the fish pond. You will find the cool air quite therapeutic and if you continue to grumble, I shall insist you walk with your skirts raised and your red bottom plainly visible.”
It was the turn of her facial cheeks to flush bright pink. Her jaw dropped low and her tear-laden eyes seemed to pop out of her head with horror. “How could you! How can you stand there and taunt me. Make fun of my shame.” Bundling up her skirts in her hands, Alice spun about and dashed at pace towards the garden gate. Edmund wanted to follow, to catch up with her and demand her attention. However, he didn’t move. With a sigh, he realised he had raised the stakes too high. Her childish nature would not acquiesce that easily. She needed more time to adjust to marriage and her new role as his wife.
She had run away distressed and he could not leave her in such a state. They needed to talk. His own meandering thoughts must be contained and disciplined. The sight of her bottom, her delicious sex lips, which unbeknown to her, had swollen and oozed, glistening with natural juices, reminded him that women were not always predictable. Perhaps secretly he enjoyed spanking her, it had awakened something within him and he greatly wished to explore the sentiment further. He yearned to be ungentlemanly with his wife. To strip her bare, stuff his hardening cock deep in her and hold her tight for his pleasure. For now, though, he had to seek out Alice, placate her and show her how much he cared for her.
He hunted about the gardens without success. With long strides, he reached the outhouses and pursed his lips. Would she have entered the laundry or dairy? He doubted she would seek company of other women, especially the washerwomen. He walked past the buildings and on to the stable block. He ignored a groom who scampered off in the opposite direction. Only the neighing of horses could be heard.
In the corner block stood the tack room. A movement in the window caught his eye, and he went to investigate.
* * *
Alice fingered the saddle. A fine leather one laid over a saddle horse. Her tears had dried up and she wiped her nose with the back of her hand, scowling at her own unladylike conduct. She didn’t know quite how she had ended up in the stable block. She had headed away from the house and gardens, strode into a cobbled yard and then lost herself amongst various storerooms and outhouses before wandering into the stable area. Surrounded on four sides by buildings, she had turned to backtrack when a young stable hand had appeared. Darting into the tack room, she took sanctuary and the familiar smell of polished leather and brass kept her there, uncertain what to do next.
Her bottom had lost the fiery raw pain, and now it throbbed with a warm afterglow. She wondered what it looked like. Once again, she cast her mind back to the fateful evening in Macclesfield. The barmaid’s bottom had gone a rosy pink, then a deep red. She bit on her lip. How long would it stay in such a shameful state?
Her husband had spanked her. The enormity of the event still had yet to sink into her mind, and she couldn’t help but sulk at the humiliation. Unlike the serving woman, who had been publically spanked, Alice at least had the dignity of privacy. But that did little to curtail her dislike of being spanked. The finger tracing the stitching of the saddle paused. Had she really disliked it that much?
The soldier, even after she had confessed, had continued to spank the serving girl and she seemed to enjoy it in some strange fashion, as had the soldier. Alice shook her head in disbelief. Not her. She would not contemplate pleasure in humiliation. She feared the idea. Her finger resumed its journey, following the contour of the saddle as she pictured her crimson bottom and Edmund’s determined hand holding her down, ready to spank her. Her lower belly released a small flurry of butterflies. No, no! It was not possible. How could her silly sex be thrilled by such an image?
“Alice?”
She jumped, spun about, and pressed the palm of her hand to her thumping chest. In the doorway, silhouetted by the sunlight, stood Edmund. He didn’t move, but remained framed by the brightness in a seemly relaxed pose with his hands unclenched at his sides.
“What are you doing here?” His soft voice held no trace of anger or annoyance.
“I got lost. I mean. I needed space to think,” she finally conceded.
Edmund stepped forward and his features came out of the dark shadows. She saw no malice on his face. “I understand. You’re shocked by your punishment.”
“Naturally. I didn’t think you could do such a thing to me.” She tried hard to not sound haughty, but inside she still fumed at his effrontery.
“I gave you my views on marriage. I assumed you knew what I meant.” Another small step forward.
Perhaps she had but hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it in any way. “Please explain them again, Edmund, because I wonder if you love me.”
He stopped moving forward—an abrupt halt, which caused him to falter on the balls of his feet. A perplexed expression came over his face and his shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry you feel I treated you harshly. I spank you, dearest, because I love you. Do you not see that?”
The pain in her bottom told her differently. She shook her head.
“I need you to do as I wish because, then, I truly believe we will both be happier. If you need to be reminded of my wishes, then I will spank you. I would that it was not so, but you have this unfortunate petulance to your manner. I do love you, Alice. I’m sure it is why I feel strongly about this.”
Confusion remained buzzing about her head, she collected her thoughts, dug out her own emotional needs. “I fell in love with you the day I saw you on your horse, marching through town. That day, it never crossed my mind you would become my husband. I know I am fortunate to have you. I am grateful. I do want us to be happy and do wish to please you. Be patient with me.”
“Good, I’m glad you see things as I do.” His feet moved forward again, the gap narrowing rapidly. She pushed back against the saddle, her pulse quickening. His face slowly broke into a delightful smile. “Today’s lapse in your behaviour is dealt with. Let’s move on.”
Alice shivered. Not because of the cold, but because she could feel his moist breath and smell his manly perspiration, and the exotic combination made her spine tingle.
“Cold?” he asked.
She shook her head, unable to speak. Her bosom rose and fell rapidly. His proximity overrode many unwanted emotions—her departing anger, the fear of being spanked again—bar one, her desire for him. His hands cupped her face, warm palms on her damp cheeks and she rose up on her tiptoes to meet his mouth. The delectable kiss initiated ripples of tiny quivers over her flesh, starting out from her heart-pounding bosom and heading straight to her awakening nub, which began to sparkle with enthusiasm. He released her mouth and licked his lips. Her own tongue mimicked his actions and she tasted his special flavour.
Edmund gave her a pleasant smile. “Is your bottom still on fire? I want to see it.” He twirled a finger round in the air. “Turn and bend over the saddle horse.”
Beneath her gown, her knees knocked against each other with trepidation. She slowly carried out his request, feeling her way with her shaking hands while her eyes tracked about the room. Upon entering the tack room, she had barely registered the rows of bridles, harnesses and saddles hanging from the bare brick walls, now, as she moved into a position of vulnerability, they represented restraint and control. The thought of containment both excited and worried her—could she be what Edmund wanted her to be—the obedient wife? She bent from the waist and reached forward with her arms. The leather saddle smelt strongly of horse and beeswax.
She heard his footsteps, moving away from her and then the door creaking. The light dimmed in the room as he shut the door. She turned to peer over her shoulder. He walked towards her, his head to one side as if to admire her. His hand reached down and she whipped her head down to look at the loose straw shifting about on the flagstone floor. The gown rose, along with the petticoat, until it revealed her naked bottom. A rush of air brushed her skin. She sighed in delight as the coolness kissed her heated cheeks.
