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“If I don’t, what will happen, Molly? Tell me the truth immediately. Why are you so frightened?”
Lucy watched the maid brush a tear she’d been unable to contain away from her cheek. “Mrs. Bremmer is… isn’t known to be lenient when we don’t obey miss.”
Lucy was horrified and despite the comforting kiss she’d been given the night before, she instantly understood what was happening. Remembering the threat of being bent over the kitchen’s work table and having a birch applied to her bare posterior, Lucy knew that the housekeeper was using her power to reaffirm her position—not only over the staff, but over what should be a respected member of the household.
Molly reached out and grasped Lucy’s arm. “Please, miss, she is horrid with the birch. Please, let me bathe you.”
Lucy sighed heavily, knowing that if she refused, her friend would pay the price and, most likely, Lucy’s bottom would also find itself bared and spanked. She patted Molly’s hand and said, “Very well, Molly. Hand me my robe and then let the lads in.”
Molly wiped her tears away, and then nodded gratefully as she hurried to the wardrobe. She brought the quilted satin dressing gown to her mistress and helped her into it. After Lucy was modestly covered, Molly opened the door and motioned for the half-dozen kitchen lads to enter the room. The young men kept their eyes averted from where Lucy stood, as they went into the small room adjacent to her bedchamber and poured their buckets into the waiting tub. They left just as quickly, and Molly closed the door once again.
Once in the bathroom, Lucy surrendered herself to Molly’s care and allowed the girl to remove the long gown and the clothing she had only put on a few moments before. As Molly untied the ribbon on her drawers, Lucy covered her hand and said, “I can do it, Molly.” Molly lifted her eyes and sadly shook her head.
“I must undress and bathe you, Miss Lucy. It is Mrs. Bremmer’s wish.” She saw her friend’s face flush, and hurried to say softly, “Please don’t feel ashamed, mistress. We, I mean I, I know you were punished last evening. I understand, and I promise you, I won’t speak of it.”
Lucy was more ashamed than she had ever been before in her life. Hearing her servant inform her that it was a known fact she’d been punished, and the staff had obviously heard her cries and pleas for mercy during her birching caused her to relive the horrid punishment in her mind. Closing her eyes, she released Molly’s hand, and felt her drawers being lowered. She stepped out of them and into the tub, swiping a tear from her cheeks.
“Oh, Miss Lucy, don’t cry. You have nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all been under the birch, and though it is dreadful, you have been punished and paid the price of whatever you did that earned you the correction.”
Lucy nodded and despite herself, soon relaxed in the warm water as Molly picked up a rag, lathered it and began to bathe her mistress. The girls were silent as the bath continued, and it wasn’t until Lucy stepped from the tub to be wrapped in a thick towel, that she heard Molly’s indrawn breath as she got her first full view of her mistress’ backside. “Oh, Miss Lucy, your poor, poor bottom. I wish I could rub some salve on your welts… it isn’t much, but it does seem to help a little.”
Lucy’s face lit up briefly but her hopes fell when Molly began to dry her carefully.
“I have been forbidden, though. You are not to be given any comfort, and for that I am so very sorry.”
Lucy’s face flamed anew, but she said nothing as she was dried. Molly took extreme care in dressing Lucy, and was gentle as she brushed her hair and soon had it braided. When she was ready to leave the room, Lucy found her voice.
“Thank you, Molly. I’m sorry you had to see me like this—”
“Don’t be, Miss Lucy,” Molly said quickly. “You were very brave just now, and I will always remember your kindness in allowing me to fulfill my duties.”
Lucy gave the girl a quick hug and was pleased to see a smile appear on the usually cheerful girl’s face for the first time this morning. Lucy left her to her duties in straightening the room and descended the stairs. She entered the dining room to find Louisa already seated and enjoying her breakfast.
Edward looked up from the morning paper and smiled at her. “Good morning, Lucille. I hope you slept well?” Lucy felt her face flush again as she took her seat at the table.
“As well as could be expected. Thank you, Edward,” she said, reaching out to take hold of her glass. She drank some of the fresh orange juice and then helped herself to the platter of eggs and sausages that was on the table.
Edward waited until she had filled her plate before he spoke. “I am aware that we have yet to discuss the new rules of the house, Lucille, but I believe you can understand this.” Her eyes lifted to his as she kept her fork suspended in mid-air. “You are no longer to be so familiar with me, young lady. I am not your friend, I am your guardian. You shall address me as ‘sir’ from this point forward. Little girls need to address their elders with respect and I do not wish to hear my Christian name from your lips again. Is that understood?”
Lucy’s eyes flew to her sister but saw nothing but a flush covering Louisa’s cheek. Lucy finally lowered her fork and forced her eyes back to his.
“I’m not a little girl, Ed… um,” she hesitated, her words clogging her throat as she saw the look in his eyes. She heard her sister’s quick intake of breath and suddenly felt very foolish and, for some reason, exactly like a stupid little girl who didn’t know when to be quiet. Blushing hotly, she finally mumbled, “I’m sorry.” She forced herself to look again at the man who was suddenly so forceful and demanding. She saw him return her gaze, his eyebrow lifted and she managed to utter, “I mean… umm, yes… yes, sir.”
Edward smiled and then nodded toward her plate. “Very good. Now, eat your breakfast, as you have a great deal of studying to do today.”
Lucy felt her appetite disappear, and yet forced herself to take the bite she had placed on her fork before his announcement. She continued to take small bites, and when Mrs. Bremmer entered with a steaming pot of tea, she dared to ask, “I’d love a cup Mrs. Bremmer, if you please.”
Mrs. Bremmer shook her head as she refilled Edward’s cup. “Don’t be silly, missy. Little ones need juice and milk to properly start their day. You’d best leave the adult beverages to your elders.”
Lucy couldn’t believe the woman’s audacity, her mouth dropping open. Before she could utter a protest, the woman spoke again.
“How was your bath this morning, miss? It is my understanding that there was some type of delay. Though I sent the boys up with steaming pails of water, their return was far too long for it to have been very hot by the time Molly was bathing you. Shall I speak with her for her failure to assure you had a proper bath?
Lucy blushed and squirmed in her seat, understanding that this woman must know about every single thing that happened under this roof. “No. That won’t be necessary. Any delay was my fault. My bath was fine, thank you.” She was horribly embarrassed, and felt lost in her normally stable world.
Whatever the housekeeper might have said next was lost as her husband entered the room to announce that Professor Lloyds had arrived. Her mind whirling, Lucy spun about in her chair, wincing as the movement irritated her still aching bottom. She saw her teacher standing in the doorway, and prayed that he had not witnessed the embarrassing exchange. Her eyes flew to see Edward push away from the table and walk to welcome his guest.
“Welcome, Charles. I can’t tell you how much it pleased me to have you accept my offer. Won’t you sit and enjoy some breakfast with us? I’m afraid Lucille was late to the table this morning and has just begun her meal.”
