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“You are most welcome, little one,” he said and then stood and walked to pull the bell cord to summon Mrs. Bremmer. Lucy stood and straightened her skirts. As if having an epiphany, Edward saw her eyes widen as she ran her fingertips across the white bib of her dress.
“What is it, little one?” he asked, not wanting her to retire with any question she might have unanswered.
“It wasn’t just hearing Charles speak that word… headmaster,” she said with a little nod and a smile as if proud she’d managed to say the word without flinching. “It scared me and I ran, but not only because of that. I saw all the other women in the park and none of them looked like me. They wore dresses of the latest fashion and pretty little hats and had face paint on to enhance their beauty—”
“Lucille, you have no need of such things…” he began only to see her wave her hand as if to cut him off. Nodding, he gave her permission to continue.
“It’s not that, sir, it’s the fact that… well, I realized that it really doesn’t matter… I mean how one looks does it? In the grand scheme of things, what matters is finding a man—the right man—who loves me in spite of what clothing I wear or how plain my face is without any blush or pretty stains for my lips. The only thing of any lasting importance is finding a man who loves me”—her eyes met his as she lifted her head—“as deeply as you love Louisa.”
Touched by her words, he smiled and reached down to cup her cheek in his palm. “Thank you for that, little one. You aren’t only beautiful, you are quite wise as well. Never forget you are a very special girl, Lucille, and I promise to do my very best to make sure you find that man.” He bent to kiss her cheek before opening the door to find Mrs. Bremmer waiting. He watched as Lucy slipped her hand into the older woman’s.
“Good night, sir,” she turned to say.
“Good night, little one. Sleep well.”
Chapter 5
Louisa and Lucille finally found a chance to be alone. The next day, after they had been awakened from their naps, Mrs. Bremmer gave them permission to get some fresh air. Louisa made sure they were out of sight before taking her sister’s hand and pulling her deeper into the gardens.
“Where are we going?” Lucy asked, though she knew she’d follow her sister anywhere.
“To my secret place,” Louisa answered, and giggled. Lucy found herself smiling as well and her sense of adventure was piqued when her sister stepped off the paved path and pushed through some low hedges and then moved several more feet into the trees. “Come see,” Louisa said as she parted the thick branches of a huge weeping willow tree. Lucy stepped forward, and ducked into the opening. Her breath caught as she realized the tree branches sweeping the ground around them formed a large hidden room.
“Oh, Louisa, this is wonderful,” Lucy said, turning in a wide circle as her sister beamed. The girls sank onto the carpet of green that grew in the shady den. As one, they began to pluck the purple flowers that bloomed among the thick ground cover. Fingers nimbly twisted delicate stems as the twins worked to chain the flowers together, something they had often done as small girls. After a few minutes, Louisa spoke.
“Are you ever going to tell me, what happened with your professor?” she asked. Lucy flushed, causing Louisa to smile. “Did he kiss you?”
Lucy looked at her sister in shock. “Of course not!” she said. “He… he wouldn’t take such liberties, Louisa!”
Louisa feigned remorse at asking such a personal question and then giggled. “Well, how will you know if you like him if he is too proper?” she said.
Lucy smiled and shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if he’ll ever escort me again,” Lucy confessed.
“Why? What happened?” Louisa asked, the flower chain in her hands momentarily forgotten.
“He spanked me,” Lucy confessed.
“He what!” Louisa said loudly and then she lowered her voice. “Spanked you? Why?”
Lucy added another flower to her chain before shrugging. “It wasn’t really a spanking. Nothing like when Edward… um, you know.” She gave a quick look to her twin as if afraid she’d offended her, but simply saw Louisa nodding.
“I do know, but we can talk about Edward in a minute. Tell me if your professor didn’t spank you, what exactly did he do?”
“He just swatted me when I ran out into the street without looking. There was a carriage coming, but I was so upset I never even saw it until he pulled me back. That’s when he swatted me,” she confessed and when her sister simply shook her head, added, “but it was rather embarrassing. Everybody around could see us!”
Louisa’s hair swung as she shook her head. “I’m surprised a swat is all you received, Lucy. If Papa saw me do that, I guarantee I wouldn’t be able to sit for a week. He hates it when people he loves put themselves into danger.” She then looked closely at her twin. “Tell me, how did you feel when he spanked you?” she asked.
Lucy was still trying to figure out how she felt about even confessing the act. “It really wasn’t like that, Louisa. He only struck me once and seemed embarrassed about it. It didn’t hurt, but I did cry because I was so ashamed of dressing like this and knowing all the other girls are able to dress in the best fashions to impress their suitors. And even though I’ve realized that the way I look shouldn’t matter to a man who loves me, I can’t help but bet that those other girls don’t have suitors who feel free to smack their bottoms!”
Louisa shook her head and smiled, reaching for another flower and passing it to her twin before plucking one for herself. As she worked to add it to her chain, she said, “You’d be surprised, Lucy. I’ve found that there are many, many women who live as I do. I’m glad you are becoming more—if not comfortable—at least more acceptable of the clothing we’re expected to wear.” She paused to press a hand against the pale violet colored skirt of her dress which Lucy had to admit was far younger appearing that the forest green skirt she had her legs tucked beneath. Looking up again, Louisa smiled. “Not that I’m allowed to wager, but I’m willing to bet that you’ll discover you are not the only eligible female who is being presented by a strict guardian. Your professor is quite the lucky man if Papa gave him permission to court you. Charles doesn’t strike me as a man who has ever given much thought to fashion… how many men truly do? He’ll be back before you know it,” Louisa said firmly.
“You think so?” Lucy asked remembering Charles had said he didn’t care about fashion. She relaxed and smiled as she added another flower to her chain.
“I’m sure of it,” Louisa assured her, reaching over to give her twin a hug.
As the two continued to pick and pass flowers back and forth as they worked, Lucy found herself telling her sister about her conversation with Edward. “Edward also said that he believes Charles will call again.”
Louisa smiled and reach out to pat her sister’s arm. “Don’t worry, Lucy,” she said, as she took up her chain again. “If Papa says so, it is the truth. Besides, I’ve seen the way Charles looks at you. I think your professor is half in love with you already.”
