Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4) (10 page)

"I hope you truly are, Ettie. It's not like you to be so incredibly selfish. Is it because you might have feelings for Mr. Benedict yourself?"

Her eyes flew open. "Oh, no. I-I mean, I think he is a nice man. He was awfully kind about everything but no, I-I don't have those kind of feelings. Oh, Lucas, you don't think he'll stop courting Franny because I'm such an awful sister, do you?"

Finally, he was hearing true contrition as she gave serious thoughts to consequences of her actions. "I hope not, sweetie. I don't believe Samuel is the type of man to be swayed that easily."

Ettie glanced to the corners where the twins were standing. "I'm sorry, Lucy and Louisa. I-I never meant to get you in trouble. Please don't hate me!" She began to cry and Lucas went to her and pulled her into his arms, his hand stroking her back.

"Ettie, they don't hate you. No one hates you. You made several mistakes but once you've paid a price, you'll apologize to everyone and put the day behind you."

"But you-you are going to spank me!"

"No, I had no plan on doing so," he began, and saw relief fill her eyes. "Lucy and Louisa, please turn around." When they had, he addressed all three. "You were naughty under Nanny Molly's authority and it will be up to her to determine what needs to be done. However, if she has to tell me that any of you cause further difficulties, I can assure you that you will answer to me or, Louisa, to your Papa. Do any of you have any questions?"

"No, sir," the twins said instantly.

Ettie looked between Molly and her brother, and Lucas wondered if she was attempting to convince herself that surely a woman would not punish anywhere as near as thoroughly as she knew her brother could. He, on the other hand, had no such question, as he'd seen Molly in action.

"Henrietta, do you have any questions?"

"I-I guess not," she answered, and then asked, "How many… you know…"

"Strokes?" When she met his eyes, he raised his eyebrow and she nodded. "As many as Nanny Molly deems necessary. In your case, since you've earned extras with your reluctance to come clean and accept your culpability in today's caper, I will be delivering those."

"Please, Lucas…" Ettie began, but finally lowered her head and mumbled, "Yes, sir."

Lucas turned and he and Edward left without another word. The three girls slowly turned their heads to look at Molly.

"Louisa, you will receive ten strokes. Lucy, you'll have an additional five for not listening to your sister's excellent suggestion. As for you, Henrietta, though you have been exceptionally naughty, this will be your first time receiving my discipline so I am going to be very lenient and give you only twenty."

"Oh, thank you, Molly," Ettie said, her smile showing her relief.

"In the nursery or when you are being chastised, you'll address me as Nanny Molly, and, don't be too relieved. The strokes will be given with the tawse
after
I've warmed your bottom with my hand."

"What's a tawse?" Ettie asked.

"You'll learn that answer in just a bit. And you are not to speak from this point forward unless I ask a question. You've all made your confessions and know why you are getting spanked. After I release you, you will return to your corners and think about your behavior." Giving Ettie a hard look, Molly clarified. "Your corner time will be spent with your nose pressed into the wall, your clothing up and your drawers down. Is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," the three said, Ettie a second behind the other two.

"Good. Now, let's get those naughty bottoms warmed, shall we?" Evidently no answer was required as she moved to sit on the chair she'd pulled from the desk. Patting her lap, she said, "Louisa, you'll be first. Drawers off, please. In fact, all of you might as well remove your drawers as you'll not be needing them for the near future."

Louisa stepped out of her drawers and went to stand at Molly's side. Lucy removed hers and Ettie finally did as well, her flush indicating that she was finally beginning to understand that the nanny was very serious about her duties.

Louisa was pulled across firm thighs and crisp sharp slaps began to fill the room. When she began to kick up, Molly's hand slapped against the back of her thighs.

"Settle down, young lady. This is just your warm up."

Smack… smack… smack… smack…

The nanny's hand continued to lift and fall until the entirety of Louisa's bottom was flushed a deep pink. Only then did Ettie learn what a tawse was as Molly pulled one from her pocket. "You'll count these, Louisa."

Thwack…

The first stroke had Louisa cry out, "One," and made Ettie jump.

Thwack…

"Two."

Thwack…

"Oh, please… three," Louisa cried, her bottom beginning to wag from side to side, red stripes blooming across her hillocks. Ettie had reached for Lucy's hand after the second stroke and they continued to offer each other support as Louisa's tawsing was given. By the time the girl cried out the number ten, she was sobbing and her bottom was bright red.

"To your corner and I had better see that nose touching the wall. Oh, and remember, stick that hot red bottom well out," Molly directed before turning to look at the two remaining girls.

"All right, Lucille, right over now." Lucy heard Ettie groan as she released her hand but was soon too busy trying not to earn extras as the hand spanking warmed her before it was her turn to count every single stroke of the implement that Molly wielded with such precision.

It didn't take but five before she was sobbing harder than Louisa had been. Tawse strokes over a bottom that had been caned only a few days earlier were nothing to smile about. Still, she only had to be told a few times to settle and push her bottom out and when she lost count, Molly reminded her that she was on twelve. The final three were delivered, each counted properly, before she was released to take her corner.

"No rubbing, Lucille," Molly warned when she saw the girl's hands fluttering over her roasted cheeks. "You did well, don't make me have to take you over my knees again."

"Yes, ma'am," Lucy said as she took up the position of a well-punished young lady, her nose touching the wall and her bottom pushed well out.

Turning again, Molly held out her hand to Ettie.

"Oh, please, I promise I'll never be naughty again!" Ettie pleaded, her hands already cupping a bottom that had yet to feel a single swat.

"Henrietta, it's time to be a big girl and accept your punishment. Now come here, for if I have to come get you, I promise, you won't like the result."

Ettie sobbed but stepped forward and allowed Molly to pull her across her lap. "Lift up, let's get this dress out of my way." Once her quivering bottom was bared, Molly began.

"I'm sorry," Ettie wailed, her head arching back as smack after smack landed, her pale skin rapidly turning pink. When her apology had no effect, Molly's palm landing yet again, Ettie's hand came back in an attempt to cover her bottom.

"Put your hand down, Henrietta," Molly directed. "You know better than that."

"But it hurts!"

"Of course it does, it's a spanking. And, young lady, I will begin again from the start if you don't remove your hand."

Sobbing, Ettie put her palm flat on the floor as she was tilted slightly forward, her bottom receiving a half dozen more smacks. "You heard Louisa and Lucille and you shall also count each one of these," Molly said, reaching for the tawse she'd laid on the small table at her side.

"Ow!" Ettie screeched when the split-tongues of the tawse bit into her bottom for the first time. In a move that shocked Molly, the girl was off her lap and scrambling to get up from the floor.

"Henrietta!" Molly reprimanded, but the girl ignored her and ran to the door, flinging it open. By the time Molly entered the water closet, Ettie was kneeling over the potty, retching.

The nanny knelt as well, pulling Ettie's hair back as she emptied the contents of her stomach. When she was done, Molly told her to be still as she went to the washstand and poured water onto a cloth, gently washing Ettie's pale face.

"Ettie, sweetie, it's not going to be that horrid."

"No-no," she moaned, her hands wrapped around her stomach. "I-I don't feel good, Nanny Molly."

Molly led her back into the nursery. "Lucy, run and get your Papa please." Lucy instantly turned and was halfway across the room when Molly spoke again. "Honey, you may lower your skirts."

Lucy released her dress and raced from the room. Molly could hear her calling from the stairs. Sitting in the rocker, she drew Ettie onto her lap, rocking her slowly. "Shh, little one, you are going to be fine.

Lucas was quick to appear, Lucy at his side. "What happened?" he asked.

"Ettie was ill and says her stomach is painful," Molly said.

Lucas knelt by the chair and brushed Ettie's hair off her face. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"My tummy really hurts… I-I didn't mean…" Fresh tears slid down her cheeks.

Lucas stood and scooped her into his arms. "Molly, please run to see if Dr. Fielding has left. If not, have him come up. If so, ask Philip to send Jasper after him."

"Certainly, sir. You don't think the spanking…"

"No, Molly," Lucas said. "I think all the candy and sweets from tea are making our girl regret stuffing herself. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Once Molly had left, he turned to the twins. "You may both write in your journals and when you are done, you may go downstairs to the library."

"Yes, sir." He had no doubts they'd obey, and saw Lucy move the punishment chair back to the desk before lifting her skirts again and sitting gingerly down on her chair, bare-bottomed as required.

He went to Molly's room and gently set Ettie down on the bed. "Just relax, the doctor will be in to check you over."

Molly returned with Dr. Fielding. "So, some little one isn't feeling well?" Lawrence said as he set his black bag on the desk.

"My tummy hurts," Ettie mumbled, her cheeks coloring slightly at seeing the doctor in a professional capacity instead of as a dinner guest.

"Well, that doesn't surprise me. I hear you ate quite a bit of candy." Lawrence waited until Lucas had helped Ettie to sit up against the headboard, placing several pillows behind her back. "And, young lady, guilt from being naughty also tends to upset a tummy." They all saw Ettie's cheeks color but she didn't object to the statement. "Open wide." A thermometer was slid into her mouth as the doctor placed his fingers on her wrist to take her pulse.

Lucas didn't relax until the doctor announced that Ettie's pulse was fine and that she had no temperature. Lawrence checked her eyes, ears, nose and throat before stepping back. "Almost done, sweetie. Can you lie down for me?"

Molly helped her to lie flat on her back and when Ettie whined and shifted her hips a bit, the doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid the discomfort of lying on a heated bum can't be avoided, little one, but I'll try to be quick."

"Oh…" Ettie snapped her eyes shut, her embarrassment evident to all.

"Just be still, sweetie," Molly said and held her hand as the doctor palpated her tummy, causing Ettie to moan and state that it hurt. Dr. Fielding waited until Molly loosened Ettie's blouse enough so that a stethoscope could be slid up beneath it, allowing the doctor to listen to her heart. Ettie's eyes remained tightly closed but she wasn't fussy.

"I think she'll be just fine," Lawrence announced as he began to put his instruments away. Turning back to the bed where Ettie was sitting up again, he smiled. "I'd offer you a peppermint stick but I believe you've had enough treats for a while." At Ettie's blush and nod, he turned to Lucas, who thanked him and led him to the door, both men stepping into the hall.

"Are you sure she is okay?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, nothing more than a tummy ache. Keep her in bed for the rest of the day. An enema will help with the bloating. It won't be comfortable but will do wonders towards alleviating the pain, and is far superior to having her continue to vomit. If she isn't back to her old self by tomorrow, send for me."

"I will. Molly was concerned that knowing she was going to be punished caused her to be ill. I assured her that wasn't the case but, well, this was the first time she has punished Ettie. Could that fact have led to her become ill?"

Lawrence grinned and shook his head. "Lucas, of all men, you should know that a little one's tummy may twist when informed they are to have their bottoms attended to, but it is extremely rare that the miscreant becomes stressed enough to lead to retching. Has Henrietta been spanked before?"

"Yes, quite often in her youth, and she has earned herself a paddling or two since I've been home."

"And did she become ill?" Lucas shook his head and Lawrence nodded. "Your sister overindulged and is paying the price. I wouldn't spank her until after she's had time to rest and have her enema, but other than that, she's perfectly capable of paying the proper price for being naughty."

"I'm sure she appreciates your discretion in not taking her temperature in your normal way with naughty young ladies, even if she is unaware of that fact."

"Ah, I admit I did consider it, especially since she had just retched, but didn't wish to embarrass her," Lawrence confessed.

Lucas thanked him and asked about Bea, pleased to hear that she was just fine.

"I'll see myself out," Lawrence said. After the men shook hands, he added, "This might sound odd, given the present circumstances, but I was going to ask before Henrietta became ill. Once our patient has fully recovered, I'd like to discuss courting your sister."

"I'll discuss your desire with Henrietta," Lucas said, thanking him again. Once he had walked down the stairs, Lucas returned to Molly's room.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, bending down to kiss Ettie's cheek.

"My tummy still hurts," she said, her hand rubbing across what he could now see was a distended abdomen.

"Nanny Molly is going to help you with that," Lucas said. "I promise you are going to feel better soon."

"Lucas, Mo-Nanny Molly, I promise I wasn't trying to get out of my punishment. I-I know I earned a sp-spanking."