Charming Isabella (17 page)

Headmaster Thorne, his heart pounding with a job very well done, returned to his desk and somewhat reluctantly replaced the cane into its place of honor on the wall.  He knew his students hated being made to stand in front of his desk, the rack of several canes easily visible behind his head.  He knew they very seldom focused on the lecture he always gave as their minds focused on which one of the many options he would choose to enforce the rules of the establishment.  He took a seat at his desk and looked over at the two women.  He nodded to himself, easily seeing the evidence of his handiwork on the two bare bottoms against the opposite wall.  He turned to Lord Wintercrest, and was amused to see the man smiling.  They nodded at each other in silence, both enjoying the sounds of the small, feminine cries, as well as the pair of very well-punished heart-shaped bottoms, framed as they were by drapes of heavy uniform skirts being held up by still shaking hands.  Edward’s grin widened as he realized that there was now an additional way to tell the women apart.  Besides the ring adorning his wife’s hand, his sister-in-law’s little bottom bore an additional stroke, a large vivid cross throbbing and burning its existence into her soul. 

Fifteen long minutes passed until the sisters were allowed to pull up their drawers and lower
their uniform skirts.  Both men watched, both feeling the unacknowledged arousal of seeing such a lovely sight as bloomers were retied and skirts hastily rearranged.  The girls’ faces continued to show their embarrassment, as both burned as brightly red as the multiple rows of wheals covering their aching bottoms.  The girls were made to apologize again and then to thank the headmaster for his concern for their welfare.  After all, if the man didn’t care about the students, then he certainly wouldn’t take the time to discipline them would he?  Lucy and Louisa made the proper apologies as Edward stood between them.  He also thanked Thorne for his time and attention.

“Rest assured, Sir, that Monday will find a much better-behaved and better-prepared student in Lucille.  I thank you for allowing my ward a chance to retake her exam, as I realize you could simply fail her.  We all appreciate your mercy and concern for her future.”  Thorne accepted his thanks, knowing that if it had been truly his choice; the little sneak would never have been given any leniency.  However, Lord
Wintercrest held a great deal of sway in high society, and Thorne knew better than to deny him.  He did have an additional plan to extend Miss Furniss’ punishment and spoke.

“I, too, hope that your ward will be able to pass the final examination, Sir.  However, she is dreadfully lacking in mathematical skills.  Perhaps I can offer some assistance?  While waiting for your arrival, I spoke with our mathematics professor.  I am pleased to offer Miss
Furniss the opportunity of being tutored by Professor Lloyds.  Regular hours have ended, but I know for a fact that Professor Lloyds has waited to hear if you feel your ward could use his services.” 

Lucy gasped, wanting desperately to leave the horrid school and try to recover from the past hour’s events.  “No… please, I promise I will attend to my studies, Edward.  I don’t need a tutor.  I promise I’ll study hard.” 

Edward did not appreciate his ward’s interruption.  It seemed it would take far more than a caning to teach her the proper place for a female in a man’s world.  He tightened his grip on her upper arm and said sternly,  “You will do well to remain silent, Lucille.  Instead of spending your life selfishly thinking only of your needs or wants, it would serve you far better to listen to your elders.  Have you forgotten our last conversation about your need to learn obedience?  You’ve already earned a reminder of your duty this evening, but I would be more than happy to refresh your memory right now.  Is that what you wish Lucille?  Do you need to go across my knees and have me administer a reminder to your impertinent bottom even now?”
Lucy bristled at both his words and his tone even as her face turned scarlet with embarrassment.  She could see Headmaster Thorne smirking, as if he wished to witness just such a physical reminder. 

Lucy remembered her prior failed attempt in asserting her independence.   She was a grown woman, having turned eighteen a few weeks earlier and had believed her age gave her authority over her decisions.  She had quickly been forced to realize that, though her recent birthday gave her the gift of majority, her guardian had the ultimate authority over her and would until she wed.  She had simply informed Edward that she no longer felt the need to remain at school; after all, the season would soon begin and she knew she’d find a suitable husband quickly.  Edward had smiled and assured her that she would continue her schooling until she graduated.  He pointed out that she had yet to have even a suitor and believed her ‘engagement’ was somewhat premature.  Lucy had felt ridiculed at his tone and had looked towards her sister for support. 

But, horribly, Louisa had not taken her side as Lucy had expected.  Instead, her sister reminded her that Edward had been extremely generous in his guardianship of Lucille and she should show her appreciation by obeying Edward’s wishes.  Lucy had continued to argue mostly from the hurt she was experiencing as her twin parroted Edward’s wishes.  Edward had finally sighed and stood to his full height and began rolling up the sleeve of his right arm.  Louisa had gasped and begged Lucy to make her apologies before it was too late.  Edward had told his wife to remain silent, stepped close to Lucy and taken her arm.  It wasn’t until she felt herself being pulled down to lie across Edward’s knees did Lucy understand she had stepped across an invisible line.  She began to fight and struggle but was no match for Edward’s strength. 

“Edward, please.  She didn’t mean it.  She will go to school… please,” Louisa had begged, hating to see her sister in this position. 

Edward had taken Lucy’s flailing hands and pinned them at the small of her back.  “I believe I warned you to remain silent Louisa.  You will take your sister’s place once I’ve given her the spanking she has earned.  Perhaps having your own bottom blistered will remind you as well who, exactly, is in charge of this household.”  Lucy had been shocked hearing the announcement, seeing Louisa lower her gaze and hearing her soft response.

“Yes sir, I’m sorry Sir.”  Edward allowed Lucy to squirm and struggle until she wore herself out.  Only then did he lift her skirts and lay them up across her back.  She sobbed at the shame of it all, and suddenly her desire for independence in making her own decisions paled in comparison to the decision her guardian had obviously made.  She began promising better behavior when she felt her drawers being drawn down until her bottom was bare.  Edward lifted his hand and brought it down again and again on the swells of her bottom.  Lucy hadn’t been spanked since she was a child, and was horrified at how awful the experience was.  By the time Edward finally allowed her up, her bottom felt as if it had been branded and her throat ached with her begging for him to stop.   Edward spoke only to order her to the corner and promised a second spanking if she didn’t keep her dress up and her spanked bottom on display.  Lucy had been mortified, but obeyed.  She stood sobbing in the corner, even as she heard a similar spanking being given to her sister.  Edward had sent his wife to another corner and the girls had stood for over an hour, skirts lifted and bottoms exposed, until the redness of their spankings began to fade.  Hearing Edward speak now in that same no-nonsense tone of voice forced Lucy to admit she would not win this battle, either.  Biting her tongue, she mumbled, “No sir, I don’t need a reminder.” 

Edward nodded as if her answer had been expected.  He turned to Thorne.  “Perhaps sitting on a well-striped bottom will help her concentrate more fully on her lessons.”  He smiled imagining the small woman squirming on the hard seat of her desk chair.  He also found himself grateful for the time alone with Louisa that the offer extended to him.  “Yes, I believe it would serve her well.  She will also spend the rest of the weekend buried in her books.   I also assure you that if she should show a lack of enthusiasm; her bottom will pay an even higher price than it will during her appointment with me this evening.  Thank you again for your generous offer.”  Lucy failed to hear her sister’s gasp and wouldn’t have understood its meaning even if she had.  Louisa’s bottom clenched and she shuddered at the renewed flare of pain as she found herself praying hard for her husband to be merciful. 
Lucy tried to control a new rush of tears at Edward’s words.  She wondered if a person could really die of embarrassment.  If so, she would soon be a corpse.  Headmaster Thorne opened the door and stood back to usher them out of his office.  As they walked down the corridor towards the front of the building, Lucy kept her eyes on the floor.  She was conscious of others in the hall and knew that everyone was aware of what had transpired in the headmaster’s office.  She was ashamed of her behavior and absolutely humiliated that she had been so soundly caned that her cries must have echoed around the school.  She was unaware that several students were looking at her in sympathy while professors simply smiled and were pleased that the deceitful young women obviously had gotten what they deserved.  Her history professor saw the look on Lord Wintercrest’s face and knew unquestionably that these two had not yet paid the full price this man would deem necessary for their misbehavior.  Lucy was led into the room where mathematics was taught.  Professor Lloyds stood from behind his desk and understood from the obvious distress on her face that she had been well punished.  His heart ached a bit as he found he had a soft spot for the young woman.

“Professor, I’ve offered your services as you suggested, and Lord
Wintercrest has graciously agreed that Lucille should spend a few hours under your excellent guidance,” the headmaster spoke as he led Lucy to stand in front of her professor’s desk.  He smiled and added cruelly, “Of course, she probably will need reminding to sit still as she does her lessons and I hope you show a bit of mercy.  After all, it is indeed difficult to sit on a well caned bottom – especially since she misbehaved and earned extra strokes.”  Lucy heard her sister gasp and clenched her hands at her sides.  The man was just plain cruel.  Of course everyone was aware of what had taken place, but to mention it so blatantly was just hateful. 

Professor Lloyds seemed to agree as he said, “I’m sure Miss
Furniss has learned her lesson, Sir.  I have no doubt that she will attend her studies with the utmost concentration.  Please, Lord Wintercrest, she shall be ready to return home in time for dinner, if that meets with your approval.”  Edward thought the man brave to be so brazen in front of his employer yet found his respect grow. 

Before Thorne could open his mouth he said, “I appreciate your help, Sir.  I believe you will find Lucy far more attentive this afternoon.  Have her ready to return home in four hours if you agree.  I realize that will not be enough time for Lucille to learn all she needs for her examination, but, as I’ve assured Headmaster Thorne, she will also spend her weekend with her head in her books or her bottom will pay an even bigger price.”  Thorne was upset at being left out of the conversation, but found he was satisfied with the knowledge that the little sneak would have her bottom reddened several times before she returned to his school on Monday morning.  He left the room thinking that with this silly girl’s grasp of mathematics, there was a very good chance that he’d have the opportunity to personally witness another round of discipline in his office soon enough.  He was smiling as he walked Lord
Wintercrest and his wife from the building.   Edward shook his hand and thanked him again and Louisa properly gave him a small curtsy and again thanked him for his discipline.  She hated leaving her sister in this building but desperately wanted to get away from this man.  Edward thanked him once more and then turned his wife and led her to their carriage.

Henri, their driver, nodded to his employer and gave Louisa a very stern and disapproving look.  She blushed hotly as he opened the carriage door.  Louisa was helped into the carriage and she gingerly took her seat giving a small, barely audible gasp.  The carriage dipped again as Edward entered and sat beside his wife.  She clasped her hands in her lap, wishing she could clasp Lucy’s hand. 

“I am so sorry Sir,” she began, hoping to relieve the tension in the small confines of the carriage. 

Edward simply lifted his hand, “Enough Louisa.  I don’t wish to hear your apology again.  What I wish to know is exactly how you managed to pull off this charade. How did you arrange to leave the house this morning?”  Louisa couldn’t bring herself to look at him.  She gazed out the window and tried to gather her thoughts.  Evidently she was taking entirely too long to answer her husband’s questions. “It isn’t a difficult question young lady.  There is no need for your hesitancy.  I want to know the truth, and if I disbelieve any word of your explanation, then you can rest assured you will pay for every one.”  Louisa couldn’t stop a small shiver from running through her body.  She nodded and dropped her eyes to her hands.

“I… I hid in the storage box, Sir.”  Edward nodded, having thought that was the case.  However, it was far from satisfactory.

“How did you get away from Mrs.
Bremmer, Louisa?  We both know she keeps a close eye on you when I am not at home.”  The young woman nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek.  She felt worse now than she had in Thorne’s office.  She knew what she had done was wrong, but she also knew that her husband detested deceit. 

“I… I told her I wasn’t feeling well.  I… I told her I was going to lie down until… until tea.”  Edward nodded trying to picture how his wife could have pulled off such a prank.  Louisa brushed the tear from her face and continued,