Free The British Bondage Collection by J.A. Bailey

years.
    Eyeing
the grand house as they neared, Harriet snorted. Well, it sure beat her
parent’s farmhouse. Since Will had somehow wrangled the house in the divorce,
she was living with her parents. It was pretty humiliating having to move back
in with your parents at twenty-nine but seeing the grand stately home filled
her with determination.
    A
fresh start, that’s what she needed. And a new man. Not one for keeping though,
just someone who could give her what she really wanted. She glanced at her
mother’s kindly face as they climbed the steps to the front door. Poor mum,
if she really knew what I wanted from a man, she’d probably have a heart
attack.
    Leaning
forwards to press the doorbell, Harriet and her mother jumped back as the
bellow of chimes echoed through the house. On cue, the door groaned open and a
skinny grey-haired woman in a sharp pinstriped suit stepped aside to let them
through.
    “Mary,”
she greeted her mother with a smile. “And Harriet, it’s lovely to see you. My,
you’ve grown since the last time I saw you.”
    Harriet
smiled stiffly back. “Yes, all grown up now.”
    “Thank
for showing us around, Elaine. I’ve been wanting to see around Hartslow for
years and it’s good to get Harriet out of the house, especially after the—” her
mother paused and mouthed, “divorce.”
    Harriet
resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was fed up with people tip-toeing
around her.
    Elaine
ushered them in and Harriet’s mouth dropped open as she took in the
surroundings. The hall was massive with vaulted ceilings, a large rug and
several mahogany console tables. Two large marbled pillars stretched in front
of her and a recess at the back held a bust of a distinguished looking
gentleman. Family portraits hung from the walls, generations of men and woman
all staring down at her from their gilded frames.
    Making
the appropriate noises, Harriet and her mother followed Elaine through the
house, admiring the grand furniture and the portrait gallery. Harriet paused in
front of the most recent painting. The gentleman stood less formally than the
others, posing with a shaggy looking dog. He looked to be in his thirties, with
a handsome, rugged face and thick chestnut hair. His hands really captured her
attention though. They were strong and capable looking. Harriet licked at her lips.
The kind of hands that would know exactly how to give a good spanking.
    “Harriet?”
her mother called.
    Cheeks
heating, Harriet scurried after her. That’s what she needed, she decided. A man
that could give her a hard spanking. Her ex had never understood her need to be
dominated. Just another reason to be glad she was rid of him.
    Elaine
led them into the ballroom. It was no doubt impressive with painted ceilings
and tall windows but it was not the furnishings that caught her eye. Sidling
over to the window, Harriet peeked past the curtain.
    Out
on the lawns stood the man from the portrait. Harriet’s mouth dried as she
watched him. He was topless and doing some form of martial arts, Tai Chi
perhaps. His loose sports trousers rode low on his hips and Harriet was sure
that if she looked hard enough, she’d be able to see the line of hair that led
down into the waistband.
    Her
heart thudded as she watched the ripple of his muscles undulating with each
movement. Jesus, she’d never seen anything so beautiful. Now that was
the kind of man she needed. Gorgeous, strong and not to mention bloody rich.
Harriet smirked. Well, she could dream anyway.
    Reluctantly
drawing her attention from the window, Harriet and her mother followed Elaine
through several reception rooms and into a grand dining room.  
    Elaine
paused in front of them. “I can’t show you upstairs while Mr Wright is home.”
Her cheeks coloured. “But I’d love to show you the barns. Mr Wright recently
converted them into a gallery and we have some wonderful work from local
artists in there at the moment.” Elaine must have noticed Harriet’s expression
as