Free Louisa Revealed by Maggie Ryan Page B

  I really appreciate your help and your concern.”   She said the last even as her eyes
dropped to the pillow he had offered her.   He smiled, and led her to the door where Mrs. Bremmer had moved to wait.
“Good bye Sir,” Lucy said quietly.  
    He smiled and gave her a small nod, “Good bye
Miss Furniss.”   Mrs. Bremmer almost
growled as she roughly took hold of Lucy’s upper arm and dragged her down the
hall.   Lucy wanted to pull away but
the woman truly scared her with her rough and disapproving glances.   Not wanting to bring any further attention
to herself, she decided not to fight but would definitely inform Edward of this
servant’s liberties with his ward.   She hurried along beside the woman until they were both seated in the
carriage.  
    Henri made sure both were seated before closing
the door and climbing up onto his seat.   As the carriage lurched forward, Lucy gave a small squeal and grabbed at
the edge of the seat.   Several
papers slid off her lap, and as she bent to gather them, she couldn’t contain a
groan, as the movement pulled against the wheals on her bottom.   Mrs. Bremmer smiled, though Lucy didn’t
see her look of contentment.   The
girl might have sat on a fluffy pillow, but hearing her now assured the older
woman that the naughty little girl had indeed gotten her bottom properly thrashed
and, if she knew anything about the Lord, it would be thrashed yet again before
the sun set on this day.   Satisfied
that Lord Wintercrest would soon have his home running properly, she settled
back against the seat and ignored Lucy the entire journey home.
    The house was quiet when Lucy entered.   She wanted desperately to speak with her
sister but even as she turned to inquire as to where Louisa could be found,
Mrs. Bremmer informed her, “You are to continue with your lessons in your room
until it is time to dress for dinner.”   Lucy simply nodded, wanting nothing more than to escape this woman’s
company.   She hurried up to her room
and sighed when she was safely behind her closed door.   She placed her papers on her desk and
having nothing else to do, and somewhat afraid to be discovered not studying,
she gingerly sat down and began working on a list of problems.   An hour passed when she heard muffled
noises seeming to come from above her head.   She looked up at the ceiling, but heard
nothing more.   Sighing, she stood
and stretched, a small groan escaping her throat.   She was absently rubbing her aching
bottom when she thought she heard a small cry.   Looking towards the ceiling again, she
gave a small cry herself when a loud knock sounded on her door.   She threw herself back into her chair
and had picked up her pencil when her door opened.   Lucy stiffened until she turned around
to see Molly, her maid, entering the room.  
    “It is time to dress for dinner, Miss,” Molly
said in her cheerful voice.   Lucy nodded
and watched as Molly went to the closet and returned with a light blue
gown.   As the girl puttered about
the room gathering Lucy’s clothing, Lucy stood and stifled a small groan as her
bottom again reminded her of its condition.  
    “Are you feeling poorly, Miss?” Molly asked, her
cheerful face showing her concern.   The two had become friends during the past few weeks, and Lucy knew the
girl’s question was sincere.   She
forced herself to give her a small smile.
    “I’m fine, Molly.   Just a bit tired.”   The girl didn’t truly believe her words
but, knowing the two women had gotten themselves into some type of trouble, and
having not being able to tune out the cries of Lady Wintercrest, as she
obviously gotten her bottom tended to by the Lord, she didn’t pursue the
conversation.
    “Very well, would you like a bath before you
dress?”   Though Lucy thought a cool
bath would do wonders toward soothing her aching bottom, she had no intention
of disrobing completely in front of her maid.
    “Not today, but thank you Molly.”