Page 11 of Desire and Discipline
“That’s something,” Evie muttered, loud enough to be heard by everyone.
Priscilla turned partially around, leveling a stern look at his cousin.
“Evie, thank you for the invitation tonight. I love you dearly, and I appreciate that you had my best interests at heart, but I think for the remainder of the evening, it is best if you and Anthony no longer serve as my guides.” Priscilla glanced at Mary and Rex, then back at Lady Cross. “My Lady, if you are amenable, would you serve as my guide for the evening and also instruct me on how to punish my husband?”
If Joseph was not so flabbergasted, he would have enjoyed the expression on his cousin’s face, but he was reeling with too much shock himself to appreciate anyone else’s. Anthony’s mouth had dropped open, along with Evie’s. Whatever his cousin had expected to happen, that was not it.
“Of course, I would be happy to,” Lady Cross replied.
The world seemed to whirl around Joseph, spinning like a top and flipping upside down, leaving him floundering.
“Then we will be on our way,” Anthony said, stepping back and pulling a still-stunned Evie with him. “Priscilla, we will be in the front room when you are done if you would like to ride home with us.”
“Thank you.”
It was the offer to take Priscilla home, without extending the invitation to him, that made Joseph finally shake off his stunned shock as Anthony dragged his cousin back down the hall, disappearing around the corner. Mary and Rex followed without looking back.
“I—”
“No.” Priscilla snapped out the word, finally looking at him fully, the heat of her anger blazing in her gaze. He was so taken aback, he actually stepped back from her in surprise.
“What?”
“No. Unless you wish for me to leave right now, in which case you will no longer be welcome in my bedroom upon your return, no to whatever argument you are going to make. You are my husband. You have betrayed me. And if you have a liking for punishment, well… good because right now, I am ready to do so.”
Joseph’s mouth snapped shut.
He did not know who this was. She was Priscilla; she was his wife, but it was not her. It was as though stepping into the Society of Sin and discovering his transgressions had turned her into an entirely different person.
Worse, his cock stirred at her threat rather than withering.
He might be shocked by her turnabout, he might be horrified that she knew his secret, but one part of him liked this new Priscilla very much.
7
Priscilla
So many emotions were rushing through her, one after another, she could not say what she felt.
Betrayal.
Anger.
Relief.
Jealousy.
Curiosity.
Hurt.
They collided against each other and rolled around in a tumult, knocking about inside of her until she wanted to fall to her knees and scream. But a lady did not do such things. Certainly not where she could be observed. And not in front of her husband’s… paramour was not the correct word, apparently, which was the reason for her relief.
For some reason, Joseph had felt the need to keep this side of himself apart from her, which hurt. And she was very angry at both him and Evie, as well as her friends. The betrayal she felt was not only due to Joseph but also toward those who had clearly known.
While she understood there was some rule keeping them from revealing the truth to her, her emotions did not care about logic, and she was furious. Though mostly at Joseph. Far more than her friends. After all, they had all been his friends for longer, and she’d seen the expression of betrayal on his face when he’d realized what his cousin had done.
She knew she would forgive her friends, but that was a matter for later. Right now, she did not want any of them there to further interfere with matters between herself and Joseph. She needed to focus on her husband and could not do that with them there.
