Page 16 of Her Lord's Claim

As Lucy continued to eat, Louisa placed her napkin beside her plate. Lucy watched as Anna moved around the table to assist Louisa from her chair and her gaze shifted to her guardian when Edward lifted his hand to stop his housekeeper.

“I will put Louisa down for her nap,” Edward said.

Louisa’s look mimicked Lucy’s own confusion as the older woman always put what she considered to beher girlsto bed. Looking between the housekeeper and Edward and then back at her sister, Lucy suddenly understood that while Louisa was still required to take a nap after luncheon, evidently Lucas agreed with his wife that daily naps were unnecessary. Sympathetic but grateful for her new freedom, Lucy gave her sister a smile even as she considered how she’d fill the hours, her heart speeding up a bit as she could now include her husband in various scenarios of how they’d wile away the hours she’d been wasting resting. Her daydream halted as she heard her husband speak.

“Thank you, Edward,” he said and Lucy wondered what he was thanking him for when Lucas turned to address the housekeeper. “Mrs. Bremmer, I trust you have made the proper preparations for Lucille’s cleansing?”

“I have, Lord Huntington,” Anna assured him with a firm bob of her head.

“Thank you,” Lucas said, tucking his own napkin beneath the rim of his plate.

Now even more confused, Lucy’s eyes were drawn across the table to see Louisa’s head whip up and her eyes widen, her mouth forming a small ‘O’ as she gave a small gasp. Lucy turned to look at Lucas, who was calmly drinking from his glass. Her gaze flicked to see Edward assisting Louisa from her chair, his head bent close to hers as he whispered into her ear.

“Louisa,” Lucy said, wanting to run to her twin. “Wait… what—”

“Have a good rest, Lucille,” Edward said, cutting Lucy off and not allowing his wife to speak. Louisa managed a small nod before she was led from the table. She might have remained silent, but from the look Louisa gave her, Lucy felt her tummy tighten and her pulse begin to race. It hadn’t been a look of assurance… it had been one to remind her twin that regardless of fanciful plans for fun and games or perhaps quiet hours spent reading together with Lucas, neither of the girls were in control of their own lives. Lucy watched the two leave the room and found Mrs. Bremmer standing at her chair, her hand held out for Lucy’s own.

“I-I don’t understand,” Lucy said, ignoring the gesture and turning again to her husband. “I bathed this morning. I don’t need another bath.”

“I didn’t say anything about a bath, Lucy,” Lucas said as he set his glass onto the table. “I believe you were promised that if a reoccurrence of cursing occurred, you would find more than your mouth cleansed. Am I correct?” he asked, leaning forward a bit in his chair.

Lucy shook her head, puzzled by the question. “But I didn't curse again,” she said. “I haven’t since you washed my mouth out this morning.”

“Ahhh, but, little one, I believe that is the second time you’ve given me cause to wash naughty words from your mouth? Though, I do admit, the first was done by Mrs. Bremmer at my request,” Lucas said.

The memory of the evening when she had cursed while mending her torn dress washed away her bewilderment. She whipped her head around when she felt Mrs. Bremmer reach out and take her hand. “But I still don't know what you mean…” she attempted as she was practically pulled from her chair, her bottom protesting as she slid across the seat.

“Go with Mrs. Bremmer, Lucille,” Lucas said firmly without bothering to explain what to expect once she obeyed. “I shall be up in a while to tuck you into bed for your nap.”

Lucy didn’t want to go upstairs and not because her dream of free hours had just been exposed for the fantasy it was. She wanted to pull away from Anna’s hold and burrow against Lucas’ chest with his arms wrapped around her. The look on her sister’s face had alerted her to the fact that while Lucy was ignorant of what her husband had meant, Louisa was most definitely well-aware of what was going to happen, and from the look she’d given Lucy, it was not going to be pleasant.

“No more questions, Lucille,” Anna said sternly as she marched her charge toward the stairs. Lucy didn’t speak as experience taught her that doing so was not a good option for her bottom. She practically had to run to keep up with the housekeeper's large steps but far too soon found herself standing in the center of her bedroom as her pinafore was untied and set aside. She raised her arms dutifully when told, so that her dress could be removed. Her petticoats followed and soon joined the pile of clothing on the bed. Standing in nothing but a chemise, stockings and drawers, she saw Molly appearing from the small water closet.

“Is everything prepared?” Anna asked as she knelt to slip Lucy’s shoes from her feet.

“Yes, ma’am,” Molly said, her eyes briefly meeting Lucy’s before raising to meet the housekeeper’s.

Anna untied the yellow ribbons that held Lucy’s stockings and began to unroll the first stocking. She nodded and looked at Molly.

“Did you use plenty of soap shavings?” she asked. After Molly nodded again, her face flushing, Anna said, “You may prepare the bed.”

Lucy saw Molly’s eyes dart toward the bed.

“Oh. Ummm… I-I forgot…” Molly said, her hands fluttering at her sides.

Anna sighed heavily as she stood again. “Gracious, Molly, sometimes I think you’d forget your head if the good Lord didn’t attach it to your shoulders.” Dropping the second stocking on the bed, she began to unbutton the first of many tiny buttons of Lucy’s chemise in preparation for its removal. “Run upstairs and get the items, quickly now.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Molly bobbed her head and actually ran to the door.

Once her chemise was removed and the ribbon to her drawers was unfastened, Lucy realized she would soon be completely nude, and her confusion reached its peak.

“Why must I bathe again?” she asked. “I’ve done nothing to get dirty.”

Anna shook her head and simply drew the drawers down Lucy’s legs. “Step out,” she ordered, and Lucy obeyed. She shivered as she stood nude, lifting her arms to cross over her chest, but she saw the older woman shaking her head. Flushing in embarrassment, Lucy let her arms drift down to her sides.

“That’s better,” Anna said, grasping her arm and guiding her to the chair. Taking a seat, she pulled Lucy to stand between her thighs and reached for the sturdy wooden hairbrush.

Chapter 10

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