Page 2 of Her Lord's Birch

After shooting her husband a look that easily telegraphed her guilt, Louisa shook her head. “No, sir, but never for this reason. The… the other times were just for…” Pausing, her head hung lower as if knowing she was digging the hole she and her sister were in a bit deeper with every word she uttered.

“Pray continue, Louisa,” Edward commanded. “Enlighten me of your past escapades, if you will.”

Lucy reached across the small space between them, taking her sister’s hand. Edward watched as their fingers entwined almost as if without conscious thought. He witnessed a slight squeeze was given in support or perhaps Lucy meant it as a silent warning. Regardless of her sister’s intent, he knew that Louisa had learned she must respond truthfully to her husband, or face consequences she most likely couldn’t bear to think about—especially at this moment.

“We’ve taken each other’s place before, but I swear it was only for a lark. No one was any the wiser and, um, it truly was only for a bit of fun.” She gave her sister a quick glance before raising her eyes to her husband’s again. He quirked a brow, his head tilted slightly to the side as if informing his wife that any consideration of mercy was quickly dissipating.

Desperate, her voice rose a bit as she tried another avenue, looking past him to where the headmaster stood. “Please, Headmaster Thorne, I swear, this is the first time since I left the school. You must believe me. I ask—”

“Do you think we are complete fools? That we are blind? Young lady, the only thing either of you should be asking—no, begging for—is mercy!” Thorne shouted, any modicum of control obviously beyond him at the moment.

The women unconsciously reached for each other’s remaining free hand, and Edward watched Lucy freeze and heard her gasp when she realized exactly what had caused their discovery. Her mouth formed a small ‘O’. He grinned, wondering how they could possibly have missed the glaring detail. He saw his wife’s look of confusion, her gaze darting from her sister to him. He decided to educate her on their mistake.

“Though I’m sure there will never be another occurrence of this fiasco, you would both be wise to make sure that every aspect of your appearances match. I can just imagine the surprise Professor Lloyds experienced when he saw the evidence of your marriage without any prior announcement or posting of the banns. Don’t you agree, Lucille?” Edward watched as his sister-in-law raised her eyes to his, her face flushing. Whether in embarrassment or anger with herself at being caught out in her deception so easily, he didn’t know or particularly care. The only matter of significance was that his ward would soon become well acquainted with what happened to disobedient little girls.

Lucy again looked at the one obvious adornment she didn’t share with her twin. The small gold band on her sister’s ring finger shone brightly as a ray of sun came through the leaded glass window to land on their joined hands. Edward thought it quite apropos that the beam brought their sins out into the open.

Lucy looked up. “Yes, sir, I’m so sorry, Edward. Please, I know I deserve to be punished, but I beg you to forgive Louisa. I swear she wasn’t party to this—”

“But she obviously was, Lucille. After all, you are both sitting there, as identical as twins can be in your school uniforms. Mirror images of each other except for the one small detail that caught you both in your transgression. I have heard enough. You are both guilty and both deserve to be punished.” Having made his decision, Lord Wintercrest turned to speak with the headmaster. “Sir, I thank you for your concern, and appreciate the quickness with which you informed me of this. Please, proceed with whatever the school’s policy dictates is proper in dealing with such matters as the charade both girls attempted to pull.” Ignoring his wife’s gasp, he continued, “Rest assured, both will have an appointment to discuss their behavior with me upon our return home.”

“Though I appreciate your confidence in myself, as well as the rules of this institution, Lord Wintercrest, I must address the fact that your wife is no longer a student here. I do not have the authority to administer her punishment.”

Edward saw his wife relax slightly, and knew she was desperately glad to hear those words. He relished the fact that she would discover she had relaxed far too soon. “I disagree, sir. Though, as you noted, my wife is now Lady Wintercrest, it has become obvious that she divested herself of her title with this escapade. No one forced my wife to leave her home. She chose to sneak into your school to become your student once again. She attended class and took an exam she knew was meant for Lucille. Her actions have given validity to my belief that our little Louisa indeed misses her carefree days as a young girl with nothing more to deal with than simple studies.”

Louisa’s soft moan drew his eyes to his wife. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, as if she felt he believed she wasn’t able to behave either as an adult or a proper wife. Edward watched his wife try to steady herself and knew she was dreading what was to come; both here in this office as well as what she could expect once he had her in the privacy of their bedroom at home.

Like her sister’s had been, her guilt was written clearly across her face. The difference was that there was no need for his young bride to spend time in self-reflection as Lucille had. Louisa had extensive experience as to the truth of the meaning hidden in his words to the headmaster. Her growing discomfort was just another level of the lessons her choices had earned her.

“As she is indeed a student today, I see no reason to eliminate her from your standard discipline. After all, she is very familiar with the school’s rules, as she completed her studies here.”

The headmaster still looked a bit unsure he was hearing correctly. Looking from Edward to his wife and back again, he said, “You do understand, Lord Wintercrest, that the school’s policy for matters as severe as those including blatant deceit involves discipline of the… um, corporal nature?”

Edward had expected nothing less and nodded. “I do, Headmaster Thorne, and I ask you to do me this favor and proceed as if she were still under your guidance.”

He watched his wife’s eyes widen, the disbelief in them plainly visible upon hearing his request. Her knuckles were turning white with her tightening grip on her sister’s fingers as she witnessed him doing something he was sure she never suspected him capable of doing. He couldn’t actually fault her for her skepticism. He’d spent months teaching her that he was a man who demanded control and yet here he was, blatantly giving his permission to another man to take his wife in hand. She tore her eyes off her husband’s only to see a smirk appear on Headmaster Thorne’s face.

“Certainly, I shall do as you wish, sir,” Thorne said with a small bow. Straightening, he turned his attention to the two women. “Stand up and prepare yourselves,” he ordered before turning to walk around his desk.

Chapter 2

The women slowly stood, their hands still entwined. Louisa looked at her husband once more. “Please, Edward, I’m so sorry. Please, don’t let him do this,” she beseeched.

Edward simply shook his head. “It is not Headmaster Thorne who did this. You did this, Louisa—you and Lucille. You chose to return to your student days; therefore, you will accept school discipline. You both shall pay the price. I suggest you do as you are told, as you will find no mercy here and even less when we return home.”

The two women still hesitated, though each had released the other’s hand, their arms falling to their sides as they watched the headmaster. The black-robed gentleman was facing the wall behind his desk, his eyes traveling from one choice to another, obviously deciding upon which implement would serve him best. He made his selection and reached up to remove a wicked looking cane from its hooks.

Turning, he swished the length of rattan through the air, the whistling sound it made rivaling that of Lucy’s mournful moan. Thorne pointed the rod at the two women. “Normally I would call for Mrs. Francis to attend as witness to your punishment; however, I believe Lord Wintercrest will serve as witness in her stead, if you agree, sir?”

Edward nodded his head, even as he watched his girls begin to visibly tremble, their eyes remaining locked on the cane as it moved in the air, much as a trapped rabbit would eye the weaving head of a viper. Edward knew the sting of the cane on an unprotected bottom would feel as sharp and painful as a snake’s bite.

Thorne acknowledged Edward’s agreement by saying, “Thank you, sir.” Then addressing the two women, he said, “I believe you were told to prepare yourselves. Do so immediately, or do I need to call for Mrs. Francis to assist you?”

The women shook their heads vigorously as the pair finally surrendered to the inevitable, both obviously not wanting even more witnesses to their degradation.

Thorne nodded. “Face the settee, bend over, raise your skirts, bare your bottoms, and place your hands on the cushions.”

With soft sniffles already beginning to come from the two, both women reluctantly obeyed the dreadful order. Turning to face the settee, the women bent forward. Heavy woolen skirts were pulled upward to expose shapely calves covered in black stockings, the color contrasting sharply with the white bloomers that followed. Time seemed to slow as their skirts inched ever upwards until the fabric was gathered in a wad around small trim waists. Small shaking hands reached back, fingers clasping the far softer linen of their split-crotch bloomers, slowly drawing the fabric apart.

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