Mistress of Greenbrier: The Greenbrier Trilogy, Book Two

Chapter Two-1

Chapter Two

“Where’s Beau?” Lucy asked Abby many hours later. Their numerous packages had already been taken upstairs.

“He’s been out riding all day, Miss Lucy.”

“All day?”

“Yes, ma’am. Since about an hour after you left.”

“Alone?”

Abby nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”

Only one thing caused Beau to ride alone and that was if he was troubled. “Did he say when he’d be back?”

“No, ma’am. Didn’t say nothin’ to anyone. Just went.”

“And Max?”

“Out in the stables, miss.”

She found Max grooming his horse. “Where’s Beau?”

“Out riding, Miss Lucy.”

“Did he tell you where he was going and how long he’d be gone?”

“No, ma’am. I didn’t know he was going until I saw him saddling up.”

“He said nothing to you?”

“Not a word.”

This worried her even more. “Did he read something troubling in the paper?”“Not that I know of, miss. He was still reading the paper when I left him this morning after you and Cassy went to town.”

Having read the same paper that she knew Beau had, Lucy could not recall seeing anything that could so deeply have bothered her fiancée to send him on a day long ride alone. There had to be something else. “What did you talk about this morning?”

“Not much, miss.”

Secrets, how she hated them. Her lips twisted in thought and her gloved fingers drummed lightly on the rail of the stall she stood beside. “Well, if you would be so kind to please tell your Master I need to speak to him when he decides to return home, I shall be in my rooms until dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lucretia stormed from the stable and back to the house. Clouds were gathering to the south and promised rain before too long. She paused to look at them and smiled, “Let him get wet. Soaking, sopping, shivering wet for keeping secrets from me.” On her way up the stairs, she handed Dinah her gloves, bonnet and shawl. “Help me undress. I am not feeling well.”

“You sick, Miss?” Dinah worked quickly to keep the discarded articles in order as they entered Lucy’s private suite of rooms.

“I am angry, Dinah, angry and frustrated.” Pulling at the numerous buttons that ran up the front of her visiting dress only furthered the unpleasant mood. “Get all these things off me, all of them. I cannot stand to be dressed like this a moment longer. He makes me so furious sometimes.”

“Who, Miss?”

“Your Master, of course. Oh, Dinah, please hurry up. I can’t stand it. Open my window. It’s too warm and closed in here. And my hair, undo my hair for me.”

Dinah undressed her Mistress and loosened the long, dark hair Lucy took so much pride in. Lucy collapsed onto the bed, naked. Her skin was flushed despite the cool breeze drifting into the room. “Bring me some cool water and cologne then leave me.” Dinah poured some water from the pitcher into the basin then added a touch of lavender scent. Into this she dipped a delicate, white handkerchief, rang it out and handed it to Lucy who had not moved from her prone posture on the bed. “Crazy,” Lucy murmured as she placed the cloth over her own eyes. “He is going to drive me crazy.”

Dinah was silent.

“Oh, go away now,” Lucy shooed her hand in Dinah’s direction without lifting the hanky. “Make sure no one disturbs me until your Master comes in.”

Lucy’s mind was in a whirl. Two weeks until her wedding day and her future husband in such a state of unrest that he spent an entire day alone, telling no one where he went or his planned time of return. Her dress was not done and Vivianne would be arriving any day. There was food shopping to orchestrate, accommodations to be arranged and decorations to create and oversee. She suddenly drew the cloth from her wide open eyes, “What if he’s changed his mind? What if that is the worry that has sent him running off? Oh, what shall I do if he has changed his mind? He’s been acting so peculiar. Why should I never have thought of this before? Haven’t so many told me how he swore never to marry again? Oh, Lucy how could you have been so blind?” she rose from the bed, twisting the cloth between her hands and went to the window. The clouds she had seen earlier had grown darker and more ominous. It was the first big, spring storm and she could already see the flashes of lightning and feel the distant rumble of thunder as it approached. The wind pushed at the velvet drapes. “My darling, I am a foolish, foolish girl to not have understood until now.” Lucy pushed the window back down to its pane but left the curtains open. Rain began to spatter on the glass.

“And what is it you have not understood until now, my dear?” Beau, still in his riding clothes, stood in the doorway.

Lucy gasped, turned and ran to him, flinging her bare arms around his neck and covered his face with kisses. “It doesn’t matter now. It doesn’t. Sometimes I think they give us brides so much to do so we won’t be so scared.”

“And what is it you have us both scared of?” His arms circled her waist, feeling the softness of her skin and hair.

“Getting married,” her cheek pressed to his chest.

“Of course,” his hand slid up her bare back, drawing her closer to him. Lucy heard and felt him take in a breath.

Her body trembled against his. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you, Beau? I don’t know what I’d do if you changed your mind.” She drew herself back, searching his face, “You haven’t, have you?”

His cool hand cupped her flushed cheek. “Nothing in this world could make me want to change that.” She clutched him again letting the tears of relief and joy fall freely. “What has got you thinking such foolish things?”

“I’ve just been so busy and you’ve been so peculiar acting lately and then no one knew where you’d gone or when you’d be back. I just… I don’t know. But you do want to marry me, and I you and I feel so much better now about everything.” Her body shivered as her skin prickled with cold.

“Let’s get you to bed. You are far too anxious to be out of it, I think.” He lifted her off her feet and into his arms, carrying her the few paces to the bed. “Pull back the covers. That’s it. Now, into bed with you until I say otherwise. Doctor’s orders.”

“But, I’m not unwell, Beau. I was worried. I’m allowed to be worried, aren’t I?”

“Hush,” his index fingered touched her lips and silenced her immediately. “You will stay in bed until I direct you otherwise.” He took her wrist and checked the rapid beating of her pulse there. “You seem on the verge of a hysterical fit to me,” he gave her frown. “We don’t want that, do we?” The back of his hand touched her forehead. “You’re feverish, too.”

“Oh, I’m not. You know I’m not.”

“And you can barely catch your breath to speak.” He ran his finger down her throat. “You will take your dinner in bed tonight and tomorrow’s meals as well.” His touch did not stop at her throat, but traced down to the swell of her bosom, “Show me.”

“Beau, I haven’t time for this,” she protested, drawing her fingers around his exploring hand. “Vivianne will be here any day. Nothing is ready for her, nothing!”

But his eyes never rose to hers, “Show your Master, Lucy.” she drew down the covers, revealing her full, pale breasts. “Good girl.”

“Oh, Beau, please don’t taunt me like this. You know I can’t bear this.”

His lips lowered, kissing her rosy n****e while his hand squeezed the object of his attention. Her head lolled back onto the pillow and her eyes shut with a moan. “Two weeks is all you need to wait,” he whispered against her skin. “Then I will release you.”

She shuddered, feeling the suckling at her breasts and the pushing back further of the blankets that covered her. Over her skin his hand moved, down to her belly and to the soft mound of her womanhood, the place only he had touched. A single finger traced around her aching bud causing her hips to rise and her breath to catch again in her chest. “Please…please, Beau.”

“You can wait.” His touch was suddenly denied her and she shook, groaning even more now that it was gone. “Two weeks. That is all.” He kissed her forehead and pulled the covers back over her nakedness, “But right now, I say you are ill and you need to remain in bed and not be disturbed. I will give you a Tonic after dinner to help you sleep and one in the morning to make it through the day.” Her cheeks suddenly burned a bright red and her eyes cast down to her hands that rested on the quilt. “You know it makes you feel better.” she only nodded and swallowed hard. “How is your mother?” he suddenly changed the topic, stepping away from her to remove his riding jacket and hat.

“She is well.”

“And your father?”

Lucy suddenly looked up, “Oh, he gave me something for you. There, in my bag by the chair. The box. He said you were to open it alone.”

Beau fished the item from its location and looked at it curiously. “What’s in it?”

“I don’t know. He said you’d know what to do with the things inside.”

He turned it over in his hands, “Have you the key?” She shook her head. “Then I am to break the lock to open it?”

Lucy shrugged, “He only said you should open it alone.”

“Later,” he put the box aside and took Lucy’s hands up into his own again. “Tomorrow night, after your tonic.”

“Tomorrow night, too?”

“Tomorrow night, too. After that, I have a surprise for you but only, only if you manage to control yourself for the next twenty-four hours.”

Her cheeks grew pinker, “What do you mean, control myself?”

“You know exactly what I mean, young lady. Stay in bed, rest and control yourself when I am not here to watch over you.”

Her hand covered his, “But I miss you.” Her bottom lip curled down, pouting.

“And I miss you and that is why I have gotten you something to help ease your troubles during these last two weeks,” he chuckled. “Though it will do little to ease mine, I think we can use your pretty little mouth for that.” His finger touched her lips. “Speaking of mouths, I am starving and dinner smelled splendid. I’ll go change and we shall eat together tonight here in your room. I am afraid I have neglected you and our wedding plans a great deal lately and I am sorry. You will tell me all about them.”

“And you will tell me if they are what you wish, too?”

“My only wish is for you to be my wife. The trappings of it all are up to you. But, I shall go over everything with you and give my approval if that is what you want.”

She clasped his hand to her bosom. “I do want your approval.”

He grinned, lifted their clasped hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles, “Then you shall have it. I will return with our supper soon.”

Beau placed the box on his dressing table for later inspection. Unlike his future wife, he was not prone to curiosity and could easily set such things aside. For now, his thoughts turned to Lucy. She was working herself into exhaustion and had taken to asking for something to help her sleep these past couple weeks. A warm glass of sherry was all he would allow. It had been working but for how much longer he did not know. There was the matter of her father and what do to with her mother after his passing. Beau, as a doctor, knew the time was not long.

He eyed the box. He and Edward had never been close friends. Their only links were Lucy and their joint membership in a private organization referred to only as The Society. Edward’s attendance at Society events had dissolved some years ago. Perhaps the contents of the box would explain this. There was also the whole matter of Edward’s sudden return from the North after Lucy had run away over a year ago. When asked about the events, Edward refused discussion. Just as Beau was running his hand over the flawless lid of the container a bell rang to announce that dinner was ready.

Dinah had set the small table by the window for her Master and Mistress in Lucy’s bedroom for their meal. This window overlooked the enclosed Courtyard below. Dinah had been just as shocked as her Mistress on seeing it for the first time. Then it contained all the trappings of the Master’s masochism. Most of the devices were now gone.

The Courtyard now contained Lucy’s garden. Enclosed on all four sides, the garden had become Lucy’s private sanctuary. When troubled, she could be found walking the circle of stones, pausing often to tend to one plant or another. It was overlooking this garden that the Master and Mistress of Greenbrier now sat and ate their dinner. Lucy was restless and distracted. Beau was calm and intent, watching her every move. The talk was filled with wedding details. Apart from some minor suggestions that Lucy immediately took to heart, she had his complete approval. Relieved, Lucy took a deep breath and allowed herself to relax over tea and dessert. Coffee, Beau told her, was now forbidden. It only added to her anxiety and she would have none of it until after their wedding day.

“But, as I promised, I do have a surprise for you.” He went to the bed where he had placed a large box at the start of their meal, “Come here, my dear, and see what I have brought you.”

“What is it?”

“Lift it out and tell me what you think it is.” He stepped back.

At first she thought it was a new harness for a horse but that was quickly dismissed. The series of leather straps, buckles and loops would never have fit such a creature. Seeing her slight bewilderment, Beau reached over and turned it right-side up. Her cheeks grew pink then paled then went pink again. “It’s for me to wear, isn’t it?” He nodded. “For how long?”

“Until our wedding night.”

“Starting when?”

“Starting tonight, my dear.” Her dark eyes became horror struck as the chastity belt dangled from her own hands before her. “You are to remain chaste until then anyway. What difference should this device make to you?” Beau smiled knowingly. He took the belt from her hands and laid it back on the bed. “Of course, I know you won’t be unfaithful to me, but will wear it because I wish you to wear it and for no other reason than that. Now,” he took up both her hands in his, kissed them in turn and smiled. “There is one last thing to do before that is put into place though.” Her eyes skidded away from his gaze. “You know what to do, my love.”

Her eyes shut as she took a deep breath and then released it slowly. “Yes, I know, sir.” As humiliating as it was, Lucy set to work preparing her own tonic.

From her toilet table drawer she removed the all-too-familiar bottle of concentrate and there was still warm water in the teapot that could be used. When it was mixed, Lucy withdrew from a locked drawer the enema bag she hated so much. She checked the tubing and clamp then poured the mixture into the bag. Beauregard nodded his approval, reached up and hung the bag from the top of the bedpost, some seven feet in the air. Lucy knelt on the floor and assumed her most submissive of positions, her bare bottom thrust up into the air and her head to the floor.

His blue eyes grew darker as he looked at her. The smile that had been so easy before now grew serious. “I have noticed you’re acting a bit too demanding as of late. It is a given that you are Mistress here and will be even more so after our marriage. However, what seems to have slipped your mind is that I am Master of this house and Master of you.” His hand moved over her bare bottom in slow even circles.

“I have not forgotten that, sir.”

Beau drew back his hand suddenly, slapping her ass without warning, “Nor shall you ever.” She winced as he now ran his fingernails over the warming spot where his hand had struck her. “I admit to being otherwise occupied and I think you have taken my preoccupation and used it to your advantage a bit too much.” His hand spanked her a second time, much harder than the first. “Do you agree?”

She held her breath. An affirmative would admit she was taking advantage of him in some way which maybe she was in her spending habits. A negative would be used as a reason for him to tell her she did not agree with his observations and he might use it for further punishment. She took the only road she could find and remained perfectly silent. It proved the wrong one.

“Answer your Master, my pet,” he insisted then slapped her bare skin a third time.

“I haven’t meant to take advantage, sir. I was only trying to do what had to be done and not bother you. I have to take charge of some things. You aren’t always available.”

He pondered this answer and agreed. “I have been unapproachable, haven’t I?”

“Yes, sir.”

Beau lifted the enema piping and shoved the metal tip of it into her ass and released the clamp. No direction was needed. She knew to hold still and be quiet. When her fingers began to dig into the carpet beneath her, Beau only watched and waited until the bottle was empty. There was so much to do before things changed, he thought. How could he get it all done with so little time left? When the tip was removed and the stopper put into its place his hand went absently to the quirt nearby. “Count for me,” his voice was automatic, unfeeling and distant. “Backwards from thirty,” he added in the same tone.

“Thirty… twenty-nine…” Lucy turned her head, eyes cast to his boots as he slowly began to pace around her in a circle. “Twenty-one, twenty, nineteen…”

The quirt struck her bare backside. Beau flinched when she cried out at the sudden pain. His own s*x twitched, aching to come to life, but he mustn’t think of that now. Not yet. “Fifteen…fourteen…thirteen…” she counted down. Lucy buried her face against the floor in obvious agony. He smiled and raised the quirt again.

“Ten.” It struck. “Nine.” And again. Each number brought a new red welt to her pale skin. “Eight.” Tears burned down her face as her ass clenched and twitched. “Seven…six…five.” Lucy dug her nails deeper into the rug. “Four.” The quirt hit harder, criss-crossing the lines. “Three, two, one.” Beau’s pacing stopped. His boots were in front of her face.

“Kiss them and thank me,” he looked down at her, unsmiling. So much to do, he thought.

Moaning, Lucy rose up onto her hands and knees just enough to kiss the toes of his boots, “Thank you, Master.”

He bent down and kissed her shoulder. “Good girl. You may go to your closet now. When you are done, return to bed.”

Lucy somehow made her way to her private toilet and closed the door. Still as stone, Beau watched the door shut and listened to her moans of pain. He closed his own eyes, fighting again his desire. How was he to endure what was to come? There was no choice. He was not in control of that. With the quirt still clenched in his fist, Beau turned and left the room.

When Lucy emerged almost thirty minutes later, the room was empty. The table they had eaten at was cleared away and set back into its usual order. Fresh logs lay in the fireplace and her bed had been straightened with the covers turned down. The tears she had just gotten rid of returned. Climbing into bed, Lucy buried herself and wept. None of this was right. She could make no sense of his behavior. Something was horribly, horribly wrong. She cried until her head throbbed and her body fell into a fevered, restless sleep.