“Because of the severity of what I must impose,” Master said, “I am going to bind you. Otherwise I fear you would be tempted to wriggle.”
Emma was about to protest that she would bear her punishment with fortitude, but on second thoughts decided it might be better to be bound. She did not trust herself to remain still, and did not wish to disgrace herself further by attempting to evade the effects of her punishment.
Master went to a door in the corner of the room, which Emma had not seen, opened before. It was the entrance to a large cupboard, from which Master took a small wooden bench with a padded leather top. At the foot of each of its four legs was a leather cuff. Master bent her over the bench and fastened the cuffs around her wrists and ankles so that she was bound tight, unable t
