Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(98)

“Why, so we could become better acquainted, of course. What other reason could there be? I was quite taken aback that dear Geoffrey has never seen fit to introduce us. We could have had such fun together. Geoffrey was always a great one for games, and I did love playing with him—and including others as well. Geoffrey and I were far too similar to always play against each other.” Lady Ormande rose and walked behind Louisa. “We always wanted to play the same role.” She laid a hand on each of Louisa’s shoulders, and Louisa could not hold back the shudder that ran through her. “I’ve sensed from the beginning that you are very different. I am sure it is why darling Geoffrey was drawn to you. I could become quite taken with you myself. You’ve never had any desire to hold the whip, have you?”

“I … I don’t know what …” Louisa’s words trailed off. The problem was, she was beginning to have a very good idea—for all that she could not believe it.

“Are you sure?” Lady Ormande moved her hands up to cradle the sides of Louisa’s face. “Do remember, I found you on your way into Madame Rouge’s. I can think of only one reason you would have gone there. Well, perhaps more than one, but they all involve you knowing exactly what it is your husband desires. But, don’t worry. I have the answer already. You’ve never had any desire to do anything besides submit, have you?”

The Countess leaned forward, and Louisa could feel pendulous breasts pressing against the back of her head. The fingers on her cheeks tightened, until she could feel her skin being stretched tight. She would have bruises on the morrow.

“Not going to answer me?” The Countess suddenly drew back her hand and struck Louisa hard across the face. Her neck jerked at the power behind the blow. The taste of blood flavored her mouth as her teeth dug into her cheek.

She raised her head and glared defiantly at the Countess. She kept her mouth tightly closed.

It was a day for blows, but this was far different from Geoffrey’s firm spank.

Another blow. This one even harder.

“Are you like this with Geoffrey, testing the limits? It can be quite a dear game as long as you know how it will end.” The Countess moved to in front of her and Louisa braced herself for another strike.

The Countess stood and watched her, her eyes cold and dark. “I do think it is time for us to progress. I had thought to talk more, to explain how Geoffrey has driven me to this, but I can see you are not yet ready to listen.”

Louisa continued to stare back, remaining silent.

The Countess took a small step forward. “Take off your dress. If you need help I can summon Jack to serve as lady’s maid. I am sure he would be quite happy to comply.”





Chapter Twenty-nine





Where was she? Swanston stood outside his house, unsure of what to do. Marie had confirmed that it was most unusual for her mistress to be out for hours without informing someone of her location. It had only happened once before, a few months ago, when Lady Swanston had stayed out for a full night without telling the staff, but that had been a case of a misplaced message. Lady Swanston had been safe all along, helping a sick friend.

Swanston had his own guesses about that particular night, but he held them to himself.

Where was Louisa?

He’d tried his father’s house. He knew that Louisa was trying to bring him closer to his family and had called on the duke on several occasions. His father was more than capable of waylaying a guest for hours. She’d not been there, and his father had talked only of llamas and their dislike of the barn he was trying to house them in—and for that matter, their dislike of everything else as well. They did not understand that they should be showing the duke a proper degree of gratitude.

It had been a waste of time.

As had been tracking down Bliss at her friend’s home and asking her.

As had a much too long discussion with Lady Perse.

As had an hour spent trying to see if either Louisa or Brookingston still had any family in Town.

He’d visited Ruby, but she’d looked at him with troubled eyes and said that she simply did not know. There had been questions in her eyes, questions Swanston had avoided asking himself.

Had his wife left him?

Had Louisa left because of what had happened that morning?

He’d thought she’d seemed fine afterward—more than fine: relaxed, satisfied, and contented.

But what if he was wrong? What if she’d been horrified at what had happened between them? Or what if her feelings had changed once she’d had time to think?

She should not have been that surprised; many husbands hit their wives, often far harder than he had during his spanking of her.

He knew of several lords who thought that beating a wife was a necessary part of a happy marriage.

But that was different. That type of punishment was far different from that which he needed and enjoyed.

Where could Louisa be? The question tapped a tattoo on the inside of his brain.



Anger was turning to fear, and fear, oh too quickly, to terror. Louisa did not know what came after terror, but deep in her gut she knew she was about to find out. Her fingers tightened on the wooden bar to which they were tied.

She didn’t even wish to think about how she’d gotten into this position: bent forward over one bar with her hands stretched forward to the next, her feet only barely resting on the ground. And naked, or so nearly so as to make no difference. For some reason the Countess—she could only think of the title as a name after she’d received another hard slap across the face for not using it—had taken a great liking to her corset as she’d stripped, and had insisted that she put it back on after removing her chemise. It had been laced far more tightly that she could ever remember, and her nipples had been pulled out over the top. The memory of the Countess’s soft hands upon her breasts was one she might never forget; no matter how gentle they’d been, Louisa had felt the threat of a strangling twist or pinch.