by Allison West
“They were both very good,” Delia said. There was no point in bringing up the tears from that morning.
He smiled and nodded. “Good. I shall have Margaret set out a plate for the two of us. As soon as the children are washed and in bed, you will dine with me.”
It was not a question and Delia knew better than to do anything but accept his proposal. “Yes, of course, sir.”
The girls seemed to slow down their bites at the mere mention of bedtime. Perhaps they knew how to stall. What child didn’t?
A loud crash interrupted their quiet dinner, followed by heavy footsteps, just on the other side of the door. A woman’s muffled shouts chased after what could only be a man stomping his way further into the house.
Delia involuntarily jumped, unsure why she felt frightened. Could it be her father chasing after her, demanding Delia return home? He could not know of her exact whereabouts. Even the coachman had only known of her trip so far as to the train station. She worried herself for nothing.
The door flung open and Delia studied his features. Her eyes only widened just slightly at the realization that it was Charles’s cousin, Edward. She had pickpocketed him just yesterday but that had been nothing compared to seeing him with the girls at the train station only hours earlier, that morning. Why was he here and what was all the commotion about?
“Charles,” Edward said, stepping foot into the room.
“I am sorry, sir, I tried to tell him you were not available for company at this hour.” The housemaid’s cheeks were red and she seemed a bit out of breath, chasing the man and shouting at him to leave.
“What do you want, Edward?” Charles asked.
Delia stood by the girls at the table, curious about the strange interaction between the cousins. There seemed to be a lot of bad blood between them, though she had no idea why. Perhaps later when they were alone, she would ask Charles about it.
“Not so much as a thank you for rescuing your two prized possessions, your children?” Edward stalked into the room, his dark locks hanging slightly in his face. “I have come for my reward.”
“I find it difficult to believe that you come here during the children’s dinner hour, in hopes of a few pence.” Charles did not so much as flinch or move in his seat. “It really is a bad time to come pay us a visit, Edward. The girls will be in bed within the hour.”
“My desire for gratitude stems very little with money or visiting with your two young brats,” Edward said, sneering as he glanced at their direction. “I want the lady standing beside the table, your governess I presume, seeing as how your nanny ran off. Was it your illicit games that forced another girl to run for her life?”
Charles cleared his throat and turned to face Edward, nose-to-nose with the gentleman. “You should leave now.”
“Nonsense,” Edward said, shaking his head. He wore a scowl as easily as a child might wear a grin. “I will be taking the young woman, saving her from another insane second under your roof.”
“Delia works for me. She owes quite a debt and that debt is tied to her.”
“How much?” Edward asked, untying the small bag from his pants. The coins jingled as he juggled the bag from one hand to the other. “I am sure we can arrange something so that I might take her off your hands.”
Delia opened her mouth to protest. There was something about Edward and not just the fact he offered to pay off her debt and in fact buy her, but his brashness and look alone instilled fear. She was not up for auction! Charles shook his head, glancing at Delia long enough to silently warn her to keep quiet. She grumbled under her breath. Was this conversation really appropriate to be had in front of his two impressionable daughters?
“She is not for sale, nor is her debt.”
“I disagree, Charles. Everyone has a price. See, I believe that your price is the secret that you keep. The reason all your former governesses escape during the night. Delia shows no fear to you, which tells me that she has not seen that side of you.”
Were they talking about the spanking she had to her bottom? Surely Edward would have no idea about what Charles did to discipline those under him. Secrets had a tendency of getting out, escaping and haunting the person who least expected it. No, Charles did not seem bothered enough to hide the fact he spanked and disciplined those who worked in his home.
The girls watched with quiet fascination, eating their meal yet taking in the situation. Alice probably had no idea what was being said or meant but Emma’s eyes crinkled, making it clear she did not like Edward.
“You would not dare to divulge any part of it, for fear that it will soil your own reputation!” Charles shook his head, seeming displeased.
“Are you willing to risk it? The nice home you have for the girls, the job you run with the bank. Do you think people will still look at you with respect and admiration after I am done with you?”
“Not another word,” Charles said. His face turned ashen and his hands had balled into fists.
“Then you will let me buy the lovely Delia from you?” Edward was relentless. “With it, you will buy my silence. No one will hear a word from me about your habits behind closed doors.”
“Unfortunately, even if I wanted to take your money, it is not possible. I am betrothed to Delia Amor.”
Delia’s eyes widened. When the hell did that happen?
“Is that true?” Edward asked, turning to face Delia.
She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. Delia was not sure if she even wanted it to be true but she knew without a doubt that she did not want to be stolen away and live with Edward, a man who sends people to the penal colony. One wrong move and she could get herself tossed far from her home and the world she knew. She did not dare open her mouth to refute such an idea.
“Delia, tell him the truth,” Charles said. He walked several feet forward, resting his hands on her shoulders as he stood behind her.
“Yes, we are to be wed on the eighteenth of the month. Will you be in attendance?” she asked.
“Oh, I would not miss it for anything.” Edward grinned, retreating from his position in the dining room. “I expect an invitation, cousin, or have you forgotten to send me one?”
Charles ushered Edward out of the dining room and presumably out the front door. “You will have the invitation when you need it.”
Delia’s heart skipped a beat. Her cheeks flamed and she felt both sets of eyes from the girls on her.
“Are you really going to become our mother?” Emma asked.
Delia stumbled with the proper response. She did not quite know what would become of her and Charles. Certainly he had some secret that he cherished more than his freedom as a single man. She did not however believe it was fair bringing her into the web of lies but what choice did she have? Going with Edward seemed far worse. She liked Charles, albeit a little too much considering she was the governess, but perhaps her position in his home would not matter.
Would they marry solely for the sake of his protection and keeping his secret, or would they share a bed as husbands and wives do? Delia could not ask such a personal and intimate question in front of the children. Their bowls and plates were near empty.
“It is up to bed.” Delia did not let the girls stall another moment. She led them out of the dining room and up the stairs.
Emma whined on her ascent up the staircase. “Do we have to? I am not tired.”
“Me either,” Alice said, joining in.
“Yes, you will both get washed up, teeth brushed, and into bed.” She hoped she did not miss any part of their nightly ritual.
“What about story time?” Alice asked.
“One story each,” Delia said. “Then not another peep from either one of you. Understood?” She needed the girls to go down to bed good for her. If not, she did not know what Charles would think or do. He might have had a secret to keep, but were there no other women who could so easily become his governess or nanny? She needed this job as much as he seemed to need her.
/> Chapter 6
He could never live down the day that his colleagues and those he knew discovered his secret. Had he been ashamed by his choices behind closed doors, hardly. What troubled him instead was his high-standing reputation and what might become of it should others discover his love of bringing women into his home, coddling them like children, and teaching them to submit. It went beyond the spankings and harsh discipline used to instill obedience. That was not to say he didn’t enjoy reddening the young women’s bottoms when given the chance, but he also liked the thought of the women he brought into his home to call him poppa. He had not yet voiced his desires to Delia, unsure how she would respond to such a request.
On rare occasions, he had brought home a woman who would satisfy his cravings for a small fee that also promised silence. He had been concerned at first that they might blackmail him into more money, but he had built a reputation in the community as had the girls who had joined him. Discretion was important for all parties involved.
A soft rap against the door forced his head to glance up. “Come in,” he said, as he sat in his study, his nose in a book. Though in truth all he had read were the first words over and over again. He could not concentrate, no matter how hard he tried.
Delia stepped into the room and quietly closed the door behind her.
“I take it the girls are in bed?” Charles asked.
“Yes. They went down without a fuss,” Delia said.
Charles did not know if she was being polite or if the girls had not caused her any trouble. It was rare that Nanny Ida put them to bed with ease, even after all her years working for him.
“We should talk.” Her words were soft, melancholy as she kept her gaze transfixed on him.
He found the entire scenario troubling, from the moment Edward had stepped foot in his home. Why couldn’t it had been anyone else who had seen his girls at the train station? Would he never live it down?
The worry lines formed on her brow troubled Charles. They did need to talk, but Charles was not sure he would like what they were about to discuss. Would she chance leaving him because she might have her reputation soiled as well as his? Though surely her situation was dire considering her willingness to take on the position of both governess and nanny. He may not have given her much of a choice, but she had not fought him on it either. Sure, she had owed him a debt but that was not the sole reason she had stuck around, right?
“Yes, we most certainly should.” How could he be so insensitive to demand she marry him? He had not spoken to her father and though he cared little about her dowry, she was in his service, not his wife. “I should not have said those things to Edward this evening.”
“You mean that you wish to marry me?” Delia held his gaze though he had trouble glancing up at her.
“I gave you no choice in the matter and I apologize for putting you on the spot. It should never have come down to it.” He also knew that he should not have asked her to lie for him. What type of gentleman did that, forced a hand in marriage over a secret that he did not want to get out?
“Forget what was said.” Delia stepped closer, standing over him, towering above as she blocked the candle light, casting a darkened glow across his face. “What happens now?”
“Your debt will be forgiven and you may return home, to marry a respectable young man.” He would not demand anything further of her. If Delia chose to stick around it would be of her own volition.
“That is not what I desire.”
He caught the intense stare of her gaze, filled with unwavering passion. “What is it that you want, Delia?” He would not give up his secret, not without knowing she was not going anywhere. Too many young ladies who had taken the position of governess had begged for his company late at night. Little good it had done, though they had all sworn secrecy. It would do them no good to admit of their illicit affairs with Charles.
“I can not go home. I left because I was to marry a man I wanted nothing to do with.”
A smile quipped at the corners of his lips, not one of mirth but realization that he should have known. All the young women who arrived on his doorstep to be governess were running away from something in their past. “You are betrothed?” He had asked her that question upon her arrival and she had sworn that she had been promised to no one.
“I have no intention of marrying him,” Delia said, folding her arms across her chest.
“What does your father say?”
Delia did not answer, her eyes studied the buttons of his shirt, unwilling to meet his intense stare.
Charles stood, unafraid and unabashedly. He stepped closer, his hands resting on Delia’s arms. He may have only known her for just a short while but there was no way that he would desire to see her marry any man who would make her miserable. “He approves of this young gentleman?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Delia’s answers were short and curt. She made it clear that she had no desire to further discuss the matter.
“Perhaps an arrangement of marriage between us would be for the best,” Charles said. His hands dropped down to his sides as he walked toward his desk, glancing at the shuffled papers. He leaned forward, his shoulders hunched slightly as he towered over the oak desk. “Edward expects a wedding and should your father find you, he would be displeased and bring you home to your betrothal. Am I correct?”
“Yes,” Delia said, her voice soft and timid.
“Should we decide to marry, your responsibilities to the girls would not lessen any, if anything they might one day consider you their mother.” He could not hide the marriage from the children, even if the arrangements had been made solely to protect one another. They were each getting something out of the deal. Charles would buy Edward’s silence by way of the marriage, and Delia would no longer have to concern herself with her betrothal. In fact, she could visit her father whenever she desired. Her fears should be eased and disappointment to him contained.
“May I ask, what secret is it that you keep?” Delia asked. “If I am risking my reputation by association, then I wish to know before we wed what worries you so.”
Charles emitted a heavy sigh as he came to sit down on the sofa in his study. He reached for Delia’s hand, pulling her to sit on his lap. Her body felt tense, rigid as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close to him.
“If I confide in you the truth, you must promise not to tell a soul.”
Delia lifted her hand and brushed the palms of her fingers across his cheek and over his stubble. “What has you so concerned?” she asked, her breath soft and calm.
“Promise me,” he said, his voice unwavering as he reached up to grab her hand that grazed his skin. “Say it.”
“I promise, Charles. Anything you tell me will stay solely between us.”
“Good.” He nodded, opened his mouth but the words did not fall as easily as he would have liked. Sighing, he contemplated the best way to come out with it. Very few women understood his desires. Even the few ladies he had paid, very few returned after the sessions grew more intimate. He needed a woman who could accept him for who he was.
“Just say it,” Delia said, smiling warmly.
He could not tell if she was nervous or trying to ease his mind. “Perhaps it would be best to just show you.”
She seemed to swallow nervously and though the smile remained, he could see the hint of hesitancy behind her eyes.
His hands smoothed over her gown and he helped her stand. “Come with me, up to my room.” Wordlessly he headed out of the study, listening to the soft patter of footsteps that followed behind him up the grand staircase and to his door. He stepped in first and waited a moment for Delia to join him before shutting and securing the lock on the door.
Delia stood with the door to her back, wringing her hands together anxiously in front of her. Her blue eyes were doe like, wide and filled with terror.
“I assure you, nothing I desire will cause any harm to come to you,” Charles said.
Slowly her
shoulders relaxed and the tension seemed to dissipate at his confession, as he stepped closer, pulling her into his embrace.
“What is it that you desire, Charles?” Her eyes met his, they had darkened a deeper richer shade of blue. Her gorgeous dark brown locks fell across her face in waves.
He pushed the hair behind her ear, meeting her stare, unwilling to let her steal a glance away. “I want you to become mine and mine alone.” His breath met her lips, kissing her, easing the tension from her body as she melted into his embrace. Charles wrapped his arms snuggly around her body, one hand at her lower back, pressing her to him. “At night, as my wife and the mother of my girls, I want to reward you for the passion you have. I want to make you little.”
“Little?” Delia repeated, her brow furrowed as she glanced down at herself. “I may not be a large woman, Charles, but I find the title of little quite repressive. I am not a child. Yes, I have a small frame and am far shorter than your previous nanny, but I will do nothing to shorten my stature or my size.”
A smile etched to Charles’s face. “No. I have failed to elaborate. Let me,” he said, gesturing for her to be quiet until he was completely done speaking. “I desire to make your life as easy and carefree as possible. In a wife I wish her only to please me and have no other responsibilities. Of course with two young girls there have to be some considerations that must go into place, which means the job of being a little one with me is from the moment the children are asleep until they awaken in the morning.”
“What if they wake up during the night? I am their nanny as well,” Delia said.
“Yes, I remember the arrangement and I do believe that most nights the girls sleep without a sound. On the rare occasion they awaken, I will tend to them.”
“What must I do as your little one? I have never been asked such a request before.”
Charles was not surprised to find she did not know what to expect. It may have been made aware to him the other night that she was not a virgin, but that did not mean she went and knew all that he had when it came to sex. He would enlighten her on the experience of submission and what it meant to be little again.