The Courting

by Bella Bryce

  Elisabeth cried quietly as she brushed her teeth, feeling as though she’d been completely misunderstood. Bennett wasn’t just cross with her behaviour, he was properly upset with her and she could feel it.

  He was standing in the centre of her large, spacious bedroom with his hands behind his back, his suit neat and tidy as ever, waiting, when she appeared. Elisabeth walked in and completely avoided eye contact. She stopped in front of him as she had done earlier, with her hands loosely clasped in front of her.

  “I apologise that you feel I haven’t earned your trust. Perhaps if I had, you wouldn’t have fought me on this. At the end of it, you needed to be put back in your place and that’s exactly what I’ve done. I don’t want to discuss this any further tonight. Get changed for bed.”

  “No,” Elisabeth replied.

  Bennett raised his eyebrows and blinked. He’d never heard Elisabeth blatantly defy him the way he was used to Alice doing. “What did you just say to me?” He wasn’t even sure he’d heard her correctly.

  “Bennett, it’s barely six o’clock. I’m hungry; I’m not going to bed without dinner.”

  “You will do as I tell you to do, young lady, or my belt is coming off,” he said, almost shocked at her words. “It’s absurd that I haven’t taken it off already.”

  Elisabeth frowned. “Can I not be your equal for ten seconds, please?” she asked, stepping close to him.

  “No, and you never will be. You’re a nineteen-year-old child, Elisabeth. I am twenty-nine and the man you are courting. That means I look after you, I decide what is best and I put you back into line. Your behaviour this evening has been dire and you are going straight to bed. Go and change this instant,” he said.

  Elisabeth didn’t bother to react; she just turned around and obeyed. Bennett had never been so blatantly disobeyed in the time he’d finally had someone to be in authority over. His niece, Alice, occasionally displayed that kind of behaviour in the beginning – but Elisabeth was someone he planned to marry – so it bothered him a lot more.

  Bennett paced the room until she returned in her nightdress and climbed into bed. He sat on the bedside, although Elisabeth wouldn’t look at him.

  “I’m collecting you after breakfast and I expect you to be in better temperament tomorrow,” Bennett said.

  Elisabeth turned and looked at him. “I understand that you’re in charge, but I thought my feelings mattered,” she said.

  Bennett was surprised at her words. “Your feelings matter to me, Elisabeth, perhaps more than you realise. But this conversation has nothing to do with feelings; this is about doing as I tell you. I understand you’re upset. I’ve given an honest explanation and it isn’t good enough for you. Next time, you will hear the word ‘no’ without an explanation to follow.”

  “Well I’d like to decide if I want to stay here tomorrow and be alone. Can I at least have that?” she asked, making eye contact with him.

  Bennett hid any kind of hurt he was feeling, and he was definitely feeling it.

  “You make it sound as though you’re quite unhappy,” he said.

  Elisabeth rubbed her eyes and then looked back at him. “I just wanted to speak and you didn’t let me.”

  “You forget that this relationship is representative of a specific model and in that model, you don’t get to do certain things without my permission, but especially after I’ve taken them away for misbehaviour. I understood you to be in agreement of all this.”

  “I am in agreement, but it doesn’t mean I won’t get annoyed with you,” Elisabeth explained, in a rather gentle voice, in only the way Elisabeth could.

  “That’s enough for one evening. Lie down.” He pulled the covers up over her, then removed her book from the nightstand and placed it across the room on the bookshelf. Bennett returned to her bedside and turned out the lamp on the far left side of the king-sized bed near the ceiling-high windows, then walked around and bent over her.

  “Goodnight,” he said, and kissed her forehead before turning the lamp out.

  Elisabeth didn’t reply, but immediately turned over on her side so that her back was to Bennett. He watched her turn away, put his hands in his suit trouser pockets and left the room, closing the door behind him. He stood outside the door for a moment and let out a breath. Bennett hadn’t expected to find a girl to court who would live the lifestyle he’d always wanted, but he had. Although, it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. He realised they’d just had their first argument and whilst it was nothing compared to couples who didn’t practise submission at all, Bennett was entirely displeased. He didn’t expect to have defiance or reluctance from Elisabeth and when he felt the first stings of her rejection, it was enough to make him want to go back to Barton-Court and sit in his study with a brandy. Alone.

  “Where’s Elisabeth, Uncle Bennett?” Alice asked, when he entered the sitting room.

  Alice and Brayden were playing chess by the fire.

  “I’ve put her to bed, she’s been a naughty girl. Brayden, may I have a word?”

  Alice looked worried and confused as she watched Brayden walk a good hundred feet away and speak quietly with Bennett. She was concerned about Elisabeth going to bed before dinner. Brayden had never put Alice to bed without meals, but Brayden was not her Uncle Bennett. He was also disciplining his future wife, so it wasn’t quite the same as disciplining someone adopted as a child, yet it was confusingly similar.

  “Alice, come say goodbye to your uncle, please,” Brayden said, from where he stood. His hands were on his hips and he said something else before Alice reached them.

  “Goodnight.”

  “Properly,” Brayden said, putting a firm hand on her back.

  Alice stood up on her toes to indicate she wanted to kiss his cheek, but that he needed to at least bend down a bit, which he did.

  “Goodnight, Uncle Bennett,” Alice corrected, and put one foot behind the other and gave him a quick bob.

  “Goodnight,” Bennett said and kissed Alice’s cheek and then stood up. “And you’re not to go into Elisabeth’s room. She’s been put to bed for a reason.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she replied to her uncle, fully intending to ignore the order.

  “I mean it, Alice. You’ll get it from your father and then me if you go into her room. She needs to learn.”

  Alice nodded, knowing that Bennett meant what he said. Suddenly, her intention to visit Elisabeth was a lot less urgent.

  After Bennett left, Brayden turned to his daughter and glanced at his watch.

  “Right, into the dining room, please, and wait for me there. Tell Wellesley not to serve on time, I need to see Elisabeth first,” Brayden told his daughter.

  Alice’s eyes widened. “I’ve never given the staff directions.”

  “It’s time you learn. You’ve seen me do it enough by now to know what to do. Off you go,” Brayden said, nodding toward the adjacent double doors across the foyer.

  “Sir,” Alice replied, quietly, and took her time approaching the dining room.

  Brayden watched her until she reached the dining room doors, then ascended the stairs and went to Elisabeth’s room. He gave two polite knocks before entering. The room was dark except for the curtains were still open. Bennett hadn’t realised that sending the girl to bed at six o’clock in the evening with the curtains open wouldn’t be terribly helpful if the moon was obnoxiously bright.

  “Elisabeth,” Brayden said as he approached.

  She wiped her eyes and sniffed, but remained lying on her side. Elisabeth was nothing short of embarrassed to be caught sulking in front of Brayden.

  He sat on the edge of her bed and turned on the crystal lamp. Elisabeth frowned at the intrusion of light after her eyes had adjusted to the darkness.

  “Turn over and face me, please,” Brayden said, with the right balance of gentleness and firmness.

  Elisabeth obeyed and propped herself up on one elbow. The girl reminded him of Alice shortly after she’d moved to Waldorf – innocent and
sweet in a nightdress she wasn’t used to, trying to align herself with the rigidity of men like Brayden and Bennett who were strict but fair. He looked at Elisabeth with a great deal more expectation than he would Alice, as well.

  Elisabeth was older and had more privileges so the expectations were higher.

  “Bennett tells me you refuse to see him tomorrow,” he said.

  Elisabeth pushed herself to sit up completely and she rested her hands gently on top of the duvet and looked down. She nodded.

  “Yes, Uncle Brayden?” he encouraged.

  “Yes, Uncle Brayden,” Elisabeth replied quietly. “Sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes.

  “Would you like to tell me what happened?” Brayden asked.

  Elisabeth looked down and shook her head. “There’s no point. I’m already in trouble and what I think doesn’t matter. He’s coming to get me tomorrow whether I like it or not.”

  Brayden raised an eyebrow. “I think that is quite unfair, young lady. You’d best think twice before you accuse someone of dismissing your feelings.”

  Elisabeth looked up and searched Brayden’s face. “It certainly seems that way,” she replied.

  “Tell me what’s happened,” Brayden said.

  Elisabeth could see Brayden was concerned about the disagreement. She inhaled. “Evelyn phoned Bennett earlier tonight to ask whether I was attending a ladies luncheon with her. Unbeknownst to me, she had already asked him once before and he had already told her the answer was no. She happened to phone a second time and ask right when I was beside him. When he put the phone down, I asked what it was he was saying ‘no’ to so adamantly and he explained that his mother was trying to get him to let me attend some luncheon with her and her friends. But Bennett never even asked what I thought or if I wanted to go,” Elisabeth explained.

  Brayden raised an eyebrow at her. “And you feel he was wrong to have made that decision for you.”

  Elisabeth pressed her lips together, feeling slightly guilty already.

  “You must remember that Bennett has been part of this lifestyle, this circle, wealth... his entire life. Both of us have. And he is the one who will help you adjust to it because he is the one you’re entrusting your submission to. If Bennett doesn’t feel something will benefit or encourage you, he will close that door. That’s how love works.”

  Elisabeth slumped her shoulders in subtle defeat. Just by Brayden’s confident tone she could tell that she’d gotten Bennett wrong on that score. Entirely.

  “Old money and the class system aside, you must remember that you’ve also just walked into a new situation, a new household and a new relationship. Not to mention, a very particular relationship. Bennett will ensure you are taken care of and want for nothing, but you need to trust his intentions.”

  Elisabeth looked down and nodded. She’d heard it twice in one hour that she needed to trust Bennett’s decisions. They had both made it very plain that Evelyn Fowler’s ladies luncheon was nothing to envy.

  “I must say I’m most disappointed to learn how you spoke to Bennett this evening. If he hadn’t given you quite as a severe spanking as he had and washed your mouth out with soap, you can bet I would be following it up,” he told her, calmly but seriously.

  “Yes, Sir,” Elisabeth replied quietly.

  She looked at Brayden and listened carefully to his words; he wasn’t mean or cruel, he was strict. Elisabeth hadn’t ever, in the short time she’d known him, heard him speak quite so directly. He clearly had reserved that tone of voice for when he felt it was required.

  “Without going into detail, and only for the purpose of giving you context, I will tell you my late mother was part of Evelyn’s circle – she was Evelyn’s closest friend for most of my life and they didn’t go a day without speaking to each other. Despite that, my mother stopped attending these luncheons after only a few years.”

  Elisabeth gave him a solemn nod and looked down. Brayden never mentioned his parents unless he felt it absolutely necessary.

  “Evelyn was pressured to look a certain way despite that she’s always been a very beautiful woman; she never felt quite good enough or that her waist wasn’t small enough, should I say. My mother wanted no part of a group like that but unfortunately Evelyn couldn’t say no to them.”

  Elisabeth gave a few small nods. She recalled earlier that evening when Bennett told her that his mother suffered from anorexia as a result of the pressure, the comments and the unhappiness she’d felt amongst those women. Satan in pearls and heels is the image that went to her mind.

  “Why are they so horrible?” Elisabeth asked quietly.

  “Because, darling, they live with excess, they are insecure and truthfully, because they can be,” Brayden replied solemnly. “Bennett is a smart man to protect you the way he has, even risking such a disagreement. Neither of us want to see you put amongst a clan of social climbers who will dote on you and then slowly tear you down until there is nothing left. Bennett watched his mother go through it and I know he wouldn’t live with himself if it happened to you.”

  Elisabeth’s eyes watered and she looked away. She’d interpreted the conversation very differently, but Brayden’s perspective after Bennett’s own short explanation was helpful. She had two men telling her to be wary of the same thing; how much more did she really need?

  “I wished he would have explained all of this to me,” she replied quietly.

  “I don’t think Bennett wishes to think on it. But I know he is adamant that you make good friends and settle into this new life. He just wants you to meet people who will enrich your life, not attempt to break it down.”

  Elisabeth’s face began to soften and she furrowed her eyebrows. Brayden opened his arms and signalled for her to near him. She pushed the duvet down and accepted his embrace.

  “I’m sorry, Uncle Brayden,” she sniffed. Tears rested on her eyelids as she thought about Evelyn Fowler being subjected to such unkindness, and the anger she’d felt toward Bennett because she hadn’t gotten her own way or her own words during their disagreement.

  “There is no need to apologise to me, darling,” he said, rubbing her forearm with his hand as he hugged her. “It will do you both a bit of good to have until tomorrow to have a long think over this.”

  Elisabeth nodded and Brayden kissed the side of her head. “Right, young lady, lie down then and I’ll say goodnight,” he directed, as he stood up off the bed. “Forgive Bennett for upsetting you,” Brayden told her.

  “Yes, Sir,” Elisabeth replied.

  “Goodnight.” Brayden kissed her cheek and turned out the light before leaving the room as it was before.

  “Very good, now change the salt and pepper round, please, I don’t like it there.” Alice’s voice could be heard the moment Brayden entered the dining room and began the long walk from the doors to the head of the table.

  Alice watched as one of the younger female staff obediently entertained her request of switching the crystal salt and pepper shakers around on the small silver tray at the top end of the grand, twenty person dining table.

  Brayden approached as Alice was leaning on the table on both elbows with her shoes tucked beneath her dress on the upholstered material of the dining chair. He nearly gasped when he saw the combination of her attitude and posture, having heard the tone of her voice.

  “Libby, you’re excused, thank you,” Brayden told the obliging maid as he caught Alice off guard.

  “Sir,” the girl said, and gave a small bob with her black and white uniformed dress and apron before disappearing through the concealed kitchen door on the far side of the dining room.

  Alice’s attention quickly turned to Brayden, who abruptly pulled the chair out and took her by the arm. “Alice Kathryn Lillias James.”

  “Father?”

  “You do not sit on furniture like that in this house and you certainly do not speak to my staff with arrogance,” he said, leading Alice beyond the dining table to where the ceiling-high windows were graced by sophisticate
d window seats and drapes. Brayden sat down and pulled Alice across his lap.

  “Father! You told me to tell them what to do!”

  “I told you nothing of the kind. Fibbing just earned you another ten,” he said, as he pulled her dress up and knickers and tights down.

  Alice began crying even before Brayden laid the first smack and carried on until he’d finished giving her a good dose of twenty-five.

  “I told you to sit down and wait for me and to tell Wellesley not to serve until I was finished upstairs.”

  “I did sit down and wait and tell them, Sir, honest.”

  “When I walked in, I heard you being very cheeky and arrogant toward one of my girls. You can’t speak to staff that way, Alice. They are employees. We do not mistreat other people.”

  “Libby isn’t your girl, I am,” Alice replied, narrowing her eyes.

  Brayden raised an eyebrow. “That is not what I meant, young lady. What have I told you about jealously?”

  Alice’s eyes softened and she slowly looked at the floor.

  “Turn around, your sash is undone,” Brayden said, as he turned Alice to face the dining table and the rest of the beautiful, formal room.

  Wellesley stood alert in his usual posture looking ahead, waiting for the next order. Two other uniformed maids stood beside him after placing several covered dishes on the sideboard.

  Alice glanced at Wellesley and then looked at the floor as Brayden kindly, but rather tightly, retied the sash on her dress into an enviable bow.

  “Come along,” he said, and took her by the hand the few feet to her chair, causing Wellesley to leave his place standing in front of the serving buffet. He walked around the table to take over pushing Alice’s chair in for her.

  “Tell Chef I apologise for his meal being delayed, it was my fault,” Brayden said, as he placed his napkin in his lap and smoothed it.

  Alice glanced up at Wellesley, feeling ashamed as he acknowledged the order and left to carry it out.

  Dinner was served and Alice was quiet for the first couple of minutes, but she seemed to shrug off her prior session of rather public discipline (not that staff counted as public in her mind), and began chatting about the birthday ball. She spoke quite fast and preferred to watch Brayden cut his dinner than to eat her own as she shared her thoughts and asked questions.