by Maggie Ryan
“I’m sorry,” they chorused and Edward smiled.
“You are both forgiven,” Edward said, knowing they were aware of how different the outcome of the conversation could have been. “This is a party, ladies,” he reminded, as he released them. He saw smiles appear on their faces. “While other little ones might decide to be naughty tonight and have their bottoms reddened, my girls have done nothing but make me proud. No doubt tomorrow’s sermon will be a lesson on obedience and submission. However, that is tomorrow and the night is still young. Come, the buffet has been prepared and there are many more dances to enjoy!”
He looked over at Lucas and Charles and shook his head as they both took a step forward as if to relieve him of one of his girls. “No, gentlemen, I fear you shall both have to wait a bit. I find I wish to enjoy the delicious repast with both my girls,” Edward said, his smile tender. Louisa and Lucy both smiled as he offered each an arm. They placed their hands in the crook of his elbows as he guided them to another room where tables were laden with dozens of tempting choices. Camellia’s plight was forgotten - or at least accepted - as Edward helped them pile their plates with shrimp, cheeses, fruits, offerings of succulent meats and crusty bread. As he seated them at a nearby table, he soon had two glasses of champagne before them. Lucy smiled as she sampled the delicious fare; her first ball was far exceeding her expectations and she was no longer nervous or frightened, despite what she had witnessed upstairs. Edward had calmed her, as she finally understood the truth of his words. She wouldn’t be handed over to some man she didn’t love. Edward saw her smile as it lit her face, her eyes clear and shining. He understood that she had finally accepted his gift, one that few young women were ever offered. She had been given the gift of choice.
Only Lucas’ upbringing and respect for Edward allowed him to behave like a gentleman. Every time he saw Lucy being led onto the dance floor by Charles, his instinct was to pull her away. He wanted her back in the carriage seated next to him. He wanted her trembling hand on his arm so that he might hold it under his and offer her comfort. He wanted her to look up at him as she had earlier, to see the fear disappear from her eyes and then to be filled with wonder. Hell, he wanted her teetering on a ladder so he had reason to pluck her from its rungs and spank her bottom for being so careless and to show her that he was the one she should have chosen. What he did not want, what he could not stand for another moment, was to see her smile as Charles Lloyds bent to kiss her.
As the evening progressed, it seemed to become understood by all present that Lloyds had claimed the sweetest prize at the ball. Lucas gritted his teeth as he watched Charles escorting her onto the dance floor yet again.
“It seems Charles took every opportunity to press his advantage,” Lucas heard Edward speaking behind him, as he and Louisa joined the despondent man. Edward watched as his friend’s shoulders sagged.
Lucas gave him a nod of acceptance. “I swear it wasn’t for my lack of desire, Edward,” he said. “I wanted to be the one to teach her to purr. I wished it with all of my heart and soul.” They stood watching as the young couple seemed lost in each other while the music moved them about the floor. Eleanor joined them and smiled, as she too saw the couple dancing and the resignation on Lucas’ face.
“Though I know your heart isn’t ready, my dear Lucas,” she said, placing her hand on his arm, “Remember that there are many special little ones awaiting their own Papas.” Lucas didn’t answer, but did give a slight nod. Eleanor patted his arm, “Perhaps now you might come visit me as you promised.” Her voice was teasing, but the smile Lucas finally gave her was not one of a man anxious to make such a visit.
“Perhaps on my next visit, Eleanor,” he said softly though he had no such desire. At that moment his only desire was to claim the kitten with whom he had fallen in love. “It is time I return to Hunter’s Ridge.” Edward saw the sorrow in both his friend’s and his wife’s eyes. He clapped Lucas on the back and then turned to Eleanor and was soon leading her onto the floor. He instinctively knew that his own little lady wished to comfort the man in her own sweet manner.
Louisa waited for a moment before placing her own hand on Lucas’ arm. “Don’t give up so easily, Lord Huntington,” she said softly, though she too had seen her sister’s face as she was dancing. “The clock has not yet struck midnight,” she teased. Lucas finally rewarded her with a small smile as he acknowledged their earlier references to the fairy-tale. He may have lost his own princess, but knew he would be eternally thankful that Edward, his dearest friend, had managed to claim his own.
“Edward is an incredibly lucky man,” Lucas said pulling her into his arms as they stepped out onto the floor. Louisa smiled, knowing she was also an incredibly lucky woman.
This feeling was a new experience for Lucas. Though he had never lacked for female attention, he had also never been ignored in such a polite manner.
Determined not to mar Lucy’s enjoyment of the ball, he had forced himself to continue to partner with various women. Though he enjoyed the feeling of soft females in his arms, he found he was only barely able to remember the proper steps of each dance. He’d only partnered with Lucy for three dances out of the dozens she had enjoyed. On the first dance, she had still been a bit unsure of herself and he had made every effort to offer her support and encouragement. The second had seen her smiling and happy, her nervousness forgotten as she enjoyed the ball. The third was at this moment.
“I told you that you would be the belle of the ball, Lucy,” Lucas had said, before pulling her into his arms for this dance. She had blushed and Charles’ eyes shot him daggers. Lucas continued speaking as he led her through the intricate steps of the dance. “It’s hard to remember my frightened little kitten. I suppose I no longer need to worry because all I see now is the lioness I knew you had within you. You’ve captured every man’s heart tonight.” Lucy was hesitant to speak as she heard a trace of something she had never before heard in his voice. She looked up to see his eyes and actually stumbled at the heat she saw in them. Lucas’ hand tightened on her waist to steady her.
She attempted to cover her nervousness. “Do you think Cleo is proud?” she asked, attempting to bring a smile back to his face. She watched as the heat was replaced by sadness and wished she hadn’t spoken. Even though his hand tightened around hers as he turned her on the floor, she felt him moving away. He hadn’t answered her question and his eyes had moved to look over her head. She wasn’t aware that the music had stopped until he sighed and released her.
“Lucas,” she said, her heart pounding in her chest. He looked so distant and it frightened her. He closed his eyes briefly at the sound of his name coming from her lips for the first and last time. He forced a smile as he opened his eyes, knowing that Charles would reach them in another moment. His hand lifted and he stroked a finger down her cheek seeing the concern filling her eyes.
“Yes, little one, Cleo is very proud of you tonight. You have nothing to fret over and nothing to fear. I’m just sorry that…I only wish I…” he paused, seeing Charles already reaching towards Lucy.
“What?” Lucy asked, her heart stuttering at the look on his face, even as her cheek burned where he had touched her so gently. Lucas stepped away and offered her a small bow and another smile.
“Nothing. This is your night, princess and your prince is ready to claim you,” Lucas said, and then gave Charles a bow as well. Lucy was turned and pulled into Charles’ arms as he accepted his victory and bent to kiss her lips for the first time. She felt her stomach lurch as he pressed his lips hard against her own. When he released her, she gasped for air, her mind spinning. She wasn’t aware of the room crowded with people watching the drama of the evening draw to a close. She wasn’t aware that Edward and Louisa stood only a few feet away. She wasn’t aware that Pastor Reed stood watching, his disapproval coloring his face. She didn’t see the soft smile of Lady Eddington as she stood next to her husband, his arm holding her to his side. She didn’t notice Eleanor Summers stan
ding across the room, as she chaperoned her young students. All she felt was the heat of her former professor’s lips against her mouth as her hand lifted and a finger touched her lips. She saw Charles beaming at her, his desire obvious as he began to reach for her again. She turned to see Lucas standing alone, the concession he had announced evident to the entire room.
Lucy’s smile was breathtaking to observe as it lit her entire face. Every person in the room watched and smiled remembering the first time they had known they were in love. Not a person moved as Lucy stepped forward, her arms lifting to wrap themselves around the man who had captured her heart. As she drew his head down and kissed him, she understood what her sister had meant. She knew she had found her true self as well as her soul mate. The depth of her emotions was revealed as the lips beneath hers branded her with his claim. Every fiber of her body now burned with the desire for this man, this one man to teach her the passions that had been ignited deep within her soul.
Edward began to clap his hands in approval as the room witnessed a real fairy-tale coming to life. The room was soon filled with the sound of dozens of people clapping as they smiled and chuckled. Safely tucked into the loving arms of her husband, Louisa smiled as she heard the clock chime the magical hour of midnight. Her twin was not only the belle of the ball, she had outdone Cinderella – she had two men desperately in love with her. She looked into her husband’s face and saw his smile reflected hers. They both watched as Lucille Rose Furniss stepped forward to claim her Prince Charming.
Epilogue
Lucy continues her lessons and begins her new life with the man she chose the night of the ball in the final book of the series: Lucy Surrenders – Women of Wintercrest – Book 4, coming soon.
THE END
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Maggie Ryan
Louisa Revealed, Women of Wintercrest, Book 1
Plus five more stars. This book is very intense. I would have read it straight through, but my heart kept pounding and i had to give it a break. Not that age play is my thing, but the descriptions in this book i found to be very vivid. – Adele
I really like the way this book starts in the middle and then goes back and fills in (some of) the blanks as they become relevant. But I'd really like to know a lot more about Louisa's early days of marriage to Edward! I did feel that he was too harsh on Lucy, I hope to see more of her with her math tutor, especially if he ever had cause to discipline her! – GM
Becoming His
Love this slightly severe age play story. Keep them coming, Maggie Ryan. I like the severe (after all it is only a story)––your writing reminds me of Carolyn Faulkner and her severe stories. Keep them coming despite what a few others say!!! I've read a few other severe stories from various authors and they are all horrid and mean. This story was soooooo charming. – S.
Wow, what can I say, about this but, it was a great read. It had some interesting angles in the plot and it didn't end as I had expected, but that was part of the pleasure of reading this book. – Pamela
Lord Edward’s Law, Women of Wintercrest Book 2
Fantastic sequel. Maggie Ryan just keeps getting better and better. I have fallen in love with the characters in this series. In Book 2, more is revealed of Louisa's lifestyle and her growing submission to her husband, Lord Edward. Lucy discovers the truth of how Wintercrest Manor is run and the rules that her guardian demands be followed unless the girls are willing to pay the consequences of their misbehavior. Charles, Lucy's professor is discovering that he is no longer considering Lucille as a student; he is now picturing her as his future wife. Edward thinks the man is too weak to be able to offer Lucy the life she isn't aware that she needs. Will her allow Charles to court Lucy or will a new character be introduced in Book 3. one of Edward's choosing? Whichever way Ms. Ryan goes, it is sure to be a great read. She is an excellent author and I have truly enjoyed every one of her books. Hurry up with next book please! – Catherine
Maggie Ryan has done it again and wrote a wonderful sequel that shows where the characters are and how they have changed but still know how to get into trouble. – Evelyn
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