hers.
“Don’t thank me yet, little kitten,” he said and watched as she flushed hotly. “You do not deserve to have your bottom roasted, but, young lady, you do deserve to have your mouth washed out.” Lucy’s mouth dropped open for an instant and then clamped tightly shut. Anna smiled and relaxed as she accepted his authority.
“I shall tend to it immediately, Sir,” Anna said , and tightening her grip on Lucy’s arm, began to pull her out of the library. Lucas watched them go and shook his head. He had returned to the library to retrieve a package meant for Edward. He picked it up from the table and then bent and picked up the dress. He set it once more on top of the sewing basket. He knew the girl would be returned to finish her task and knew she would be doing so with a squeaky clean mouth. He grimaced remembering the housekeeper’s soapy cloth in his own mouth when he was a young boy. He might have saved Lucy from a spanking that he knew she truly deserved, but feared any appreciation she might have had would disappear as her mouth was expertly cleansed by Anna. He was still thinking about the taste of soap bubbles when he returned to the front parlor to rejoin the others. Louisa, who was sitting very quietly next to her husband, looked at him closely. Though he gave the package to Edward and was thanked for the gift of fine cigars, Louisa knew Lucas’ mind was elsewhere. Even though she enjoyed the rare treat of being included in the after-dinner conversation, she wished she could go find Lucille. Something had happened, and Louisa feared it was not something pleasant.
While the others conversed in the parlor, Lucy was returned to the solitude of the library and pressed back down onto the settee and the dress placed back into her hands. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the sheen of tears from her eyes. Her bottom might have been spared, but her mouth and tongue were burning. Mrs. Bremmer had dragged her into the kitchen and scolded the entire time she scrubbed out Lucy’s naughty mouth. Lucy was soon gagging and spitting, as bubbles frothed from her lips. Mrs. Bremmer washed her mouth two additional times before releasing the girl, not caring that several kitchen staff witnessed the cleansing.
“You might think you were saved, young lady,” Anna said , as she escorted the girl back to the library. “However, tomorrow you will apologize to Lord Huntington and your guardian. I will not have any guests in this house think we allow little girls to speak as if they were raised in a gutter. Do not make me remind you to do as I say,” she warned. “If I have to do so, I promise you, your mouth will not be the next part of your anatomy that is filled with soap!” Though Lucille wasn’t clear on what the housekeeper meant by that statement, she simply nodded her head.
“Yes, Ma’am, I’m so sorry to have embarrassed you,” Lucy apologized. Anna nodded and waited until Lucy was busy working on her mending before turning away.
“Have that done quickly, Lucille; your bedtime is only a short while away,” Anna reminded her.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Lucy said, blinking fast and moving her fingers as fast as possible as she worked the needle through the dress. She grimaced each time she swallowed , swearing she could still taste the horrid soap coating her tongue and throat. When Molly entered to tell her it was time for bed, Lucy had just finished snipping the thread. She stood and folded the dress neatly before putting in on the settee. She knew Mrs. Bremmer would inspect the dress and decide if her work met her own high standards. She followed Molly up the stairs, not even aware of the voices coming from the front parlor. She was so embarrassed and so tired that all she wanted was to crawl into her bed. Within minutes of slipping between her cool sheets, Lucy had her doll clutched to her chest as she fell into
“Don’t thank me yet, little kitten,” he said and watched as she flushed hotly. “You do not deserve to have your bottom roasted, but, young lady, you do deserve to have your mouth washed out.” Lucy’s mouth dropped open for an instant and then clamped tightly shut. Anna smiled and relaxed as she accepted his authority.
“I shall tend to it immediately, Sir,” Anna said , and tightening her grip on Lucy’s arm, began to pull her out of the library. Lucas watched them go and shook his head. He had returned to the library to retrieve a package meant for Edward. He picked it up from the table and then bent and picked up the dress. He set it once more on top of the sewing basket. He knew the girl would be returned to finish her task and knew she would be doing so with a squeaky clean mouth. He grimaced remembering the housekeeper’s soapy cloth in his own mouth when he was a young boy. He might have saved Lucy from a spanking that he knew she truly deserved, but feared any appreciation she might have had would disappear as her mouth was expertly cleansed by Anna. He was still thinking about the taste of soap bubbles when he returned to the front parlor to rejoin the others. Louisa, who was sitting very quietly next to her husband, looked at him closely. Though he gave the package to Edward and was thanked for the gift of fine cigars, Louisa knew Lucas’ mind was elsewhere. Even though she enjoyed the rare treat of being included in the after-dinner conversation, she wished she could go find Lucille. Something had happened, and Louisa feared it was not something pleasant.
While the others conversed in the parlor, Lucy was returned to the solitude of the library and pressed back down onto the settee and the dress placed back into her hands. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the sheen of tears from her eyes. Her bottom might have been spared, but her mouth and tongue were burning. Mrs. Bremmer had dragged her into the kitchen and scolded the entire time she scrubbed out Lucy’s naughty mouth. Lucy was soon gagging and spitting, as bubbles frothed from her lips. Mrs. Bremmer washed her mouth two additional times before releasing the girl, not caring that several kitchen staff witnessed the cleansing.
“You might think you were saved, young lady,” Anna said , as she escorted the girl back to the library. “However, tomorrow you will apologize to Lord Huntington and your guardian. I will not have any guests in this house think we allow little girls to speak as if they were raised in a gutter. Do not make me remind you to do as I say,” she warned. “If I have to do so, I promise you, your mouth will not be the next part of your anatomy that is filled with soap!” Though Lucille wasn’t clear on what the housekeeper meant by that statement, she simply nodded her head.
“Yes, Ma’am, I’m so sorry to have embarrassed you,” Lucy apologized. Anna nodded and waited until Lucy was busy working on her mending before turning away.
“Have that done quickly, Lucille; your bedtime is only a short while away,” Anna reminded her.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Lucy said, blinking fast and moving her fingers as fast as possible as she worked the needle through the dress. She grimaced each time she swallowed , swearing she could still taste the horrid soap coating her tongue and throat. When Molly entered to tell her it was time for bed, Lucy had just finished snipping the thread. She stood and folded the dress neatly before putting in on the settee. She knew Mrs. Bremmer would inspect the dress and decide if her work met her own high standards. She followed Molly up the stairs, not even aware of the voices coming from the front parlor. She was so embarrassed and so tired that all she wanted was to crawl into her bed. Within minutes of slipping between her cool sheets, Lucy had her doll clutched to her chest as she fell into
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