“Hmm.”
“You do not find this odd, madam?”
Miss Li regarded Elizabeth over her teacup. “If I know Jasper, he created those rules in order to protect you, Lizzie, from himself.”
Elizabeth struggled to comprehend the lady’s words.
Miss Li looked at her. “When it comes to Jasper Audrey, my dear, nothing is black and white.”
The two fell silent, staring into their cups, until Elizabeth felt the need to ask one final question. “He also—” Her face heated. “He spanked me too, you see, and I did not—I did not find it unpleasant. It was not—” She struggled to explain. “It was morethe release you mentioned before, when you said that some people seek…” She was too mortified to continue.
Li took Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed. “My dear, what pleases two adults in the privacy of their bedchamber is no one’s business but their own. What you enjoy and consent to is verydifferent from that which is imposed on you.” She tipped her head closer. “Should youconsentto forms of punishment you find pleasurable, that is perfectly alright. It is only wrong when it is done against your will. Do you understand, Elizabeth?”
Pleasure in punishment?
“What you consent to accept from your husband is a matter between you and him alone. But you must consent to such obedience. You must desire it. Give it willingly, freely, and you may well derive pleasure from it, but if taken by force, against your will, you shall have no marriage.” She set down her cup. “Jasper must understand this too. You must both find your way in this.”
Li abruptly rose from the chaise as if she’d said too much.
Elizabeth let the lady go, her mind awash with thoughts too astonishing to contemplate.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
That evening, staff welcomed Elizabeth to the dinner table and disregarded their master with blatant disrespect. Elizabeth, too, ignored her husband’s presence, though he appeared to suffer the lack of conversation with surprising tolerance.
Afterward, she checked on her new bookshelves’ progress, pleased to find her bedroom walls cleared and skeletal outlines already erected. She decided a hot toddy and book in bed were just what she needed to ease her overactive mind—along with a bit more salve to her bottom.
Miss Li’s revelations had affected her more than she liked.
She was just settling in, backside nestled on an extra down pillow, when Ginny entered with the toddy.
“Milady.”
“Ginny, you may as well call me Lizzie when everyone calls the Baron by his first name.”
“Well sure, ma’am, but that’s on account o’ how you’re an honest-to-God lady an’ Jasp’s just a?—”
“Whoreson?” Elizabeth’s wry tongue twitched. “Degenerate? Profligate? Pigsnout, perhaps?”
Ginny giggled. “Pigsnout, fer sure.”
“Making meMrs.Pigsnout.” Elizabeth sighed. “I’d prefer you simply call me Lizzie.”
“Right-o, Lizzie.” Ginny grinned. “Though you’ll ’ave trouble convincin’ Gerald an’ Murdoch t’ call yer such.”
“You must make them see reason.” Elizabeth forced a smile. “And as I need no assistance tonight with my?—”
“Ma’am.” Ginny’s face fell. “I’m afraid yer husband requests yer presence in his chamber this night.”
Dread filled Elizabeth’s limbs, though she straightened her spine. “Thank you, Ginny. I shall prepare myself.”
Milton paced his study, debating what to say to his wife. He’d told Ginny to prepare her mistress for a visit to his bedroom, but he wasn’t sure what sort of visit this ought to be. He swallowed his apprehension, for it was all too blasted complicated, and not at all how he’d envisioned marriage to be: a straightforward trade. He’d keep his wife in finery, she’d give him heirs. They’d both enjoy the bedchamber, and when they tired of one another, each might take a lover. Isn’t that what men of theTondid?
When he’d paced enough and imagined her prepared enough, he made his way to his chamber. He rapped twice, calling “Elizabeth?” before he heard her soft “yes.”
The jolt to his loins the moment he entered was intense.
She was the picture of submission in naught but her stockings, their dark blue accentuating the paleness of her skin. Palms to floor and breasts thrust forward, her chin was bent in deference, just as he had taught her.
