History Lessons (7 page)

"Yes sir." Lisa murmured and handed the iPod to Lucy. But the handover was accompanied by a vicious glance and Lucy again wondered why she was the one on the receiving end of Lisa's disdain when it was Warren Ellis who was doing the enforcing.

He looked at Lucy now. "Two citations against Miss Hartner. Remember that, Miss Primm."

"Yes, I will," Lucy said, avoiding Lisa's gaze. "I'll go back to the office and see to it right away. And I'll put the iPod in an envelope in the receptionist's desk, Lisa, since you didn't want it put in your locker."

"Very good," Warren Ellis said. "But Miss Primm, before you go back to the office I need you to accompany me to the herbalist's house behind the barn. There's a few things we need to change on the medicinals display."

"Certainly," Lucy said, dropping the iPod into her pocket and avoiding Lisa's bitter gaze.

She was glad to get away from the other woman, even if it meant being in the company of her boss who she knew had to be displeased with her performance. But he'd swooped in to save the day and she figured his handling it was his way of providing her a needed lesson.

"Why do you do that, Miss Primm?" he asked.

"What?"

"Allow the other workers to scare you, to intimidate you. The way you handled yourself back there you would think that Miss Hartner was the superior."

"I didn't want to be confrontational," Lucy replied.

"So you were a doormat instead."

"No, I wasn't."

They were approaching the barn now, but Warren Ellis halted her when she made to continue along the path to the herbalists' cottage.

"This way, please," he said, steering her along a side path to the woods.

"But I thought..."

"Yes, and we are going to the herb cottage. But first we're going to have a word alone."

Lucy felt a surge of nerves. What could he possibly want with her out in the woods? She wanted to ask why but couldn't get the words past the lump of fear that was forming in her throat.

At the edge of the wood, next to the nature trail, Warren Ellis undid a latch that opened a gate to another path. A sign on the gate read, "Restricted access. Maintenance personnel only." Lucy knew the path led to an equipment shed in the back.

They were soon alone, and out of sight and sound of anyone else. And that's when he turned to her.

"I thought our little talk yesterday would be enough, Lucy, but I was wrong," he said. "I'm deeply, deeply disappointed in you. I do not like seeing my rules - or my authority - mocked. It's even worse when I see someone I trust allowing it to be done."

"Mr. Ellis," she began, but he cut her off.

"No, Lucy. You were told what was expected of you and you are aware, I am sure, of the consequences of breaking my rules." He turned and snapped a two-foot piece of branch from a nearby willow tree and then stood stripping it as Lucy watched with growing dread.

"Don't tell me that this comes as a surprise to you, Lucy. You should have known when you saw me there would be consequences."

She took a step back, eyeing the switch in disbelief. "You can't be serious. It's the middle of the day, Mr. Ellis. If someone came by..."

"Not possible," he said. "The trail is marked 'maintenance only,' and the maintenance men only come here three days a week. This isn't one of those days. Turn around please, and lift your skirt."

"What?"

He furrowed his brow in exasperation. "I don't like to have to repeat myself, Miss Primm. Each time I do, you force me to add to your punishment. Now do as you're told."

It felt so surreal to Lucy, doing what he was asking of her. But she did, wondering as she complied who was crazier - him for telling her to raise her skirts for a switching or her for complying without more resistance."

"Higher."

Lucy sighed a shuddering sigh and raised the back of her skirt to her waist. Was he really expecting her to hold it there while he hit her?

"I think I shall have to get you some historically appropriate undergarments," he observed and Lucy flushed as red as the panties she was wearing.

"Bend forward slightly," he said.

"Please..."

"Bend. Forward. Slightly." He repeated the words with more warning and she did so, trying to stop the whimper that sprung to her throat.

"Should you truly be concerned of this being discovered then I would urge you to take your punishment bravely, Miss Primm," he advised, and with as little fuss as possible.

Lucy closed her eyes and bit her lips just seconds before the switch landed behind a sharp swish. Lucy could not stop the little cry that escaped her, nor resist the urge to try and rub away the wicked sting that immediately developed across the middle of her bum.

"No," he said. "Do not rub. Move your hand. And hold your position."

She did not know how she would do it, how she could do it. But she did and stood there as he applied a second, third and fourth lick of the switch across her submissively offered bottom.

SWISH!

SWISH!

SWISH!

Tears were coursing down her cheeks now and she clenched her hands tightly into the fabric of the skirt she was holding up as she resisted the urge to protect herself.

"Bend forward," he said. "We're nearly done. There's only a few more."

"I can't take a few more," she tearfully confessed. "Please, Mr. Ellis. It hurts so!"

"Bend forward." It was as if he hadn't heard her.

So she did, slightly parting her legs to keep her balanced and feeling terribly ashamed and exposed and vulnerable as she arched her back to extend her bottom for more dreaded punishment.

SWISH!

SWISH!

SWISH!

Lucy cried out after the last one and then bit her lip to stop the wail she felt growing in her throat.

"Well done."

He reached for her hands and lifted them away from the small of her back, allowing the fabric to fall back in place.

Lucy felt a sense of relief, but not enough to shield her from the continued sense of humiliation. She could not look at him as he turned her to face him.

"Do not be ashamed of your place in the order of things," he said, handing her a handkerchief. "Or of what comes from that. Long ago, this was most commonplace. True, in this day in age some might think it odd. You've no caused to be embarrassed of what has just passed between us. I don't think like the rest of society."

That was obvious. But she didn't say so and just nodded.

"You will be tested again by your subordinates, Lucy," he said. "Next time I expect you'll show a bit more backbone, no?"

She nodded. "I will." And it was the truth. Her bottom itched and burned under her skirt. She did not want a repeat of what just happened.

"Well then, let's get to the herbalist's shed," he said, and walked off with her following meekly behind as if what he'd just done was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Chapter Five

"Come on, you stupid car!"

Lucy turned the key again, her frustration growing as the engine of her aging Volkswagen chug-chug-chugged without turning over.

"Damn!"

"That's a bad word, Mommy."

She looked into the rearview mirror to see Keegan's disapproving expression. Were she not so anxious she would have laughed. But this was no laughing matter.

"You're right. That is a bad word, honey. Mommy's sorry. But she can't get this d--darn car to start and now she's going to be late!"

She slammed her fist down on the steering wheel.

"Great," she said.

"Does this mean I'm missing school?"

"No," she said. "We can walk to school."

"But it's raining!"

Lucy had been so distracted by her car problems that she hadn't even noticed.

"You're right," she said.

"You said you were going to get an umbrella at Target last time it rained," Keegan said. "Did you?"

Lucy could almost feel the Bad Mother sign flashing above her head.

"No. No, honey, I didn't. Mommy forgot. It looks like we're both going to stay home today." She tried to brighten her tone. "But you know what? We could make animals out of model clay and watch that new Elmo movie!"

"I was going to be cookie helper today," Keegan said, tears filling his eyes.

Once a week, a different child was chosen to help Ms. Stanford bake cookies. It was a very big deal, and today as supposed to be Keegan's day.

"Look," she said. "Let me see what I can figure out, OK?"

She picked him up from his car seat, holding onto his Thomas the Tank Engine lunch box as she did.

Inside she put him in the foyer and went to the phone. Her evening sitter was out of town, and there was no one to call for a ride. A cab was out of the question; the fares were outrageous and the city bus had already run.

The idea of enduring a day of her son's disappointment was nearly too much to bear, but she had no choice. With a lump in her throat, she called Hartford House and waited for the receptionist to answer the phone. She was surprised when Warren Ellis answered instead.

"Mr. Ellis?"

"Yes."

"It's Lucy."

"Hello, Lucy. The receptionist called in with the flu so I'm manning the phones until someone else can be pulled off of another assignment. You have the schedule with you. Can you be here a little early today?"

She sighed. Her bottom was still sore from the switching he'd given her the day before. What in the world would he do when found out she wasn't coming in.

"I don't know if I can make it in at all. My car won't start."

"Your car?"

Lucy considered telling him that she didn't have a horse, but didn't want to risk another spanking.

"Yes. It won't turn over. And I don't have a ride to get myself to work or to get Keegan to school."

He was quiet for a moment. "Where do you live, Lucy?"

In town. On Parker and Vine. It's a little white house with a wrap-around porch.

"I'll be there to pick you up in twenty minutes."

"Mr. Ellis, you don't have to..."

But he'd already hung up.

"I really wanted to make cookies." Keegan was sitting at the kitchen table, crying.

Lucy walked over to him. "And you'll get your chance. Mr. Ellis is going to take you to school and then take me to work."

"Really?" Keegan brightened, then looked confused. "Who's Mr. Ellis?"

"He's my boss," Lucy said.

"Is he nice?"

"He's...serious," Lucy said. "So be on your best behavior. He doesn't like silliness, so no funny voices or pulled faces or anything, okay?"

"Okay," Keegan said.

Warren Ellis pulled up exactly twenty minutes later. It seemed odd to see him getting out form behind the wheel of a small SUV, especially given that he was dressed in full garb.

"He looks like he came out of a storybook," Keegan said as he stared out the window.

"We dress up at work," she said. "You know that."

"Even the daddies?"

Lately Keegan had taken to calling all adult men 'daddies,' which bothered Lucy. But today she didn't feel like correcting him.

"Yes, even the daddies," she said, opening the door.

He didn't say anything at first, but just stood there taking her in as if seeing her for the first time, and Lucy realized it was because he'd never seen her in her street clothes. She always changed when she got to Hartford House. This morning she was wearing a t-shirt, low-rider blue jeans and Keds. Her hair hung in two loose braids that fell in front of her shoulders.

"My mommy told me not to make this face at you because you're serious." Keegan stepped forwards and put a finger in each corner of his mouth, stretching it wide as he crossed his eyes.

"Keegan..."

Lucy took her son by the shoulders and looked up at her boss.

"Sorry, Mr. Ellis," she said. "He's just four. He doesn't know any better. This is Keegan, by the way. He's my son."

"So I gathered," he said. "The resemblance is remarkable."

"Your shoes are shiny," Keegan observed and now Warren Ellis smiled a little.

"Gentleman always keep their shoes shiny."

Keegan looked down at his own shoes. "I don't think I'm a gentleman. My shoes are dirty. But they light up!" He jumped up and when he landed the edge of his sneakers flashed.

"Yes, they do," Warren Ellis said.

"OK, hot shot," Lucy said. "Let's go."

"I'll need to grab the car seat," she said. As she did, Warren Ellis walked over to her car and lifted the hood.

"Do you know anything about cars?" she asked.

"Not really," he said. "But the last time mine didn't turn over it turned out to be the fuel pump."

"I'll have the mechanic come tow it to the shop today," Lucy said.

"Well, don't worry too much about it. Until it's fixed I don't mind giving you a ride to and from work."

"And school?" asked Keegan.

"And school," Warren Ellis replied. "Education is very important."

"My mommy says that," Keegan replied.

"Come on, you."

Lucy got the car seat and walked over to Warren Ellis' vehicle. After a few moments, her son was loaded and on his way. Warren waited in the SUV while Lucy took Keegan in, where he was instantly whisked off for cookie baking. It did her good to see him smiling so broadly.

"I really appreciate your doing this for us," Lucy said when she got back to the vehicle.

"Well, I can't manage without you today," Warren said and Lucy grew quiet. What had she thought? That he had gone to fetch her because he liked her?

She grew quiet.

"Your son is a sharp young man."

Lucy smiled. "Yes."

"Where's his father?"

The question blindsided her.

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable answering that question given your old-fashioned view of the world," she said. Her heart beat hard as she gave the response. Would she offend him with her bluntness?

"Try me, Miss Primm."

"It was a one-time encounter. A writer for some magazine." She paused. "It was out of character for me, Mr. Ellis. I'm not a sleep-around. I've not....well, I've done nothing like that ever since."

"I hope not," he said.