Louisa Revealed (21 page)

Her euphoria didn’t last long as Edward said, “I
believe this was an unfair quiz Lucille.
 
Wasn’t it simply a repeat of the one you failed this afternoon?”
 
Lucy glanced at her tutor and then
back
at her guardian.
 
She had to be honest.

“Ye… yes Sir but… but I got them all correct
this time.”
 
Charles was furious
that her guardian had seen fit to destroy her accomplishment.
 
She had worked extremely hard and
deserved praise.
 
Without thinking,
he said,

“Miss Furniss, look at me.”
 
Lucy turned to him a bit shocked to hear
his command.

“Tell me, what happens when you multiply two
negative numbers?”
 
Louisa thought
for only a second and answered,

“You get a positive number, Sir.”

“Correct.
 
Tell me what is the correct way to divide fractions.”

“You turn the second number over and multiply
across so you aren’t really using division at all.”

“Again that is correct.
 
Can you work through this equation for
me please?”
 
He gave her a long
string of numbers some in parenthesis and some containing decimals.
 
She looked like she was about to panic,
when she saw Edward scribbling on paper.

“May I write it down, Sir?” she asked and with
his nod, he repeated the question slowly as she wrote it down on her
tablet.
 
He watched as she worked
through the problem and finished only a second after Edward.
 
She looked over at her guardian and then
back
at her tutor.

“I believe the answer is one-hundred, Sir.”

She heard Edward ask sharply, “How positive are
you of your answer, Lucille?”
 

She felt a moment’s hesitation, and then
straightened her spine and said, “One hundred precent Sir.”
 

Edward’s face finally broke into a smile.
 
“Correct.
 
Tell me, what was the difference between
this test and the last where you earned a paddling?”
 

Louisa flushed with shame at the reminder of her
paddling but answered, “I learned to take each bit of the problem at a
time.
 
I didn’t hurry, and have
learned the formulas that Professor Lloyds has been trying to teach me for over
a year.”
 

Edward nodded and stood.
 
“Very well done little one.
 
You may retire to your room and rest a
bit before dressing for dinner.
 
You
shall continue your studies tomorrow.”
 

Lucy stood and turned to face her tutor.
 
“Thank you Professor.
 
Thank you very much for your help.”
 

Charles felt his heart swell with pride, and
felt the warmth of her thanks envelop him.
 
“You are most welcome Miss Furniss.
 
I shall see you tomorrow.”
 
She nodded, and then turned and left the room.
 

Edward watched as Charles gathered his
papers.
 
As he escorted him to the
door, he said, “It seems Lucille simply needed to have incentive to truly apply
herself to her studies.
 
Her fear of
another good thrashing served her well don’t you think?”
 

Charles was a bit shocked at the blatant
conversation, and wanted to take the man to task for failing to support his
ward.
 
He was also slightly ashamed
that his mind had automatically began to visualize Miss Furniss bent over,
skirts raised and bottom
bare
, to receive that same
incentive.
 
Flushing, he opened his
mouth to suggest that support and encouragement might have been kinder
incentives but knew he could easily be banned from the household, and he most
certainly didn’t want that to happen.
 
He was absolutely fascinated with the dynamics of Wintercrest
Manor.
 
Instead, he shook Edward’s
hand and said, “I believe your ward will make you proud, Lord Wintercrest, if
you only give her a chance.”
 

Edward smiled knowing the man had more he wished
to say, and waited for him to do so.
 
When Charles remained silent, he nodded and motioned for Henri.
 
His driver led Charles down the steps
and soon had him settled in the carriage.
 
Charles sat back on the seat and felt his thoughts drawn to his
student.
 
He realized he was no
longer thinking of her as a simple student.
 
Spending the day with her, seeing her
shame as well as hearing her cries, but seeing her then continue her studies
with determination to succeed impressed him greatly.
 
He found himself wishing she would
indeed pass the exam and graduate.
 
If that came to pass, he could easily see himself seeking permission to
call on her.
 
Not as her tutor of
course, but as a possible suitor.
 
He fantasized about the possibilities until he arrived at his
townhouse.
 
He absently heard Henri
arrange to pick him up the following morning and then watched the carriage
drive away.
 
He climbed the stairs
to his door and found himself wishing the evening was done and he was back in
the lovely, haunting presence of Miss Furniss.

Edward watched as the carriage disappeared down the drive.
 
He smiled as he contemplated all he had
learned over the last two days.
 
His
ward was indeed a young woman in need of strict discipline as well as having
all the makings of a very good little submissive.
 
Her beauty had caught the eye of her
teacher and, if Edward knew anything about men (and he did) Charles’ eyes
weren’t the only part of his anatomy that was desirous of the young woman.
 
The teacher had been quick to defend his
student with the quickness of a man defending his maiden.
 
However, Edward had very serious doubts
about Charles’ ability to tame Lucille much less allow her to find true
fulfillment in her life.
 
Knowing
that the following few days would only cause his surety in his beliefs of what
Lucy needed to be proven, he smiled and closed the door.
 
Professor Lloyds would perhaps be one of
Lucille’s suitors but Edward already had his mind on another man as her
possible mate.
 
One far more suited
for the spirited young woman.
 

Edward forced himself to push aside the thoughts of his ward and,
instead, climbed the stairs thinking of his own sweet little lady.
 
Louisa was in her crib and he felt his
own sex stir as he contemplated on how well she had learned the lesson he had
begun teaching her while Lucy studied.
 
Naptime was over, it was time for the Lord of Wintercrest to wake his little
one and see how obedient his precious young wife could be.

Look for further volumes of the Women of Wintercrest!
 
Book
Two
available
July 13, 2013