| Chapter
8
Ian was sipping his coffee and contemplating
the possible joys of Alexis when there was a knock on the
door. Stephen gestured to Lori who went to open it. Stephanie
escorted Linda into the room. She was still dressed in her
training uniform with her cuffs locked on her wrists and ankles.
Stephanie stopped about halfway between the door and the table
and gave Linda a quiet word as she sank to her knees and then
in further submission, lowered her forehead to the floor.
Linda looked totally miserable, humiliated, broken and very
small. She knelt beside Stephanie.
Stephen stood up. Ian noticed a shift in
the room. It seemed the room had darkened somehow and Stephen
had suddenly become taller and more intimidating.
“Yes, Stephanie?”
Stephanie lifted her head and acknowledged
from her knees. “Yes Master. This one is sorry to disturb
Master’s lunch. Linda has requested to be returned to
her husband.” She lowered her head to the floor again.
“Very well, Stephanie. You may return
to Claire.” Stephen’s voice was as dark as his
expression, full of menace.
Stephanie again lifted her head, acknowledged
Stephen’s command and gracefully and quickly left the
room, closing the door behind her.
Ian looked at Paul. His face was a mask of
emotions, anger, embarrassment and disappointment.
Stephen slowly approached Linda. Her eyes
got bigger and bigger the closer he got. When Stephen was
a few feet away, Linda broke and dropped her forehead to the
floor. Ian thought she might be crying. Stephen addressed
himself to Paul.
“Paul, your wife has requested to leave.
This is always the right of anyone here. We keep no one against
their will. Unfortunately, this Retreat is for couples together,
so I will have to ask you to take your wife and leave.”
Stephen turned his back on Linda and returned to his seat.
Ian was transfixed by the sight of the woman
on the floor and wondered how Maddie was faring. Paul stood
up and approached Linda. She stayed on the ground with her
head on the floor. Paul stood above her.
“Well Linda, what happened?”
All the gentleness he had shown with Holly had evaporated
with his wife. Linda held herself tightly and between sobs
she told him what had happened.
She told of the promises she had made this
morning about trust and obedience, about accepting the cuffs.
She told him of the long hard exercises, how she was tired
and sore from that. Then she told him of the lunch; how her
arms were shaking as she carried the dish, but no one cared
and then she told how they tormented her, teased her until
she broke. She was crying freely now. She said how sorry she
was; that she didn’t want to disappoint him. She didn’t
want to fail, but she was just so tired.
Ian felt sorry for her. He was amazed at
the depth of the training the women were already enduring.
And the promises. He remembered Stephen talking about honesty,
trust and obedience last night, but somehow didn’t realize
the women had to promise to keep to them or be expelled. He
was just beginning to feel a change in himself and sincerely
hoped he never saw Madelyn brought forward in such disgrace.
Paul sounded exasperated. “Linda, I
love you with all my heart. You know I do. You are better
than this. But again you fail; like all the other times. You
give up before it’s done. Hell, before it’s even
started!”
Linda wiped her eyes with the backs of her
hands. Ian thought the move looked a lot like what a small
child would do.
“I know, Paul. I’m sorry. I guess
I don’t want to quit, not really. I was just…
I don’t know… just so tired. I’ll go back.”
Stephen shook his head. “Unfortunately
that’s not an option. You said you wanted out. You’re
done. No exceptions. Lori, remove her cuffs.” Stephen
took a key from his pocket and held it out to Lori, who took
the key and went to remove Linda’s cuffs.
Linda looked desperate. “What!?! Come
on; please don’t throw me out. I’m sorry. Really
I am. Please, I’ll do anything. Please, what do I need
to do?” She tried to pull her hands away from Lori.
Stephan was not to be moved. “Nothing.
There is no appeal. I will not keep someone who does not wish
to be here with all her heart. Holly, please help Lori and
then escort Paul and Linda to their room to pack.”
Holly acknowledged and she and Paul held Linda’s hands
as Lori removed the rest of the cuffs. Linda kept bargaining
and crying as Holly led her away. Paul followed.
“Well gentlemen, that was interesting.
I think that gives you all something to think about. Now if
you will excuse me, I have an engagement this afternoon so
I shall see you at dinner. You have the run of the manor and
of course your girl will be at your disposal should you require
anything.”
With that he got up and left. Ian turned
to look at Andrew and Justin. They both seemed as shaken by
Linda’s failure as Ian felt himself.
“Well, I suppose it’s a good
sign that our wives are not here,” Justin said. “I
think I will go for another ride. Anyone care to come?”
Andrew agreed readily. “Sounds like
a plan. Ian?”
“I’m game.” Ian was glad
to have something to occupy him while he thought through everything
that had happened this morning.
Maddie and Susan sat in silence trying to come to grips with
what they had just experienced while they waited for Elaine.
Maddie felt the cold finger of fear creep up her spine. She
tried to remember how many points she had accumulated. She
reviewed her performance remembering with chagrin her failings,
but the whole experience was starting to blur. After a short
while, Stephanie led Elaine into the sitting room and sat
her down on a pillow next to Maddie. The cook refilled their
teacups. Maddie felt her equilibrium returning. She had stopped
shivering and let the towel drop. She had no idea how long
they waited, but eventually Stephanie came bustling into the
room.
“Ok ladies, this doesn’t happen
very often, but Master Stephen is on his way. He will administer
your punishments personally. You should be honoured!”
Maddie was more terrified than honoured.
She felt the blood drain from her face as Stephanie whipped
up the towels.
“Quickly now, off the cushions. Turn
to face the door. Yes that’s right. Down.”
Stephanie took her place kneeling to one
side of the three women. They waited.
Stephen entered the room with Claire just
a few steps behind him. She had with her the scorecards.
“Let’s see… who’s
to be first.” Stephen turned to Claire. “Interesting
thing just happened at lunch, my dear. Ian acquitted himself
most cleverly though I’m sure he thought I didn’t
notice. But on that account I think I will start with Madelyn.
How many points did she collect?”
Maddie felt the thrill of fear and anticipation
run up her spine. She wondered what Ian could have done at
lunch. She held her posture while Claire counted the marks
on the blue card.
“Seven, Master.”
Stephen approached Maddie. She could feel
her fear as a palpable thing. She started to shake again.
He stood over her for a second.
“Stand.” Stephen’s voice
was sharp and demanded attention. Maddie was on her feet before
she hardly knew she was moving. She held herself tall and
straight, perspiration dripping down her sides. Stephen grabbed
her hair at the back of her head forcing her to look him in
the eye. Maddie stiffened.
“Relax, girl. Are you frightened?”
“Yes, Sir.” Maddie breathed.
If Stephen hadn’t been holding her, she was sure she
would have collapsed.
“Well, I can understand that. You accumulated
seven points.” He tightened his grip pulling her hair.
“Seven times you broke the simplest of disciplines or
failed to be pleasing in the most undemanding of tasks. Do
you remember the times?”
Maddie almost said yes. She certainly didn’t
want to prolong this any more than necessary with a detailed
recounting of her failures. But with her eyes trapped in Stephen’s
penetrating gaze, prevarication was simply not possible.
“No Sir, not all of them.”
Stephen did not lessen his hold. “Good.
I didn’t expect you would. It’s good you didn’t
try to lie to me and earn further punishments. How do you
feel about this failure?”
“I tried my best Sir.”
“Yes I have no doubt of that, but your
best must get better. That’s why you’re here.
If we didn’t punish your failures, how would you learn?
Do you want to be punished Madelyn?”
The emotions coursing through her were new
and confusing. She felt humiliated at her failures. She realized
she truly wanted to please this man and if being punished
was the way to continue, then yes, she did want to be punished.
“Yes Sir, I do.”
“Good, then I will punish you. Come.”
Stephen pushed her head down bending her
over at the waist and still holding her hair tightly, led
her into the kitchen out of sight of the other women. Maddie
tried to keep her balance. She had never been dragged around
like this before. It was a humiliating and awkward way to
move.
Stephen led Maddie to one of the worktables
that had a large white sheet draped over it. He lifted her
head slightly then pushed her upper body down on the table.
“You have earned seven strikes. You
will count them and thank me for every one. If at any time,
you feel you can’t take this, then you will simply ask
to be returned to Ian and you both will leave the retreat.
Do you understand?”
The crisp fresh linen was almost a caress
to Maddie’s cheek.
“Yes Sir, I understand.”
“Good. Hold still.”
She did not have to wait for long. Smack.
Stephen’s hand landed squarely on Maddie’s exposed
ass. The pain ripped through her. Stephen was far stronger
than Claire. Maddie bucked and screamed. She was totally surprised
by the depth of the pain.
“Don’t forget, you will count
the strikes and thank me for them.”
“Yes, Sir,” Maddie gasped. “One,
Sir. Thank you Sir.”
Smack again.
Again Maddie bucked and screamed. “Two,
thank you, Sir.” She wasn’t sure if she could
stand this. She considered asking to leave.
Smack!
Maddie’s throat was feeling raw from
her screams. Then she remembered the stable-masters words,
this would be easier if she relaxed. She knew she only had
seconds to prepare. Perhaps if she slowed in her counting,
she could sneak a few more. She took a deep breath and tried
to open her spirit like she had with the stable-master. “Three…
Sir.” Another deep breath and she forced herself to
open further. “Thank… you… Sir.” She
released all tension from her body and sank into the table.
Smack. She again cried out. The pain was
a live thing coursing through her, but now it was separate
from her. “Four; thank you Sir.” She was crying
now. She could feel the tears on her cheeks. She considered
quitting again, but that would have wasted all she had already
endured. Only three more. She could do it.
Smack. Surely he was not using his full strength
anymore. “Five; thank you Sir.” She relaxed more
and let the pain flow through her. Smack. “Six thank
you Sir.” One more, just one more. There was a brief
pause and she took a deep relaxing breath; preparing herself
for what she felt sure would be the hardest yet.
SMACK. She was right. The cry that forced
its way out was followed by a shuddering sob. Done. She did
it. “Seven. Sir. Oh God. Thank you, Sir.” She
lay on the table, not being able to move. Her body was a burning
mass of energy far away from her.
“Good enough. Your debt is paid. You
did well, girl.” Stephen’s voice soothed her soul.
Maddie felt Claire’s hands gather her
up and help her gently from the table. A soft robe was wrapped
around her shoulders as Claire guided her from the room.
Lori was waiting in the hall outside the
kitchen. Maddie felt Claire’s hands replaced by Lori’s
as she was guided back to her room. Lori turned on the shower
then came back to help Maddie out of her suit and unlock her
cuffs. The loss of support caught Maddie by surprise. She
swayed again. Lori’s sure hands pushed her into the
warm water. Maddie managed to wash and turn off the taps.
She stumbled out of the shower and let Lori dry her off and
put her cuffs back on. Before she knew it, she was bundled
into her bed. The soft quilts tucked gently around her.
She remembered a saying she had heard years
ago… That, which does not kill you, makes you stronger.
She slipped into sleep as the room went dark.
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