Becoming a Lady by Adaline Raine Page A

falter in that promise.”  Lord William kept his eyes on hers.


    “ I would expect nothing less, My Lord, and I will strive to become a lady.”  Anna gave another nod and began to think she would be doing much striving as his wife.
    “ We shall be married in five nights from this one.  I must leave on business, but I will return three nights from now.”  He kissed her hand again.  “You will be attended to in the mean time, and the only thing I ask of you is to keep our proposal secret until my return.”


    “ To be clear, do you mean that I am not to tell anyone, even Lynna?”  Anna raised an eyebrow.


    Lord William gave her hand a squeeze.  “Everything that I say to you, even public knowledge, shall be treated as confidential; is that clear?”


    “ Perhaps, My Lord, I shall get a puppet to nod at you,” came Anna’s flippant retort;  she immediately found herself pressed up against his chest and wondered why she had spoken thus.
    “ While you are permitted to speak openly to me in our chambers, I will not tolerate your sauce.”
    “If you were searching for a very obedient woman, My Lord, I regret to inform you that I did not receive that training.”  Anna cringed as the words flew from her mouth.  Why was she pushing?


    Lord William frowned.  “We shall remedy that oversight, beginning immediately.”  He took her hand and led her into the main room.  Within seconds, he sat upon one of the chaises and pulled her across his lap.  She began to protest and wiggle as he lifted her skirts and, with stinging smack after stinging smack, vigorously address her bare arse.  He administered a series of ten blows to her bottom and then paused.
    “ Regardless of your lack of training, I do not like to repeat myself, and I do not speak for the mere purpose of hearing my own voice.”  


    Anna yelled out each time his hand met her bottom.  It was not terrifically painful, but she was mortified to be in such a position so soon after his proposal.  “I regret my choice of words, My Lord!”


    Lord William administered a dozen or so more until Anna was crying and begging him to stop.  “I expect you to mind yourself while I am gone, or the next time I place you over my knees, I will let my belt teach you.”


    Anna took several breaths.  She was lucky that his belt remained in place this time but still she was embarrassed.  “I understand, My Lord; please forgive my tongue!”


    Lord William adjusted her dress and moved her so that she was perched upon his lap.  “Compose yourself.”


    Anna laid her head against his chest.  It seemed natural, and for a moment she wondered if he had spanked her simply because of his earlier promises, or if she had simply been cheeky too many times.  “I am deeply sorry.”


    “ You will be sorrier tomorrow, whenever you attempt to sit comfortably; that I will guarantee.”  He rubbed the small of her back and kept her close.


    Anna nodded into his chest.  “I will keep my promise.”
    He slid her off of his lap and patted her face softly.  “I still have to leave this night, and I do expect you to mind yourself.”


    “ Yes, My Lord.”  Anna rested her hands on the chaise.  “I look forward to your return.”


    Lord William leaned down and kissed her lips.  “Do not forget my words.”  He left the room, and again Anna was alone.
    
Anna released a deep sigh.  Her bottom was tingling, and to her utter mortification and surprise, the same tingling was inside her womanhood as well.  She shook her head and tried not to think of what had just occurred.  Above all, she deeply wanted to please her lord.  She sighed again.  How she had gone from nearly hating this man to agreeing to become his wife was an unexpected turn of events that was quite a mystery.  She knew now that he had cared about her from the beginning, though she wondered if he had been sent on a mission to find