Elizabeth's Education (Forbidden Lust) by Maggie Carpenter Page A

the scene she’d witnessed in the servants area of her father’s house the night before flooded back to her. The image of Grace kneeling and jerking back and forth as young Billy fucked her like one of the rams out in the fields, and suddenly she viewed the maid in a different light, with a degree of respectful admiration. ‘No, that will be all.’
    The maid curtsied, clearly surprised that her mistress was being so agreeable. Usually first thing in the morning Miss Elizabeth wasn’t the nicest person to be around.
    Elizabeth flopped the bedcovers back and padded her way to the bathroom, feeling a little jaded and the threat of a possible headache looming. A late night and too much champagne, she thought wistfully, and slothfully began her morning ablutions.
    By the time she made it downstairs it felt closer to lunch than breakfast. But eggs and toast and a cup of tea sounded exactly right, so she sat down at the dining table and was very pleased when she discovered that was exactly what awaited her.
    She wondered where the wonderful Lord Michael was, so finishing her meal she wandered the house in search of him, ending up in the sitting room overlooking the gardens. She sighed a happy sigh; how much she adored him and how quickly those feelings had blossomed. It was there, in this very room, that he had first turned her over his knee. She could not believe it was less than twenty-four hours earlier. But how she had thought him such a brute then, and oh, how he instead turned out to be the man of her dreams, despite his mature age compared to her tender years.
    As she pondered him and the wondrous night they had spent together she coughed unexpectedly, and sniffled a little.
    ‘There you are, Elizabeth.’ It was him! ‘Are you feeling all right?’
    Glowing with happiness she turned to face him. ‘Good morning, sir, I hope you slept well,’ she said daringly.
    He raised an eyebrow, gave her a severe look, and then relaxed and laughed. ‘Yes, thank you, I slept very well indeed. And you?’
    ‘Oh, very well, thank you. Never better.’ She coughed again and Lord Michael frowned.
    ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ he asked again, genuine concern in his voice.
    ‘Yes,’ she insisted, ‘it’s just a bit of a tickle in my throat, nothing more.’
    ‘Hmmm, well you look a little peaky to me,’ he adjudged. ‘Come here.’
    Dutifully she walked over to him, and he touched his palm to her forehead. ‘Elizabeth, you are very warm,’ he decided, ‘and your eyes, they’re a little dull. I think you’re coming down with something.’
    ‘No, I’m fine, sir, really.’ If he thought she was off colour he might make her spend the day alone in bed, and she certainly did not want that.
    ‘Well, if you say so,’ he said, unconvinced. ‘Now, I’ve some work I must see to. It is going to take me an hour or so, so you amuse yourself until I’m finished, and then after lunch we’ll spend the afternoon together.’
    A fresh cough threatened to burst forth, and she did her best to suppress it. ‘I think I’ll take Constance out for some exercise,’ she managed. Constance was her beautiful bay mare, and if Lord Michael was going to leave her to her own devices for an hour or so, there was nothing she would rather do than take her horse for a stirring gallop.
    Lord Michael looked at her quizzically, his brow furrowing. ‘Elizabeth, I do not think that’s such a good idea.’ He walked briskly over to the windows. ‘It’s a little blustery outside, and there’s some weather threatening. You’d best stay indoors and keep warm by the fire.’
    ‘But sir—’
    ‘You would not be attempting to question me, would you, Elizabeth?’
    She felt the colour rise in her cheeks, studied the floor for a moment, and then replied demurely that she was not.
    ‘As far as I’m concerned you are not quite well, despite what you say,’ he continued, ‘and it will not do you any good to be out in the brisk air. Besides, I