Louisa Revealed by Maggie Ryan Page A

a
pillow is not allowed and you should have refused it.   Headmaster Thorne had good reason to
cane you and you are to feel that reminder for as long as possible.   Sitting on a pillow, rubbing your bottom,
lying on your tummy negate the lesson, and that is not the objective, now is
it?”   Lucy was mortified.   To be speaking of such things –
especially seated at the dinner table, with servants coming and going freely
from the room appalled her.   She
again looked at Louisa, only to jump in her seat when Edward said firmly,
    “Your sister is not speaking to you,
Lucille.   Keep your eyes on me when
I am talking to you!”   He waited
until she raised her eyes to his, and was pleased to see the first glint of tears
appear in her eyes.   He knew she was
embarrassed, but he firmly believed that humiliation was almost as good a
teacher as a nice, hard paddling.  
    “I’m pleased to hear that you believe you have
learned at least something from Professor Lloyds.   You shall spend every hour until your
exam studying.”   He saw her look of
dismay and he corrected himself, “Well, certainly not every hour as you do have
an appointment in my study after dinner.”   Lucy heard her sister’s quick intake of breath and couldn’t help but
slide her eyes to her sister.   Edward allowed the glance, knowing his little one would dare not speak
unless he spoke to her or gave her permission.   True to his belief, Louisa said nothing;
she just quietly continued to eat her soup.  
    Lucy looked back at her guardian and asked, “An
appointment Edward?   I’m not sure I
understand the necessity of an appointment.”   Edward chuckled, and after taking a bite
of the delicious mushroom soup, wiped his mouth with his napkin and leaned back
in his chair.
    “It is not necessary for you to understand,
Lucille; it is only necessary that you keep your appointment.   I’m sure all will become clear at the
proper time.   Now, since you have
found Professor Lloyd’s tutoring to be helpful, you should be pleased to know
that he has agreed to continue your lessons.”  
    Lucy looked confused.   “Continue?”
    “Yes, I have engaged him to attend you several
hours this weekend, in an effort to assure you learn enough to be able to pass
your exam on Monday.   Your actions
have brought great disgrace upon my household, and no more shall fall upon
it.   You must study hard, and I
believe his presence during your study hours will do nothing short of
guaranteeing success. You obviously can’t be trusted to your own devices, now
can you?”   Lucy felt her face flush
again, as she felt she was being treated as a small child, instead of an adult
woman.   She again glanced at her
sister, but only saw pity in her sister’s eyes.  
    Lucy dropped her gaze to her soup bowl and
answered,   “I promise to study,
Edward.   It’s not necessary for you
to spend money on a tutor.”
    “Nonsense, Lucille – and it is not your responsibility to worry about my finances.   Your only responsibilities are to behave
and to learn your lessons.   Your
lesson in obedience will be continued in the study after supper, and your
lessons in mathematics will continue first thing tomorrow morning.”   Lucy felt her bottom clench at his
announcement, and her fear grew.   Though Edward spent a great deal of time behind the doors of his study,
she had never been inside.   Her face
burned as she remembered that there had been more than one occasion where she
thought she had heard horrid crying from the room.   When she had dared to speak to her
sister about her fears, Louisa had immediately assured her that she must be
mistaken.   Suddenly Lucy was
positive that she had been correct.   Bad things happened in the study.   Bad things that caused shrill cries and muffled words.   Her heart began to pound, and she kept
her eyes on her soup bowl, feeling as if she were going to faint.   She didn’t see the satisfied look on
Mrs. Bremmer’s