“Thank you so much, I truly don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“You would have managed,” Eleanor said kindly. She was rather touched by the sincere gratitude in Irene’s eyes. Although she’d worried a little bit about her bold phrasing, it was obvious that Irene was accustomed to being directed and felt much more comfortable with someone else handling the reins. It would take careful handling to help her build up her confidence without being obvious about it.
Irene hadn’t seemed to be so shyly submissive the night before at Lady Cowper’s, so Eleanor supposed that Hugh had done something during their honeymoon to help her come out of her shell a bit. She seemed to have retreated back into it, but Eleanor was sure that probably had something to do with the tender state of her bottom and the fact that she was obviously in over her head.
“I do have one question,” Irene mumbled, her voice so low and words so jumbled that she was almost incoherent. Her vibrant green eyes were focused on the invitations she was clutching tightly in her lap, the pile that she and Eleanor had sorted for her to respond with affirmative.
“Yes?” Eleanor leaned closer, her voice soft and encouraging. Her new position allowed her to see the flaming pink of Irene’s cheeks, a color which clashed horribly with her red hair and yet was really rather fetching.
Being cast in a position of responsibility was rather new and exciting for Eleanor. She had found that she quite enjoyed being the knowledgeable one and helping her sister-in-law.
“Last night… Hugh… he said…” Irene’s cheeks were slowly becoming blotchy with intense reds and pinks that trickled from her face down to her neck. It was with a sudden jolt that Eleanor realized Irene’s question had nothing to do with social engagements. With great bravery, Irene gathered herself and her words came out in a whispered rush, eyes flicking to the closed doors as if afraid someone might walk in while she spoke. “Hugh said that he’s spanked you before and that LordHydespanksyounowtoo.”
The sudden silence that reigned in the room made Irene’s panting sound extremely loud. She was staring at the floor while Eleanor found herself studying the ceiling, her own cheeks feeling rather flushed now.
"I'm sorry," Irene whispered. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
"I'm not angry," Eleanor said, reluctantly looking at her sister-in-law, but Irene's emerald eyes were riveted to the floor. "I just don't quite know what to say... Yes. I've received my fair share of spankings from both my father and Hugh, and now from Edwin." Although she kept her voice as calm and even as she could, she could still feel a hot blush rising. This wasn't a topic of conversation that was normally discussed, her own mother hadn't wanted to hear any details of Eleanor's punishments.
"Really? I just... I can't imagine you letting anyone..." Irene finally looked up at her again, her expression rather shocked.
"I don't recall that I ever had a choice," Eleanor said, somewhat bemused. This was not at all an appropriate conversation, but considering that Irene had overcome her usual sense of propriety to bring it up she felt as though she should indulge her a little further. “My father spanked both of us on a regular basis and I supposed I was always a bit used to it because of that. With Edwin… I admit, one time I ran from him but once he caught me I regretted it.”
"No one's ever... I'd never..." Irene's eyes and voice dropped again. "Not until Hugh. He's spanked me twice now. I don't know... I don't know how I should feel or..." Her voice trickled off.
A surge of sympathy engulfed Eleanor. Poor Irene. At least Eleanor had always known what the consequences of her bad behavior was, Irene still seemed to be assimilating the idea that Hugh might take his hand to her backside. Then again, from what she'd seen last night she couldn't deny that her sister-in-law might have deserved it.
Perhaps Irene might like some space from Hugh to think things through...
"You know... Irene... I've been considering taking a trip out to the country and I need a companion to go with me. Perhaps you would be interested?" Traveling with her sister-in-law would certainly sati
sfy propriety. "I thought I might go to Bath to visit my mother."
"You won't be traveling with Lord Hyde?"
"No." Eleanor's calm expression became slightly more intense as Irene looked at her with some confusion and a kind of dawning curiosity. "I would like to spend some time away from my husband at this juncture."
"Oh..." The idea appealed immensely. Achieving distance from both Hugh and Alex so that she could sort out her feelings away from Society and in the calm of the country sounded wonderful. "I think... I think that sounds lovely. When?"
"It's only a few weeks until the Season is over and then Edwin plans to visit his parents, I'm sure Hugh will be returning to his estates at the same time."
A few weeks seemed like an interminable amount of time from where Irene was sitting, but she also knew that with all the social events that it would pass quickly enough. Hope sprang up in her breast. Some time in Eleanor's company where she could perhaps gather the courage to speak more explicitly with her sister-in-law, away from Hugh and Alex so that she could think, away from the bustle of the city... it sounded perfect.
"I would like that very much."
******
While the evening before had not quite gone as Hugh had intended, he couldn’t deny that he’d enjoyed parts of it immensely. Still, the disquiet that Irene had sparked at Lady Cowper’s ball hadn’t quite died down, despite the fact that she had seemed very much back to her old self before leaning to see his sister. They’d had a perfectly amiable breakfast with each other, without any of the coldness she’d displayed towards him after her first spanking.
Yet he knew he’d been much harsher with her than he had the first time. She’d certainly been sitting gingerly enough at the dining table.
Women. Who could figure?
Well, possibly the man sprawled bonelessly in an armchair in front of him. With no cravat, the top of his shirt unbuttoned and wearing a very rumpled jacket, Wesley was looking more than a little worse for the wear. Not that many ladies would agree with Hugh’s assessment, he had to admit. They’d find his devil-may-care dress and scruffy face immensely intriguing, just as they did his piratical looks and roguish charm. It wasn’t a tactic that Hugh had ever used when he’d been cutting a swath through the accommodating ladies of the ton, but he could stand witness that it worked very well for the Earl of Spencer.
No, Wesley could read women quite well, his current trouble came from a man.
“So Lord Windham wasn’t quite as accommodating as you’d been led to believe?” Hugh asked, his lips quirking even though he had found he no longer found quite as much amusement in an irate husband. Still, it was Wesley and he knew his friend wouldn’t presume to step where he’d be unwelcome.