Little Secrets (5 page)

Charley could not believe what he had seen upon bringing his younger sister into Ashby. Why was a grown woman over the knee of her nanny? The term still felt a bit outlandish considering she was nineteen, of an age to wed, not needing a caretaker to look after her. Although, by the looks of the level of discipline instilled and the paint that had stained both women's dresses, maybe a bare bottom spanking would put her in line. What had Eliza been thinking? Had it been an accident? He had not completely seen what was happening. On his way to the door to retrieve his younger sister, he had heard the shouts of an older woman who had apparently been displeased with something that had transpired in the playroom.

He had not known the specifics until further investigating when he returned with his sister and had Leona finalize the paperwork, letting her follow Headmaster Philip to the finishing school. There was not much for his sister to see, as she was whisked straight to the office to sign papers and then through the corridor that led to the finishing school.

Charley would miss Leona, but he was doing what was best for her. The time had come for them both to move on and start their new lives. With heavy footsteps, his boots thumped unceremoniously over the marble floor on his approach of the playroom. He intended only to watch, to study, and learn more about little Eliza. The entire concept of the littles' school felt foreign to him. A small part of him wanted to partake in the involvement of having a little, but he also felt conflicted. Charley needed a story that would impress James at the Daily Times, and this story of littles and nannies—it was colossal.

Staring through the glass window, he could not help but smile as he gawked at Eliza's splotchy red cheeks. She held her dress up in the air, putting herself on display in the corner. His cock stirred in his trousers at the sight of her fleshy bum. Her demeanor was highly inappropriate and yet, he desired to have her turn around, to let him see every inch of her body.

Watching from the window was a nice idea, but he could not contain his excitement or the thrill of seeing the discipline enforced. She had been a naughty girl. Evidence of her outburst earlier still marked her dress, as well as that of the nanny who had spanked her bottom. Charley wished he had been able to stay and watch the sight of her cheeks put on display, bent over. His erection continued to throb in his trousers to the point of discomfort. Regaining control of his mental and physical state proved almost impossible.

He moved toward the door and paused, looking into the playroom. It was the first time he had been given the opportunity to truly examine the small space. The ceiling was painted like the sky, with thin trails of clouds high above on a warm sunny afternoon. The walls were covered in a fresh coat of yellow like the sun, with matching curtains affixed to the windows. The playroom had an abundance of toys appropriate for children, everything from a dollhouse to a tea set for the girls to play with.

Charley wanted to take notes about the inside of Ashby for his potential story, but instead silently intended to memorize every detail: notes would come later. The headmaster would not be pleased, but didn't London have a right to know what lay just outside the city? A taboo establishment where wealthy families sent their daughters to school? This story was almost too good to be true.

His hand fell on the doorknob, and he pushed the door open. The wood squeaked as he entered, alerting everyone of his presence. Charley shut the door behind him. He wanted to call Eliza over, ask her why she had been naughty, but thought it best to speak with her caretaker. It was clear she was facing a punishment, and he did not want to interfere in the necessary discipline that she required.

Her reddened cheeks had ceased to dull and her head turned, glancing back at him. Eliza's eyes widened and she gasped before shoving her nose back in the corner.

Charley smiled, quite pleased that he had some effect on the young woman, even if it was minimal. He strode toward the nannies, glancing at the woman with red paint splattered on her gown. He thought it best to introduce himself and held out his hand. "My name is Mr. Charley Lockwood."

The older woman with gray hair raised an eyebrow. Her brown gaze stared right up at him from the chair she sat in. "Does Headmaster Philip know you are in here, sir?"

Charley nodded. "Yes, of course. I signed the papers this morning. Miss Stead is my betrothed."

"I feel sorry for you," another nanny muttered under her breath.

The woman with the red paint on her gown stood and offered her hand. "My name is Nanny Agnes. I am responsible for little Eliza. We had a bit of a difficult morning, but I expect she will be on her best behavior in your presence. Have you two met?"

He shook the woman's hand. "Yes, we met briefly. Do you think I might be able to have a word with her in private?"

Nanny Agnes sat back down. "I am sorry, but private time is a reward for a little, not a guarantee, and with the way little Eliza has behaved this morning, she will not be getting any time alone with her papa for the next few days." The woman made certain that Eliza could overhear their conversation.

Charley could not believe she had acted out—and for what reason? "May I talk to her?" He wanted to know why she had behaved with such apparent disregard for her nanny or her papa's feelings. Even if she had not intended to hurt him, she had.

Nanny Agnes glanced at the clock on the wall. "Yes, her time out is over. Little Eliza, please come over here."

Eliza dropped her hands, allowing the dress to fall back down around her knees before she stalked over with red eyes and wet cheeks. Her bottom lip protruded as she pouted. "I am sorry, Nanny Agnes. I will not act that way again."

The older woman nodded. "You are right. There will be no paints for you or any other little for the next week."

"That is not fair," little Clara whined as she rushed to Eliza's side.

"Oh, but I think it is. Was it not your idea all along?"

"You tattled?" Clara gasped, pointing her finger at Eliza.

Nanny Agnes frowned. "She did not have to tattle. I heard the entire plan, and I must say that I am disappointed in you girls. I should punish Clara as well, but I want you to move past your mistake. No more acting out for attention, is that clear?"

Clara and Eliza both nodded.

Agnes headed for the door. "Come, little Eliza. We shall get you changed out of that stained gown. Eliza's papa, would you like to join us?"

"Yes, very much." He tried to contain his excitement. The thought of watching her disrobe was not only highly inappropriate, but also stirred his cock in his trousers. Would he get to see her burned bottom again? He desired to explore all of her body, from her cherry lips down to her toes.

Charley followed them from the playroom and down the hall. Two doors down, on the left, Nanny Agnes opened the door to the little's bedroom. The nursery room was about the same depth as the playroom, but only half as wide, and the décor was far different. Lavender curtains and wallpaper with purple and pink stripes adorned the walls. The room was sunny, with the afternoon light cascading in through the windows. The bed sat to the right and across from it on the opposite wall were a wooden dresser and armoire.

It was not the type of bedroom he would have designed in his home, except perhaps if he had a daughter. Charley had no children. His desire for a companion had grown as his sister grew older and better able to fend for herself. She certainly had not found a husband to take care of her, but she was able to cook and clean the house, making the place presentable. It was not so much that she needed to attend the finishing school to round off her education, as the opportunities that would be available to her. She had not the means to meet a fine gentleman who would consider marrying her, and with Ashby Chateau's name behind her, it would make her desirable to many more men.

Charley knew little of Eliza's upbringing. She had been betrothed to a man who had left her without so much as a goodbye. What type of gentleman did that? Charley felt for Eliza, and a part of him considered using the story of her ruined betrothal as the backdrop for the article he intended to submit to the paper. His boss would love it, and with a flashy headline like
Little Secret, Big Scandal
, it would create more opportunities for him at the Daily Times.

"Close the door," Nanny Agnes commanded, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Charley reached behind him to shut the nursery door. He smiled warmly at Eliza only to see her fold her arms, pouting as she turned her back on him.

"I do not want him in here," Eliza said.

Had he done something to offend her?

"You do not get a choice, little Eliza. Mr. Charley is your new papa. Now come here so I can loosen the ribbons on your dress." Nanny Agnes snapped her fingers at the young woman, hurrying her along.

Eliza strode across the room and turned to allow Nanny Agnes to undo her gown, her back to Charley at all times.

The reflection in the window was hardly visible as she lifted her arms and allowed her nanny to remove the dress. He desired her to turn around, to bare herself to him, but she did not so much as glance in his direction. She seemed angry, though he could not fathom what he had done to upset her. He had returned as intended, and paid for her tuition to continue her time at Ashby. Was that why she was angry with him? Did she wish to return home to her father?

"May I have a moment with little Eliza?" Charley asked.

"You may speak while I am here. I will not repeat anything that is said," Nanny Agnes replied, assuring him of her silence. Eliza's white stockings too had been soaked with paint, and her caretaker bent down, helping the young woman out of the stained material.

He sighed and stepped closer. Her white bloomers hid the redness that covered her bottom. Her back was bare and he longed to stroke her smooth creamy skin, feeling the warmth of her body. Instead, he kept his hands at his sides. It was clear she was not ready, and he was not one to force himself on a young woman, even if they were betrothed. The papers he had signed were a formality. It was obvious to him that she did not and would not trust him. Why would she? They hardly knew one another, and the last gentleman who had enrolled her decided to leave without notice. She deserved to be angry, but not at him.

"Do you want to be here?" Charley asked. He remained behind her, wanting her to face him, but he would not force her until another gown had been cinched tight and her breasts were hidden from view. His cock throbbed, as hard as he tried to resist, but he ignored the pain for one that hurt far worse. He felt as though he desired a young woman he could not have. Perhaps he was better off spending his time writing the story. Then they would both win. She could leave, and he would have his piece in the paper.

"Yes," Eliza said, her voice soft and calm. "Why do you ask?"

Nanny Agnes retrieved an ivory gown with black trim from the armoire. "Hands up," her nanny instructed, guiding the girl's arms and head through the dress, pulling it down. The hemline rested at Eliza's knees. Agnes cinched the ribbons tight, forming a bow in the back before she pointed at the bed. "Go and sit. I need to fetch you a fresh pair of stockings."

Eliza stalked to the bed and sat down. She did not say a word, sitting poised at the edge, her legs dangling. Her head stayed bent down, just enough to refuse meeting her papa's stare. Why would she not look at him?

"You do not seem happy, little Eliza. If I cannot make you happy, then perhaps returning back to your home would be a more beneficial solution for you," Charley said. The tuition cost quite a lot, but regardless of that, he did not desire to see her upset. Besides, he much rather wished to know if there was any chance of anything further developing between them. Yes, he did not expect love to find its way straight into his heart like a blazing arrow, but he did desire to find love that was not unrequited.

"Please, do not do that," Eliza said. Her eyes were wide and, as she glanced up with her bright green eyes, he stepped forward. Her dark brown locks fell into her face. He pushed the hair away, finding a small sense of satisfaction in the touch he bestowed upon her. It was not much, but it did not have to be to swell his heart. What the hell was wrong with him? She was beautiful, no doubt, but being in her presence was bewitching.

"Then you wish to remain at Ashby. If that is the case, then I am your papa and you will address me as such."

Nanny Agnes cleared her throat. "Perhaps Eliza needs a bit of time to come to terms with Preston leaving. She had been betrothed to him since she was a child. It is quite a bit of a shock—the change, I mean. I am sure she will be pleased about your desire to marry her, once she has had time for the news to settle in a bit."

Why was the nanny speaking up for Eliza? If Preston had cared for her, then why had he left the girl without paying her tuition? Had he even said goodbye? Had that been why she was crying when they had first met and laid eyes on one another? The past, her life before him—none of it mattered. He wanted to get to know Eliza, it was why he had paid the fees for her to remain at Ashby.

Nanny Agnes retrieved a set of white stockings and brought them over to the bed, sliding them up the young woman's legs, one at a time. Eliza glanced up at Charley. "Preston disappointed me, Mr. Lockwood, and I fear you have done the same."