Chapter 5

Clarisse watched as the maids and the footmen removed the tub from the suite. She had woke after dozing for three-quarters of an hour to tepid water. She quickly washed her body, and hair before rinsing herself with the warming buckets. She had dried off, dressed in her shift, and a long robe before calling for the removal of the tub.

She had also called for Felix, and asked him to retrieve a few items for her, It was his return she was waiting for as the maids straightened up the suite. Clarisse ignored the maids whispering as they picked up the linens that had been used to dry herself and keep the floor from becoming too wet. She knew they were whispering about her, she cared little about what they said but smiled when she heard Mrs. Cowt reprimand them for their gossiping while cleaning.

Soon the suite was cleaned and Clarisse nodded as the maids curtseyed and left the suite.

"Will that be all, Your Highness," asked Mrs. Cowt, as she surveyed the suite, satisfied the maids had done a fine job.

"Yes, Mrs. Cowt, that will be all," answered Clarisse, giving the housekeeper a small smile. Mrs. Cowt returned the smile with a beaming one of her own, curtseyed and left the suite. Felix opened the door for the housekeeper, having arrived just as the army of maids had left.

"Now that's a lady. Not like the other one," whispered Mrs. Cowt to Felix as she walked past him, leaving no doubt in Felix's mind who the other one Mrs. Cowt referred to was.

Felix smiled and nodded in agreement before closing the door behind the housekeeper. He waited for Her Highness to signal him forward before he moved from the door. When she did Felix lay the three willow branches she had ordered him to retrieve, each a different thickness on the table. He stood back as Her Ladyship looked over each one.

"Thank you Felix. These are perfect," said Clarisse, after inspecting each one. The thinnest whistled nicely when swished through the air.

Felix hadn't voiced his concern prior when Her Highness had ordered him to retrieve the willow branches, but now, with her standing in front of him, dressed in a thick robe, her hair curling around her head like a halo and her feet bare, she bore little resemblance to the women who had married his prince yesterday. She looked too young, too innocent, and too fragile to withstand any discipline His Highness may force on her. It was this reason Felix spoke up.

"Your Highness, are you sure about…," Felix began, faltering when he realized there was no easy way to express what he was thinking.

Clarisse looked up into the concerned face of Felix. She walked over to the older man. Stopping in front of one of the few people who had shown her kindness from the moment she arrived, she looked into his eyes then cupped his cheek.

"Never fear Felix, I will be fine," she said.

Felix stared into Her Highness's eyes. He nodded his head briefly.

Clarisse smiled, removed her hand from Felix's cheek and stepped back. "Thank you for your help, Felix," she said.

"You are welcome, Your Highness," Felix answered gruffly, bowing to Her Highness before exiting the suite. As he closed the door, he watched Her Highness move over to the table again, and pick up one of the willow branches. Felix made a silent promise to himself as he took his post once more. If His Highness caused any injury to Her Highness he would be shown the error of his ways.

He and his family would see to that.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rupert entered the Royal Apartments, thanking Mathieu before he closed the door.

'Felix must be at dinner,' Rupert thought. The Royal Apartments were guarded at all times by footmen cum guards. And while the footmen within the rest of the Palace would change the footmen who guarded the Royal Apartments were all members of the same family. Felix, his five brothers and six cousins were all the sons and nephews of Mrs. Cowt, the Palace's formidable housekeeper.

She, and her husband Marcel ran the Palace with an iron hand. It was jokingly said that while his parents ran Genovia, the Cowts ran the Palace. Many a parliamentary member learned that it was in their best interests not to upset either of the Cowts. For if they did, they would soon find themselves discovering just how much power the Cowts possessed.

Rupert remembered the last time Viscount Mabrey had upset Mrs. Cowt. He had to deal with minor inconveniences for almost six months before she finally felt he had learned his lesson.

Rupert walked further into the suite. He noticed the wine, cheese and bread residing on the side table near the fire and he noticed three long willow branches resting on the low table in front of the settee. He reached down to pick up the middle one, surprised to find the end wrapped in a bit of leather giving it a better grip. He swung it in the air, the swish of it whistling in the air.

"The thinnest one would be much better," he heard behind him.

Rupert turned quickly, the willow branch following his movements. The branch flicked at Clarisse, caressing her robe as it sailed past her. She didn't move, not even a flinch.

Rupert pulled the branch back to him.

"What are they for?" he asked. Something in the look of Clarisse, in her posture made Rupert wary of her response.

"They are for you," replied Clarisse, moving toward the table to pick up the thinnest branch. She held it in her hand for a moment before replacing on the table.

"What? Why?" sputtered Rupert. He was stunned at Clarisse's answer. How could they be for him?

"Did you not say earlier you would deal with me once your returned to our suite?" Clarisse asked, the questioning tone of her voice not lost on Rupert. Clarisse moved away from the table, coming to a stop in the centre of the room. Rupert watched as she looked around. He could hear her counting off. She moved a few steps to her left, looked around seemingly satisfied with her position before turning to face Rupert.

"This should be ideal," she said just loud enough for Rupert to hear.

"Ideal for what?' asked Rupert, clearly confused.

"For my discipline," Clarisse said matter-of-factly, as she shrugged out of her robe to stand naked in front of her husband. "I didn't know your preference. If you preferred me clothed or not. I decided the blood would be easier to clean if I was naked. I hope I wasn't being presumptive," Clarisse said, dropping her eyes demurely.

"Blood? What? What are you talking about?"asked Rupert, clearly trying to understand what Clarisse was saying while looking at the nude body of his wife.

She was glorious!

He let his eyes wander up her body. Her legs were long, and lean. Her hips were just wide enough lending her body a nice curve. Her waist was slim but not tiny. He was sure his hands would span her waist nicely. Her belly was white and the hair that hid her womanhood was a lovely soft auburn.

But it was her breasts that captured his attention. While they weren't overly large he hadn't realized she was so well endowed. Even last night he hadn't realized how well- endowed she was, but now with her standing naked in front of him Rupert's hands itched to reach out a caress those soft globes. His hand clenched the willow branch tightly.

"My discipline," answered Clarisse as she turned around to present her back to Rupert.

Rupert hissed an in-drawn breath at the view now afforded him. The rear view of Clarisse was even more spectacular than the front. His hands itched to trace down the smooth column of her spine and over the rounded curves of her bottom. Rupert felt himself becoming aroused at the sight his wife presented him. For some reason this angered him. He didn't want to become aroused at the sight of his wife. He didn't even want her for his wife.

"I am not going to discipline you," Rupert ground out, his temper rising.

Clarisse looked at Rupert and almost instantly he could see how his words affected her. Her shoulders and spine, which were straight and tall slumped in dejection and her soft, "Oh" tore at something inside of Rupert.

Rupert walked over to stand in front Clarisse. Before he could speak, Clarisse knelt gracefully to retrieve her robe. For a brief moment she looked up at Rupert. Her position, the soft look on her face and Rupert's imagination all combined to flash an image before his inner eye of Clarisse on her knees pleasuring him. Rupert's erection strained against his pants. The soft touch to his thigh startled him and he moved away quickly, oversetting Clarisse. Clarisse regained her balance. She stood gracefully, pulling the robe on and haphazardly tying the sash.

"What game are you playing at wife?" growled out Rupert, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"What?" asked Clarisse, confusion colouring her words.

"What game wife?" Rupert asked grabbing Clarisse by her upper arms and pulling her forward until she her body rested close to his. Rupert wasn't ignorant of women's wiles. As Prince he had experience with many women and the games they played. From trying to trap him into marriage to trying to secure the position as his mistress, to trying manipulate him in order to secure more power for their husbands, Rupert had experienced them all. Now it seemed his wife intended to indulge in the the self same games many of her sex used.

He was having none of it! He would not be used!

"Game wife. What game are you playing?" he asked, pulling her closer to his body. Their positions forced her head up. He stared down into her blue eyes.

Clarisse struggled against the strong arms of Rupert. "I am not playing any game, husband. Release me, please," she said.

Rupert stared at Clarisse. He couldn't be sure if she was lying so he decided to call her bluff. The willow branches were her bluff.

"The branches? My discipline?" he said. "Tell me you were ready to accept my discipline, and you weren't trying to manipulate the situation to your advantage? Tell me," demanded Rupert, his grip on her arms punishing.

Clarisse gasped against the pain in her arms. "It is your right as my husband," she stammered. "It is your right to do as you wish with me. I was just trying to…"

"Trying to what wife?" ground out Rupert, not surprised to hear of Clarisse's duplicity. It was the same with all women!

"Trying to offer an alternative to the leathers," Clarisse said softly. The pain in her arms was bringing tears to her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall.

At Clarisse's words, Rupert released her abruptly, staring at her in consternation.

"Leathers?" he asked.

"Yes, the leathers. I thought the willows would be better, they wouldn't hurt as much," Clarisse said as she rubbed her arms, trying to ease the sting in them from Rupert's hold.

Rupert stared at Clarisse trying to determine if she was lying. "So you want me to believe that you gathered these willow branches as a substitute for the leathers. Am I correct?"

"Yes," Clarisse answered.

Her simple answer caused Rupert to lose what little control he had over his temper. Grabbing Clarisse by the arm, he dragged her back to her previous spot. Turning her around so her back faced him he tore the robe from her body, caring little that he had ripped the garment in his anger. He let his hands travel over Clarisse's body, uncaring if she found his caress pleasing or not.

If she wanted to be disciplined far be it from him to deny her the right. Grabbing her by the shoulders he pulled her back against him. "Stay," he ordered, as he moved away from her.

Rupert marched back to table that held the three willow branches and picking up the thinnest one he asked, "You said the thinnest one, correct?'

Not hearing any response to his question, he stalked back over to Clarisse. Grabbing her hair in his hand he yanked her head back to look into her face. "The thinnest one is best. Isn't that what you said?" he asked, his face inches from hers.

Clarisse swallowed against the pain from her hair being pulled and answered in a soft voice, "Yes. Yes, the thinnest one would be best."

Rupert stared down at Clarisse. He could see she was afraid but allowed none of her fear to show on her face. But Rupert could see it in her eyes coupled with resignation and acceptance. It was the resignation and acceptance that fuelled Rupert's temper. Releasing Clarisse, he moved away from her and said, "Prepare yourself."

Rupert moved behind and to the side of Clarisse. Measuring the length of the willow branch he adjusted his position. Raising his arm he swung the branch with all his strength. The branch whistled through the air before coming to rest with a resounding flit against the skin of Clarisse's buttocks.

Clarisse tried to remain relaxed. She knew if she tensed the pain would be that much worse. When she heard the branch whistle through the air, she closed her eyes and tensed for a brief moment then relaxed just as quickly. The accompanying pain from the whistling branch never manifested itself and Clarisse opened her eyes.

The clattering of the branch as it hit the floor was her only warning before the door to their suite was flung opened and slammed just as quickly. Clarisse turned to look at where Rupert had stood moments before, the spot now empty. She glanced down at the willow branch laying on the floor before gazing up at the still vibrating door.

Clarisse slowly dropped to her knees, her face buried in her hands, shaking with relief.

He hadn't been able to punish her.

Her plan had succeeded.