Days have gone by and Maxim hasn't sought me out. I'm kind of disappointed cause I started craving his attention but there's work to do. Rebecca is hosting a costume ball for the staff and some society members and there is loads to prep. The main hall has been decorated and food has been arriving for days. There's wine and champagne for days. All the preparations are in order for the ball tonight. Rebecca is dressed up as an Arabian princess and Maxim as an Arabian prince. They make quite the pair. There's music, dancing and laughter and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. I am once again stationed on the first floor landing. Watching everyone do their thing. I would love to mangle among the people but that isn't my job. I'm here to oversee everything and everyone. And as I do so I see Rebecca sneak off to the study. It isn't very unlike her to sneak off but usually she leaves for the boathouse and not the study. And because I know she's still settling into married life I decide to follow her.
The study is empty except from Rebecca who's standing before the fire with her back towards the door. 'Is everything alright, Mrs?' Rebecca doesn't answer so I move closer and come to stand beside her. 'Rebecca?' 'Yes Edith, are you well?' She seems distracted but maybe that's the wine. I saw her drink quite a few tonight, more than usual. 'Yes Edith, everything is more than fine! The ball is exquisite as is the wine. It makes me want to dance.' And she grabs me by the hands and twirls me around. I chuckle. This is so like Rebecca, she can be totally lost in thought one minute and so extravert the next. Her mood swings have troubled her since she was just a kid but they never stood in her way. She twirls us around until we collapse onto the couch. Where as I am usually so stern and cold Rebecca sees through that side of me. I have been her maid since she was a baby and I was just 18 years old. Now at the age of 23 she is a beautiful young woman with a wild heart that her husband wants to tame but I know Rebecca won't let him. Not easily at least. Completely lost in my own thoughts I haven't noticed that Rebecca has turned towards me on the couch and is studying me. 'What are you thinking of, Edith?' It is not unusual for Rebecca to ask for my thoughts. I think is it a way for her to distract herself and usually when she starts asking questions like this she needs distraction in the only way she knows. 'Nothing in particular.' I say and I feel her move in closer. 'Hm.' Rebecca hums and she pushes away a strand of hair that has fallen loose of my bun during all the twirling we did. Her hand caresses my neck softly which reminds me all too well of what happened days ago but I let her. I know she needs this to unwind. So I take charge. I lean into her and I kiss her. We have been doing this since she was 18 and wanted to explore herself more sexually in a safe way. The only person she trusted enough was me and when things got rough or too much she would turn to me and I would let her. She kisses me back almost starved. I know that since the wedding she hasn't spend a night in Maxim's company nor does she let him touch her. Her cousin, Favell, has come to visit her a couple of times now and every time they go for a walk to the beach to not return for hours. It worries me and I pour that worry into the kiss. Our hands start to roam over each other's body's and we slide down from the couch to the rug. But then the door to the study opens and to my shock it is Maxim who walks in. His face is stormy and he's holding a glass of whiskey. Rebecca pushes away from me and smooths her costume. 'I didn't start is, Mrs Danvers did. She started all of it.' Quickly she makes her way over towards Maxim and puts her hand on his chest. 'Did she now?' He says while looking between me and Rebecca, his eyes darkening further. Slowly I rise and smooth over my dress as well. 'Yes, yes, I did, Mr de Winter. I'm very sorry and embarrassed and will take the blame.' I would always take the blame for Rebecca, it is my job to do so. Once again Maxim looks between me and Rebecca before addressing his wife. 'There are guest waiting for you, my sweet. Why don't you go entertain them again whilst I see to it that Mrs Danvers is punished correctly?' He kisses her forehead before she takes off not looking back. Once the door is closed Maxim downs his whiskey before setting the glass down. 'You don't need to take the blame, Edith, although I will punish you for it. I know that Rebecca has a wild heart that will not be tamed and that I cannot give her what she wants as I have told you before.' As he's speaking he strides closer to me. 'I'm not taking the blame, sir. It was I who initiated it.' I say even though that is partly a lie. 'Oh really? So this has happened before I take it?' I nod. 'For how long already?' He has stopped in front of me with crossed arms looking amused at my embarrassment. 'Since Rebecca was 18,' I answer embarrassed. 'She wanted to discover her sexuality in a safe way and turned to me for guidance.' It seems so wrong to say out loud but I know that not admitting to it isn't gonna help my case. He doesn't say anything but just walks toward one of the bookcase and takes out a book. It triggers a door to open into a dark hallway and I know where it'll lead. 'You know the way, so lady's first.' Maxim says and he gestures for me to walk in front. The last time we went here he walked in front and I didn't know what to expect. This time is all the more exciting cause he's behind me. I can hear his heavy foot falls echo of the wall and it sends a shiver down my spine. When we get to our destination there are candles lit all around the room casting it in a flickering eery light. I stop in the middle of the room whilst Maxim continues on. 'Strip of your dress and underdress but leave your panties on and go and stand in front of the cross.' I hesitate for a mere moment before doing what he says. He is standing with his back against a cabinet on top of it is a whiskey bottle and some glasses. Once I'm finished stripping he lets out a sigh before pouring himself a glass. 'Go on, darling, you know where to go.' Unsure of myself I move towards the cross and stand in front of it. Slowly he pushes off the cabinet and strides towards me. He takes a swig of his whiskey before putting it down on a small table. By now my nipples are peaked again from the chilliness in this room and Maxim takes on of them between his thump and his forefinger. 'So ready for me and so responsive.' He adds when I let out a breathy moan as he pulls my nipple. He lays his hand on my stomach and pushes me softly against the cross. It's a heavy wooden thing that feels surprisingly warm against my body. He guides my arms up into the leather restraints and once they are fastened he does the same for my legs. Spread out like this I feel quite vulnerable. 'You will be punished before you get what you want, do you understand.' I nod but that is not what he wants. He slaps my centre with his bare hand. A stinging pain spreads through it and I let out a hiss. 'I didn't hear you.' 'Yes, sir, I understand.' He nods and moves away from me, going over to a chest of drawers and taking something out of it. It is a whip. One of those small ones they usually use for horse riding. 'I'm going to bring you to the edge with this, over and over again until you're begging me for your release, which you'll only receive if you behave. You ready, darling?' He ask but before I can even answer he begins.
He starts off slowly and softly. Dragging the whip over my body leaving chills behind. Over my breast, down my sides and legs. And up again, past my inner thighs and when he reaches my centre he slaps it. It stings but not in a bad way. It feels the same as the slap with his hand did but now more centred to one place. I let out a hiss as he continues his assault on my body. Altering between soft strokes and little slaps. 'You're doing so well, darling. Do you think you can handle more?' I swallow before I speak, my throat dry. 'Yes, sir, I can handle more.' 'Good.' He takes a step back for a moment and pulls something out of his back pocket. I hadn't noticed him putting something there in the first place. It's a long piece of fabric and as he moves it to my face I understand his meaning with it. 'I'm gonna blindfold you to enhance the experience.' And without leaving time for me to respond hè fits the piece of fabric before my eyes. Blindfolded and bound I'm left with only a few senses. And they all betray me. The time between his strokes and his slaps become more infrequent and leave my panting. Chasing a high that he has me working towards. He never hits the same spot in the same pattern leaving me guessing what he's going to hit next. As he hits my clit again I come with a scream and such a force that I'm glad I'm restrained because I'm sure my legs wouldn't be able to hold me up right now. But he doesn't stop. 'Did I tell you to come?' I'm too out of it to reply right away which earns me another slap to my clit and I whimper. 'Answer me, Edith.' He grunts. 'No, sir, you didn't.' He's stroking me again softly with the whip. 'And what do bad girls get when they come without permission?' I don't want to say it but I know that not answering isn't going to do me any good. 'They get punished?' I ask unsure. 'Oh yes, they do, darling.' He undoes the restraints and turns me around before fastening my wrist again. He pulls me away from the cross a little so that my back is arched and starts stroking my body again with the whip. From my ankles, up my legs, over my ass and spine and back down. But this time as he reaches my ass he draws the whip back and I mentally prepare myself for the sting I'm about to feel but it doesn't come. Instead I feel something probing at my centre and with a little shock I register it's the end of the whip. The one he has been holding all this time and he's about to penetrate me with it. Slowly but surely he pushes it in and my body doesn't show any resistance. He start moving it whilst finding my clit with his other hand. 'You'll beg me to come, do you understand?' Maxim asks. 'Yes, sir.' I pant. Not fully recovered from my last orgasm I can feel it rising already. 'Are you close, darling?' He whispers in my ear and I nod. 'Start begging, if you please.' But I refuse. I'm not gonna beg this man for something. I can't. And so he stills. 'Do you not wish to come?' I bite my lip. Because yes I do wish to come but I'm well above begging him for it. And so he starts pulling out the whip and I moan at the loss. But he's done for tonight. He takes off my blindfold and removes my restraints. 'That will be all, mrs Danvers. You can leave now.' And without second thought I gather my clothes and leave the room.
