As promised, chapter 18 is swift on the heels of chapter 17. Slightly different feel to this chapter but I hope you like it all the same!
Chapter 18
David was waiting for Sue in the library, where they had arranged to meet. He was standing by the mantelpiece with his back towards the door when she entered. She immediately crossed the carpet and laid a light hand on his shoulder.
"David, I've failed you," she murmured dejectedly, her head bend.
David turned around and lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"I can't deny that I'm disappointed Sue," he said quietly. "Do you know how unique the opportunity is that you have been given? I have never before deemed any sub that I trained to become worthy of elevation to Mistress."
Sue swallowed and nodded, her eyes moist with unshed tears.
"What you may not have been aware of," David continued, "is that for some time I have been considering our relationship and find myself dissatisfied with its current state."
Now Sue's eyes flew wide with shock. She knew she had lost focus on maintaining the strict discipline & detachment necessary to be a good Mistress, but she had thought that David's increasing ease & tenderness with her was a symbol of his approval! Now she trembled, dreading his next words. "Please don't let him banish me from the mansion," she prayed. With a jolt she realised that she had formed a deep and intense bond to the quiet & assured man standing in front of her, and it was not the bond of a sub & her Master!
David seemed to be acutely aware of her internal distress and smiled gently. He took a seat on a comfortable sofa & gestured for Sue to sit beside him.
"My family have been pushing me to get married and I have finally decided to take a wife," he began.
Sue's heart sank. With another woman in his life, the situation between them would have to radically change!
"I hope you will be very happy," she managed to say.
David chuckled. "Oh I'm sure I will be Sue," he said. "I have taken my time and made my choice very carefully. I can assure you that she will suit my needs perfectly."
Sue couldn't prevent a tear from sliding down her cheek. She tried to surreptitiously wipe it away but David noticed and frowned.
"Oh you little fool," he chided gently. "The woman I have chosen to be my wife is ........ you!"
As Sue raised shining eyes to look at him for confirmation, he raised his hand to prevent her speaking.
"However," he cautioned, "you must first of all demonstrate that you can fulfil your potential to become an effective Mistress. I will not share my life or my home with a woman who cannot be my equal!"
Again, Sue dropped her head in shame as his words reminded her of her recent failure.
David squeezed her shoulder. "Sue, I do understand how this situation developed," he said consolingly. "As a former sub, you must be especially on your guard and maintain the necessary detachment. It is easy for you to identify with Kristy & her plight, although you never required the extreme measures that we are now using on her!" he said, smiling slightly.
Sue was in a state of stunned disbelief. She had never allowed herself to acknowledge the depth of her feelings towards David as she knew that at some point he would be expected to marry and continue the family line. She had tried to protect herself from the pain that she knew this would cause but couldn't help but hope, in her heart of hearts, that this would never happen and that she could stay in his presence. Now David was offering something she had never even dared to consider. She had thought he was fond of her, but never dreamed his feelings might run deeper. He was always so supremely in control of himself β something she wished she could achieve for herself!
David again brought her back to reality. This time by tapping her on the shoulder to gain her attention.
"Sue, as my wife, you will be expected to move in higher society than you are currently used to," he said. "I will provide you with all the information you require to enable you to do this, but I warn you it will take intensive study. To that end, I am going to have my aunt take over the training of Kristy for the rest of this week so that you can get a clear idea of how you will be expected to behave."
Sue looked at him, her eyes searching his to see if this was his way of punishing her for letting down her guard with Kristy. David could see the question clearly in her eyes and shook his head.
"This has nothing to do with what you did or didn't do whilst training Kristy. I'm fully aware that I have left her in your hands for what, in hindsight, was too long a period of time. For this, I must apologise" he explained. "No, the reason I am asking my aunt to take over is twofold. First of all, she is a far harder task master than you are and will have no compunction in dragging the best out of Kristy, with no possibility of becoming attached. After all, she was a Mistress before I was even born!" he said, smiling. "The second reason is that I am going to lead Kristy to believe that her behaviour has placed you in bad standing with me and that the only way you will regain your former station is by her complying wholeheartedly & immediately with every instruction given from now on, no matter who issues the commands!"
When Sue gave him a puzzled look, David explained himself further.
"My aunt noticed the effect her censure of you had on Kristy. She was genuinely distraught that her actions had placed you in such a position. We are therefore going to use that information to ensure she reaches her full potential. You will be present in certain situations but as a silent observer only, never making eye contact with her or acknowledging her in any way. I fully expect this method will overwhelm the last vestiges of resistance she has & root her firmly into the mould of submissive!"
Sue stared at David in amazement. Yet again he had demonstrated his superlative skills as a Master. Who else could have come up with such a diabolically effective way of ensuring Kristy's compliance without subjecting her to harsher punishment than she was already receiving! Indeed, in order to initially break down Kristy's barriers, their methods had been harsh to the point of cruelty. Sue secretly hoped that this episode had provided the shock required to make Kristy think about the consequences of her actions and that there would be no further need for the extreme methods they had been using on her!
David's voice broke into her thoughts.
"I shall tell my parents that I have chosen a wife," he advised. "I shall also suggest a period of 1 year for our engagement. This will give you time to complete your training, both to enter the level of society that my family moves in and as a Mistress who will work jointly at my side! By the way, you know that I intend to offer Kristy a choice when we have finished training her?"