Isabella was under no illusion the following six weeks were going to be difficult and she had only had herself to blame. If she had hidden her diary better, had secreted it in the attic or even buried it where only she knew where to find it. She feared her own words would be her undoing, and that they would be used against her.
Night had spread its dark fingers over Pendragon House and Isabella picked up the blindfold, she felt the soft velvet and remembered the last time she had worn it. Her master had been gentle, had stroked her skin and yet she could still feel the tightness of his hands around her wrist. Isabella waited. Tonight she would know more of him, she was certain of that.
Isabella tied on the blindfold, and sight her other senses were heightened. She heard the floorboards creak as they settled, the smell of the sea blowing in through the window and her skin prickled with anticipation. Isabella hadn't felt as alive as she did at that moment. It was as she had been asleep and was now awake. The times she had spent with Mary, punishing her maid with whip and hand, taking advantage of the maid's eagerness to please her, were nothing compared to the way she now felt, waiting for her master.
She felt her breasts, through the silk they felt tight and ready, tweaking her nipple heat ran down her belly and between her legs. With nothing to distract, no sight to diminish the intensity of the feeling of pleasure, the nub between her legs begin to throb and the slightest touch sent her reeling with pleasure. Her hand moved down, rubbing her flat stomach, stroking herself through the silk. Her breath like the stormy wind that blew in the midst of winter. Isabella opened her legs and pressed her hand onto her swollen sex.
'It would be foolish to continue.'
Isabella started, her hands flew to her mask, but her wrists were grabbed and she was pulled forward. 'When...I didn't hear...' she gasped, struggling to free herself.
'Isabella, you have so much to learn.'
It was her master, but how could he have slipped into her room without her noticing? Had she been too focused on her own pleasure to have heard the door open?
'Do you remember your instructions today?' he was holding her tightly, her wrists hurt, her pride dented, but she could smell his cologne, dark and spicy, and she stopped struggling.
'My instructions?'
'Yes your embroidery lesson with Mrs Hancock.'
'I am to make a sampler. There is nothing unusual in that.'
'And what is to be the subject of this piece of work?' he sighed.
'I am to embroider the seven virtues.'
'Which are what, Isabella?'
'Why...' Isabella said, then without warning was pushed back onto the bed, her arms pinned above her head. She felt the weight of her master holding her down.
'You will not question me,' he hissed, shifting his weight. 'Now what are the seven virtues?'
'Please, you are hurting...'
'The virtues.'