12 Naughty Days of Christmas 2018 Page 14
But upon the death of the current Lord Knox’s father, all such Christmas celebrations had stopped, other than the most basic. It seemed that his passing had diminished the holiday for the entire estate.
Lady Calliope had still endeavored to make the season merry, but with her husband gone and her son in control of the purse strings, the festivities were not nearly so elaborate.
Do not get me wrong, Lord Knox was a fair and generous employer. It is simply that in comparison to the extravagance of Lady Calliope, everything else seemed to dim.
However, with Lord Knox’s marriage to Lady Tempest, the pending birth of their first child, as well as Lady Calliope’s recent marriage to Colonel St. Clair, this Christmas promised to be unlike any we had seen at Primrose Park in many years. Even I had a bit of the yuletide spirit. Perhaps the festivities would soften Mattie’s heart and she would at last agree to be my bride.
The wind lashed against my window and I wished for nothing more than to be able to hold my sweet Mattie tight and keep her warm through the night.
But apparently, her wishes were not the same as mine.
Chapter 3
Mattie
It had been two days since I’d had any kind of private time with Baxter, and an uneasy yearning had me on edge and desperate for relief. I had become a slave to my baser instincts.
Since our first romantic encounter – though I am unlikely to consider it really romantic, more of a lusty interlude which I never expected to be repeated – it seemed I could not get enough to feel truly satisfied.
I certainly never expected love to bloom from it.
I was far from a loose woman and my own feelings about romance and marriage were ambivalent. A poor servant girl does not have the luxury of romance. But I was not a woman without wants and needs and yearnings.
It all began one morning when Baxter and I were both waiting outside of the master bedroom. Typically, we had done our best to avoid each other. Our styles being so significantly different from one another, it seemed best if we worked independently – him serving his master and I serving my mistress. On that particular morning we had both been called to the master bedchamber, yet when we arrived, it was clear from the sounds emanating from within that Lord and Lady Knox were engaged in the most carnal of activities. Apparently, desire had consumed them after they had rung for the two of us.
I was not shocked, for they were young, married and in love. But, I most certainly had never eavesdropped on such an event. Baxter and I arrived outside the bedroom chamber at precisely the same moment that Lady Knox let loose a moan of ecstasy followed by what could only be described as the slap of a palm against the flesh of a backside. I gasped as heat suffused my body. Another swat landed and Lady Knox gasped, “Oh, James!”
I knew I ought to leave, wait a few minutes discreetly and return as though I had not overheard anything. Yet I was frozen in place, an urgent longing building within me as I listened to the naughty happenings in the marital chamber.
When I glanced over at Baxter, his face was flush and his eyes were bright. He looked at me and our eyes met. I could tell that he was as affected by the lewd happenings as I was.
In silent agreement we made our way to the linen closet on that floor. He held the door for me and I slipped into the tight space. Inside the darkened room, a sliver of light came in from beneath the door which made it possible to at least make out the shapes within. No words were spoken. Baxter’s hands were feverish upon me and I answered with equal intensity. My back pressed against a rack of shelves holding the linens. Baxter’s lips were on mine in a kiss so intense it took my breath away. He was no longer the composed manservant to the master of the house. He had become like a wild animal, his passions matching mine.
I eagerly pulled my skirts up allowing him access to the throbbing of my womanhood. I was not a complete innocent, but I hardly made it a practice to go into the linen closet with just anyone. However, something had overtaken me in the hallway, listening to the lovemaking of Lord and Lady Knox.
And, as I had said long before, Baxter was quite easy on the eyes.
In a matter of moments, Baxter’s manhood was freed from his trousers. I could feel it pressing against me in the dark room. I widened my stance to ease his entry to my womanly core and sighed with pleasure when he slid into me.
Our coupling was rapid, urgent and powerful. As I was reaching the apex, he covered my mouth with his and swallowed my moans of pleasure.
Breathless and panting, we both righted our clothing, took a moment to compose ourselves, and then went back to work. By that time, Lord Knox and his wife had completed their marital congress and the four of us went about our business as though nothing unusual had happened.
After that incident I felt a little awkward at the prospect of running into Baxter again, assuming that we had both been caught up in our passions and feeling a little embarrassed about our lack of control.
Therefore, I was extremely surprised when two days later I found a note had been slipped inside the pocket of my dress. Meet me in my room after Lord and Lady Knox go to bed.
I had no idea how the message had been inserted in my pocket, but I had no doubts as to the sender.
I burned the note so no one else would find it. I had intended to pretend I had never received it, but as soon as Lady Knox dismissed me for the evening, I found myself sneaking down the basement hallway to his rooms.
My intention had been to give him a piece of my mind and explain to him in no uncertain terms that what had happened between us had been a random one time event never to be repeated again. I did actually make those statements, but he was unimpressed.
What happened in reality was that we engaged in further carnal activities, the likes of which I had never imagined possible. Within moments, he had me bent over the end of his bed, administering a sound spanking to my bare bottom.
“So,” he said, landing a hard swat to the center of my buttocks, “do you actually believe me to be the type of man who engages in flings in the linen closet, never to give the young lady another thought?”
“N-no,” I said, rather bewildered by the turn of events which now had me on the receiving end of his discipline. “I-I did not know what sort of man you are.”
“Well, my dear, I have a feeling you are about to find out.” Thereupon he spanked in earnest, reddening the entire surface of my back end while I buried my face in the bedcovers so as not to arouse suspicions in the rest of the staff with my moans of protest. “Have you so little regard for yourself that you will engage in relations without expectation of continued attentions from the gentleman involved?”
I gripped the bedcovers as thinking became more and more difficult. The stinging swats to my arse had created a needful longing in me which had me squirming. Telltale signs of my arousal slipped from my nether lips and coated my thighs.
Baxter paused in his spanking long enough to tap the back of one thigh. “Open,” was all he said.
Oh heavens! If I did not comply, surely he would continue peppering my rear end with stinging swats. But if I did as he instructed, my shame would be on full display for him to see.
The choice was eliminated when he wrapped a strong hand around each of my thighs and opened them to his satisfaction. His hand slid into the slickness. “What have we here, Mattie? Are you aroused?”
My face flamed to match the color of what I imagined my cheeks to be. “Y-yes,” I wailed into the mattress.
“What do you suppose we ought to do about that?” he asked. His voice, thick with emotion, sent a heated throb to my lady bits.
A hard smack landed on my sit spot. “You have not answered my question, naughty girl.”
“I-I cannot... it is too much... the words... I cannot say.”
“Hmm. The mouthiest young woman in the entire household is at a loss for words.” He leaned over so that his hard chest pressed against my back and whispered in my ear. “This time, I shall say the words for you, but in future, I shall e
xpect you to say them yourself. Do you understand?”
Desire wound through me at the implication of his words. “Y-yes,” I gasped. “Please.”
“Ah, I like it when you are polite, sweet Mattie.”
The spanking had stopped and he stroked his fingertips over the tender flesh of my bottom. “Hold on tight, Mattie.” His hard manhood pressed at the opening of my sex. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I said, again. “Please.”
And please me he did.
Hard thrusts pounded into me, filling me and satisfying a need I had not realized I had.
Within moments we both reached our climax and collapsed together upon the bed.
In the aftermath, Baxter held me close, brushing a loosened strand of hair from my face. “I am far from finished with you, my Mattie. You will return soon, will you not?”
After that, I found reasons to spend time with him, or at least near him. When the upper servants took their meals together, I paid particular attention to what he had to say and observed the manner in which he interacted with other members of the household.
Eventually I had to admit to myself what I had probably always known since the moment he came and rescued me from the home of the horrible Freebushes – I was quite smitten with Baxter. What came as an even bigger shock was the realization that he appeared to be equally smitten with me.
As the weeks passed, we managed to sneak some time together. One rare day we both had a few hours off. We were in London at the time, Lord and Lady Knox had gone on an afternoon outing with Lady Calliope and Colonel St. Clair. When Baxter and I exchanged furtive glances over afternoon tea in the servants’ dining room, I assumed he intended for us to spend that time in each other’s arms, to which I had no objection. Instead, he insisted on taking me to a fair that was happening on the edge of town. Of course, we left the townhouse and returned by separate means, but when I caught up with him a few blocks away and we enjoyed the afternoon amongst the revelers at the fair, it was the most glorious day of my life. I told myself it was because of the sights and sounds of the carnival, but in my heart I knew it was because being with Baxter filled me with pleasure.
He said he wanted to marry me, but I knew the truth of it. I was a plain girl, it was only through the benevolence of Lady Tempest that I had the exalted status of personal maid to a countess. Usually such a position was reserved for girls who were fair of complexion and also sweet in demeanor. I was neither.
Soon enough, Baxter would tire of me. He had assured me no such thing would happen, but many a girl had been swayed by pretty words and I would not be one of them. I had seen first hand the devastation of abandonment. My mother had fallen for a man in her village, believing him sincere, she had allowed him certain liberties. When she fell pregnant, instead of stepping up to his responsibilities, he had packed a bag and left town, never to be seen or heard of again. My mother had been forced to do all manner of things in order to survive. I shall not tarnish her memory any further by going into detail on that account. Suffice it to say, I was wary of men and their flowery promises.
Baxter, despite appearances, was no different. I had braced myself for the heartache which would eventually come.
Happily ever after does not happen for a plain girl who works as a lady’s maid. Everyone knows that.
Mattie
I took a quick moment to check my reflection in the mirror of the small bedchamber I shared with another maid. She had already dressed and gone downstairs to the party. Despite all of the hectic activity the last few days, everything has been accomplished. All was in readiness for the big Christmas Eve party at Primrose Park.
I felt a flutter of excitement. It had been quite a long time since I had been enthusiastic about Christmas. I also knew that this was the first large gathering to be hosted by Lord and Lady Knox, and I hoped all went well.
I had been a bit shocked when Lady Knox had announced her plans to reinvigorate the lavish holiday gatherings which had once been regular occurrences at Primrose Park. Of course, I was not surprised that she wished to have a grand party, but considering that she was practically bursting with child, it struck me as rather poor timing.
However, she had not asked my opinion, and I had not ventured it.
And if a party were to happen, then I intended to enjoy it. With all of the work we have put in up to this time, it was hoped that all the members of the staff would be able to enjoy themselves this evening.
In addition to looking forward to the holiday festivities, as well as a rare evening of relaxation, I hoped to sneak away for a few minutes of privacy with Baxter. I slipped my hand into my pocket to feel the small gift that I had there for him.
Taking one last look at myself, I patted my hair into place and then exited the room and went downstairs to the drawing room.
When I got to the doorway I was taken aback. What a festive scene. Despite being heavy with child, Lady Knox beamed at being the hostess, and she had done so quite successfully. The room was full of the staff members as well as many of the townspeople from the surrounding community. I saw the butcher and his family, several tenant farmers, and even the local tavern keeper and his daughters. Lord Knox stood near his expectant wife, hovering protectively.
A few musicians were set up in the corner playing holiday tunes. The room was filled with laughter and people enjoying themselves. Food and drink flowed easily.
My eyes quickly scanned the room and I noticed Baxter off to the left with the gathering of men who seemed to be enjoying themselves at a game of cards. As though sensing my eyes upon him, he glanced up and our gazes met across the room. I felt a small flush building at the base of my throat, and not wishing to draw attention to myself or my clandestine lover, I quickly turned away and moved toward the punch bowl.
I wished happy Christmas to many of my fellow servants, and then took a moment to observe the rest of the revelers in the room. Lady Calliope and her new husband, Colonel St. Clair, were near the music. Her foot was tapping and I knew it would only be a matter of time before the dancing began.
Having never had the luxury of instruction in dance, I anticipated observing those who did know the complicated steps and hoped that perhaps there would be some simple country dances that I might be able to join into.
The party continued with plentiful food and drink and, as the evening went on, the music and laughter grew louder.
There was a clinking of silverware on crystal glasses and the room quieted down, everyone’s attention directed at Lady Tempest, our hostess.
“Thank you all for coming out on such a cold and blustery night,” she said. “Lord Knox and I are most happy to be able to share this special holiday with all of you.” Her words were greeted with a round of applause.
“I would like to introduce all of you to a most special guest.” She held out her hand to a woman whom I had noticed earlier but did not recognize. This lady stood and joined Lady Tempest in the center of the room. She was a most unique personage, rather tall in stature, of an undetermined age, but with strands of silver woven through her hair, and wearing a large hat adorned festively with holly berries and poinsettias, the size and volume of which I had never imagined possible on a piece of headwear.
If this was the guest of honor, I had a feeling the evening was about to get very interesting indeed.
“I would like for you all to meet,” Lady Tempest said with a large smile on her face, “Lady Ambrosia, matchmaker to the discerning.”
I gasped, as did several others. So, this was Lady Ambrosia. I had never met her, although I had heard many interesting tales from both Lady Tempest and Lady Calliope, who had each used her services to secure their husbands.
How nice that Lady Tempest had invited the matchmaker to spend the holidays at Primrose Park. Perhaps I would get a chance to chat with her at some point.
“First, I would like to thank Colonel St. Clair for escorting Lady Ambrosia here on this wintery day.” She gestured toward her stepfather-in-law
and he bowed to her in acknowledgment. Unlike his wife, Colonel St. Clair was a man of few words.
“I have a special treat for all of you,” Lady Tempest said, “for Lady Ambrosia has agreed to perform her matchmaking skills for us here tonight.”
A murmur of excitement passed through the crowd, and I had to admit that I was rather curious to see Lady Ambrosia in action. I glanced around the room and wondered who would find love this Christmas Eve.
“Thank you, Lady Tempest,” Lady Ambrosia said, a broad smile upon her face as her eyes roamed the room. “I am extremely pleased to be here with all of you this evening and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.”
Lady Ambrosia took a hearty swig of eggnog before continuing. “In this season of gift giving, I like to think that love is the greatest gift of all. And so, I hope that tonight I will be able to make some matches for the lovely people here this evening, for what is life without love?”
I glanced about the room and noticed a couple of the men appearing rather uncomfortable, whilst a number of the young ladies looked most eager indeed. I was simply delighted at the prospect of some unique entertainment, and took a step forward to get a better view of things. The music had stopped and Lady Ambrosia commanded the attention of everyone in the room.
Lady Ambrosia reached up into her flower adorned hat and pulled out a sprig of greenery. “This,” she said with a smile, “is mistletoe. As I walk about the room holding the mistletoe near each of you it will help me to know who is ready for love.”
“Oh my goodness this is so exciting,” Lady Calliope said. “If I were not already married, I would be most eager this evening.”
Her husband, Colonel St. Clair gave her a stern look.