Be careful of your tone…

This #WIPItUp Wednesday, I am excited to bring you a sizzling little excerpt from my soon-to-be-released Regency spanking romance!
In this scene, Lydia speaks impertinently to her guardian, and soon lives to regret her insolent tone when she realises what the consequences will be…
***
I regret my tone, and the words even as they leave my lips. They hang in the air of the carriage around us, encircling me as I hold my breath, awaiting Lord Markham’s response. I look to him, trying to read his face and decide if I have overstepped the unspoken line between us. It is a stony silence which meets me, and at once I know I have aggrieved him. “My Lord, I did not mean to offend you, I…”
He raises his right hand, showing me his palm, and the act halts me in an instant. I look back to his face, my wilfulness sliding into trepidation, and am greeted by the all-too familiar brow rising in front of me. “I do trust you, Lydia, yes,” he replies, smoothly. “Yet I am less convinced with that mouth of yours.”
I blanch, rueful to have displeased him, and uncertain about what it may now mean. “I apologise,” I say. “I meant only to express my frustration about the secrecy of this special occasion.”
“I know,” he replies quickly. “I understand that. But you will learn to still your tongue and control your tone when you speak to me.” His voice is low and steely, making me uneasy. “I thought I had only recently delivered a lesson in respect, and yet now I find it may need teaching again.”
The knot of excited anxiety in me twists, knowing full well what he means, and yet refusing to acknowledge it. “There is nothing further to learn, My Lord,” I say hopefully. “I meant no offence by it!”
“And yet offence was taken?” he replies, staring at me severely.
“For that I am sorry,” I reply, in a little more than a whimper.
He nods, a small smile forming on those lips. “I suspect you will be,” he answers. “Once you have been taken over my knee again.”
My heart is raging inside of me, and threatens to push up into my throat. “My Lord!” I gasp, “you cannot mean to do so here, in the carriage? What if we are seen? What if the driver, or the footman hears us?”
The smile on his face grows. “Then I daresay that you, My Lady, will be rather embarrassed?”
My breath is coming in short bursts now, and I am close to panting again. “But, Thomas – what will people think?” I look to the carriage door anxiously, as though escape is even an option available to me.
“Most likely my dear, they will think you are a naughty young woman in need of correction from her guardian, and they would be right, wouldn’t they?”
I meet his eye, my no doubt panic-stricken expression aligning with his cool composure. He cannot mean to spank me here, I maintain, although his body language already tells me that I am quite wrong on this assumption.
“Come now,” he says smoothly. “Come over my knee and take your punishment. You must learn to speak to me with respect.”
“P- please, Thomas,” I stutter. “Do not do this – not here!”
He glares at me, clearly unimpressed by my hesitation. “I will add another five swats for every minute you keep me waiting.”
I start, moving from my seat, and yet unsure where I should now go. Energy courses around my body, making me feel giddy and panicked all at once.
“Lydia,” Thomas’ voice is calm and warming. “Now, please.”
***
Check out the other hot excerpts at the #WIPItUp blog this week!

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