Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Walter

George, the head footman, had intended to formally introduce me to his lordship himself when he arrived home. He didn't know about the little discussion I'd had earlier with the younger Stanhope.

Before George could speak, however, the young man dropped his tailcoat on the floor, shouted, "I need to be attended to," then flounced up the stairs with shoes covered in mud.

I blinked.

Dennis, the other footman, picked up the tailcoat. "Well, I have to attend to this."

George cleared his throat. "It's your turn to go and please the young lord. I did it last Tuesday."

The other man glared right back. "I believe I was called upon Thursday and Friday."

"Still…" George cringed.

"Is this something I can do?" I wanted to ingratiate myself as soon as possible. The position of valet was not elevated, but this was a good job. I'd been selected from several other candidates. Despite my bulk, I wanted to prove I could be quick on my feet. Perhaps this was the moment of which the lord and Louis had spoken of. I'd yet to reconcile brute strength with whatever unspoken method I was to use to bring the young lord to heel.

George drew in a deep breath. "His lordship's needs are…particular."

I considered for a long moment. Did he mean…? As I gazed into the man's green eyes, I recognized the truth. "I'll go this time."

Dennis cleared his throat. "What? You? Have you ever sucked off a man before? He's going to ask you to do that, you know."

Sucked off? If you only knew . So apparently the lord had some kind of hold on the other servants. He would undoubtedly be shocked by my appearance then. And the actions I planned to take. "I am capable of doing many things. If this is what the lord requires, then I shall do it." Decision made, I straightened my shirt. "I'll do it."

Relief did not begin to describe the looks on Dennis and George's faces. I had no issue with men being intimate with men. Ladies, for me, however, were a different issue. I'd once been persuaded by a lady's maid into a closet for a quick frolic. The affair hadn't ended well, and I chose to leave that position rather than face the woman every day.

As I headed upstairs, I considered what little I knew of Viscount Kenneth Cockaigne. Twenty-three, first child of Earl Marcus and Countess Isabel Stanhope. Younger brother, James—age twenty-one—had already married and produced a son. Their younger sister, Catherine—aged sixteen—still resided at home as well. She was to be introduced this season as a debutante. The Earl, his wife, and his daughter currently visited their Sussex country estate, but were expected back in London shortly.

The Stanhope fortune was, as I understood it, substantial. Most of it would fall to Kenneth—although some was to be settled upon his siblings. He merely had to marry and produce an heir.

He had two thousand a year and therefore, few cares. Having grown up in poverty, I could not imagine living this life. I had worked since I turned ten and would continue to do so for many years to come .

I meant to knock, but the door to the lord's bedroom was open.

He stood, stark naked, palming his cock.

An impressive one at that.

"Oh—so we meet again."

"Yes, your Lordship."

"And you are aware of what I like?"

"Yes, your Lordship."

"Well, get on with it."

I considered for a long moment as I stepped into the room. I closed the door behind me. Whether the noise would carry or not meant little to me. If Dennis and George regularly serviced this man, there was likely nothing that might perturb them. Molly, the maid, and Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, were currently belowstairs. John, the cook, stayed in the kitchen. Charles, the father's steward, was out on some errand, and Louis, the butler, was occupied. That left me and this bratty, immature miscreant.

Time for action .

I strode across the room, snagged Kenneth's wrist, and dragged him toward the bed. I sat, threw him over my knee, and positioned my arms in an unbreakable grip. Then I walloped him. Hard. Repeatedly. I might have forgiven frivolity in a younger man, but his lordship was the heir and had been an adult for half a decade. If he had not learned manners and civility in such a time span, I believed it fell upon me to show him the error of his ways. Also, his father had made it clear this young man had been warned and was aware of the consequences of his actions. I'd warned him. He'd ignored me. He'd chosen this course.

Or so I told myself.

As my dark hand struck his pale skin, I felt grim satisfaction. Well, his pinkening formerly pale arse.

He yelped, whined, and cried at each blow. "Why are you doing this? How dare you lay a hand on me? I shall tell my father."

"Your father knows and approves." That might have been a little bit of an exaggeration, but Louis had been clear what brute strength meant. "You know why I'm doing this. "

"I don't," he wailed. "I have done nothing wrong."

"You dropped your coat." Smack . "You wore dirty shoes upstairs." Smack. "You were disrespectful." Smack . I might have been pushing that one, but George truly had wanted to properly introduce me, and the young lord's callous and insensitive actions prevented that. "My name is Walter. I am your new valet." Smack, smack, smack. The skin on his ass was turning a nice shade of crimson. "Your father hired me to discipline you. You've been given many opportunities to behave and you've chosen to be disrespectful. I warned you."

"I always drop my coat and wear my shoes upstairs." More wailing.

More smacks. "Well, in the future, you will not. Your valet puts the effort into dressing you properly. Therefore, you shall be respectful of your attire." I added three more smacks. The final one resonated through me.

And apparently through him. His stiff cock brushed my thigh.

My own stiffened in response.

As much as I wanted relief—and understood clearly how much he needed it—I was not going to provide it. Let him be uncomfortable. He was quite capable of servicing himself. Of that, I was certain. And as much as I wished to see him drop to his knees before me, I would restrain myself—this time, anyway.

When his cries and wails subsided, I righted him. He was unsteady on his feet, and I used my large hand on his lower back to give him assistance. "You shall rest now. I believe dinner is served at eight."

He wiped ineffectually at his nose. Snot ran everywhere. "It does. But I shall not be able to sit."

"Oh, you will sit. And be uncomfortable. And think twice before you ever enter the house again in such a disrespectful manner." I stood, mindful of my erection. "Good day, my Lord."

He headed for the bed and quickly slid underneath.

The cold sheets will feel good on his heated arse. I almost felt that he did not deserve the relief, but I had been stern enough. I picked up each item of clothing he had so rashly discarded on the floor. All on top of his muddy shoes.

Once I had everything arranged, I left the room, closed the door behind me, and descended the stairs.

George and Dennis met me in the servants' quarters. Dennis spoke first. "What did he do to you?"

I tilted my head. "To me? You should ask what I did to him ."

Both men gaped as I headed off to deal with the dirty laundry.

Although I worried I might have gone too far, I had followed instructions. Kenneth had the choice of changing his profligate and decadent ways or he would be receiving further punishments. I very much suspected he was not going to go to his father.