Page 14 of Desire and Discipline

“She invited me. She is going to… mentor me. In the ways of the Society.”

To Priscilla’s surprise, Josie scowled.

“We could do that,” Josie protested.

“You could mentor me in disciplining a man?” Priscilla asked, tilting her head. Perhaps she had misunderstood some of the previous conversations among her friends—or perhaps some things had been left out.

Josie hesitated.

“Well… no. But we can still help.” Josie pouted.

Priscilla could not help but laugh. It seemed her friend was feeling possessive of her, which was very sweet.

“I am sure you will help, but I think it will also be helpful for me to have someone whose… interests match mine so closely.”

“Is she going to tell you how to punish Joseph?” Evie asked in a bloodthirsty tone. From the edge to her voice, she still felt some anger at her cousin. Priscilla gave her a hard look.

“Joseph and I have already worked things out between ourselves, and I will not be discussing that aspect with you. I doubt you would want Anthony speaking of such things to Joseph or Elijah,” she said repressively.

It was best to nip that in the bud right away.

While there were certainly still things she wanted to share with her friends, she would not embarrass her husband by speaking of any of his punishments.

“I am fairly certain Elijah does not want that, either,” Josie mumbled.

Priscilla pressed her lips together to keep from smiling because Evie was still staring at her as though she expected Priscilla to break.

After a long moment, Evie sighed.

“That is a very good look,” she told Priscilla, before turning her head to Josie. “It is a good look, is it not?”

“Very intimidating.” Josie nodded approval. “Just as good as Elijah’s.”

Priscilla would ask why it did not have much of an effect, but she already knew—none of the ladies ever appeared intimidated by anyone other than their own husbands. Oh well, it had been worth a try.

“You two are incorrigible.” Priscilla shook her head.

“We are. We are also concerned friends. If you need any help dealing with Joseph…” Evie let her voice trail off, her eyes flashing with emotion. Priscilla reached out to take her friend’s hand, touched by the defense and that Evie had chosen her over her own cousin.

Though she had no doubt, if Priscilla had been the one to cross Joseph, Evie’s reaction would have been even more fierce.

“Thank you. I do appreciate it, but I believe Joseph and I can take it from here. We need to work out our problems for ourselves, though I do thank you for bringing it to my attention.”

“I do not yet, but I may in the future.” Joseph’s voice made all of them start.

He was standing in the doorway, having approached so quietly, none of them had heard him.

Priscilla could only wonder how long he’d been standing there for.

He smiled at her before his lips turned back down as he regarded his cousin and sister-in-law.

“I apologize for shouting earlier. I do understand why you were upset, though I assert that I had the right to be upset as well.”

Evie and Josie both made derisive sounds in their throats, but then they sighed.

“I apologize as well.”

“Me, too. Even if I was upset… your and Priscilla’s relationship is between you two. I know I would not appreciate you inserting yourself into mine and Anthony’s.” Evie pinned Joseph with a hard look. “Please do not make it necessary in the future.”

Joseph snorted. “Trust me, I do not intend to.” Then he held out his hand toward Priscilla. “Father and Diana are taking his constitutional around the garden. Would you like to take one with me?”

“Yes.” She beamed at him, then glanced at her friends.

“Go on, abandon us,” Josie said with a shooing motion that ended with her picking up the last two biscuits. “We will see you at supper.”

Laughing, Priscilla got to her feet and went to meet her husband.

Behind her, Evie and Josie were now already bickering about whether or not Josie should give Evie one of the biscuits.

Joseph shook his head, his dark eyes dancing with amusement as he led her away, her hand wrapped around his arm and his free hand atop hers.

“How was your morning, my Lady?” he asked. There was some concern there, but he sounded more interested than anything else.

Priscilla studied him. Something ineffable had changed during the time she’d been with Catherine. He seemed… more secure. More grounded.

Happier.

“Lady Cross is a very pleasant companion.” Priscilla hesitated before plowing ahead. He might have already heard her say it, anyway. “She has offered to be a mentor to me. If you do not think that will be too awkward.”

He looked down at her as they moved, his affection and love shining clear in his expression.

“Whatever you wish, my Lady, that is what you shall have.” He paused at the door to the conservatory, which led to the back garden. “I love you, Priscilla.”

“And I love you.” She reached up with both hands, going up on her toes at the same time, to take his face between her palms and bring him down for a kiss. Their relationship had literally changed overnight, but she already felt it would be for the better, bringing them closer together than before.

Their happy ending might not look like their friends’, but it was theirs.