Lord Tristram’s Love Match by R.R. Vane

Chapter 14

“Tomorrow is Friday. A day of fasting and prayer and of contrition. A day you should observe, just as you vowed.”

Tristram sighed deeply upon hearing his cousin’s surly voice. It was a voice he’d come to hate. And he decided he’d erred when thinking his cousin was not entirely a bad man. Perchance it hadn’t been so when he’d entered the Church. But now Tristram hated Isidore and his malice. And he hated what his cousin said next.

“You’re to chastise your wife properly! You have tarried long enough and you know it. Today she seemed to me even more defiant, casting you dark, venomous looks. It has to end! So put an end to her defiance, unless you want me to act in your stead! I have the Church behind me and I will, if need be.”

Tristram found himself growling in sheer fury, “You will not touch her!”

His cousin cocked an eyebrow, and tossed out in a voice as cold as ice, “Then do your duty as you vowed! And show me that this female does not rule you.”

Tristram looked grimly upon the implement which his cousin tossed on the table in front of him. It was a birch switch, and the purpose his cousin had in mind seemed clear. Tristram was still mutely staring at it when Judith suddenly came upon them, and when her eyes fell upon the birch, it was plain she also understood its purpose.

“So,” she said in a mocking voice, which sounded unconcerned and defiant.

And Tristram knew there was no return from this, because he understood too well his cousin meant to act not only due to his mad religious zeal, but also because Judith had humiliated his family in the worst possible way when she’d let it known a De Brunne had been unable to bed her. Tristram had not truly cared for the insult, because he’d been too pained over the failure of his marriage, yet his family had deeply cared, and they would not let this be, enlisting both Henry and the Church’s support to punish the woman who’d offended them so grievously. Tristram’s own pleas had not made Henry fully relent, even if the punishment decided upon Judith had ended up being far milder than the one his family had wished for.

“Many thanks, cousin, for this much-needed tool,” Tristram made himself toss out, plastering a careless smile upon his face and picking up the birch.

He then did the only thing he could do when his cousin was staring at Judith with such spite in his eyes. He took her away from there, hoisting her over his shoulder. He felt relieved she did not struggle or protest, which made easy his way up the stairs to their bedchamber.

At last, he cast his wife on the bed, tossing the birch aside.

“Listen to me well, you foolish, reckless woman! Listen to me for once...” he started.

Judith shrugged with a gleam of sheer hatred in her brown eyes.

“Do what you will and have your revenge! I do not care.”

Tristram raked a hand through his hair, because it seemed Judith had not understood at all the message he’d thought to convey through Lady Fenice. It had been his belief that the wise Lady Fenice would make her daughter see reason, and that Judith would listen to what her mother had to say, but he had been mistaken. He sighed, knowing there would be no return from this. His cousin must go from Redmore, once and for all, and there was only one course to take. He would have to deliver another punishment – one which was even sounder than the one he’d delivered upon the day of his arrival. Yet not one which was unduly harsh, because he could not bear to hurt his wife, even if she had hurt him deeply. He reasoned he could make Judith humble and repentant without inflicting too much pain upon her. Certainly, he would trample upon her pride in order to do so, but he reasoned it was far better he did so now, rather than have his cousin cruelly flog her in Church for all to see.

He made his voice dispassionate and hard. “You shall be punished. At once and well punished. And, after you’ve been punished, you’re to go down the stairs and tell all and sundry you’ve been soundly chastised for defying me. You are to tell them, loud and clear, that you are at last humbled and repentant.”

Judith said nothing, just staring at him, tight-lipped and pale.

“It’s either this punishment, in the privacy of your own chamber, or a punishment in front of all to see, and far harder than the one you underwent when Redmore surrendered!” he threatened in a stern voice.

Judith cast him a mutinous look, yet he knew her well enough to understand she would rather submit to a punishment in the privacy of their chamber. He felt relieved, but nevertheless aware he had a hard task ahead of him. He had to make her look truly repentant, and persuade his cousin he’d brought his miscreant wife to heel.

Suppressing a sigh, he took hold of the birch, knowing he would not get to use it much, but that it had a portentous part to play in the punishment he would deliver. He placed a chair in the middle of the room and beckoned Judith to him with a grim look in his eyes.

“Come here, hoist your skirts and place yourself across my knee.”

Judith’s eyes darted to the birch he held, and he began to perceive fear in them. It was good she now finally felt afraid, he thought in mirthless satisfaction. It would work better and make the punishment seem to her more hurtful than it was in truth.

He raised his eyebrows at her when she tarried.

“If you do not come here at once, there’ll be a renewed lesson of this tomorrow at first light. And you might not wish to have a second lesson on an already tender bottom.”

Judith bit her lip and for a while looked mutinous. To his relief though, she strode at last to where he was, and obediently draped herself across his lap.

“Good,” he said. “I’m pleased you’re learning to obey at last.”

What she uttered sounded suspiciously like a muffled curse, and Tristram suppressed a sigh. To think he’d ever believed Judith was a sweet, mild-tempered woman who was shy! He tossed the birch aside, because he had no intention to use it yet, and he proceeded to warm his wife’s bottom with a hand spanking. He was careful to increase the heat of his spanking gradually so that he wouldn’t end up bruising her.

He spanked slowly and methodically, covering Judith’s plump bottom with a faint shade of red, then going to attend to her sit spots in the same manner. He willed himself to be calm and dispassionate and not to become aroused by what he was doing, because in order for all to be persuaded she repented at last, his wife needed to see this as a genuine punishment, and not as love play. So he ignored the heat in his body as he delivered the spanking. And he ignored the way in which Judith started to stir and moan under the mild spanking meant only to warm her bottom. When he was satisfied that both her bottom and upper thighs were a faint shade of red, he began to spank hard and fast, barely allowing Judith to gasp for breath between his rapid spanks. He alternated between the left and the right buttock until his lady’s bottom was a deep shade of red and she started sobbing softly. And then he mercilessly attended to her sit spots, causing her to sob harder and harder. He only stopped when her body seemed to become pliant and resigned under his spanks, and she began to plead with him.

“Please,” she muttered incoherently, and Tristram felt his heart clench in compassion for her.

He hardened his resolve to have this done and over with once and for all. He paused, resting his hand on Judith’s now blazing bottom.

“We’re done with this part of the punishment. You have yet to feel the birch upon your bottom.”

“W-what?” Judith sobbed incredulously.

“You will spend the time I decree with your skirts hoisted, facing the wall, so you have time to think upon how you’ve behaved towards me. Then you will get the birch,” he told her in a voice which he made calm and smooth.

He knew she would find this punishment deeply humiliating, and this was what he needed at this time. As for the birch – it was more of a threat, because he would use it only sparingly upon her, and just so that neither of them would be forced to lie in Church if his cousin asked them whether it had been indeed employed.

Judith began to wonder,through the haze of her tears, how she’d ever thought there could be nothing worse than the belting she’d received from Tristram in the bailey. Tristram hadn’t used his belt now, but this spanking already stung worse than the one she’d first had from him. And he’d only used his hand. He’d yet to use the birch.

She sniffed, unable to wipe her tears because she was now holding her skirts with both hands and facing the wall, just as Tristram had instructed. And she was well aware that the fiend was now staring at her with his brooding dark eyes, undoubtedly pleased with his handiwork. She didn’t have to peek at her bottom to know it was crimson from his hard spanking. And the demon was most certainly rejoicing in the pain he’d caused her. While she sobbed now, understanding that no matter how hard he’d spanked her and no matter how much he hated her now, she was entirely in his thrall. She loved him, as always, like a besotted fool. In truth, her defiance of him was just a desperate attempt to resist him and the power he had over her.

“Stop fidgeting,” Tristram called to her callously from behind. “You’re to stand still. Unless you want the birch to fall even more harshly upon you than I already mean it.”

She sobbed, knowing he’d already achieved what he wanted. She feared that birch as she had feared nothing in this world. And at the same time, there was a deep, abject heat in her quim and a shameful enjoyment of the threat he was now making. She did not know how long she spent striving to mind Tristram’s stern command, yet the time spent facing the wall was even more excruciating than the spanking. She desperately wanted to rub her poor scorched bottom, but she knew Tristram would not allow her this, nor a release of the maddening fire she now felt burning inside her sex. She already understood he didn’t mean to thrust inside her after this punishment, and she hung her head in deep shame, hating herself for craving his touch.

“Good,” Tristram said at last when Judith had begun to think this agony would last for all eternity. “Now it is time for the birch.”

Judith nearly opened her mouth to plead with him, but at the last moment she bit her lip, resolving she would not humble herself even further by entreating her lord anew.

“You are to stand just as you are, with your skirts hoisted. And you are to receive the birch upon your buttocks and thighs without attempting to run from its sting. Do you understand me?” Tristram asked.

Judith found herself almost unwittingly saying with a pitiful sniff, “Aye, husband.”

“Good,” Tristram said, and Judith gritted her teeth for what she now expected to be excruciating pain.

She heard the dreaded swish of the birch before she felt its maddening sting. Once. And she gritted her teeth, willing herself to be still and obedient. Twice. New tears started flowing down her face. Oh, but it burned so, and Judith opened her mouth to beg for Tristram’s forgiveness because it no longer mattered she didn’t think herself in the wrong at this time. All she wanted was for him to stop. And… blissfully he did.

“‘Tis done,” he told her tersely.

She didn’t dare to move though, because she was astounded. He’d only birched her twice, and while the sting had been fierce, she understood he’d not done it as hard or as savagely as she’d thought he would. She’d thought this was only the beginning of her new punishment, but it seemed she’d been wrong.

“You may let go of your skirts and you may turn to face me,” Tristram commanded.

She did just as he’d ordered, feeling a strange wave of gratitude towards him. He could have birched her mercilessly. Yet he hadn’t. She suppressed a sigh as she turned to face him, still loath to meet his eyes, and knowing her face looked swollen and blotchy. Why was she grateful to him instead of hating him as she should?

“Now this part of the punishment will be the hardest to bear. You are to state you’ve been soundly chastised in front of all the people we’ll call upon to gather in the Hall. You are to tell them you’ve learnt true repentance,” Tristram said, and for a moment it seemed to her his voice sounded warm and compassionate.

She lingered though, because he had the right of it. Humbling herself in front of her people would be the hardest thing of all to bear. Far harder than the spanking she’d just borne.

“You will do this, unless you want all of your people to see me birch your already crimson behind in front of them!” he threatened, his voice now hard and cold again.

She bit hard into her lip, but she made herself follow him because she knew there was no choice and that what he threatened to do would be even more humbling than what he was now asking of her. She braced herself for it, striving to take her mind away from what was happening. It was as in a dream that she and Tristram walked in front of all the people that had gathered in the Hall. Judith knew only too well Tristram was still carrying in his hand the birch from her punishment. She suppressed a deep sigh, telling herself she should no longer care. They all gathered there, at Tristram’s behest, Sir Roderick, all her people, Tristram’s men and Lord FitzRolf who was now looking at her with a sympathetic expression on his face, as well as Tristram’s dour cousin who was casting her a look of dark triumph. She opened her mouth to speak the hateful words Tristram had commanded her to say, yet she didn’t have the chance to utter them.

Tristram suddenly halted her. “My lady wife has been finally chastened, as you can well perceive, and she has learnt true repentance for her deeds,” Tristram said in a high, grim voice. “And she is now forgiven. Because it’s Christian to forgive,” he added, giving a pointed look in his cousin’s direction.

And Judith saw Tristram’s cousin cast an assessing look at her teary face and at the way she held herself.

“Aye,” the prelate reluctantly said after a long while. “At last she looks repentant.”

Tristram spoke to him with a mirthless smile, “Good. You have spoken the words in front of all to hear. And now I want you gone. And give your news to Henry and the Church. I have fulfilled my vow.”

“You have also vowed to make sure she would never defy you again!” Tristram’s cousin countered.

“She is still called Lady de Brunne, and you should strive not to forget! I will make sure she won’t either. Just as I vowed. And now you are to go from Redmore,” Tristram said in the same hard, grim voice he’d employed earlier.

“Tomorrow’s fasting day. And I’ve yet to attend Sunday Mass. I shall leave after the Lord’s Day,” his cousin stated coldly.

“Fine. As long as you are well and truly gone, and I never set eyes upon you again. FitzRolf will accompany you. He’s in a hurry to rejoin his own wife,” Tristram said just as coldly.

He then took hold of Judith’s arm and led her up the stairs. She followed him without protest, still stunned and musing upon the words which had been spoken. When they went back to her bedchamber, she attempted to sit down, but she found that the sting in her bottom was too fierce.

“Lie on your belly,” Tristram said, and his voice sounded warm and gentle.

Again, she obeyed him, beginning to recall what he’d said to his cousin. Tristram went to fetch something from his trunk. She cast a worried look over her shoulder when he bent over her, hoisting her skirts to bare her bottom.

“You…”

Her heart started thumping in alarm, because perchance he meant to spank her again.

“Shush,” Tristram said and his voice sounded warm and caring. “It’s just a salve. I promise it is soothing.”

He started rubbing a thick sort of ointment onto her bottom, and Judith began to experience that shameful, maddening sensation in her quim, because her behind felt sore under his touch, yet at the same time the cold salve felt like a blissful balm upon her skin. She sighed in sheer regret when he was done, and felt a renewed soreness in her rear when he attempted to cover it with her skirts.

“Off then?” he asked ever so gently, hoisting her skirts again after he’d perceived she was in pain.

She nodded and felt grateful for the cool air upon her heated bottom.

“You will feel better in the morning. The sting will fade,” Tristram said in a voice which, to Judith’s surprise, sounded somewhat remorseful.

And she recalled the look of dark triumph upon his cousin’s gaunt face when Tristram had brought her down to the Hall, and she also recalled how the prelate had always goaded Tristram to punish her. And give your news to Henry and the Church. She plainly recalled Tristram’s cousin telling him she should have been forced to take the veil. In spite of this, Tristram had allowed her to remain in her home. At the time, she’d thought he meant to have his revenge upon her. But now she plainly recalled Tristram had not even let her utter the humbling words of repentance in front of all to hear. Instead he’d spoken them himself, in a challenging voice, daring his cousin to disprove his words. And he’d used the birch but very sparingly upon her, although he could have delivered a savage punishment with it which would have made her cower in front of him. Yet, in truth, he hadn’t. He’d spanked her soundly, but the punishment had been bearable. Harsh, but not one to inflict numbing, mindless pain upon her.

Judith stared at her husband in sudden understanding. Oh, but she’d been so foolish! And she recalled Lord FitzRolf’s words, urging her to see Tristram was not vain, not cruel and not petty.

“You punished me because they asked it of you, if I was to stay your wife. They made you vow it,” she muttered, berating herself for not understanding sooner he’d meant to shield rather than harm her.

He only shrugged, choosing not to answer.

“Just go to sleep. The punishment is done and over with. And you’ve no more to fear from me, I vow.”

She’d spurned this man. And she’d humiliated him by seeking an annulment of their marriage contract. Yet, instead of seeking his revenge, he’d thought to aid her. Judith blushed fiercely, berating herself for having misjudged Tristram so. He may not have kept faith with her during their marriage, but he preserved his knightly honour. And he’d thought to protect a woman who was still his wife, rather than drive her from her home and see her harshly punished by the King and the Church. Tears spurted in her eyes. And through the haze of these tears, she saw Tristram cast her a look of sheer compassion and regret.

“Don’t cry. It’s done and over with. I promise,” he repeated in a heart-breaking voice.

Judith found she no longer cared for the fierce sting in her bottom as she turned and sat up, reaching for her husband.

“Tristram, will you hold me now? Please?” she asked in a pleading voice.

She no longer cared how pleading she sounded. What she wanted now was simply for her husband to hold her. And she understood that, even in the year she’d thought their marriage over, she’d always thought Tristram her husband.

And Tristram held her, just as she’d asked him, and she revelled in the deep, delicious warmth of his embrace.

“Kiss me, please,” she urged him, in the same entreating voice.

He lowered his lips to hers, but still he hesitated, and Judith found herself capturing his lips with hers in a hungry kiss. For so long she’d dreamt of his kisses.

Soon kissing turned to tender, lingering caresses, and Judith luxuriated in them because it was, in truth, the first time since their reconciliation that Tristram was kissing her. And it was the very first time their coupling was tender and sweet rather than ardent and frenzied.

Later, Judith lay sated upon her belly, watching her husband through the same avid, lovesick eyes with which she’d always looked upon him. Yet she saw that while he’d undressed her during their lovemaking, the undertunic he’d worn all day had stayed in place.

“Will you not undress for bed?” she asked lazily, thinking that, perchance, she might persuade him to love her again after they were both naked.

He shook his head, and stared away from her.

“Nay. I am weary,” he told her tersely.

She sighed, understanding he was still cross with her for wanting to end their marriage. And she felt cross with herself, although she knew that at the time she’d felt she’d had no other choice. Yet they were still bound in spite of her actions, and she still loved him. And he… Tristram may not ever grow to love her, but he had protected her and kept her on as his wife, instead of taking his revenge. So he was not as unfeeling towards her as she’d thought him. Judith resolved she would settle for this for all times – because she understood she could no longer bring herself to ever part from him, no matter how little regard he now had for her.

She looked at him with full love in her eyes, deciding once and for all not to care she was not loved in return. She brushed a kiss upon his lips, and held both his hands towards her, marvelling how graceful and long-fingered they were. He frowned at her in puzzlement, but didn’t push her away, as she began to look upon his hands closely. One hand was still reddened from the spanking he’d given her, yet now she understood why he’d done it and how he’d strived to spare her from what must have been much worse.

She kissed both his hands, then noted something she’d never perceived before about Tristram.

“The little finger of your right hand… It’s slightly longer than the little finger of your left. See?” she said, feeling silly, yet very happy at what she’d uttered.

He shook his head in sheer puzzlement.

“What?”

“You’re flawed – truly flawed! I never thought it when I first met you! But you are. Flawed just like the rest of us! Not flawless! Not a dream come true! I see it now. And I am happy,” Judith said with a bright smile.

Tristram lookedat his wife in some alarm, because he hadn’t meant to spank her very hard, but it seemed the spanking was making her act strangely. Before, she’d been defiant of him, yet now she was sweet, just as the Judith he’d first fallen in love with. He suppressed a smile, suddenly understanding he still loved the old, sweet Judith just as much as he now loved the new, defiant one. It was a thing he could not help, no matter how hard he’d been trying to tell himself he no longer cared for her. However, he was still blazingly angry for how she’d behaved. And even if he felt sorry for having had to humble his wife in front of her people, and for bestowing upon her a harsher spanking than he’d ever wished, he still could not bring himself to forget she’d coldly spurned him.

“Just go to sleep now, wife,” he ordered, making his voice stern.

Yet he could not sleep, knowing he had a grim day of punishment of his own ahead tomorrow, and not failing to recall how it had been between him and Judith and how he’d never understood why she’d come to part from him.