London
Spring, 1886

Tristan Mallory, Lord Ellington, was bored. He looked around the full ballroom at the colorful skirts and laughing ladies and felt not one whiff of interest. At the ripe old age of 45 he’d lost all interest in the fairer sex.

OK, he admitted to himself, not all interest. As a founding member of the Spanking Club he still enjoyed reddening a woman’s behind. He attended Spanking Club meetings and did just that several times a month. But he no longer availed himself of the charms of the single female members. And it was all Lord and Lady Essex’s fault.

Ellington looked over at his friends as they talked, Charlotte reaching up to whisper in Dalton’s ear, her words earning her a laugh from her husband. That’s what I want, Ellington thought, love. It had been so long since his wife died that he’d forgotten about love. Seeing the Essexs’ happiness in the past year had brought the feelings back full force.

And Charlotte, bless her heart, had tried to find someone for Ellington to love

She’d not so subtly invited him to tea when her single friends were there. There had been house parties with his room situated between two different widow’s rooms, both of them vying for his attentions during the night. And there had been dinner invitations, where it was just Dalton and Charlotte, Ellington and one other lady. And although Ellington appreciated the effort not one of the ladies had raised his heart rate. He couldn’t image one of these sweet females across his knee, his hand coming down on their backsides.

Ellington stood and ran his hands down his muscular thighs. He knew he wasn’t bad to look at. Tall, muscular, blond hair, blue eyes. Why couldn’t he find a woman whom he could take over his knee, and then take to his bed?

He made his way across the ballroom to his hosts. Charlotte smiled at him as he appeared. Her green eyes were flashing mischief and beside her Dalton groaned, shaking his head.

“Lord Ellington, I have someone I want you to meet.” Without waiting for an answer Charlotte grabbed his arm and made her way to a pretty little blond whom she introduced as Shelia McCoy.

“Shelia’s late husband was Scottish, and they lived in Edinburgh. He passed several months ago and she has only been in England for a few days. I thought maybe you could show her the finer sites of London.” Charlotte smiled at him as he bowed low over Shelia’s hand, murmuring his condolences on the death of her husband. She was a pretty woman, but her eyes did not make him quiver.

“Milord,” Shelia whispered, letting her hand linger in his own. “Lady Essex tells me that you’re quite a horseman. I enjoy riding myself. Perhaps we could take a turn around the park some afternoon.”

Ellington kept his smile in place, despite the fact that he thought the woman’s offer a big suggestive. After all when you were seen in the park with someone it was obvious to the ton that there was something between you.

Dinner was announced at that time and Ellington was saved from making a response.

“May I escort you into the dinning room Mrs. McCoy?” He offered his arm, which the woman took. Inside the dinning room he found his place right next to the pretty blond. He looked at Charlotte who giggled. He really was going to have to have a talk with her about this. Although he appreciated the effort he would find a woman on his own. He just didn’t know where.

**********

Carin Piper flattened herself against a wall and held her breath. Who knew that one man would have so many servants? She knew that Lord Ellington’s daughter had recently married and moved to her own house. Why did one man need a large household staff? This was the third servant she’d seen since breaking into Ellington's home. And why wasn’t he like most people, giving them the night off when he was out?

She sighed as she waited. Here she was almost 35, unmarried, dressed like a man and breaking into people’s houses. This was not what she thought her life would be like.

Carin peered around the corner and, saw that it was clear and crept toward the area where she assumed the library would be. That would be where he kept all his important papers.

The door opened quietly and she slipped inside. An oil lamp illuminated the room, showing that her assumption had been correct. Walls of books lined two walls. And sitting near the French doors was a large roll-top desk.

She moved quietly across the room, taking hold of the cover and pulling. The desk was locked. She smiled to herself. She did love a challenge. Taking out her picks she went to work, freeing the lock in seconds and pushing the cover up silently.

She hoped that this time she would find what she was looking for. This was the fourth house she’d broken into this week. One of these men had been responsible for the death of her father, and she intended to find out who it was.

She picked up papers and began to read. She figured that she had at least three more hours before Ellington came home, enough time to look through the desk, find the Lord’s bedroom and see if he kept anything of interest there.

After coming up empty in the desk search Carin made her way quietly upstairs, hoping that another servant didn’t come around the corner. She found Ellington’s bedroom and entered quickly. A strong scent of cinnamon and sandalwood hit her nose. She’d seen Lord Ellington from a distance while she was scooping out the house. Even from across the street she could tell he was a handsome man. Too bad they were not in the same class.

She wondered what it would feel like to be with a man like him. To have him caress her, kiss her, love her. The thought of Ellington laboring above her brought back memories of her husband Mark. He’d been dead for five years, leaving her with nothing. But her husband had been a good man, gentle and strong.

When Mark had died her father, sweet man that he was, taught his daughter to fend for herself the only way he knew how: through crime. He’d taught her how to be silent, blend into the woodwork and take what would bring good money. But Carin had rejected that life of crime. She’d found a job as a seamstress assistant. When her father had been killed she’d decided to use his knowledge to bring his murderer to justice.

Carin sighed and took a candle from the pocket of her trousers. She lit it and sat it on the bedstead, and began searching the drawers.

**********

“I never knew that London was so dangerous,” Shelia said, sliding closer to Lord Ellington. “I’ve read in the newspapers that more than a dozen homes have been broken into in the past few days. It’s just terrible.”

She shivered and smiled at Ellington. He in turn took a sip of his wine and groaned into the glass.

“Actually Mrs. McCoy, the burglaries have dropped off as of late. Six months ago they were quite common. They stopped for a while, and have stared again. But one’s servants should be up to guarding the house while their master is away.”

“You’re so very knowledgeable, just like Lady Essex said. Perhaps we could share a dance after dinner?”

Ellington eyes popped wide open as he felt her hand slip up his thigh, dangerously close to his cock, and gently squeeze. The woman really was very bold, offering her favors after just meeting him. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe I’m going to stay for the dancing. Perhaps another time.”

Shelia pouted, squeezed again and then smiled at him. “Of course, Milord. I’m to attend the Duke of Roths’ crush tomorrow night. Will you be there?”

Ellington confirmed that he would be and then felt relief sweep over him as Dalton stood to announce that dinner was over. Shelia excused herself and Ellington made for the doorway.

“Leaving already?” Dalton came up behind him and clasped him on the shoulder. “Don’t like this latest prospect either?”

Shaking his head, Ellington smiled. “I have to hand it to your wife Essex, she is persistent. I appreciate the thought, but I’m afraid that perhaps my years of love are behind me. I’m happy now that Nancy has a husband and house of her own. The house is empty without her but I think I can find things to occupy my mind. Horses and such, you know. Some gambling. Perhaps I’ll spend more time at my home in the country.”

Essex smiled. “We’re having a Club meeting here next Monday. Will you be attending?”

“Of course,” Ellington replied. “I may not be able to find love, but I can find a nice bottom to spank. Amelia is always willing. Perhaps I can give her a double dose of what she likes.”

The two men laughed.

“Perhaps you should think about marrying her. She would make a good wife. And it would make Charlotte happy to think that you’d found someone.”

Ellington shook his head. “I enjoy Amelia’s company but I want more. Love. True Love.”

Essex nodded his head and Ellington excused himself before Charlotte could come alone and detain him.

Once inside his carriage he shook his head. Perhaps young Mrs. McCoy wouldn’t be too bad. His cock had stirred, just slightly, when she’d squeezed his thigh. He thought of taking her over his knee, raising her skirts and revealing her bare bottom. The idea did not cause him to smile and he groaned softly. He was setting his standards too high. He wanted what Charlotte and Dalton had. And that came along once in a lifetime. He thought of his wife Maura. How she loved to be spanked. How happy they had been together. But she’d been dead for 15 years.

He shook his head. Perhaps he would call on Mrs. McCoy tomorrow and take her for a ride. It would be better than sitting around and doing nothing. And she’d made it perfectly clear that she was willing to offer her charms. The problem was, Ellington knew, he was not willing to partake of them.

**********

Carin sat back on her heels and shook her head. Not one piece of paper that indicated that Ellington was the man who hired, and then murdered, her father. There wasn’t anything.

She sat down on the floor and covered her face with her hands, tears silently slipping down her face. Her father had been gone four months now. Four months since the Inspectors had shown up to tell her that he’d been found dead in a fashionable neighborhood. Killed in a botched robbery.

But Carin knew that wasn’t what happened. Her father was the best cat burglar in the city. He would never have botched anything. And three months before his death he’d told Carin that a high-ranking member of the ton who had a gambling problem had hired him. That person needed money. He paid Carin’s father to steal items and sell them. The fancy Lord provided information, and Carin’s father did the legwork. And they split the money.

“It’s good blunt Carin,” her father had said. “He lets me know when people are going to be out of their homes, and what they gots that’s worth taking. You’ll see, no harm will come from it.”

But it had. Her father was now dead, and Carin intended to find the person responsible and bring him to justice. But how would she do that? Finding out who it was would be easy. Carin was as skilled at breaking into people’s homes as her father was. Bringing that person to justice might prove a bit harder.

She stood and stretched. She could mark Ellington off her list. She had six more possibilities. Two of those possibilities would be at the Duke of Roths’ party tomorrow night. Did she dare try two houses in one night? She would have to. She wanted this done and over with.

She moved toward the doorway and then stopped in her tracks as voices filtered through the portal.

“Milord, you’re home early.” A woman’s voice rang out. “I’m sorry, I’ve yet to turn down your bed or light the lamps. Let me see to it, straight away.”

A deeper voice came and Carin nearly melted on the spot, her heart leaping into her throat.

“It’s all right Mrs. Walker, I can take care of those things myself. Take yourself off to bed.”

Carin wheeled around, looking for a place to hide. The room was large, filled with a huge bed that sat high off the floor, a wardrobe and desk. She looked at the French doors and the balcony. She didn’t think she had time to open the doors and climb down the balcony stairs before Ellington appeared.

Her breathing became labored as the doorknob turned. She moved quickly toward the bed, ducking down and throwing herself under the frame of the huge four-poster. She lifted the bed skirt and watched as a pair of black boots walked along the floor right near her face, and then she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand to try and stifle the sound.

The candle. She’d left it on the bedstead. A stupid mistake. He would see it and know that something was amiss.

She heard him mutter to himself softly. Then he lit the lamp on the bedstead and moved toward the doors. He opened them and cool evening air flooded the room.

Carin held her breath as he moved around, opening and shutting drawers, mumbling to himself. She gauged whether or not she could make it to the window before he saw her and decided against trying. He hadn’t raised an alarm so maybe the candle had not seemed strange to him.

The sounds of undressing soon filled her ears. He shrugged out of his coat and hung it over the chair. She could hear the buttons popping on his cuffs. Perhaps he came home early because he was tired. He would go to sleep and then she could slip out the French doors. Hopefully he left them open all night.

Ellington continued to move around the room. Once he was shod of his jacket and shirt he sat down and began to take off his boots.

Carin’s eyes widened as she watched him. Before all she would see were legs. Now that he was sitting she could see all of him. And he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. His chest was bare, covered in light blond hair. She wanted to run her fingers through that hair, smile up at him as he pounded into her. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

His arms were full of muscles, his face well formed with a full chin and big blue eyes.

The boots hit the floor and Ellington made his way toward a doorway that Carin was sure was his bathing room. When the door opened and he slipped inside she quietly moved out from under the bed, quickly stood and made a run for the French doors.

But Ellington had other ideas. He came out of nowhere, grabbing her around the waist and slinging her roughly onto the floor. She hit the wood with a thud, her breath leaving her body in a heavy exhale.

“You little blackheart, how dare you break into my home! We’ll see what the authorities have to say about this.”

Carin tried to stand and run for the doors again but Ellington grabbed her arms. She tried to pull away and he laughed softly.

“Why you’re nothing more than a little boy,” Ellington said. “You have no muscles at all. Why you’re soft as a...” His words trailed off and he pulled her to him. She heard him gasp and then laugh as she tried to break free of his grasp.

“A woman?” She fought against his arms as he held her close, one of his hands going up to pull her hat from her head so that her black tresses tumbled around her shoulder and down her back.

“Well I’ll be damned,” he said. “I’ve caught myself a thief. A female cat burglar. Perhaps we don’t need to bring the authorities into this after all.”

“Let me go! I didn’t take anything, I swear!” Carin continued to struggle against him but she knew that it was no use. The man was strong, built like an ox.

“Then what are you doing here you little thief? Why would you break into someone’s home and not take anything?”

He moved to the bed and threw her into the middle of it, straddling her hips and pinning her arms on either side of her head. He looked into her face and smiled. Long black hair, dark brown eyes. An upturned nose and a beautiful full mouth. He felt his loins stir.

“Tell me what you’re doing here. If you didn’t come to steal something, then what?”

“Go to hell!” She screamed. “Let me go!”

“I should go to hell?” The laughter in his voice filled the room. “That little mouth of yours needs washing out with soap!”

A knock on the door caught both of their attentions. “Milord, is everything all right?”

“Yes, Temple, everything is fine,” Ellington answered. “I have company for the evening and don’t wish to be disturbed. Go back to your bed.”

Footsteps echoed down the hallway and Ellington turned his attention back to his captive.

“Answer me. Why are you here?”

Carin thought quickly. She had to keep him from summoning the authorities.

“I was going to take things, but I didn’t find anything, I swear. Please let me go. I won’t come back. Please.”

“You’re a bad liar my little cat burglar. First you tell me you didn’t want to take anything. Then you say you were going to steal things. Which is it?”

“I was going to take things. I looked for jewelry, but didn’t find anything.”

Ellington threw back his head and laughed. “Try again. My late wife had loads of jewelry, all sitting in that drawer, which you left partially open, showing that you did look through it. So tell me another lie little cat.”

Carin stirred under him, his weight causing uncomfortable feelings of desire to build in her lower region.

“Please let me go,” she whispered. “I won’t come back. I can give you money.”

He laughed again. “Do you think I need your money? You’re stealing from me, remember?”

When Carin didn’t answer he stared into her eyes.

“A punishment is in order.” When her eyes widened he smiled. “But I won’t call an inspector. I will deliver the punishment. On your bare bottom.”

Carin’s eyes widened even further and Ellington grinned. “It is your choice little cat. You can willingly submit to a bare-bottomed spanking, or you can be handed over to the Yard. Which will it be?”

“They will take me to Newgate.” Her voice was soft, frightened.

“Yes, and they will probably say you have committed all the burglaries of late. Have you?”

She shook her head furiously, weighing her options. If she went to Newgate she would be locked up forever, unable to find her father’s killer and get her revenge. She had no choice, really. And how bad could it be? He would slap her behind five or six times and it would be over.

“Very well,” she said. “I will submit to your spanking. But not on my bare bum.”

“The deal, little cat, is not negotiable,” Ellington’s voice was soft as he dropped his head near her ears. “You will be bare assed for the spanking, or you will go to prison.”

Carin’s mind reeled. She really had no choice. She nodded her head and Ellington smiled, standing up suddenly and leaving her lying on the bed. He walked to a divan and sat down in the middle, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

“Come here my little cat burglar.”

Ellington felt himself harden even more as she walked toward him. She looked soft and beautiful. He hadn’t been this excited about a spanking in ages

She stopped in front of him and he looked up at her.

“What is your name?”

“Carin.”

“Very well Carin. Undo your trousers and pull them and your underclothes around your knees. Then place yourself across my lap.”

Carin’s trembling fingers worked at her laces, her fingers slipping in their effort to hurry. She was unsure if it was fear or excitement she was feeling.

She stopped fumbling with the laces and glanced toward the open doors.

“I know what you’re thinking and it’s really not worth the effort,” Ellington said. “I will catch you before you make it to the doors, I assure you. And your spanking will be that much harder. Now do as your told, before I send Temple after the authorities.”

Carin finished undoing her trousers, and then squared her shoulders. She refused to show him that she was frightened. She slipped her thumbs inside her clothing and pushed them down to her knees, underclothes and all.

Ellington threw out his arms and nodded his head toward his lap. Carin looked down. She could see a bulge where his hardened cock was pushing against his own trousers. She felt wetness form between her legs. To try and hide it she quickly lowered herself onto his lap.

“Raise your arms above your head and place your hands on the couch,” Ellington ordered. “Keep them there or I will restrain you.”

Not trusting her voice, Carin nodded. She shivered when Ellington’s hand began caressing her bum. His hands were soft, yet firm.

She relaxed slightly at the touch, yelping out in pain when the caress turned into a hard thwack.

He brought his hand down over and over, and Carin began to squirm.

“Stop, stop! It hurts too much!”

He slapped her behind repeatedly, the loud cracking noises competing with her sobs to fill the room.

“Please Lord Ellington, I’m sorry, please stop!”

She reached her hands back to try and block the spanking but he grabbed them with his free hand. He’d remained silent the entire time. Now with her hands caught behind her back he continued to spank, his right leg coming round to hold her own trembling ones down.

“Tell me the truth Carin. Tell me what you’re doing here.”

He delivered more slaps while he waited for her answer

She gasped around her sobs and whispered. “Because of my father.”

Ellington delivered a few more whacks and then whispered. “What about him. Who is your father? Tell me.”

“He was a thief,” she cried softly. “He was in the employ of an influential man of the ton. That man killed him.”

Her words were coming out in short bursts, her crying more pronounced as Ellington continued to spank her.

“And you think I’m that man?”

He slapped her behind harder and Carin groaned. The spanking was hard, but the feelings it was producing were incredible. She hadn’t felt need for a man in ages. But she wanted Lord Ellington. And she wanted him now, buried between her thighs. She knew that he wanted her. She could feel the evidence of his arousal pressed against her stomach.

“I don’t know who it is,” she whispered. “I’m searching for evidence.”

Ellington began caressing her behind, his hand soft against her fiery orbs. “How many houses have you broken into?”

SLAP. SLAP. “Four, including yours.” Carin began to rub herself against Ellington’s thigh and she heard him laugh softly in response.

“Then you are not the burglar taking things. Do you know who is?”

He slapped her ass again and she shook her head.

Carin sighed as he caressed her again, and then sobbed as he slapped her behind again and again and again, his hand coming down harder with each smack.

She begged, pleaded with him to stop but he paid her no attention. And the stream of wetness that was flowing between her thighs turned into a river.

“We have more of a problem that just you breaking into my home,” Ellington said, slapping her ass again. “You will stay here tonight, and receive another spanking in the morning.”

Carin groaned, shaking her head furiously. Her cries were filling the room.

“You have no choice, Carin,” Ellington said. “I need time to think, and you deserve more of a punishment than this small spanking.”

“Small spanking? My bum is on fire!”

He began slapping her ass again, harder and harder. Carin’s cries grew louder and she begged him to stop.

“Please, I can’t take anymore!”

He laughed. “You’ll get used to it.” He sat her up on her feet and ordered her to pull her trousers up.

“I thought...” she whispered.

He lifted her chin with his thumb. “You thought I would take you, ease the need in your quim?”

She blushed at his words, and then nodded.

“Not tonight little cat. But soon, very soon.”

She felt her blush deepen. The look in his blue eyes sent her senses reeling.

“You assume too much.” Her words were unconvincing and he laughed.

She gasped as he pulled her toward the bed, taking a sash from the bed curtains and tying her hands around the post at the bottom of the bed.

“You will wait here while I go downstairs and think. I will return.”

He left quickly and Carin yelled for him to come back. She worked at her bonds and then fell back against the bed. He had not given her time to pull up her trousers so she was lying across his bed, her bare red ass in the air, her arms tied around the frame. She sobbed and slumped onto the mattress, silently begging for the aching in her behind to end.

**********

Ellington took a pull on his cigar and a swig of his brandy, pondering the little vixen that was tied to his bed. Could he have been any luckier? He wanted a woman to quicken his blood and when he found her she was a thief. What kind of luck was that?

His cock was still painfully hard. He should go upstairs and ram himself into the little minx. But he couldn’t. He needed to get a hold on his emotions.

There were other issues at hand also. He wanted to keep her around. To do that he needed to help her find the man responsible for her father’s death. And how would he do that? He could go up to his friends and say, “Are you bankrolling a cat burglar? Did you kill that same man?”

Perhaps he could set her up as his mistress. Lord knows she’d enjoyed being spanked just as much as he enjoyed spanking. He smiled as he remembered her squirming, her cries of pain that turned into cries of need. Her reddened behind. And the wetness that had left a spot on his trousers.

He drained his glass and made his way upstairs. When he reached the door to his room he pushed it open and let out an angry breathe.

Carin was gone, the tie he’d used to bind her lying on the bed in her place.