The next morning, Thayer escorted Xaviera back to the manor, where he delivered his betrothed into the care of the woman, Sylvia. He could tell the old woman was not pleased at this turn of events. One look at her young charge's face and she knew what had transpired between them. He also ignored the pleading expression in Xaviera's eyes not to leave her at the hands of her old nurse. Her body craved his once again. She would have him remain with her, so that they might make love the day long. But he excused himself, declaring he had business to tend to. He promised he would return in time to sup with her this evening.

Once the door to the bedchamber had closed behind them, Sylvia wasted no time in scolding Xaviera, reprimanding her for her thoughtlessness. "How could you allow him such liberties?" her hands were fisted on her scrawny hips. "And you not yet wed! You've given over the one thing you had to bargain with." Sylvia stated, frowning severely.

Xaviera listened to her rantings with only half an ear. She stripped the sheer tunic off her body, which she'd worn down to the bathhouse the previous night, letting it lay where it fell in the middle of the floor. Approaching the gilded, full-length mirror, she appraised the evidence of her lost virginity.

Behind her, the old nurse gasped in shock at the darkening bruises visible on Xaviera's pale skin, the mark of Thayer's teeth marring the delicate curve of her breast.

"His lordship is an animal! Just look what he's done to you! For shame, Xaviera! And I do not care that he is your betrothed! How your father can allow you to marry him, I can only wonder, I vow! I know all about Lord Thayer. Why, he's even to been to my own village, the place where I was born, to plunder the maidens there!"

"You must not speak so of my husband, Sylvia." Xaviera turned to look at the woman, a new note of authority in her voice that took the nurse aback. "I will not entertain any ill spoken of him. My body bears the marks of Lord Thayer's passion. I am proud to bear them. He took my virginity because it was his to take. It could not have been any other way." She returned her gaze to the mirror, perusing her naked body with a critical eye, running her hands down her slender rib cage to her hips, twisting the lower half of her body, to inspect the bruising on her buttocks. She smiled, remembering the way he had taken here there, like a randy stallion, filling her with himself.

"I shall speak to your father!" Sylvia declared. "Surely, he will have something to say about all this. And as for you. . . . "

But Xaviera interrupted her tirade as she continued to inspect herself in the mirror. "You, old nurse, no longer have the right to order me about, as if I were still a child. I am a woman. . . . .and your mistress. You will obey me as you do my father."

Sylvia gaped at her. What had happened to the sweet, adorable child who would never have dared talk to her elders in this manner only the day before? But looking at her now, Sylvia could see the changes Lord Thayer had wrought within her, as well as other changes she herself had ignored before this day. Xaviera would never again be chastised as an impudent child. She was a fully-formed woman in both body and mind. Lord Thayer's claiming of her body had merely brought it to her attention. She had lost control of her charge. When Lord Malcolm returned to the estate, he would see that there was no more need for the old nurse and send her back to her village. Something would have to be done.

"Leave me, now. I wish to be alone." Xaviera ran her hands back up her flat belly, cupping her breasts firmly in her hands, testing their weight. She glanced sharply into the mirror to see Sylvia still standing behind her, uncertain whether to obey or not. This was the first time Xaviera had dared exert authority over a servant. She liked it. She must get used to doing so before she became Lady Thayer and took over the household at Belsoie.

Xaviera waited imperiously for Sylvia to curtsy and retreat from the room as she returned her attention to her nude figure in the looking glass. Ignoring the woman, she took a pink nipple between thumb and forefinger, pinching lightly, fascinated as it grew hard and distended from her touch.

At last, Sylvia swallowed, breaking the silence. "But. . .but. . .m'lady. . ." she addressed her charge as such for the first time in her life, ". . .your clothes!"

"Leave them. I will dress later. I do not wish to wear garments now."

"But. . . . .'tis indecent!" Sylvia attempted one last time to revive her weakened authority over the young woman.

"I said I will dress later." Xaviera was not be thwarted. "I do not intend to leave my chambers until I sup with his lordship tonight. Come to me when he arrives, so that I may ready myself for him. Now, leave me." And her tone brooked no argument.

Left with no other choice, the old nurse dropped a subservient curtsy, and departed.

Lord Malcolm and the Lady Gwendolyn arrived home just a day short of Thayer's leave-taking. It was time for him to return to Belsoie, despite Lord Malcolm's urging to stay longer. However, there was business he needed to discuss with Xaviera's father. He, too, had noticed the change wrought in his betrothed, and while Thayer was not displeased with her self-assuredness and new-found confidence, indeed he watched in amusement as she ordered the servants about, as if she'd done it all her life, he feared the arrogant self-absorption Xaviera had fallen into of late, might lead her to experiment with other men the passions he had let loose within her. She was young, impetuous. She needed a firm hand to guide her. The old woman, Sylvia, had approached him about this very thing and had suggested an alternative in his absence. And Thayer had agreed to speak to Lord Malcolm before he departed for home.

Thayer had not taken Xaviera since the night in the bath house. Xaviera had hinted strongly that he should visit her in her bedchamber at night, but he had not done so. It was good for her to practice patience. She was showing her spirit at last, but she also required restraint. He sensed that self-control would be a hard lesson for Xaviera to learn and Sylvia had confirmed his suspicions. Now that she had been awakened to passion and sexual arousal, Xaviera could no longer be trusted to keep her hands to herself. Not that that thought was an unpleasant one. A woman making love to her own body was an erotic delight he delved in on occasion, though his mares were strictly forbidden to do so unless he demanded it. Xaviera could not be allowed to indulge in too much erotic play by herself. And he would be assured that his orders were carried out before he departed.

He spoke to Lord Malcolm privately, the same day the good gentleman arrived home. Thayer declared he had claimed his conjugal rights with Xaviera and he arrogantly waived the remaining time on their marriage contract. He would marry Xaviera in six month's time.

Thayer informed Lord Malcolm of his wishes concerning Xaviera's recent behavior and Lord Malcolm, happy that the marriage would take place sooner rather than later, agreed to do what the young lord asked of him. Thus assured that his demands would be carried out, Thayer left for Belsoie at dawn the following day.

Xaviera was still abed at the moment of Lord Thayer's departure. She lay atop her bedcovers, her taut body hungering for release. . . . .and Lord Thayer's touch upon her. Her hands skimmed over her flesh, touching herself in places she had not thought to touch before, until Lord Thayer had demanded much of her body on that night in the bath house. He had refused to accommodate her within her father's household, despite her strong suggestions otherwise. He had awakened longings and desires she had never known existed before and she was hurt and confused that he was suddenly apathetic toward her. Had she displeased him in some way? Or made him angry? Perhaps it was not her place to suggest that he join her within the seclusion of her chambers? Or was it. . . . .she wondered now, her hands stilling their frantic wanderings over her body. . . . .that now he had taken her virginity, she was damaged goods and he was no longer interested in pursuing marriage with her? She had been aware that Lord Thayer had remained behind closed doors with her father yesterday afternoon. What had they been discussing so urgently and secretively between themselves? And then there was Sylvia, whom she had observed looking at her young mistress quite craftily out of the corner of her eye, each time the old woman had entered her chambers. What had Sylvia to do with it?

Lord Thayer surely could not renege on the marriage contract, could he? If he no longer wanted her to wife. . . . .oh!. . . . .t'would be unendurable! Unbearable! What would become of her! Her father would be angry that she had given herself so easily to his lordship. And no man wanted a bride despoiled by another! If word of her folly reached the ears of the nobility, she would be forever banned as a prospective bride! But more than that she could not bear to go through life without feeling Lord Thayer's touch upon her. . . . .within her.

She swung her legs off the edge of the bed in sudden determination. It was just after dawn, she saw, the dim light of day, pale through the casement window. Naught but the servants would be up and about yet, she knew. Deciding that if Lord Thayer would not come to her. . . . .she would go to him, she got to her feet. Somehow, she would salvage whatever damage she had done. She would make it up to Thayer, no matter what he asked of her. But just as she was about to step off the dais, her chamber door swung back on its hinges. She was surprised to see Lord Malcolm enter, and behind him, Sylvia, who held something in her hands which Xaviera, distracted by her father's presence and her worry over Lord Thayer, ignored. But her eyes widened in surprise as two chambermaids closed the door behind themselves, standing at a discreet distance as Lord Malcolm approached his daughter.

Her long, blonde tresses barely concealed her nudity as her father stopped directly in front of her. Xaviera's heart beat with sudden trepidation as she waited for him to speak, looking from Lord Malcolm, to Sylvia, glancing at the two solemn chambermaids behind them, before bringing her attention back to Lord Malcolm's somber countenance.

"What. . . . .what is it?" Xaviera's tone was wary in the face of her father's continued silence. She suddenly began to fear that something untoward had happened. Mayhap, Lord Thayer had refused to marry her after all! "Oh, tell me quickly or I shall die!" she cried out, reaching out to grip the bedpost with both hands.

"Hear me, Xaviera." her father spoke at last. "I do this at your husband's bidding."

"Hus. . . . .husband?" she replied faintly.

"Yes, husband. You have been betrothed to Lord Thayer since you were a little girl. That is as binding as marriage. And now that you have reached your majority, Lord Thayer has proved impatient and has already claimed his right to you. He wishes to marry you in six month's time."

Xaviera sprang down the steps of the dais at his words, her eyes alight with joy, her small, pointed breasts rising and falling rapidly in her excitement.

"I have agreed." Her father informed her solemnly.

"Oh, but where is he?" she asked, looking from one to the other for any indication of his presence, taking no notice of the somber countenances of her father and Sylvia. She stepped off the dais, ready to run naked into her betrothed's arms, when her father held up a hand, halting her in mid-stride.

"Lord Thayer left before dawn this morn to return to Belsoie, daughter mine. He is not here."

Her expression fell at his words and she looked at Lord Malcolm and the three women behind him, her delicate brows knitting together as her excitement reluctantly turned to suspicion and apprehension. "Then, why are you here?"

Lord Malcolm gestured to Sylvia and the two wenches with her. Sylvia stepped past Xaviera, carefully avoiding meeting her young mistress's eyes as she moved up the dais to lay some sort of leather and metal contraption atop the bed. Flanking Xaviera, the two maids gently took hold of her arms and began to lead her toward the bed before Xaviera could think to resist.

"It is at your husband's bidding that you wear the chastity belt until your wedding night." Lord Malcolm informed her. He looked beyond Xaviera, saw Sylvia nod her head that all was in readiness. He inclined his head to the two women on either side of his daughter. They tightened their hold, escorting her up the steps of the dais to the bed.

But Xaviera resisted, jerking out of their hold and turning to face Lord Malcolm. "No! Father! You can't do this! How could you?" She glanced desperately behind her at the thing that waited like a steel trap atop her bed. "How could you?" she screamed again.

" 'Tis not my will, daughter, but your husband's. I must abide by his wishes."

He motioned to the two maids and they struggled to place Xaviera on the bed. She fought against their hold, but the two women were strong, used to hard labor, and she was no match for them.

"How could he?" Tears spilled down her cheeks as they hauled her up onto the bed, legs thrashing uselessly. "You've no right! You've no right at all!"

"It is your husband's right." Lord Malcolm stated without sympathy. "You gave him the right when you lay with him. Stop fighting now, child. 'Twill all be over in a moment. You there," he nodded to the wenches, "take hold of her legs and hold her still. Let's be done with it quickly."

"Yes, yer lordship." one of them replied.

"Sylvia," he addressed the old woman, "proceed."

"I won't let you do this to me!" Xaviera thrashed her head back and forth upon the bed. "I won't! I won't! You cannot make me to wear this beastly contraption!"

Her father swiftly approached the bed and bending over her, slapped her cheek with his be-ringed hand. It was not a hard blow, but it stung enough to draw her attention. It was the first time in her young life he had ever struck her. Not even at her most trying when she was a child and up to all kinds of mischief had her father laid a hand on her. The sting on her cheek brought her up short and she stared up at him, tears brimming in her eyes.

Lord Malcolm frowned severely down at her. "Have I not done my duty by you?" his voice remained deliberately harsh. "Have I raised you to be so disobedient to your elders? And now you would go against your husband's wishes?" He drew in an angry breath. "I will not have you shame me in Lord Thayer's eyes, daughter. He expects an obedient wife and in six month's time he shall have one! Mark my words well, Xaviera! If that means I must beat you into submission every day until your wedding, then I shall do so!"

He straightened, but continued to eye her as she lay prone on the bed. "Now, I expect you to cooperate with Sylvia and let her buckle the belt on you. Lord Thayer had it made especially for you before he left. I have examined it myself and it is quite an extraordinary piece of workmanship. There was only one key made for it. I am to send it to his lordship by courier on the 'morrow. Lord Thayer will unlock it on his wedding night." He ignored his daughter's tears, the moist eyes filled with hurt and betrayal. He turned to Sylvia, "Proceed." And he stepped from the dais.

All the fight went out of her suddenly. Xaviera lay passively as the women spread her legs and Sylvia bent to her task. The thick, gold belt, with its ornamentation of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds in an intricate design was laid across her abdomen. Dangling from a thin chain, was a small, gold fixture, like a tiny cup. Sylvia fitted the little cup directly over her clitoris. The chain sagged slightly and the old nurse made some quick adjustments, cinching it tight so that the taut chain wedged the cup securely between her nether lips. It would not be easily pried loose. A fine gold mesh was drawn over her pubis, then the women rolled her over onto her stomach, adjusting the belt and buckling it at her lower back. The thin chain holding the cup in place was drawn up between the cheeks of her buttocks and snapped in place on a ring in the back.

When it was over, her father ordered her to stand up. The two maids assisted her off the bed and presented her for Lord Malcolm's approval. Xaviera bent her head in shame, her long, flaxen hair falling over her breasts. The gold belt rode low on her hips. The gold-filigree cup nestled at the apex of her thighs, the gold mesh covering her womanhood was secure from a straying hand or a young lord's brazen overtures, but would not prevent her from accomplishing her womanly functions.

Lord Malcolm glanced at Sylvia. "The gold mesh will not abrade her delicate skin?" he asked.

"I have a cream, your lordship." Sylvia assured him. " 'Twill be applied every day to avoid chafing."

He nodded, then sighed heavily. "Then there is one thing yet remaining to be done." He revealed a tiny gold padlock and its key in the palm of his hand and stepped behind Xaviera.

"Father." Xaviera's voice was lower than a whisper, her sense of betrayal and sadness at this turn of events evident in that single word.

"Hush now, child." he spoke behind her, his voice not unkind, but neither was he unyielding in his decision. "You know this must be done."

He fixed the padlock to a tiny metal loop that jutted out of the back of the belt. She heard the lock click shut and the key turn with a finality that caused a tear to seep from the corner of her eye. The shiny, gold padlock dangled coldly against her skin, just above her tailbone, a small reminder of her mortification.

Anger swelled inside her. The monstrous contraption! How could they do this to her? How could Lord Thayer? Was she so untrustworthy? Even the two chambermaids looked at their young mistress with pity in their eyes.

Xaviera spun around on the balls of her feet, feeling the heaviness of the belt weighing her down. Her long, blonde tresses swung back in a pale fury to reveal the small breasts, nipples erect, heaving in agitation. "Why?!" she demanded. "Why did he do this to me? What have I done to deserve such punishment?"

"You misunderstand, daughter." her father attempted to calm her. " 'Tis not for punishment."

"Lord Thayer feels it 'twill be good for you. I did not disagree with him. I have seen the changes wrought in you since he claimed his conjugal rights to you. Your lack of modesty,

your insouciant attitude toward your elders. There was concern that, young as you are, you would not exercise self-control over your natural sexual impulses in his absence. Lord Thayer, of course, did not want some uncouth young lord to compromise his bride. . . or for his bride to compromise herself."

"But I love him, father!" Xaviera wailed plaintively. "I would never so dishonor him! I have already told him as much! Why can he not trust me?"

" 'Tis not a matter of trust." her father explained. " 'Tis a matter of your husband's will. Like it or not, Xaviera, once the vows have been said, your husband's will is your own. You will submit to him in all things. This is merely your first lesson in subservience to your husband. Besides, I can see now, that you being the only child of my loins, I have spoiled you far too much. You were always a sweet and loving child, but given too much your own way. Mayhap, this will be good for you in many aspects."

"How can you say that? Six months, father! 'Tis unbearable!"

"You will learn to bear it, Xaviera. You have no choice in the matter."

She turned her back on him then, on all of them, and the sudden movement made the tiny gold lock swing back and forth, teasing her backside. Xaviera blushed with shame. Oh, she felt like a chained animal! Like a bitch in heat they must keep chained and secluded from the dogs in her father's kennels.

She heard her father speaking to Sylvia behind her. "I will see that some mulled wine is sent up to help calm her nerves. I do not want her to be left alone for the next several days. See that someone is with her at all times."

"Yes, your lordship." Sylvia bobbed a quick curtsy in deference.

When he had gone, Xaviera turned, walking swiftly towards the bed, and threw herself upon it, bewailing her fate by drumming her feet furiously against the bedcovers, her small, fisted hands beating ineffectually in rage.

The two chambermaids looked at each other helplessly, then Sylvia spoke, "Not a word about this to anyone, do you hear?" she warned them. "Word of this will be out soon enough without your help, I should think."

"Yes, ma'am." They promised solemnly, gazing with sympathy at their young mistress. They knew they would not breathe a word of what had befallen Lord Malcolm's daughter. It was a sad fate, that no woman, servant or high-born, wanted to suffer herself.

"Now leave us." Sylvia demanded. "I will send for you when you are needed."

The two swiftly departed and Xaviera's rage slowly subsided into tearful sobs as Sylvia approached, sitting on the edge of the bed. She reached out to stroke Xaviera's hair soothingly. "There, there, now, my dove. It isn't as bad as all that."

"Isn't it?" Xaviera's tear-filled voice was muffled by the pillow.

"I'm sure Lord Thayer did what he felt he had to do."

Xaviera rose up on one elbow to look at the old woman over her shoulder. "And you as well, old woman?" her eyes narrowed upon the servant woman's face.

Sylvia averted her eyes. "Well, I'm sure he thought he would be saving you for himself alone. No man wants his treasure plundered by another." When Xaviera only continued to glare at her, she continued, "Oh, I know he has already taken liberties with you, but the young swain must be smitten with you to want to keep you buckled until your wedding night."

"And will he be saving himself for me?" Xaviera returned bitterly. When Sylvia hesitated, she answered her own question, "No. . . . I thought not."

Sylvia sighed. "Mistress Xaviera, 'tis a hard life for a woman, no matter that she be high- or low-born. 'Tis our lot. 'Twill be better for you to learn now, rather than after you are married, that it is a man's world to be sure."

"I hate this contraption! I can't even lie flat on my back because of the hook and padlock! How am I supposed to sleep in this thing for six months, Sylvia?"

"I'll see to your comfort, mistress." Sylvia smiled reassuringly. "There are ways around these things."

A soft knock at the chamber door interrupted them and Sylvia left her side to answer it. When she returned, she held a goblet in her hand.

"Mulled wine, m'lady. 'Twill help calm you and you should try to sleep. Things always seem better after you've had some sleep."

"Nothing will ever be better again." Xaviera stated in a doleful undertone as she sat up, curling her legs out to her side to avoid the jab of the hook in her lower backside. She took the proffered goblet, staring down into its contents, choking back a sudden, inescapable sob.

"Six months seems forever to one so young," Sylvia stated sympathetically, "but I promise you, child, 'twill go quickly. Now drink your wine. And then I have a wonderful cream to help protect that delicate skin of yours. Then you will sleep."

Xaviera drank her wine in an unlady-like gulp, but Sylvia did not chastise her. Despite the old nurse's assurance, Xaviera felt that sleep would be the last thing she could do. But the wine settled in her empty belly as Sylvia helped her to lie face down on the coverlet, and soon, she did indeed, begin to feel quite drowsy, her rage and frustration having exhausted her. Sylvia's hands were gentle, soothing, as the woman worked the balm deep between the cheeks of her buttocks. It wasn't long before Xaviera's eyes fluttered closed and sleep overcame her at last.Despite Sylvia's reassurance that the time would pass quickly, the next days and weeks crawled slowly by for Xaviera. For those first few days after being locked into the chastity belt, she had refused to leave her room. Her meals were brought to her room and her father visited her daily, but he was unyielding to her pleas to be released from the damnable belt. In any event, he had explained, it was too late. The key was even now on its way to Belsoie to be delivered to Lord Thayer personally.

Finally, after a week had thus passed, closeted in her room, Xaviera thought she might go mad if she did not have sunshine and fresh air. The walls were slowly closing in upon her, and after much urging by Sylvia, Xaviera at last consented to be bathed, to have her hair washed and braided, and to be dressed so that she could go out into the gardens. The chastity belt felt heavy and unnatural beneath her dress. With every step she took, she was conscious of the padlock swinging against her rear. She greatly missed her most treasured past time, riding her beloved chestnut mare through the woods and open fields of her father's estate, but the belt would not allow for her to ride sidesaddle. In fact, there were a great many activities the belt would not allow for. And when Xaviera was forced to take the ailing Lady Gwendolyn's place and greet guests in her father's home, she felt their eyes could see through her garments and know her humiliation.

At night, as she lay alone in the midst of her large bed, curled on her side with a pillow Sylvia had placed between her knees for comfort, her body aching with unrequited passion and desire that the little gold cup shielding her clitoris did nothing to alleviate. Her bodily functions were performed with difficulty and shame as the old nurse had to assist her after each use of the chamber pot. . . . . .which only served to increase her resentment toward those around her and to Lord Thayer as well.

But very gradually, as the days passed one by one, Xaviera's anger dulled into submissive acceptance. The days became a little easier to bear. While her body might be imprisoned within the belt, the belt itself was becoming a familiar part of her own body. The gold leather casing that swaddled her hips began to feel less restricting and seemed to give rise to her own sexual awareness and arousal. The gold chain, holding the little shield in place between her nether lips, stretched taut over the lower part of her belly, drawing the little cup tight against her, making her consciously aware of this very feminine part of herself. Her venus mound swelled against the gold mesh covering and the thin chain riding up between the cheeks of her buttocks continually reminded her of it insidious presence. How quickly she had become used to the tiny cinchings and erotic restrictions it imposed upon her body. The tiny gold lock swinging jauntily behind her as she walked still felt degrading, but knowing that Lord Thayer. . . . .and only he. . . . .had the power to release her, was beginning to be an erotically attractive thought.

Alone in her bedchamber, when the rest of the manor slept, she liked nothing better than to shed her clothes, strutting about the room, feeling the delicious heaviness of the belt that held her captive. Xaviera often imagined her wedding night, the feel of Lord Thayer's hands on her as he unlocked the belt from behind. . . . . and what would come after, when she was at last released from the confines of the belt. The anticipation of it nearly drove her wild with a desire that she could not assuage. Her hands would frantically caress her body, cupping her breasts, pinching the sensitive, distended nipples in a futile effort to gain sexual release, but it only served to increase the unsatisfied hunger within her.

For hours before dawn she would go to her window, throwing wide the casement shutters to let the pale moonlight wash over her body, pointed breasts gleaming, as she spread her arms on either side of the window. She felt weighted with need, her clitoris throbbing in its little cup, her hips swaddled in the heavy belt. The night breeze would brush gentle fingers over skin, teasing at her breasts. And it was at those times that she thought longingly of Lord Thayer. . . . .of what he was doing at this very moment of her body's most exquisite torture which he was forcing her to endure and with whom he was doing it.