Lady Catherine shifted, and I saw the flash of steel beneath her robe. I couldn't help my eyes widening. Even here, she went armed...? But then, I supposed that merely went with being a noblewoman, with holding in the palm of your clawed hand the kind of power that made<span style="font-style: italic">enemies</span>... and besides, there were those who'd envy her beauty. Or<span style="font-style: italic">desire</span>it...<br/><br/>"Ambrosine, give me the cloth, fool. You are too slow. She's only a slave..." Lady Catherine snapped, jolting me out of my reverie, snatching the cloth from my unresisting hands. My eyes teared, at the whipcrack of the action, at the thought of having<span style="font-style: italic">failed</span>her... "I'm sorry Milady..." I whimpered... "I only didn't want to damage your property..." I trailed. "She seemed so unhappy..."<br/><br/>"Do you want to taste my whip, child?" I heard Lady Catherine say, as she turned to deal with Solistrae's... nethers... herself. "I have no patience for sloths and your foolish dawdling. Be quick when you work for me, know that."<br/><br/>Heat bloomed within me... jealousy - and arousal. Despite the chains, despite her roughness... I'd wish to be were Solistrae was, if it would bring Lady Catherine's touch to<span style="font-style: italic">my</span>... mindful to hurry and obey, I sank to my knees, and bent my lips to the whip synched at her hip. I kissed the leather, suckled on it, tasting blood and sweat and the tears drawn from a thousand brutal blows... Lady Catherine<span style="font-style: italic">uses</span>this, I realised, and often, sometimes on girls much like myself...