Lilly Blossoms (Lessons in Submission Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

men began appearing. What kind of house was this? She'd never truly given it much consideration, but having seen the girls in the carriage that day, and noticing a few young girls on occasion walking in the gardens, she knew it contained quite a few people. She'd originally thought that the couple that owned the house had several children. Seeing at least a half-dozen gentlemen riding away in elegant carriages had her confused, but she had no intention of leaving until she had retrieved her flower basket.
    She gave a small gasp as the beautiful glass door opened and the two men she'd seen earlier stepped out onto the porch. The woman she'd met that day when she lost her job was with them. They each bent to kiss her cheek before walking down the steps towards another carriage that had just pulled up. It was drawn by a pair of perfectly matched, chestnut-colored horses, and the door bore what she thought was most likely a family crest. But where was Rachel? Didn't she go home with her 'papa'? Lilly waited for another several minutes but when the door didn't open and no further conveyances arrived, she decided it was safe enough.
    Crossing the street, she ducked around the side of the house. Staying close to the hedge, she continued down it until she saw the break in the foliage. Taking no chances, knowing the probability of another person letting her go was highly unlikely, she squatted down and listened very closely. There was no sound of voices or even footsteps on the path. Taking a deep breath, she wiggled through the branches, experience telling her when to twist a bit and when to lift her knee higher to avoid a lower branch. Poking her head out of the opening, she listened again until she was satisfied she was alone.
    It took her a moment to find her basket and when she did, her hand froze before she could grip the handle. Whipping her head around as the leaves on the bush moved, she barely stifled a cry as a bird took wing from a branch behind her. Closing her eyes for a moment, she opened them to discover that her first thought had been correct. Someone had left what appeared to be a note. Her hand was trembling as she reached for it. Unfolding the paper, she read it: I will not tell .
    It had to be from the gentleman who'd caught her in the tree. Why had he written it? After all, he'd threatened to spank her. Her bottom clenched at the threat and yet her tummy fluttered as the memory of Rachel's spanking ran through her mind. He had also promised he wouldn't spank her, and when he'd had her in his hold, he had not given her so much as a single swat. Looking around as if expecting to see him leaning quietly against a tree, she found herself alone and realized it was getting late. She needed to get the flowers home and into water so that she'd be ready to sell them the next day. Tucking the note into the basket, she snipped a few more flowers and then climbed back through the hedge.
    Once home, she filled a vase with water and then carefully removed several leaves from the lower part of the stems of the flowers. They would last much longer without the leaves and she'd give them each stem a bit of a trim before arranging the bouquets she'd offer for sale. It took more time than most girls would allow, but she believed that she received a few more coins for ensuring that her bouquets were not only pretty, but fresh. Of course they are prettier. Instead of being picked, packed, and brought into town on vendor carts, you just slip into a kind woman's garden and take what you want . Lilly really wished that voice would shut up. The woman had cost her her job! Besides, there were hundreds of bushes and beds of various blooms as far as her eye could see. Surely a few weren't missed.
    She was a bit surprised to feel the skin of her bottom crawling as, for the first time, she admitted that it was a very flimsy excuse to justify what was really stealing. She lifted the last rose and discovered the wicker basket was not yet empty.