“My Lord father,” the Flanders princess tossed her head “I cannot marry the Duke of Normandy. His bastardy degrades our house and I will not ally myself with such a man.”
With a swirl of her skirts, Matilda turned, without permission, from her father’s presence and swept from the hall, her leather slippers making no noise on the flagstones. She cast a scathing glance at the Norman Duke as she passed him.
The Count of Flanders looked aghast at this diplomatic disaster, he needed this marriage to secure his borders against the French.
Duke William of Normandy, however, looked sanguine and spared the Count’s feelings by saying “The Good Lord has blessed you with a spirited daughter Sir. I shall withdraw and press my suit at another time.” William’s true feelings belied his insouciant air. He was furious. His illegitimacy had dogged his whole life, and here was a slip of a girl telling him publicly that he was not good enough for her.
He exited the hall with his Sergeant-at-Arms “Where is the ladies solar?” he murmured. “Right at the top of the north tower, My Lord”
“Come with me, Dickon”
William walked leisurely towards the gate and then suddenly changed direction. He was incredibly honed and bounded up the stairs of the north tower with ease, Dickon right at his heels.
Matilda had returned to her solar and was surrounded by her ladies, she sat somewhat smugly in front of the fire while her hair was unbraided. Her women were twittering around her, none of them would have dared defy their fathers or husbands in the way she just had.
Suddenly she was aware of a commotion at her door. It burst open and there was Duke William, he strode towards her and she called to her guard. The guard was being held at bay by another man and of no use, although he shouted for help.
William grabbed Matilda by the wrist and jerked her roughly to her feet
“So Madam, a bastard will not do for you?”
“Sir, take your hands off me and leave my presence” Matilda was shaking but not with fear, her temper matched his.
“No Madam, you will marry me and I am just about to give you physical evidence of that.” William drew a short sword and for a moment Matilda thought he was going to run her through.
Instead William sat on the chair she had just vacated and pulled her down over his knee. With the flat of his sword he began to deliver swift harsh blows to her behind. Matilda had never been beaten in her life and after the initial shock she began to struggle against him. But he held her fast with one hand and continued to rain down blows. She kicked her legs as best she could, hampered by her long skirts. The pain was terrible and she was aware all her women were watching this humiliating spectacle. Then through the pain something else spiked in her stomach and began to spread to other parts of her body. The Duke, however, seemed to be coming to the end of his temper. Driving two further severe blows into her backside he stopped, his breath coming fast.
He pushed her onto the rushes in front of the fire. “Get up Madam.”
Matilda rose shaking to her feet.
He remained seated and regarded her balefully. “Have your women tend to you and I will see you back in the hall shortly. Hopefully you will have remembered the duty due to your father and your future husband.”
Matilda followed him with her eyes and was horrified when she saw the solar door was packed with people who had responded to her guard’s cry for assistance. She could see William take her father by the elbow and steer him away saying “My Lord Count, I believe your daughter will now bow to your will”
“Close the door, close the door!” she cried, and her women hurried to shoo everyone away. Matilda went to stand in front of the fire so no one could see her face. She put her hands back to massage her throbbing buttocks, her face burned with anger and humiliation. No one had come to her defence. This man had been able to beat her in front of her own people and she had had to suffer it. What would happen to Flanders now if she still refused to marry him? He was obviously capable of great severity when defied. Matilda’s chin came up and her decision was made.
She turned to her women “Finish unbraiding my hair, I am returning to the hall.”
“Madam!” One of them protested, “You can’t enter the hall with your hair down”
“Just unbraid it Maria, please.” Her women looked horrified, they had never seen tears in their princess's eyes before.
Matilda walked stiffly, her backside still burned and rubbed maddeningly against her skirts. She stood in the doorway of the hall, if she had to submit, then she would at least do it in her own way.
William knew she would come. He watched her pause in the doorway and a smile curled on his lip, she was certainly brave.
Every eye was on her as she walked sedately up the hall, there were gasps when they saw her hair was unbound. An open sign of her virginity and her submission to her father.
She reached the dais and knelt in front of the Count.
“My Lord father,” she began, “I am ashamed I spoke so hastily to you. I accept the Duke of Normandy as my husband and go willingly and in obedience to my marriage.”
Her father raised her from her knees and kissed her forehead.
“Duke William, please come and accept my daughter’s obeisance.”
William strode towards the waiting girl who would soon be his bride. He took her hands in his and accepted her chaste kiss on the cheek. She would not look at him and he did not find this acceptable, but all things in good time.
“Sire,” he addressed the Count, “perhaps your daughter and I may have permission to withdraw, we need to become better acquainted before the wedding.”
There was an open laugh in the hall and Matilda felt her resolve weaken and her knees began to buckle slightly. Most of these people had seen her upended over his knee and her face glowed with shame. At last William took some pity on her plight and glanced down the hall. The laughter stopped abruptly.
The Count spoke. “Indeed Duke William, you have my full permission to escort my daughter to the gardens.”
William circled her waist with his arm and supported her weight as they left the hall together.
When they were in the gardens and out of sight of everyone William finally released her from his grasp. “Kneel, Matilda,” He instructed her. When she didn’t immediately comply he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and looked at her meaningfully. She sank to her knees.
He wrapped her hair around his hand and pulled her head back so she had to stare directly into his face. “Never ever make me that angry again, Matilda. I will not be responsible for how hard I will beat you if you do.”
He let go of her hair and she sagged forwards. He sat on a turf ledge. “Come here.”
She rose and approached him. He took hold of her wrist and pulled her gently towards him “Don’t fret, no more beatings today.” And yet he placed her over his knee again. This time he pushed her skirts up and she could feel his eyes on her buttocks. He ran his hand over her behind and she shivered. “Now is that fear or desire?” He whispered in her ear. Matilda didn’t know which it was herself. To her shame she felt him reach between her legs and part her lower lips. No one had ever touched her there. She had barely touched herself there. He slipped a knowing finger inside her “Ah, a virgin indeed.”
“You doubted me, Sir?”
“Not at all Madam, your father appears to have been lax regarding your discipline but I’m sure you were well guarded where predatory males were concerned” He continued to move his finger subtly within her and she began to squirm against his leg. His other hand moved to the front of her bodice but she was so tightly restrained he could not gain access to her breasts.
She heard him call out “Dickon, are you there?” A few seconds later there was an answering voice so close at hand that she knew he’d been lurking nearby. “Yes my Lord?”
Matilda could not believe he was exposing her in this way to a servant and closed her eyes to try and ignore what was happening - it didn’t work.
“Find one of the Princess's ladies, she needs to be released from the bondage of this dress.”
No! No! Her mind was screaming, none of her women could see her like this, spread over his knee and her backside on display. The finger kept moving inside her.
“Sir… Duke William?” She began tentatively with tears threatening in her voice.
“Yes, Matilda?”
“Please may I rise, Sir? It will disgrace me if my woman sees me like this”
“You are right, it is not fitting that the future Duchess of Normandy is seen displayed like a common whore.”
He set her on the turf ledge beside him and pulled her towards him. When Dickon returned with her maid William and Matilda looked to all the world as if they were in a lovers embrace.
William whispered in her ear, “Instruct her to loosen your bodice, say you are feeling faint.”
With a shaking voice Matilda began “Maria, please loosen the bodice strings, I cannot breathe.” She knew Maria was not fooled for a moment and neither was Dickon, who was regarding Matilda with great interest and not behaving at all as a servant should. Matilda blushed. Maria did as she was bidden and then Dickon led her away. William called after them, “Don’t go too far, my Lady will need assistance again soon.”
He scooped her breasts from the dress.
“Now I’m going to have you over my knee again Matilda, lie still, no movement from you please.”
For the third time that day Matilda went over his knee, with one hand he held her sex tight and with the other he gathered both nipples together. He kept up a constant rhythmic pressure with both hands and soon Matilda was whimpering, half with distress and half with something else she couldn’t name and didn’t understand.
“I expect perfect obedience from my Duchess,” he told her. “At any time, you are to be there to service my every need, whim and desire. You are to enhance and grace the house of Normandy and if you do not I will punish you. I shall meet with your father when we return. The wedding will take place the day after tomorrow. I am not prepared to wait to begin your instruction.”
She blushed deeply at these words, they scorched her soul and already she knew she was slightly in love with him.
He stopped moving his hands. “We will return to the castle. Make yourself respectable.” She was set on her feet and began to adjust her clothing but she was unused to such tasks and still looked dishevelled when Maria hurried up to her to help.
“Courage my Lady” Maria whispered to her as she retied the laces of Matilda’s bodice and smoothed down her skirts.
“Matilda, come to my side.” William’s voice called out and she hurried to obey. He took her arm and steered her firmly towards the hall.
“You will retire for the night, I must see your father. We will meet again in the morning.” As they were now inside the castle he kissed her hand formally, then straightening up, he reached round and squeezed her left buttock. She winced and he smiled. “Just to remind you who is in charge.”
Matilda made up her mind and decided to try and redeem herself in his eyes. “My Lord, I am well aware who now owns my obedience.” And she swept him a deep and respectful curtsey. Her heart skipped when he graced her with a smile and approving nod of his head.
Matilda returned to her rooms. Her education took over and she issued instructions for the wedding. If he did intend to have her so soon then she had to act. When her maid finally drew the curtains around her bed, Matilda lay back and considered what awaited her, married to this man who was now her Lord in almost every way. Almost fearfully her hand moved towards her sex. She was amazed at how her fingers slicked over her sex lips. She withdrew her hand before the sensations increased, she was sure William would not approve. Her sleep was disturbed and she could hear much commotion throughout the night.
She was startled out of sleep the next morning by Maria. “There is a message from your Lord, my Lady. His sister the Lady Adela is here for the wedding. Duke William wants you to greet her in the hall. Please make yourself ready.”
Matilda had her women dress her as quickly as possible.
She approached William swiftly and bobbed her curtsey to him. He put his hand on her elbow. “Good morning, sweetheart,” he said, and she gave him a beaming smile which he returned. It seemed yesterday was forgotten.
The Duke’s older sister was bearing down on them. “So this is Matilda?”
“Yes Adela, does she meet with your approval?”
Adela snorted “I can hardly tell yet Will. This castle is as drafty as a crofter’s bothy, that I do know.” Matilda bridled and felt her colour rise. Of all the rude, offensive women... “Go before me into the hall, Matilda,” Adela commanded imperiously.
“Certainly my Lady, after all, pearls frequently go before swine.”
She realised her mistake immediately, she felt William freeze at her side and saw Adela’s lip curl.
“Are you sure this girl is marriageable material, Will?” Adela swept into the hall without them.
The grip on her elbow was now like a vice. In a voice of controlled fury William said, “I will make you obedient to me before we wed, Matilda. Come with me.”
She thought his command unnecessary, she had no choice but to follow him he was holding her so tightly.
He dragged her along, past servants and courtiers and she realised they were on the way to his quarters. He kicked open the door and bellowed “Out!” to those in the room. He slammed the door closed and shot the bolt, they were alone.
This time there was no finesse of sending for a maid, he ripped the shoulder of her dress and the seam split so he was able to push it down over her hips and it pooled at her feet. She stood naked in front of him. Matilda went to cover her breasts and sex. He snarled, “Do not dare to move Madam. What did I say yesterday about gracing the House of Normandy? You disgrace me before my family. You must be punished and be seen to be punished.”
Matilda wanted to speak in her own defence but was scared to anger him further. He gripped her chin and stared deep into her eyes. She was shaking with fear, his anger terrified her.
“When you are my Duchess,” he began and her relief was great for this meant he still intended to marry her,“you will have to practice greater diplomacy and patience. You will have to deal with people who are much more taxing than my sister.”
“Sir, please...”
“No, Matilda, I know you were provoked; you do not have to explain but you need to learn. I am now going to punish you as I said I would and you will bear it as befits a princess of Flanders.”
He walked over to the large bed where she knew they would be spending their wedding night.
“Come here, Madam.”
“Sir, I must go to my wedding a virgin”
“And so you will, you will remain unused until tomorrow. In that way at least. Now don’t make me ask you again.”
Matilda stepped out of the pooled dress and walked towards him. He reached up into the folds of the bed's curtains and pulled down a switch. This did not entirely surprise Matilda; her father had also kept one for use on her mother.
“You are to bend over and place your hands on the bed.”
She did as he instructed and bowed her head before the disgrace of his fury.
To her surprise he came to stand beside her, “Kiss the rod!” He commanded, and held the switch before her. She looked at him dumbly. “Kiss the rod, Matilda,” he repeated and there was such overwhelming command in his voice that she pressed her lips to it without question. Immediately he moved behind her and began to lash the switch across her bare bottom. She gasped at the pain and bunched the coverlet in her clenched fists. She tightened her muscles in a vain attempt to deflect the swipes but he was merciless. She tried to stay still but she couldn’t stay silent, soon whimpers escaped her and then sobs. As the whipping went on she knew she would do what she could to please him and never wanted him to take the full force of his anger out on her backside again. The spiked pressure she had felt yesterday returned and she felt sensations between her legs that tormented her as much as the switch.
When he had exhausted his displeasure he made her kiss the switch again. “I will keep this to hand,” he said, returning it to the folds of the curtains.
Matilda was still bent over and shaking with sobs. He gathered her to him and guided her towards the fire. “We would not want you to catch a chill. Now let me see how the lesson proceeds.” Again, he slipped a finger inside her and she writhed involuntarily against him. “Good, but you must control your urges until tomorrow night when we are wed.” She blushed and he chucked her under the chin. “There is no need to blush, Matilda, it is good that you respond to your Lord in this way. But we must complete your punishment.” She stiffened.
“Your dress is ruined. You will wear one of my travelling cloaks and nothing else and we will return to the hall where you will apologise to Adela and present her with another cloak to ward away the drafts. I will call for ale and a cushion for your behind. You will sit and drink and make polite conversation with Adela and I. You will then return to your rooms and prepare for our wedding tomorrow. If this is not exactly what happens I will bind you to the bed post and whip you again. Do you understand?”
“Yes, My Lord”
Everyone, from the lowest serf to her father would know precisely what had been done to her, the cloak and the cushion would make sure of that - she was indeed being seen to be punished!
“Now before I fetch the cloak, just one other thing.” He went to a chest in the corner and removed an object the like of which Matilda had never seen. “You remember Dickon?” He murmured, she nodded. “Well he has been to the Holy Land on crusade and brought back several of these. I think this one will fit you. You will wear it until tomorrow night, unbuckling it only to use the latrine.” Saying this he nudged her legs apart with his knee. He passed the object behind her back and brought the front of it up between her legs. It was made of soft pliable leather and had buckles that he fastened at her sides. It cinched her sex tightly and she knew it would keep her in a state of semi-arousal.
She looked at him dismayed. “My Lord...” but she couldn’t finish. If he had decreed it, it would be so. He fastened the cloak at her throat, she would have to hold it tightly together to prevent her nakedness being seen.
The cloak brushed against her buttocks, the leather adhered to her sex and she was in agony and ecstasy at the same time.
“Are you ready to complete your punishment? He asked.
“Yes, My Lord.” She had steeled herself and was ready.
“Ah, Matilda, we will breed formidable children.” And taking her hand he chuckled and said “Pearls before swine indeed.” His guffaw of laughter melted her heart as he led her towards her new life as his obedient wife.
