Princess Dulcie was not fooled when Representative Dantonne made a point of speaking to her during lunch. The older woman did not like her, did not approve of her, and she was fearful of losing her position if she did not prove herself ‘worthy’ in Leader Canton’s eyes. That fear was prompting Dantonne’s attempt at being pleasant and accepting the change in dining protocol that Leader Canton imposed as a gift to his new bride. Dulcie was pleased with her husband and amazed at how much the simple change meant to her. It was easy for Dulcie to assume a gracious role toward Representative Dantonne because she knew it would please her husband and she found herself wanting to please Canton. His smile was her reward, and she felt her heart beating a little quicker as she saw desire reflected in his dark eyes.

Canton was aware that her moon time was now over, and Dulcie had to decide if she was going to risk conceiving a child, a child that would have to remain on Anopy should she decide to go home to her father and his kingdom. If Dulcie learned she was with child, she would never be able to leave her baby behind while she went home to all that was familiar. Still, she had given her word to Canton that she would give their marriage a full thirty day trial before she made a decision, and since she honored her word, Dulcie was going to put herself into making a genuine effort to please Canton. That would mean sharing his bed as his wife. She knew she would enjoy his touch; she also knew that he wanted children and he would never agree to taking measures to prevent conception. For one moment Dulcie debated with herself on seeking aid from a healer, but any healer on Anopy would be loyal to their Leader, and Dulcie would not wish to face Canton’s wrath if word reached him that she was trying to keep from having his child.

“What are you thinking of Princess Dulcie?” Canton asked with a smile. “You appear to be elsewhere with your thoughts.”

“I am sorry, Leader Canton,” she said with a smile. “I was merely considering how best I can help you ease poverty. I will want to see reports and studies, if any have been made, and if not, perhaps that is where we will need to begin.” “We will speak of all of that after we eat. Do you enjoy the fruit?” he asked.

“Yes, it is very good, and different from anything we have where I come from. Also, this bread is delicious, but so light.”

“I am pleased you are enjoying your meal. It is good to see you eat.” He was beginning to believe that it really was her moon time that kept her from eating well since they were united. Canton fully intended to make sure Dulcie ate enough; she was much too thin and gaining some weight would be good for her.

Dulcie had to laugh. “You will be shocked to see how much I can eat, Leader Canton.”

“I look forward to being shocked,” he replied, his laughing dark eyes letting her know he was teasing her. He looked around the large dining room and noticed that several people were done eating. He stood and excused them at their leisure, and was not surprised when a few people approached the table he shared with Dulcie.

“Princess Dulcie, I am enjoying this new custom,” one elderly man stated. “I had no idea how much better some foods taste when they are very hot. However, I think the healers may be treating burned tongues until we all get used to terribly hot food.” He meant the words to bring a smile to her face and Dulcie obliged him. He then turned to Canton and asked a question that made no sense at all to her, but Canton answered him with patience, and a suggestion that the man decided made sense. He walked away, obviously relieved to have the problem so quickly solved.

“Are you finished, Princess Dulcie?” Canton stood and asked formally, aware that his wife was still being carefully watched and observed.

“Yes, Leader Canton. Will we be discussing your plans for my position in our rooms or in your office?” Dulcie asked as she got to her feet.

He looked at her, wondering if she was hinting that she would like for him to join her in their chambers, and then he shook his head to clear it. Just because all he could think about when he was near her was making love to her it did not mean that she was entertaining the same thoughts of him. “My office would be fine, Princess Dulcie. I have the documentation you were asking about on file and ready to share with you.”

Just as they were about to leave the dining room, Noturo approached them, a smile on his face. “Good afternoon, Leader Canton and Princess Dulcie.”

“How is your day proceeding, Noturo?” Canton asked pleasantly.

“Very well, thank you, and even better after I received your invitation for this evening,” he said with a smile for the couple. “Thank you for including me, Princess Dulcie. I appreciate your concern for Lady Anne and Fayda, and it is gracious of you to include me in the evening.” “We will look forward to seeing you tonight, Noturo. I am very pleased you could accept the invitation on such short notice,” Dulcie replied, not daring to look at her husband. He had expressly forbidden her to do any matchmaking, but it was so obvious that Noturo and Lady Anne were perfect for each other, and Dulcie simply could not resist giving them a little nudge in each other’s direction.

“Until this evening, then.” Noturo nodded amicably and hurried off. He was a very busy man and his schedule was filled with appointments.

“Come along, little Princess,” Canton growled under his breath. “It would seem we need to have our discussion in the privacy of our quarters after all.” He took her arm in his and hurried her down the hallways until they reached the suite of rooms assigned to them. He quickly opened the door and escorted her inside before shutting the door and setting the privacy warning to insure they would not be disturbed.

“Canton, would you at least hear me out before you pass judgment on my actions?” Dulcie pleaded with him.

“Did I not warn you this very morning that there was to be no matchmaking, little Princess?” he demanded, clearly angry with her.

“Yes, you did, but I saw no harm in inviting Noturo to come. I am merely giving Noturo and Lady Anne the opportunity to visit with each other in a social setting. If there is no attraction, then they will not act upon my wishes for them. I am not so pushy that I would suggest to either of them they should become involved. That is for them to decide, but with Noturo and Lady Anne each working so many hours, how are they to meet someone without it being awkward? We shall be here to keep the conversation flowing. It is merely one little visit, Canton,” she said softly, doing her best to persuade the man to her way of thinking.

“I told you there was to be no matchmaking and you deliberately went against my wishes.”

“I wanted to show you that I could do something like this without being an embarrassment to you. There is nothing wrong with inviting both Lady Anne and Noturo. You are the one who is making more of the situation than exists.”

“Dulcie, you are my wife, and I will be obeyed. You have deliberately gone out of your way to defy me, and I will not let such behavior go unpunished. Go into our sleep chamber and remove your clothing and lie over the end of the bed.”

“You are being unfair, Canton!” she accused.

“You choose to disobey me and then call me unfair?” he questioned. “Am I to simply ignore such disrespect and defiance?” he asked in disbelief.

“You could at least wait to see if I am right about Noturo and Lady Anne!” she said, putting her hands on her hips.

“You have added extra punishment, Dulcie. When I tell you not to do something, you will not do it. If you do, you will be punished. There will be no waiting to see if things work out. Go and prepare for a spanking.”

“I am just now recovered from the last punishment you gave me!” Dulcie argued. “Is this the way you expect the thirty days of our marriage to progress? If it is, I can assure you I will leave as soon as possible. I will not be married to a man who refuses to accept me as I am.”

“Dulcie, the longer you stand here arguing, that much longer your punishment lasts.”

“If you punish me for this, Canton, then I promise you will find no pleasure in your bed for the next thirty days!” Dulcie was very angry. Her lavender eyes were full of fire and her cheeks were stained red. She had her hands on her hips and was definitely challenging him.

Canton reached out, spun her around, and gave her bottom a hard spank to start her toward their chamber. When she tried to run from him, he put a hand on her shoulder and gave her another swat. Each step she took was punctuated with a hard smack of his hand. “When you are told to prepare for a punishment, you will not stand there and argue with me. King Betarn should have taught you better, little Princess.” He gave her another hard spank.

“You are being horrid to me, Canton. You do not want me for a wife; you want some meek woman who will agree with all you have to say!” She tried to wrench away from him, but the hold he had on her shoulder was unshakable.”

“It is not horrid to expect obedience from my wife, Dulcie. What is horrid is that you feel you can do as you please without consequence.” Once they were beside the bed, he took a seat and pulled her down over his lap.

“No! Do not!” Dulcie protested, but Canton did not waste time debating the issue with her. He started spanking, and since the dresses on Anopy were so short, he was spanking the bare skin of her upper thighs. “Owwww! Owwww! Stop! I will not be able to entertain our guests this night if you continue!”

“You will entertain our guests, Princess, make no mistake about that,” he promised, pushing her dress up even farther and lowering her undergarment to bare her white cheeks. “Now we’ll see if I can make your cheeks match your thighs,” he said, and brought his palm down with a crack on her delicate skin.

“Oh, not so hard! Please!” Dulcie begged. Her pleas felt on deaf ears as Canton spanked her until she was sobbing. Finally, she could bear no more. “I am sorry! Please, I am sorry! No more; I am sorry!”

Canton stood her on her feet. “I will give you fifteen minutes to compose yourself, little Princess, and then we will proceed to our meeting in my office.” He got to his feet and left the room. Dulcie deserved every last spank. He would not tolerate disobedience or defiance from her, and it was best she learned that right now. He would not tolerate her threats, either, but that lesson would wait until their company left for the evening.

Dulcie’s bottom was burning and so sore she could not bear to touch herself. She hurried into the bathing room and searched for the jar of ointment that Canton used before to ease her pain. She could find nothing that resembled the pain reliever. She raised her skirt to look in the mirror and was shocked to see how red her bottom was. Her flesh looked and felt angry and swollen, and there was simply no way she would be able to sit through a meeting with Canton, nor would she be able to entertain guests. The spanks Canton applied to her upper thighs fell below the hem of her dress, and anyone looking at her backside would be able to see that she had been punished.

She hurried to the relaxing area of the apartment to find her husband pretending to read. It was clear to see that he was still angry with her. “Canton, I am truly sorry I angered you. I did not realize this was so great a matter that you would be grieved with me. I did not see it as flagrant disobedience, but in retrospect, I regret ignoring your wishes. Please forgive me.”

“Not only did you disobey me the very same day I made my feelings known to you, but you had the nerve to stand there and tell me I am wrong and argue with my right to call you to task.”

“I fear that you are correct when you say my father did not teach me to obey. I have much to learn. I promise I will try harder.”

“Are you serious or saying what you feel you need to say to escape the rest of your punishment?” he asked, his dark eyes looking at her accusingly. He watched as her eyes grew wide in astonishment and then fear. “Are you going to stand there and tell me that you thought your punishment was sufficient? I warned you that defiance would be punished separately, did I not?” he demanded.

“But, Canton, you spanked me so hard! I am in terrible pain, and I cannot set foot out of these rooms… or have guests tonight… because my dress is not long enough to cover the area you spanked! I have given you an apology, and it was sincere. You have made your point, and I will respect your wishes on this subject in the future.”

“It is not my fault that your thighs show you have been spanked, little Princess. You earned the spanking and life will continue without interruption. You will accompany me to my office for our meeting and you will entertain our guests this night, and you will do so with a smile on your face and do nothing to call attention to your discomfort.”

“It would be cruel to ask me to do so!” she tearfully proclaimed. “You force me to dress this way, and now you would parade me in the hallway and let everyone know you punished me?” She shuddered. “I cannot live like this, Canton. Please release me from my promise and send me home.”

“When a wife earns punishment it is given and she is expected to accept the punishment and meet her other obligations without interruption. You are the one who earned this punishment, Princess Dulcie, and now you will live with the embarrassment. If you say one more word in protest, we will return to our chamber and I will insert a plug, which you will wear until we retire tonight. The choice is yours. Go and wash your face so we can leave for my office.”

Dulcie immediately left his presence. Canton may have punished her but she clearly was not forgiven, and if she understood him correctly, he did not consider her punishment over! She could not bear another spanking, especially if he used the paddle or cane. Her only prayer was to go to his office and do her best to impress him with her ideas for helping the people of Anopy escape poverty. Perhaps he would find it in his heart to relent, and even excuse her from entertaining. She washed her face, fixed her hair, and then tugged her skirt down as far as she could, praying no one would follow them down the corridors leading to Canton’s office.

Dulcie joined him and announced she was ready. Canton gave her a meaningful look, but said nothing as he led her from their rooms and to his office. The chairs in his office were not made to be comfortable, and Canton did not change that when he took office. He did not wish for anyone to come and visit for hours when there was so much work to be done. If he truly wished for someone to be comfortable he moved them to the other side of the room. He would not extend that courtesy to his wife. He wanted her to feel the spanking for as long as possible.

“What sort of statistics do you have for me to look at?” Dulcie asked as they entered the office. She was suddenly aware they were not alone. “Oh, I am sorry… I do not believe we have met,” Dulcie said quietly, greeting the other woman. It was humiliating to realize she would not be alone with Canton while she was not herself! “I am Princess Dulcie.” She held out her hand.

The woman looked at Canton, and then replied grudgingly, “I am Eugenie.” She did not take Dulcie’s hand, but instead looked down at her desk.

“Eugenie is my assistant,” Canton stated quietly, wondering why the woman was acting so rude.

“I see,” Dulcie said, even though she did not ‘see’. “What are your duties, Eugenie?” She made an effort to be pleasant. “To keep those who would bother Leader Canton from doing so,” the woman replied, her dark eyes making so secret of the fact she considered the Princess one of those bothers.

“Eugenie, did you copy the documents and put them on my desk as I asked?” Canton questioned, all business.

“Yes, Leader Canton,” the woman answered immediately.

“Do not interrupt us unless it is very important. Of course, I wish to know when my family arrives to meet my wife.”

Eugenie kept her features composed as she nodded, but Dulcie did not miss the hatred she was trying to conceal.