Titus was looking forward to getting home to see his little Rose. He had arrived at the Smethwick house after an hour’s walk, finding Mrs. Smethwick waiting for him in the parlour. What followed had been a tiring day of getting to know someone he had absolutely no interest in.

He had done his best to appear interested as well, listening to Margaret’s faults, the things that needed changing about her. “She is far too immature for her age,” Mrs. Smethwick said. “I do hope you are able to do something about that.”

“I shall do my best,” Titus replied. “Though perhaps I should meet her?”

“Of course.” Mrs. Smethwick rang a bell, waiting until a maid appeared in the doorway of the parlour. “Go and fetch Margaret, would you.”

Titus was taken aback by the sight of the woman who appeared in the parlour a few minutes later. She was stunningly beautiful, almost intimidatingly so. “How do you do?” he said, rising from his seat to greet her.

“You smell,” she replied, the words bizarrely incongruous to how sophisticated she looked. “I don’t like you.” She stuck her tongue out at him before spinning on her heels and walking away.

“Do you see the trouble?” Mrs. Smethwick asked. “I always thought a good spanking was what she needed but her father, God rest his soul, wouldn’t have any of that. Would you be willing to try it?”

“Amongst other methods, yes.”

“Would you be able to start at once?”

“I will go and speak to her if you wish.”

“Please, I would be beholden to you.”

Titus stood up, nodding to Mrs. Smethwick before following after Margaret. She was already halfway up the stairs and by the time he caught up with her, she had reached her bedroom. “You can’t come in here,” she said, going to push the door closed.

“That’s what you think,” Titus replied, shoving the door open with his shoulder before grabbing hold of her.

“What are you doing?”

“Something that should have been done years ago by the sounds of it.”

“Hey, let go of me. Mother! Make him stop.”

“Hush your grumbling, no one is coming to stop this.” He spun her round, pressing into her back with his left hand, forcing her against the dressing table. Reaching down with his right hand, he yanked up her dress, revealing her slender legs to his gaze.

“Stop that, let go of me.”

“I will when I am finished with you.” He reached her waist, yanking her knickers down to reveal a smooth and well rounded posterior. It was almost a shame to spank her. He raised his hand, ready to bring it down on that perfect flesh when an image flashed into his mind. It was Rose and suddenly he couldn’t do it.

He loosened his grip on Margaret, spinning away from her and almost running from the room. “I have to go,” he mumbled, sprinting downstairs and straight out of the door. He ran for the street, not stopping until he was far from the house. His body and mind were in turmoil. The sight of her had made him want Rose more but if he went home now, he would have to admit he failed.

He walked the streets for hours, finally heading for home as the sun set. The sight of Margaret’s bare bottom had made him want to enter her, a thought he could not countenance. He dared not trust himself to return to that house. He could not do it to Rose, the love of his life. She was far more important than a job, than anything.

The moment he arrived home, he needed her, he needed to be inside her. He took one look at Rose as he entered and something took over him, an animal lust that twisted his brain into an uncontrollable rage. He grabbed her before she could speak. “I must have you,” he growled, dragging her through to the bedroom.

“You will never have me again,” she replied, twisting out of his grip.

“What? What on earth are you talking about?”

“This,” she shouted, pointing at the writing desk.

“What? What is it?” His eyes moved to where she was pointing. It was an empty desk. His heart sank as he realised it wasn’t an empty desk. There was a ring there. A wedding ring.

“You went through my things.”

“That is all you have to say? You don’t want to explain what on earth that is?”

“Why did you go through my private things?”

“I thought it would be helpful if I unpacked for you. Is that all that matters to you?”

“I did not give you permission to go through my things.”

“Who is she?”

“Who is who?”

“Your wife, is it that Margaret woman? If that how you found a job so easily?”

“You think it was easy. I have spent over a week searching for work to support you!”

“I didn’t ask you to support me.”

“No, but you asked me to love you.”

“It is too late for that.”

“Too late to tell you I love you.”

“Words don’t mean anything to you, do they? I bet you said it to her at the altar didn’t you?”

He took a step towards her but her eyes flashed a warning. He moved no further. “Listen, I can explain. Will you let me explain?”

“I have no interest in listening to anything you have to say. I’m going home.”

“Back to your parents?”

“They may not be ideal but they have never lied to me, not like you. Go on, run off back to your fancy woman, see if I care.”

“Rose, wait,” he said as she opened the front door. “Please, don’t go. Just listen to me. Don’t go.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Burlingham,” she replied, stepping outside and slamming the door closed after her.

Titus sank onto the nearest chair. He knew he should run after her, make her listen. But what good would it do? She seemed to have already made up her mind about him. She clearly didn’t trust him and what relationship could possibly work without trust?

He stood up, picking up the wedding ring a moment later. He looked at it closely. “I miss you, Emily,” he said quietly, kissing the ring before setting it back down. “I miss you so much.”