The correspondence began here.

Dear Amelia,

It is always nice to be recognised, although in my experience a good sound spanking is rarely appreciated at the time. If you recall once upon a time I am sure you kicked at the traces whenever I disciplined you as a girl and only now do you see the benefits.

So it will prove with Ruth. At the moment she either glares at me when we meet, or else she averts her eyes and picks her words carefully as we dance around her education.

She was on time to her lessons yesterday, but sadly that was her only virtuous act. She sat sullenly through a geography lesson and when I confronted her about it she told me in no uncertain terms that what I was teaching was for babies. Even when I quickly demonstrated that she knew little of what I was telling her she became quite intractable until I had to threaten her with a spanking.

“You know that I am a grown woman and too old for a spanking,” she informed, adding that her mama and father were addled in the head if they thought she was going to put up with our arrangement forever.

Finally I had to take up the hairbrush and ask her to take down her undergarments. I told her that if she refused I would summon the maid and after she had been tamed I would cane her. Incidentally I have resolved that school room punishments should be the province of the cane or perhaps the Yankee paddle, but first she must be brought to heel.

She at once remonstrated and agreed eagerly that she would listen to her lessons, but I was adamant that she was to be spanked. She was quite dewy-eyes when she submitted in a quiet voice and implored me not to tell anyone.

I told her that if she let down her own draws and went across my lap without further protest that her spanking would be between us. There was a long silence and she glared at me as if she meant me harm and then with a sigh she finally complied.

As you know, when I spank I spank hard and in short order her womanish bare bottom was quite red and near grazed and she kicked her heels and bawled like one being murdered; so much for her discretion. I did not cease the operation until she was dripping with copious tears and all but begging for a geography lesson. By then the crowns and underside of her bottom curves had shiny patches of raised flesh marred by white and marron colouring. No wonder she took on so, she has a bottom so suited to a classic blistering and I am sure she will not sit down for a day or two.

By the time she was a girl surrendered a lesson was out of the question and I set her still bare behind to the corner to contemplate her errors. Once she pulled herself together she protested the shame, but I was firm and threatened to have her stand so until luncheon unless she was contrite. This time we took morning coffee together as if nothing had happened and she was spared the shame of the maid witnessing her humility.

Progress at last.

Do not come around for a few days or more, I will call on you. I think I can finally take Ruth in hand.

Oh, I did not inquire, how are you sitting today?

Yours, Jane Carlisle.

To be continued…