Mr Bartlett punishes Victoria in front of the servants

“Thank you, Margaret. “ Mr Bartlett’s voice was crisp and cool.
“Now Victoria, normally I would expect to carry out your discipline in private; however since you are so immature, I will have to ask David and Simon here to remain so that they can hold you down and prevent you from rushing off again.”
Victoria’s heart sunk; she knew that the two footmen were enjoying seeing her bent over the reading desk, although thankfully the solid wood meant that they could see relatively little of her bare flesh. Margaret, of course, standing behind her could see everything – but as her maid Margaret had seen her naked before, albeit never in such humiliating circumstances. Maybe if she agreed to the punishment, then the tutor would agree to the servants leaving the room, but that would imply she accepted his right to punish her. She couldn’t accept that, could she? But he was going to do it anyway, so maybe the best thing would be to agree to the punishment, on condition that the servants left the room.
A loud Swish interrupted her train of thought. She looked up to see Mr Bartlett brandishing a long thin cane, which he was whipping through the air. He had removed his jacket, and she could see the firm muscles flex beneath his shirt. A tremor of fear ran through her, surely, he wasn’t going to use that, that instrument, on her, on her naked flesh.
“Victoria, I want you to understand that I am going to cane you, and I want you to understand why I am doing so. Your attitude is insolent. You have no respect for authority. I have clearly explained the standards of behaviour expected, and your only response has been to breach them flagrantly. You have obliged me to ask the servants to fetch you to my presence by ****. I am making allowances for the previous laxness in your parent’s regime; otherwise, I would be considering the birch at least. As it is, I will cane you severely, as a lesson that I cannot and will not tolerate this behaviour. Do you understand?”
Victoria shivered; her mouth was dry. She tried to speak, but only a croak emerged. She wondered if she could faint, even though she despised such weakness, but she remained annoyingly conscious.
SWISHCRACK.
The cane swept down onto a pile of old magazines with a loud report, raising a cloud of dust.
“Well girl, I’m waiting for your answer”
“Yes” Even to her own ears Victoria’s voice sounded tremulous.
SWISHCRACK.
Another swipe of the cane.
“Yes SIR” Mr Bartlett barked, making even the two footmen jump. “Now Victoria, have you anything to say before I cane you?”
“Yes, please” Victoria hesitated, the next word grating as she said it, “Sir”. The next sentence was probably the most difficult of her life.
“Could you cane me without the servants here please?” Victoria flushed red as she said it, hardly believing that she had virtually asked him to cane her.