Read Online Amanda Scott by The Bawdy Bride - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: The Bawdy Bride
Ads: Link
quickly, “I beg pardon, sir. Indeed, I thought you were—”
“Never mind what you thought. Your mental exercises do not interest me. But what do you wait for now? Get undressed at once. If you make me get up to you, I will make you very sorry.”
Gasping with fear, she hastened to obey.
He wondered how long it would take to teach little Anne to fear him, and to obey. A wife would certainly create a few problems at the Priory, but perhaps that could be turned to good account. She seemed docile enough; nonetheless, it remained to be seen whether her coming would prove a windfall or a pity.
Four
F OLLOWING ORDERS, MAISIE WAKENED Anne earlier than usual the next morning, and although portions of her body still ached from the previous night, Anne made light of the discomfort, assuring her tirewoman that she was as fit as a fiddle. She knew from past experience that Maisie could become a veritable tyrant—forgetting her place and issuing orders like a general—if she believed her beloved mistress was ill or, for that matter, if she suspected only that Anne suffered from one of her occasional, annoying headaches.
“Now, see here, my lady,” Maisie said as she flung wide the curtains to reveal a brilliant, cloudless sky, “I know you must still feel a good deal of pain, so perhaps you ought to—”
“I am perfectly all right,” Anne insisted. “My experience was no more than what all brides must endure, after all.”
“Indeed, my lady,” Maisie said stiffly, “never having been a bride myself, I never expected to find so much blood.”
“It is perfectly normal, I’m sure,” Anne said firmly, concealing the fact that she had been astonished to learn she was bleeding. Determined to change the subject, she said, “Have you encountered many members of the household staff yet?”
Maisie sniffed but Anne was quick to note the gleam of amusement in her eyes when she said, “I’ve been told, madam, that as my lady’s personal servant, I am not expected to fraternize with the inferior members—which is to say not with anyone other than the housekeeper, Mrs. Burdekin, for I cannot believe she means for me to fraternize with Mr. Foster or Mr. Bagshaw, and certainly not with the likes of Mr. Wiggins, who is His Grace’s man.”
“No, indeed,” Anne said, twinkling as she accepted the cup of chocolate Maisie handed her. “How kind of her to explain all that to you, as I collect she must have done.”
“Yes, and though it would be impertinent for me to approach Mr. Bagshaw,” Maisie went on, raising her voice as she moved from the bedchamber to the dressing room to collect Anne’s clothes for the day, “I am expected to relay your orders to that cheeky Elbert when necessary and to be certain Frannie has made up your fire in the morning and satisfactorily prepared your dressing room—which means properly dusting the hearth, as I shall shortly inform her. I doubt I shall have much to do with anyone else. Although,” she added in a normal tone, appearing in the doorway, “there is a new upper housemaid who seems to be a most superior person.” Scarcely pausing to draw breath, she went on, “At all events, I am expected to devote the greater part of my time to serving you, madam.”
“Are you, indeed?” Anne said with a chuckle.
Assuming an air of great dignity, Maisie said, “Yes, madam. My duties have been made quite clear. Having assured myself of the chambermaid’s efficiency, I am to waken you, inform you of the hour, lay out your clothing, and order hot water for you to wash. I am then, if you please, to take my breakfast with the housekeeper and other principal servants until you ring for me to attend you in your dressing room.”
“Good gracious,” Anne said, awed, “did Mrs. Burdekin actually have the temerity to recite all that to you?”
Maisie nodded, adding with a wry smile, “But only for my own benefit, madam, on account of Mrs. Burdekin’s having no way of knowing if I was
“Never mind what you thought. Your mental exercises do not interest me. But what do you wait for now? Get undressed at once. If you make me get up to you, I will make you very sorry.”
Gasping with fear, she hastened to obey.
He wondered how long it would take to teach little Anne to fear him, and to obey. A wife would certainly create a few problems at the Priory, but perhaps that could be turned to good account. She seemed docile enough; nonetheless, it remained to be seen whether her coming would prove a windfall or a pity.
Four
F OLLOWING ORDERS, MAISIE WAKENED Anne earlier than usual the next morning, and although portions of her body still ached from the previous night, Anne made light of the discomfort, assuring her tirewoman that she was as fit as a fiddle. She knew from past experience that Maisie could become a veritable tyrant—forgetting her place and issuing orders like a general—if she believed her beloved mistress was ill or, for that matter, if she suspected only that Anne suffered from one of her occasional, annoying headaches.
“Now, see here, my lady,” Maisie said as she flung wide the curtains to reveal a brilliant, cloudless sky, “I know you must still feel a good deal of pain, so perhaps you ought to—”
“I am perfectly all right,” Anne insisted. “My experience was no more than what all brides must endure, after all.”
“Indeed, my lady,” Maisie said stiffly, “never having been a bride myself, I never expected to find so much blood.”
“It is perfectly normal, I’m sure,” Anne said firmly, concealing the fact that she had been astonished to learn she was bleeding. Determined to change the subject, she said, “Have you encountered many members of the household staff yet?”
Maisie sniffed but Anne was quick to note the gleam of amusement in her eyes when she said, “I’ve been told, madam, that as my lady’s personal servant, I am not expected to fraternize with the inferior members—which is to say not with anyone other than the housekeeper, Mrs. Burdekin, for I cannot believe she means for me to fraternize with Mr. Foster or Mr. Bagshaw, and certainly not with the likes of Mr. Wiggins, who is His Grace’s man.”
“No, indeed,” Anne said, twinkling as she accepted the cup of chocolate Maisie handed her. “How kind of her to explain all that to you, as I collect she must have done.”
“Yes, and though it would be impertinent for me to approach Mr. Bagshaw,” Maisie went on, raising her voice as she moved from the bedchamber to the dressing room to collect Anne’s clothes for the day, “I am expected to relay your orders to that cheeky Elbert when necessary and to be certain Frannie has made up your fire in the morning and satisfactorily prepared your dressing room—which means properly dusting the hearth, as I shall shortly inform her. I doubt I shall have much to do with anyone else. Although,” she added in a normal tone, appearing in the doorway, “there is a new upper housemaid who seems to be a most superior person.” Scarcely pausing to draw breath, she went on, “At all events, I am expected to devote the greater part of my time to serving you, madam.”
“Are you, indeed?” Anne said with a chuckle.
Assuming an air of great dignity, Maisie said, “Yes, madam. My duties have been made quite clear. Having assured myself of the chambermaid’s efficiency, I am to waken you, inform you of the hour, lay out your clothing, and order hot water for you to wash. I am then, if you please, to take my breakfast with the housekeeper and other principal servants until you ring for me to attend you in your dressing room.”
“Good gracious,” Anne said, awed, “did Mrs. Burdekin actually have the temerity to recite all that to you?”
Maisie nodded, adding with a wry smile, “But only for my own benefit, madam, on account of Mrs. Burdekin’s having no way of knowing if I was
Similar Books
