His Lady Mistress

Chapter OneLate summer 1822‘What are you doing here, girl? How dare you waste timereading when Celia’s flounce requires mending!’The girl known as Selina Dering scrambled up and hurriedlyput the book away in the bottom half of the batteredcampaign chest at the foot of her bed.‘I’m sorry, Aunt Faringdon. I...I didn’t know that Celia’sflounce was torn.’Lady Faringdon was plainly not minded to accept this excuse.‘How would you know anything if you sneak away toyour bedchamber to loll about reading? And no lady sits onher bed like that! She sits properly with ladylike decorum.’‘You and Celia both told me to stay out of the way,’ protestedVerity. She refrained from pointing out that there wasnothing at all in the room save the bed and the campaignchest, its bottom at the foot of the bed and the top acting asa window seat. Certainly nothing upon which anyone couldsit with ladylike decorum. Or even reasonable comfort.‘Don’t answer back, girl! Do you want another whipping?Go down to Celia now and mend that flounce! Before hislordship and our other guests arrive!’‘Yes, Aunt.’