His Lady Mistress

Elizabeth Rolls71caught his attention? No doubt your attempt to insinuateyourself into his notice has disgusted him. Now go!’Refusing to be cowed, Verity said cheerfully, ‘Goodnight,Aunt, Cousin. I dare say one of the maids can brush yourhair before bed, now that I’ve lightened the task for her. Enjoyyour evening.’Tearing herself from her mama’s enveloping bosom, Celialeapt at her with a shriek of rage, but Verity stood her groundwith a little smile and lifted the scissors again. ‘Do you wantme to even it up a trifle, Celia?’Celia shrank back. ‘Mama! She threatened me!’‘Yes, well,’ said Verity, ‘after all, what else could youexpect of a coward and a whore?’ She dropped the scissorsand stalked out, slamming the door.She barely remembered reaching her chamber. Vaguely shenoticed several guests appear from their rooms, excitedlywondering what all the commotion was about. One or twoeven asked if she knew, but she was too shocked at the enormityof what she had done to respond.Eventually she lay on her narrow bed, staring into the darkness,trying to hold back despair. There was no time to thinkof a plan for escape, or try to find a position. She had toleave. At once. She’d burned an entire armada of boats to thewaterline.But, oh! It had been worth it to see the look on Celia’sface! Despite her fear, she giggled. And Aunt’s face! Asthough the silent, cowed poor relation had suddenly gonemad.Enough. Now she had to think what to do. Shivering, shefaced the truth. If she remained, she was ruined. After this,her aunt would look the other way while Godfrey debauchedher. If she left and sought shelter in the workhouse, it wouldonly be a matter of time before some other man took her.A whore.Whichever way she turned, she was trapped. Unless...