The Mill by Karen Blayne

Oh by the way red tape first.

Be warned these short stories contain mature content or naughty bits and as such may corrupt you if you’re under 12, 16, 18, 21 or 25 depending where you live thus they are not suitable for you so put them back on the shelf and let them age for a year or two.

They were sort of scribbled for fun. They were first posted on asstr.org. If you’ve paid money for this book just be aware the author has not received any payment. In fact no one has permission to charge money for this book and copyright is retained by the author. ©2015 Asstr.org accepts donations if you’re feeling rich or even if you’re not.

Gerard looked at his hand, as a younger son he wasn't quite sure he had the money to sit in this game. At least he didn't have the money to get drunk as he played. He'd played carefully all evening and now if his memory was right his three jacks might even win. He upped the bet and moments later he was scooping up over a hundred pounds, well that should last him to quarter day at least. "Ah Blackwood, I'll take that and in return here's the deeds of an estate so that makes you landed gentry now." As he drifted off he could be heard telling his friends that Gerard had been his fag and the estate was somewhere quite dreadful, north even of Potters Bar and mortgaged to the hilt so he was happy with his hundred pounds in cash and turning his old fag into landed gentry was quite the joke.

Oh well he'd put his original stake back in his pocket an hour or two ago so he was no worse off than when he'd sat down. Perhaps he'd go and inspect his new estate. He looked down to the address, Barwick-in-Elmet in the County of Yorkshire, well yes that was well north of Potter's Bar. Elmet? Some ancient Celtic kingdom? He'd overspent last quarter and was down to his last twenty pounds, at London prices he might just survive but still up north no doubt things would be cheaper. Now the question was how did he get up north? Use his precious cash to travel post-chaise, ride the mail, perhaps the coach, long wagon or simply walk? No question really he'd put his boots on and walk to Yorkshire. He'd have to eat for two weeks anyway so food on the way won't be an additional expense and the estate would probably give him a roof over his head.

Next morning he set off with a knapsack for the two hundred mile journey to York. October wasn't too unpleasant well at least if it didn't rain and the east side of the country didn't get as much rain as somewhere like Ireland. He stopped off near Cambridge at some friends and felt better for a hot meal or two and a soak in the bath. He wasn't sure they believed him when he said he'd decided to take a walking holiday so late in the year but they were too polite to say so even if they did think he was mad to do such a thing. At Great Casterton the weather was bad so he put up for the night at an inn rather than sleeping out as he had been doing. "You there can you drive?" "Yes." "Right you're hired, my coachman has caught fever so we'll leave him behind and press on." That took him as far as Doncaster and saved his weary feet. Then it just took a few days to walk to Barwick-in-Elmet.

The landlord looked up as he walked into the Black Swan. "New master for the estate?" he queried. "Yes how did you guess?" "Not hard, there aren't too many dressed in southern clothes round here and I heard Sam say he hadn't managed to send the rents south yet." "Sam?" "He's your steward, he'll be in later. For now I'll have Molly find you a plate of stew, and a glass of ale. If you want summat different you'll be better off at the New Inn. They've a few bottles of wine tucked away in their cellar." "No a plate of stew and a glass of ale will do me fine." "Thought it might, walk far have you?" "Just up from London." "That's far enough. Sit theeself down and Molly will be with you directly. You'll be staying the night and sort yourself out on the morrow?" Gerard nodded his agreement.

Later that evening he was sat in the bar watching the players of a game of dominoes when the landlord gave him a nod as Sam walked in for his ale. Gerard handed over his deeds for inspection. "Well I'm glad to see you that's for certain. I've been laid up recently with fever and haven't yet been round the farms to collect the rent so I can just hand them over to you." Gerard enquired if there was anywhere to live. "Depends what you're after, the house is rented out to a factory owner who wanted a place in the country. The cottages are falling apart to be honest, there's the mill, at least its roof is sound, there's an office there that has a bed in it. Talk to the girls nicely and they might even find you a bite to eat." "The girls?" "The mill girls, just follow the river you can't miss it. Do you want all the rents as usual or can I repair a few cottages and so forth with some of the money?" "Collect me in the morning and show me what you'd like to do."

The next morning they inspected the estate together. "I've never seen such disrepair. How much would it cost to put it all right?" "This year's rents and next I should think." "Well I can probably survive without the rents for a year or two." "How do we compare with the surrounding land owners?" "Well there's the squire, he's doing quite nicely in a small way. The next largest landowner to yourself would be Sir Richard but he's more into fashion." "Fashion?" "Whatever's in fashion he'll attempt to grow sometimes he does alright and sometimes the latest fashion isn't suited to his land. Like the time he went into dairy farming, would have been alright if he'd had enough customers but he didn't so he lost a lot of money on that one."

"We should call at the bank and see how much they want for the mortgage from the rents."

"So let's get this straight you're proposing to put any money left from paying the interest on the mortgages back into the estate." "Yes." "Pass them over Sam." The banker looked them through, "Right with your permission what I propose is the bank will buy out all the other mortgages then you'll just have the one. I can let you have a lower rate because before the mortgages took into account that they'd probably be defaulted on and that costs money. Now then Sam how much would a new seed drill cost and what else do you need? I could advance you the money to buy up Sir Richard's land if you like, seeing as you seem to know what you're doing." "Is it for sale?" "Maybe not this year but next year if he doesn't manage to make profit off his land one way or another it'll be on the market." "I think we'll try to turn our estate round first then we'll think about adding to the land." "Fair enough, but keep it in mind." They walked out of the bank with funds to pay for the most basic needs that would return a profit quickly. "I'd have never had believed it." Sam said shaking his head, "I always thought bankers were much more conservative than that." "Still we have more debt to pay off."

He walked through the door of the mill and looked round. Alice left her machinery and stepped across to greet him with a kiss and to rub her body against his. He could tell she was flushed. "Alice put him down you're walking out with Jed remember." "But Jed's not here and I'm having a wet dream. He's got ever such soft hands just like a toff." "Perhaps he is a toff? Who are you any roads?" "Don't talk daft, soft hands like those, he's either lost or our new lord and master." "Wot really?" "Yes really." "What can we do for you then Oh lord and master, there's a bed in the office." "Good that's what I'm after." "Ooo he don't half talk nice. So which of us would you like or all of us?" Asked Betty provocatively. Gerard blushed, "Ooo you've put him to the blush Betty." Gerard explained the house was rented out, no cottages that were livable in were available so he'd thought to live in at the mill for the next little while. Doris offered to let him share their daily stew and when he suggested how much he was willing to contribute said "Great now we can afford a bit of beef occasionally, mutton's OK but every day gets a bit wearing."

The following morning he was awakened at break of day by the girls starting work. He staggered out, and blinked, "It's a bit early to start work isn't it?" Alice shrugged, "It's winter and there's plenty of water in the river to power the mill, in summer there's less water so by the time the canal barges have gone through the lock we might get two days a week work if that so we work whilst we can. There's some bacon and a few eggs on the table if you don't mind cooking them yourself." He made himself some breakfast then wondered out to the mill. "That looks an unusual pattern." Betty turned to him "Do you like it? I'm no good at embroidery but I'm quite good at weaving a pattern into the material. This one's for my sister." "Could you make some more up I think it might sell at a premium and I'll split the premium with you."

He wondered along a little further and mused. "Sounds odd, I mean all the investment in the mill sitting idle in the summer." "My Stan was boasting last night about the new atmospheric engine up at the mine, they've managed to get it to haul the small mine wagons out of the mine by rope as well as pumping the water out of the mine." "Would he be interested in talking to me about it." "I dare say he would but I'd get no attention then for at least a week." "Well if Gerard was to run his soft hands over you after you've been rubbing your fanny against the machinery for an hour would that do for attention?" "Do I get my ears nibbled at the same time?" "Cook yourself some breakfast whilst Rose warms herself up by brushing herself up against the vibrating machinery then we'll explain how she likes her ears nibbled." Gerard found the frying pan and soon had a plateful of black pudding, bacon, a couple of eggs and a slice of fried bread. The girls looked enviously on so he fried up some more and handed a plateful to each girl in turn. "You'll make someone a good wife one day." He gave a small curtsy.

"Now stand behind Rose and slip your arms around her waist. Press your hips into her." Rose gave a small moan and she was sandwiched between the vibrating machinery and Gerard's hardness. "Now raise you hands to cup her breasts and whisper in her ear how desirable you think she is." Rose gave further soft moans then finally a shudder before turning to him and kissing him full on the lips. "Did he pass then luv?" "God yes and that's before he started nibbling on my ears." She stood back and spoke. "I think it's Nell's turn next she likes the back of her neck licked." "I can't I'm a married woman." "Give her a treat she won't forget. Nell those soft hands of his together with the way he talks are something you ought to experience once in your life. It'll put you in the mood for Albert when you get home." "Alright then just this once."

"I been up to the foundry and no matter how I jiggle the cash I can't afford one of their new engines and pay for transport." "Can't you use the rents?" "That's all taken up with repairs that should have been done years ago. I have my quarterly allowance of a hundred at the end of the month I could get by on twenty I suppose but that still leaves a gap." "Is the foundry on the canal?" "Yes." "Well then Billy will carry it free for us." "Why would he do that?" "Cause there'll be more water in river for his barge in summer. Just leave him to Alice." "We'd still be short." "For a share I could raid my bottom drawer. Let's see your figures. Rose do you think you could talk Stan into helping in return for a share in the profits?" "I've got my bottom drawer as well, Stan would pay for the privilege of helping do something mechanical, it'll be a new toy to him." "Still we could add up the hours he puts in and add it to your share?" Rose nodded.

The next day whilst Gerard was out on the estate with Sam to see how best to stretch what little money they had they had a visitor at the mill. "I'm Mr. Ackroyd and as you know I'm renting the house. Now what's this I hear about an atmospheric engine?" "Well we'd like one but we're a bit short of brass. Now if you'd like to lend me say a hundred?" "And what would my security be and what about my interest?" Betty moved in closer to him and kissed him whilst freeing his rod and giving him a hand job. "If I don't pay it back within two years you get me for a year, and interest you get to fondle me and have your body caressed whenever you're passing. Mind you for two hundred you get to fondle any of the girls any time." "I'll be back in the morning with the money. I get to play with the engine as well?"

"Betty weren't you a bit brazen there?" "Yes but think of how much money we can make with a share of the mill. In summer we could get more workers in when its light and get three times what we get now out of this lot." She said pointing to the machinery. "I wonder if we'll get a share of the toll he gets from the lock on the river? With more water in the river they'll be more traffic as well." "Do you think someone ought to tell Sir Richard he's got the wrong breed of sheep for the sort of wool we want?" "Well he's got his fancy ideas from visiting down south. He knows nothing of the best breeds for our part of the country. If its good enough for Sussex then its good enough for here I've heard him say."

Since Betty was the one who could read and write and did the books for the mill it was Betty who gathered all the money together. She dropped the full purses in his lap. "Three hundred and eighteen pounds fourteen shillings and three ha'pence, from the girls so spend it wisely and Rose gets a share based on Stan's labour." "Betty you mentioned Nell was married isn't that unusual in a mill girl?" "Oh that well they've been trying for a baby for a year with no joy." "So?" "Well it's summat about the Mill that lots of girls get in the club whilst they work here. So she's got her hopes up." "And is there something about the mill that is magical." "Oh lord how much do you know about a woman's body?" "A bit." "Well the really sensitive bit is between the legs." He looked puzzled, "Ever noticed how the girls stand astride the vibrating bits of machinery rubbing themselves up against it as they work?" He nodded then blushed as it dawned on him. "Well after eight hours of foreplay they practically leap on their men when they get home. Now do you understand why Nell is here? She enjoyed your soft hands by the way."

The girls had a discussion when Gerard was out on the estate. "I think if we just give him a hand job and a kiss occasionally that should keep us safe from predatory females." "He's neither a proper title nor rich so I don't think anyone will have serious intentions." "Think he might wed me then?" "I'd try him out first, you never know he might be soft in other places as well as his hands." "Not when he was standing up behind me he wasn't, he was all stiff and lovely up me bum." They were still bantering back and forth when Betty noticed him strolling back towards the mill. "He ought to have a horse you know going round the estate as he does. Ask Stan if he knows of any going, he knows all the horses round here as they come into the smithy." She wondered what was to become of her, her aunt had taught her to read and write and the money she earned in the mill gave her her independence, if the mill could run during the summer months as well she'd be well off. Trouble was she didn't fancy marrying any of the farm labourers nearby and Stan was spoken for, still someone might turn up. Gerard? She thought perhaps not he seemed too far above her, but you never know.

"Now lad I've got some plans from summat similar we did up at the manufactory, come back to the house like and I'll dig them out for you. It'll save you a bit of time like." Gerard and Mr. Ackroyd strolled back to the house. "Mother where did I put those plans from the last extension we did? Oh and Gerard's here to take pot luck." "Papa you're impossible." "Hey what's to do lass?" "You bring home a single gentleman without warning when I'm in my oldest dress." "It looks fine to me, any road its only Gerard and although he's a nice enough chap he's ineligible until you'd done a couple of seasons and turned down a title or two. For the moment can you entertain him whilst I dig those plans out. By the way lad this is my daughter Isabel."

Well he was well spoken so Isabel asked him if he knew London at all? Gerard did, not only that but he had a gift of describing people Isabel had only read about in the society columns. Isabel listened to him spellbound. "Pray sir do you know all the dances as well?" Gerard as third son was invited to make sure the wall flowers had at least one dance admitted he knew all the dances. Isabel clapped her hands "Well then Mama can play for us each afternoon for an hour and you can teach them to me."

"Don't get to fond of Gerard now pet, your father has hopes of a title and he'll see you have a couple of seasons first before even thinking of Gerard even if he is a nice lad." "I know but he speaks so nicely and knows so much about London. Unlike Sir Richard who hasn't been five miles away from home in his life. All he talks about is growing things." "Well it's a sound source of wealth, perhaps you should enquire of Gerard about what was Sir Richard talking about last time he visited us, saying turnips were very fashionable these days though I'm quite sure he doesn't know what they are or why." Gerard was conversant with turnips and was able to explain in terms that Isabel understood how they could be used as winter fodder for animals so more cattle and horses could be fed over winter. "Which means of course more profit." Exclaimed Isabel who had often looked over her father's books as part of her education. "So why doesn't Sir Richard's flocks do as well as everyone else's or his cattle come to that." "I'd heard he follows his cousins ideas since his cousin is doing fairly well he just doesn't understand why his results aren't as good." "But conditions are different up here." "True enough." "You mean the man's an idiot." Gerard shrugged his shoulders.

It took them eight weeks to get the engine in and attached to the machinery so it could be worked from either the water wheel or the engine. For as Mr. Ackroyd said there was no point in burning coal in winter when there was plenty of water to turn the wheel and power the machinery. His advice came in very useful and he, Gerard and Stan had lots of discussions about the most cost effective way to install and run the new engine. Gerard managed to get a nasty cut on his arm as he hefted the machinery in place but Betty used the tea in the tea pot to wash the wound and then applied a smear of honey before putting a pad on and bandaging it up. "Does tea help heal things then?" He asked. "No idea but me mam always washed me brother's wounds in tea and covered it with honey. It seemed to stop it going rotten. Now Ted's mother used river water to wash the wound and it really festered summat rotten, they had to call the doctor in at great expense and all he did was look at it and wash it with tea from the tea pot then smear it with honey. So hang the expense and we'll do yours with tea first off." Billy, the bargeman, mentioned that he'd seen summat called a side pond used to save water. Well they had plenty of labour so they dug a side pond besides the lock, Billy was well pleased and looked forward to being able to use the lock all summer long.

There was a knock at the mill door Gerard answered it and found himself facing his tenants standing there cap in hand. "A deputation I see. What can I do for you gentlemen?" "It's the election, you haven't told us whom to vote for." "Should I? Hang on since it's a warm day I'll ask Betty to find you all a glass of ale then you can explain about the election." They sat in the sun swilling down a glass of ale first which relaxed them before Old Tony who had been elected spokesman spoke up. "Well it's a matter of public record how we vote, it goes down in the voter's register like and generally speaking if you don't vote the way the landlord wants you to you lose the farm at the end of the year's lease." "Or sometimes you lose your job, depending on the master." "And we'd rather not lose our farms but you haven't given us any clue as to whom we should vote for." "Who would you like to vote for?" "Lambert is offering five shilling for anyone who votes for him." "Crawford's generous with ale and food." "Carmichael's a good man but he hasn't the money to buy the votes." "You don't think you should vote for whomever will represent you best in parliament?" "Wot the likes of us. Nay lad members of parliament don't represent us, we just elect them. They do what they like once they've been elected." "So you'd like to vote for Carmichael but think he might not get in because the others will buy the votes?" "We've family that will be turned off like if they don't vote the way their masters or landlords say and if you don't tell us whom to vote for then their masters will expect us to vote as they say or they'll turn the family members off." "So the preference would be for me to tell you to vote for who was it Carmichael?" "That's it lad right enough that way the family member's jobs will be safe since we had to follow what you said." "How many votes will Carmichael be short of victory if you lot vote for him?" "Maybe three." "You know how everyone is going to vote then?" "Pretty well." "Who's not known?" "Well there's Stan the blacksmith he tends to be not bothered, Billy the barge has a vote I think as well, oh there's Sam your steward, his wife doesn't like him getting mixed up in all the booze so generally he doesn't vote." "Hang on whilst I get the girls out here." "Why do that they haven't got a vote." "No but one is out walking with Stan." "True enough." The girls when asked thought the candidate who wasn't offering drink or bribery sounded more honest than the others. "But do we want an honest man going up to London and being corrupted?" "Betty sort out the three voters we need, remind Billy the barge he owes us a couple of favours, Stan shouldn't be a problem, neither should Sam. Just talk to them nicely and see what they say."

Next time he walked up to the house he spoke to Mr. Ackroyd and asked him if there was anything he'd like raised in parliament since it seemed likely they might be able to influence the local member of parliament. "Now you mention it lad it might be useful. Do you need any funds to buy votes?" "No it appears we can do it without spending too much money." "Well let me know if you need a bob or two for beer and such." "Think you could run to a celebratory dinner afterwards for the candidate?" "That'll cheer my French chef up always complaining he doesn't have a chance to show off his skills."

Election day came round and the results were declared. "Mr. Crawford twenty two votes." A cheer went up from Mr. Crawford's drunken supporters. "Mr. Lambert twenty three votes." Lambert's supporters went wild with delight, "We've won, we've won!" Went up the cry. "Mr. Carmichael twenty five votes." The returning officer's voice could hardly be heard over Lambert's cheering supporters. Mr. Carmichael turned to him and asked "Are you sure?" "I hereby declare Mr. Carmichael elected as member of parliament for the riding of Barwick-in-Elmet." Two of Mr. Ackroyd's largest footmen quickly stepped in besides stunned Mr. Carmichael and hustled him off the platform and into the waiting carriage before the drunken mob could attack him, his wife followed. "Jack Carmichael what happened? You promised me it was just a token gesture that you stood no chance of being elected." "Well I didn't think I did. I didn't buy any votes, I didn't offer any drink, I'm mystified as to what happened. Perhaps we'll find out when we arrive."

"Mr. And Mrs. Carmichael." The butler announce at the entrance to the drawing room. "I understand that congratulations are in order?" "Well yes I suppose so but I don't understand what happened. Did you buy the votes?" "No no, I offered but Gerard thought it unnecessary." "Gerard?" "He's my landlord, let me introduce you." "So its you who I owe the honour of wining the election?" "Let me introduce you to old Tony, it's he you impressed and thus the reason you got elected." After he'd heard the full story he made the remark that he hadn't realised that ordinary voters mattered it was only the landlords and businessmen who influenced votes. "The next thing you know they'll be having secret voting or even letting the ladies vote." Isabel gave him an odd look and Mr. Ackroyd thought the world wasn't ready for either idea well certainly not in his lifetime.

After dinner the ladies left the gentlemen to their port. "Well now what are you after me to do?" "You know I hadn't given the matter a lot of thought but thinking about it you could be useful. Isabel will be wanting a season and the same people who hold power are useful contacts for the season. There's not enough representation for business for a start, you'll need to hold a few dinners to get some ideas across, that's the way these things are done so since I've brought myself a town house in the village as they call it so you can make use of it. I'll have a French chef arranged and a full staff so they'll be no expense spared. Now I'd like you to see about raising the minimum age for children to work in the factories." Gerard interrupted, "But won't that put your costs up?" "I have got any, Isabel's idea, so if it can be made law then my competitors costs will go up but not mine. Self interest goes a long way in business."

Gerard broke the seal, there had been an outbreak of fever at the family home, both his two older brothers had died, together with the family of the eldest. The middle brother had never married. Well that made him the Viscount he'd better travel back and see his father the Earl but first he'd drop by the Ackroyd's you never know the title of viscount might make him eligible in Mr. Ackroyd's eyes. He saw Mr. Ackroyd privately first and showed him the letter. "Well lad I offer my condolences to you. Is there anything I can do?" "Well I wondered if now I'm viscount whether that would be acceptable to you as a suitor to Isabel's hand? In time when my father dies of course I'll become the earl but I don't suppose that'll happen for a good few years yet." "Well your offer is acceptable to me but you best see Isabel yourself. Want me to talk to her first?" "Not for the moment, I'll ask her first then mention the title afterwards if you don't mind." "Fair enough then fair enough. I think she's in the garden."

"I don't know what papa will say, but if he is agreeable then I agree." "I spoke to him first, you'll have to address me as my lord by the way now, I'm now the viscount. In time you'll become a countess." Isabel thumped him hard in the tummy. "What was that for?" "I've forgotten but I'm sure you deserved it." "Have you two come to an agreement then?" "Yes I'll have him." "A quiet wedding since I'm in morning?" "We'll have a dance for the neighbourhood and tenants when you get back from your visit. Isabel was saying it seemed a waste to have a ballroom and not use it."

Isabel was thoughtful, perhaps Sir Richard deserved his thousand pounds, or at least his tenants did. "Papa could you buy me Betty's share of the mill?" "I could do what are you up to?" "I thought Betty might like to become Lady Elizabeth." "Ah Sir Richard you mean." "Well if she had a thousand pounds that might buy her the title." Mr. Ackroyd thought back to the number of times he'd groped Betty at the mill, well she'd paid him back his two hundred pounds certainly, what the hell he'd do it, he missed his interest paid in gropes. He'd pop down to the mill this very morning for his final grope.

Sir Richard was devastated when he heard the news of the engagement, he'd been depending on marrying Isabel to pay off the mortgages as it was with his run of bad luck with the weather the damned bank would be foreclosing on him and what good was a title without an estate? If only he'd gone up to London last year he might have found a heiress but this year money was too tight. He needed a thousand, a few hundred to keep the bank off his back, and surely he could squeeze a bit of money from his land, everyone else seemed to be able to turn a profit. He might try his hand at a few dances in York, but the trouble was it was too local and they'd know his estate was in trouble. Damn merchants gossiped amongst themselves about their betters.

"Mama could we do something for the mill girls at the upcoming dance?" "What were you thinking of?" "Betty seems a little close to Gerard and I thought it might be better to remove temptation and since she will have a dowery of a thousand pounds I wondered if we could smarten her up a little to attract Sir Richard." Her mother rang the bell on the table "Millforte, send Henry down with the carriage down to the mill and bring back all the girls for tea. When they return you and Mrs. Rumbold are to attend us. Oh and send my dresser and Isabel's maid to us." Henry when instructed tried hard not to show his surprise and went immediately to obey his orders.

"We think it might remove a possible temptation for Gerard if Betty at the mill was to catch Sir Richard's eye and since we can't be seen to favour one girl over another it would be best if all had new gowns for the dance. I'm sure we have some suitable material put by somewhere, possibly a gown or two that doesn't quite become Isabel as it could." Isabel's maid eye gleamed, and Isabel knew her new turquoise gown was about to be sacrificed, she'd only brought it to show her independence from her maid's advice and it didn't quite become her as much as she'd hoped. "Bring everything down here and we'll require your presence as well for tea." Isabel's maid wondered if she was hearing things, invited to take tea with the ladies of the house. Still that was the problem with these nouveau riche employers they didn't know their place, but they paid well which was more than could be said of Sir Richard, all title but little money.

The girls could be heard nervously chattering in the hall before they were shown into the drawing room where they sat nervously on the edge of their chairs stealing glances at the material that had been placed on a table against the wall. Tea and small cakes were served. "Now we will be celebrating my daughter's engagement with a dance in a month's time and since we will be hiring musicians for the occasion and the ballroom will be decorated I wondered if the servants would like a dance of their own the following day? If so then I wondered if these young ladies might like to serve food and drink for the servants?" Millforte glanced at Mrs. Rumbold, the housekeeper before expressing the view this would be more than generous. Alice looked a bit put out that they were being asked to wait on the staff and looked it as well. Isabel's mother turned to the girls "You'll be invited to the first dance with the gentry and tenants and I wondered if you might like a little assistance in making a special dress for the occasion. I've asked that any spare material we have around be brought down and I think there might be a spare dress or two as well. I've asked Musgrave and Mason to help you choose something so if you'll excuse me I think you'll do better without Isabel and myself." The girls were left alone in the room with the two maids. Alice stepped up to the table and examined the cloth. It was far finer than anything she might have afforded and she was a bit uneasy about making a mistake making it up. "So what's the catch?" She asked the maids. "Madam feels she'd like to assist you in making a match. So the idea is to dress you becomingly and hopefully you may attach one of the gentlemen, or at least bring one or two up to scratch. Take a look at the three gowns I've put out, if they don't suit then we'll look through the material and have Mrs. Danver up from the village. She's made one or two gowns up for Miss Isabel." "Alice stop looking a gift horse in the mouth. If nothing else we'll get an out of this world gown out of this, I feel like Cinderella already."

"So are your dresses organised? Now you'll need to spend some time together with the gentlemen to make the best impression so I'll arrange for one or two waltzes to be played. Apparently they've very popular in Vienna and should suitably shock the local population nicely. You'll need instruction so Isabel will show Henry, James and Mr. Ackroyd's valet, Pasley, how to waltz then they will show you. You'll need to practise for an hour a day so come up after work and you can eat in the servant's hall and practise then. Now if you follow me to the ballroom Isabel and Pasley will demonstrate first."

Isabel's maid, Mason, had all the mill girls in a week before the dance for as she said she'd have to be organised in order to do all their hair and she wanted to look over their dresses which they'd change into once they arrived at the house. She led them up to the nursery. It was decided that Betty and Norma would do the other girls hair after the style had been worked out carefully by Musgrave taking into account the dress to be worn. Then Mason and Musgrave would do their hair before seeing to Isabel and her mother. "Now on the day of the dance I'll arrange have a bath brought up here. The nursery has its own range to prepare food so we'll heat kettles of water on it so you can have a bath and wash your hair. You might have to have two to a bath because of the shortage of hot water. The kitchens will be hard put to supplying all the hot water the guests will require before the dance and this way you'll be independent." A bath this was luxury indeed, even if one would have to follow another.

"Sam, why is Sir Richard's estate poorer than the others round here?" "He's just got things back to front, if he sowed the right varieties of seed he'd get much higher yields, and you need a hardier breed of sheep for up north, his are more suited to warmer southern climes. Why are you thinking of taking up farming then Betty?" "Well you never know, what would it take to turn it round?" "Not that much, Gerard's got a few new toys he might lend to help sow the seed. His new fancy seed drill needs less seed to the acre but gets better germination rates. Spend a bit of money on the right seeds like, sell the existing sheep and cattle and get something more suited to the hills and the local markets. You'd save money if you could sell the wool directly to the mill, saves hauling by wagon to the canal. Little things really but they all add up and it should be quite profitable once its put to rights."

Betty mused Lady Elizabeth had rather a nice ring to it she thought.

"Sir Richard have you been introduced to Elizabeth yet? She's just sold her share of the mill for a thousand pounds so might welcome some investment advice. Since they're playing a waltz and she hasn't a partner." Isabel's mother left the rest of the sentence in the air as Sir Richard bowed before Betty before leading her onto the floor.