Willie’s Maid 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 if they are not suitable for you 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.  Asstr.org accepts donations if you’re feeling rich or even if you’re not.

Luv Karen

“For Gawd’s sake Willie just stick it up me quick and get on with it.  I’ve got his lordship to sort out later on and I want your spunk up me first.”  Betty had been trying to get pregnant for more than six months now, first she got Willie to prefill her with spunk then she’d service his lordship later.  The real object was a cottage so she could marry Willie and live happily ever after.  His lordship always gave an estate cottage to any maid he put in the club though these days his sperm wasn’t so potent hence Betty was using Willie to help matters along a bit.

Ellen stood guard whilst Betty and her lover stole a few moments privacy in the kitchen garden.  “Right ready as I’ll ever be for his lordship.”  Betty tugged the neckline of her dress down and smoothed down her skirts.  Just before Conrad, the four year old heir, came dashing round the corner escaping from his nursemaid.  Ellen caught him and returned him protesting to his nurse.  She quite liked Conrad in small doses but was very thankful that she wasn’t the nursery nurse who had to try to keep up with him.

Ellen hadn’t quite realised just what the life of a maid at the big house entailed when she’d arrived a few months before.  She’d been shocked at being fondled by his lordship in passing and had expressed her feelings to the older and wiser Betty.  “Don’t you worry about him just mention to Mrs. Bowthorpe that he’s fondling you and she’ll increase your wages.  It won’t go beyond fondling for the moment since I’m bedding him so I can get an estate cottage for Willie and me.”  Ellen thought to herself that even for an estate cottage with Gabriel she wouldn’t go that far, but being practical Gabriel was lost to her now, no followers allowed was the rule.

When she mentioned being fondled to Mrs. Bowthorpe she had increased her wages by ten pounds a year to compensate.   Lady Royce had commanded her presence “I see that my husband has taken an interest in you which saves him from bothering me so I’ve spoken to Mrs. Bowthorpe and asked her to raise your wages by ten pounds a year.  You may go.”  Akitt the butler groped her in the passage.  “Sir.”  “Oh don’t worry my dear I’ll just get Mrs. Bowthorpe to increase your wage a little.”  By the time Warwick the steward had stolen a kiss from her and run his sticky palms up her dress she was beginning to feel as if it was perfectly natural thing since it was expected of her. 

At quarter day when she received her pay it was more than double what she had been expecting.  When she queried it she was told “It’s exactly right, when you include the bonuses from his lordship, her ladyship and grope money from Akitt and Warwick.  You’ll get an additional ten pounds a year when you take over Betty’s role as his lordship’s mistress.”  Ellen thought she might just keep her eye out for a new position in a few months time but didn’t like to say anything to the contrary.

Willie and the steward rode out to visit one of the outlying farms where they found the farmer in a bit of a quandary.  “Know anything about these new fangled rotations?  The wife’s sister lives on an estate which has been using them and she wonders what they be?”  The steward looked toward Willie his assistant, “Willie here has been on to me about these new ways of doing things but well you know his Lordship won’t have anything to do with them.  Mind you Alfred on his own farm is out of sight so want to try your hand?  Talk to Alfred and come up with a plan he can implement and I’ll check it over.  In fact you can draw up a plan for the entire estate as a paper exercise for you never know we might even get round to using one day and the lessons learnt might be useful.”

Conrad went down with the sickness first, followed by his nursemaid, his mother was distraught and caught it from him.  Unfortunately the heir died, followed by his mother, the house was in panic as one after another the servants caught the sickness.  Mrs. Bowthorpe kept the pregnant Betty away from those who were sick.  Even his lordship was stricken down. 

His nephew hurried to the estate and his wife started to plan out how they would rearrange their new home.  “But uncle be reasonable, you’ve lost your heir and your wife, the doctor tells me you aren’t going to live long.  She’s only planning things out.”  His lordship hurled a book at his nephew, “Get out and keep out until I’m dead and buried.”  Then exhausted he turned to his valet and whispered his plans.  A groom was dispatched forthwith.

Betty was getting worried she might not get her cottage, especially when she heard about the nephew’s visit.  “You’re summoned to his lordship’s bed chamber.”  “Yes Mrs. Bowthorpe.”  Molly slowly hauled herself upstairs and into his lordship’s bed chamber.  “Stay by the door girl.”  She was commanded.  “Right repeat after me”, Betty found herself married to his lordship before witnesses and after signing the marriage document thrust out of the room back to Mrs. Bowthorpe’s care within minutes. 

“But what have I done?  I wanted to marry Willie not his lordship.”  “It’ll all work out in the end.  I’ll move you to the blue room for the moment and I suspect you’d like a new dress or two as well.”  “I haven’t finished the dusting yet.”  “Don’t you worry about the dusting, I’ll get Barbara to move you and look after you, she’s very discreet.”

His lordship managed to sign the marriage document and his new will then collapsed with the effort and the clergy and lawyers gathered downstairs together with the senior staff.

“So we are agreed then, should the unthinkable happen the new Lady Royce remains in possession until the child is born.  If it’s a girl then she gets what is set out in the will, but if it’s a boy she remains as his guardian and he comes into the title.”  There were nods all round.  The next morning Lord Royce was found to have died in his sleep, the unthinkable had happened. 

Next morning when his nephew demanded entrance Akitt was firm.  “I’m deeply sorry sir but the lawyers instructions were quite firm you are not to be permitted to take possession until the child is born in case he is the heir.”  “Child what are you talking about man his wife died a week ago.”  “That was the first Lady Royce, he married again yesterday afternoon.”  “And got her with child last night I suppose.”  “I couldn’t say sir but my instructions are quite clear, you are not to be admitted.  I suggest you go home and await developments.”  The nephew forced his way past Akitt only to be greeted in the hall by every footman and groom on the estate.  Some were armed with shotguns.  “If you’d like to step this way sir.”  He shrugged his shoulders in defeat and left.  Outside his wife shrieked at him and demanded to be told just what was going on.  Two large grooms slipped through the front door and stood menacingly.   They drove off down the drive muttering about retribution.

“Now Betty or should I say my lady I suggest that Willie moves into the next room to yours for the moment, the one with the connecting door.  The lawyers tell me it would be better if you waited until your child is born until you marry Willie if that’s what you’d like to do.”  Betty nodded as she held Willie’s hand.  “Now we ought to run you up a smart black dress or two, just for a month or so then we can find you something prettier.”  “I’d like to see Willie in something smarter as well.”  “I’m sure that can be arranged, now Warwick would like to see you for a moment or two.”  Betty nodded her agreement.  “I need your permission to implement Willie’s rotation plan.”  Willie looked up eagerly, Betty nodded “Yes go ahead, and can we have a school in the village, I never learn my letters.”  “We can do that certainly but you might be more comfortable with Barbara teaching you.”

Ellen wondered about her future, her bottom drawer had been filling up quite nicely thank you but she couldn’t see Willie giving her money to be able to grope her and she hadn’t liked the look of that nephew.  Still being a maid in the big house meant you got fed and clothed so she was better off than many.

Georgina sat across from her twin brother Pierce, “Are we doing any socialising whilst we’re in London or are we just meeting with the dry old lawyers?”  “The lawyers had better come first I feel, are you quite sure your old school friend won’t mind putting up a couple of cits?”  “I’m positive of it, there were advantages in being at school with plenty of pin money you know.  Besides it’s not the season yet and she’s now Lady Pearce if you please.  I wonder how Viola is getting on, the three of us were as thick as thieves, but both are married now.  Do you suppose they think me an old maid?”  She questioned in mock horror.  Pierce shook his head before settling back in the coach and closing his eyes.  He dreamt about the temptations that London offered and how he longed not to resist them.

“Georgy how wonderful to see you again.”  Mariah and Georgina exchanged kisses on the cheek and Georgy exclaimed “How well you’re looking, marriage must agree with you.  Have you heard from Viola?  I heard she was married but haven’t heard any details.”  Lord Pearce came up behind, “Well that’s the last we’ll see of them until dinner.  Is the reason for your trip social or business?”  “Business first, and perhaps a little society afterwards.”  “Well come through to the library and have a glass of something to warm you up.  Winter isn’t the most pleasant of times to be travelling.”  Pierce followed his lordship into the warm masculine library.

Derek took time out from running his errand to cut across the park and give a handful of bread crumbs to the ducks when he noticed a middle aged servant looking mournful by the duck pond.  “I’m Derek, who are you?”  She glanced at him and hesitantly offered “Calliope.”  “Want some of my bread to feed the ducks with?”  he generously offered.  She shook her head but Derek persisted “It can’t be all that bad can it?”  “I’m getting to be too old to be a lady’s maid these days and the future is grim.”  “What really?  I thought you had it made once you were a toff’s maid.”  “Lady Dobney is looking for my replacement even as I speak.”  “Stone the crows, I’ll look out for you, see what I can do.”  She smiled at him then got up and walked away.

On her return Georgy glanced at herself in the hall mirror and was dissatisfied with what she saw.  She looked like a country nobody.  “What you need is a good fashionable maid.”  She turned to see Mariah’s hall boy standing to one side and raised her eyebrow.  “You can stand the brass?”  She nodded indulgently, “Right then I’d best be off and find you one.”  He scurried away to Lord Dobney’s kitchen door.  “I got a message for Lady Dobney’s maid.”  He often dashed round delivering the gossip from one lady’s maid to another so no one thought much about it.  “The new one or the old one?”  “The one I met last week.”  “Come to collect her bag have you?”  Derek nodded.  He was soon guided into Miss Carradine’s room where she was packing her bags.  “Looks like I comes just in the nick of time Miss.”   Miss Carradine raised her eyebrow at him.  “I got you a job.  Are we taking your bags with us or can I collect them later with the hand cart?”  Miss Carradine picked up one bag and passed him another which he slung over his shoulder, “We’ll leave the other one to be collected later.”

“This is Lord Pearce's residence is it not?”  “Yeah their visitor is up from the country and don't know nuthing.”  Miss Carradine paused then followed Derek in through the kitchen door.  “Hang on here a jiffy.”  They were paused outside Georgy's room and after tapping on the door and being bid to enter Derek slipped inside, “I got the perfect lady's maid for you right outside.”  Georgy nodded and Miss Carradine entered and looked over Georgy “Yes I know I'm shockingly provincial so much so that the hall boy is ashamed of me when I go out.”  “Not ashamed Miss, not ashamed but you must admit you need a bit of town polish.”  “But I see nothing that a few new gowns couldn't overcome.”  “Do you really think so?”  “Well I don't see why not, the bones are good, the figure is good, I assume you have funds?”  “Owns a manufactory she does.”  “Then the only question is are you willing to put yourself in my elderly hands?”  “Elderly?  Surely not?”  “It's fashionable to have a younger lady's maid currently so life becomes a little difficult once one reaches a certain age unless you are lucky enough to find a position as a house keeper.”  “But does experience count for so little?”  “Certainly for Lady Dobney, I was turned off this morning but paid until the quarter day.  I have my references here.”  “How would you like to be called?”  “Carradine Miss, and Miss Carradine below stairs of course.”  “Well since we have much to do perhaps we'd better get started right away.  Can you recommend a suitable modiste?”

“Good morning Francine, is this my new employer Miss Danver.”  “My dresses are hopelessly provincial I'm afraid and I thought to indulge in one or two new ones.  I'm afraid I haven't made any banking arrangements so I hope these will be acceptable if I pay you half in advance and half on completion?”  She motioned forward her footman Larkin who opened a leather satchel and showed a pile of glistening sovereigns.   Francine's eyes opened wide and she turned back to Miss Carradine.  “Lady Dobney was seen entering Odette's establishment this morning do I take it she has turned you off?”  “Her new French maid arrived this morning.  I wondered perhaps one or two gowns with your signature detail?”  “I must discreetly let slip to Odette  the size of madam's outstanding bill and remind his lordship's man of business as well.”  “I haven't paid Lord Dobney for his wool this year if you'd like to sell his account to me I could use it for payment?”

“Did I mention our prepayment out of season quantity discount one day sale?  A dozen gowns for the normal price of three?”  “But I don't have occasion to wear a dozen gowns.”  “You may leave that to me Miss if I make so bold.”  “Do I get a choice of the gowns?”  “Some choice but I suggest you simply follow our suggestions.  Lady Dobney doesn't have good fashion sense and with a new maid who will be diffident to her wishes it should be simple to out shine her.”  “Do I wish to out shine her?”  “You may not but Miss Carradine and myself both have a vested interest.  Currently its quiet but one or two people will be in London to buy their gowns for the season so it’s important that your gowns are perfect, and that is good for business.”

Georgy tried on the first walking dress, a very elegant gown that simply begged to be taken on a call.  “Georgy have you ever met Lady Fraser?  Oh I adore the gown it suits you so completely, so becoming is it new?”  “Very new, and no I don’t know a Lady Fraser.”  “How very odd, there’s an invitation for you to call on her at 2 pm.  I opened it by mistake, she’s one of Society’s grand dames and she terrifies me.”  “Carradine?”  “I know her dresser Miss, you are expected.”

“Miss Georgina Danver.”  The butler announced at the double door.  “Well come in child come in.  Yes you have a certain something, turn for me then walk across the room.”  Georgy did as she was bid.  “Well Aston what do you think?”  Aston stepped forward, “I think she’ll do very well my lady.”  “Dare I even ask?”  “Lady Dobney was not quite as kind as she might have been to Lady Fraser’s niece, and she wishes to reciprocate in a very genteel manner.”  “She’ll introduce you to some of the ton who are in London before the season with the intention of you outshining Lady Dobney.”  “Will I be able to do that?”  “Oh I should think so, she isn’t the brightest pebble on the beach and without Carradine here her eye for colour was never very good.  No one or two gatherings and perhaps a ball should do the trick nicely.”  “Thank you I think.”  “Now that’s the business part over come and tell me all about yourself so spread the word of the lovely young Miss who is in town.  Aston tells me your grandfather was in trade, but I’m sure we needn’t mention that unless asked.  What of your other relatives perhaps?”  “I had a Great Uncle who left me his farm?”  “Landed gentry what could be better.”  Georgy giggled “Well it wasn’t really a very big farm.”  “No matter, we’ll simply mention it and when they see you have money from your dress and with my connections they’ll simply assume the farm is a little larger than it is.”

Her first London ball, apparently it was only a tiny one according to Mariah hardly anyone was there at all but even so Lord Markwick had looked smitten.  Two dances including the supper dance, she’d even sneaked half a waltz in his arms on the terrace together with a stolen kiss.  She’d have to be more careful drinking champagne.  Lady Fraser had been well pleased with her protégé and Lady Dobney’s eye for colour.  A few pointed comments questioning how Lady Dobney’s new maid could possibly let her out of the house in such a mismatch of shades and the deed was quietly done.  Both Lady Dobney and her new maid’s reputations were destroyed, in the most gentile way possible of course.

The next morning Lord Marwick came in person with a floral tribute just as Georgina was stepping from the front door down to the horses that had been brought round by a groom.  “For me how lovely.”  She handed them to a footman.  “I’d invite you in for refreshment but I’m just about to go for a ride.  I suppose you could join me?”  “I’m not dressed for it nor do I have my mount.”  “Oh don’t be stuffy.  Peters let him have your mount, you can always go back and get another and join us in the park.”  Lord Marwick gave her a look “You’re serious?”  “But of course unless Acorn isn’t fine enough for you?”  In answer Lord Marwick put his foot in the stirrup and swung up.

Pierce was drinking in one of the clubs when his companion asked him if he was interested in a game of dice.  “Yes if the stakes aren't too high” Peter thought for a moment, “Well it costs two pounds for the evening.”  “Affordable.”  Pierce commented intrigued, it didn't sound like any sort of dice game he'd ever heard of.

“Right pay your two sovereigns to Caroline then you get to roll your pair of dice against the girls.”  A dark haired girl with twinkling eyes approached him, “Try my lucky dice.”  He rolled the dice and up came double six.  Peter called across to Claire “Who's double six tonight?”  “Rosamond is.” came the reply.  “Oh my you're rolling the dice against me tonight.” said the dark haired girl with twinkling eyes.  “You know since its quiet you could try rolling against two of us for only a sovereign more.”  A blue eyed blonde snuggled up to him on the other side.  “Want to try my pair of lucky dice?”  He paid his sovereign then rolled the second pair of dice and up came a pair of fours.  The blonde kissed him on the cheek and together they settled down on a sofa with a small table in front and prepared to roll the dice.   Rosamond handed him a hand written list with scores and penalties on.  You could either opt for rolling a pair of dice or two pairs of dice.  If you rolled two pairs of dice and scored two sets of double six then you got to spend the night with the girl you were rolling against provided you beat her score.  Rolling a single pair might gain you a kiss, a fondle, a nipple covered in honey, it all depended on the score.  “I think I prefer the single pair of dice.” remarked Pierce, “Very sensible, you realise of course than no one has ever rolled two double sixes here.”  Pierce soon found himself snogging with one girl whilst the other was giving him a hand job.

Across the room a young buck was desperately trying to roll two pairs of dice.  “He'll be at it all night just rolling the dice, they're Janetta's lucky dice, they're ever so slightly weighted on one side so the odds of him getting even one six are longer than normal.  Even if they weren't the odds are astronomical.”   Rosamond whispered in his ear.  “But if he does succeed?”  “Easy peasy, notice how much wine she's slipping him, it's just a matter of waiting until he collapses then a few artful arrangements upstairs in bed and in the morning he'll be convinced he was Don Juan himself.”  Pierce, Rosamond and Dora rolled the dice again then looked at the sheet.  “Oh my lucky, lucky day, first I get Dora's tongue over my rude bits for five minutes then yours for ten.”  Pierce looked at her in horror.  “Well that's the fun of the dice rolling you never know quite what you're going to get.  You can kiss me and fondle my boobs as Dora works between my lower limbs if you like.”  Pierce resigned himself to running his tongue over her rude bits once Dora moved out of the way.  He was surprised when she gradually arched her back, giving small moans and finally grasped his head holding him in place as he tongued her.  “I take it he hit the spot then?”   Dora said dryly.  “Good god yes, here let's switch dice and roll again.”  This time Rosamond was to tongue Dora followed by ten minutes of Pierce.  “Not quite so direct I'm very sensitive down there especially when Rosamond is tweaking my nipples at the same time.” 

“I supposed we'd better be good and switch dice again.”  This time it was Pierce who was to be tongued on his rude bits, Dora and Rosamond worked together and finally Pierce's spunk shot forth to be swallowed by Rosamond.  Afterwards Pierce sat back with one girl snuggled up to him on each shoulder watching the rest of the room.  “One or two of the others seem to be limited to a simple back rub or kiss.”  He murmured “Well they haven't got Rosamond's lucky dice have they?” spoke up Dora.  He glanced across the room to where a girl in a black leather corset with long high heeled boots perked up and picked up her instruments of torture as her name was called.  The young buck looked taken back but was held from dashing to the door by two muscular girls.  Rosamond leaned into him, “You were lucky tonight weren't you?  Don't worry when you come back Dora or I will look after you with our lucky dice but Smithers was a bit unpleasant to one of the girls last time he came in.  We're normally here on Thursdays by the way it was just chance that brought us both in today.”

The next day at the club Peter greeted him.  “So enjoy yourself last night?”  “Yes thank you.”  “I hear Smithers drew the black widow so he'll probably be resting for a day or two.”

At Deacon's Bank there was unease when they realised that the squire's son wasn't going to make any payment on his mortgage.  The difficulty was that it was spring and after the poor harvest last year many of the land owners would be seeking small loans to make improvements and to buy seed to plant.  “I'm sorry sir but we don't have sufficient funds on hand to be able to make you a loan at the moment.”  As the clerk said the words he realised too late what his words might do.  By the end of the day a run on the bank had started.

“Georgy I've just received a letter from Viola, apart from all the gossip she mentions her husband is worried as there is a run on the bank and he didn't get his money out fast enough.  What does it mean?  You were always good with money and such.”  “It means time is of the essence if we are to save Viola's hard inherited fortune, Pierce how soon can we set out?”  Within the hour they were travelling north, Pierce, Georgy and Larkin in a light chariot wrapped in travelling rugs against the cold pulled by a six horse team.  Taking turns at driving and sleeping they continued to travel through the night at a slower pace in the moon light.  Food was eaten in the chariot as they travelled.  They arrived tired at their destination after only thirty one hours of travel which Pierce was immensely proud of and was certain must be a record.  “What’s happened to the bank?”  “Well the doors have been locked for two days.”  “Can you take us to see the owner?”  Soon they were sitting down with the bank’s despondent proprietor.  “I was expecting that the squire’s son that is to say the new squire would be making a £3,000 due payment on his mortgage before spring but he disappeared down to London and I got caught with a cash flow problem.  It’s the run on the bank that will take us down I’m sure.”  “If you don’t mind us looking through the bank books I think we can cover his £3,000.”  Georgy and Pierce both knew their way through account books and finally at midnight looked at each other.  “Looks good to me.” Said Pierce, “So shall I buy the foreclosed property and you put up say £2,000 in capital?”  Georgy nodded and addressed the banker “In the morning I’ll meet you at the bank’s front door at 9 am with a lawyer.”

Pierce looked over the manor house, it had definitely been neglected as had the estate.  He supposed the first thing to do before moving in would be to get some staff in.  He’d go to church on Sunday and see if he could get any suitable leads.

Ellen was standing at the back of the congregation clustered round the doorway after the service waiting for the Vicar to finish speaking to Betty or Lady Royce as she was now, before walking back to the house when she was tapped lightly on the arm.  “Do you know where I might hire a maid or two?”  She recognized the new owner of the Manor house immediately, young and well handsome enough.  “If you’d just step this way sir.”  She murmured leading him round the corner of the church where after kissing him she announced.  “I’ll be along this afternoon just as soon as I’ve collected my things.”  Well Betty wasn’t going to stand in her way, she’d noticed that Betty preferred more experienced staff who wouldn’t tempt her Willie to stray.

Pierce and Georgy looked over the estate and at the scrawny sheep that were grazing on the meadows.  “We’ll never get any decent wool from these.”  “Butcher the lot and get in a new flock?”  “I’d best write to the mill and find out which of the improved breeds produce the best wool for us.”  “Since we practically own the bank we could offer cheap loans for improved breeds of sheep and cattle.”  “You mean that would make the area more prosperous so we’d make more money from the bank?”  “We’ll talk to Viola or perhaps Ellen since she’s local and see who knows the most about sheep and cattle around here then use them as an example to the others.”  Pleased with each other they walked back into the house.

“Ellen we need tenants for the estate, it’ll be hard work at first and we’d like to see new breeds and methods introduced do you know of anyone sensible who might be interested?”  She blushed as she spoke “Well there’s Gabriel but he hasn’t the money.  Otherwise I think the better farmers have moved on since the estate was left in bad repair.”  “Married is he?”  “Not as far as I know nor stepping out with anyone either, he lives with his mum and dad and two brothers.  We stepped out a little before I went into service.”  “If we gave you a flock of sheep, a few cattle and the tenancy of one of the farms would you be interested?”  Ellen looked proper flabbergasted.  “What would you want to do sumat daft like that for?”  “Well we need high quality wool at the mill and to be honest the sheep round here are scrawny things.  We need someone bright to show the others how to do it otherwise they’ll never change their ways so we set you up then make more money when the rest of them follow suit.  Would you like an extra half day off this afternoon?”  “Aye I’d better get down to the vicar and get him to read the banns after that I’ll go and tell Gabriel we’re getting married.  Do we get the choice of farms then?”  “You get the choice of farms, go and talk to your young man but aren’t you going to ask him first before seeing the vicar?”  “Certainly not he won’t be able to keep a straight face when talking to the vicar and it would be over the village by nightfall, no I’ll see the vicar first then Gabriel and I can take a walk over to Trim’s farm and I’ll bring him up to scratch somehow or other.”  “I’d better see there’s a picnic meal left in the kitchen then.  Off you go.”  Georgy sat back in her chair and smiled contentedly to herself, two birds with one stone, a farmer to introduce the new breeds and Ellen out of the way.  She’d plans for her brother Pierce and they did not include Pierce getting distracted by Ellen.

Georgy looked up from her work in the garden “What on earth are you doing here?”  “I just happened to stop by on the way to my estates and thought I'd stop off to visit you on the way.”  “Your estates lie west of London not north, you're coming it far too strong my Lord.”  Lord Markwick paused “I suppose I could say I missed you.”  “Oh good, I missed you to.”  Georgy stepped forward to give him a hug and kissed him lightly on the lips.  “Georgy should I be chaperoning you or protecting your honour?”  “Go away Pierce you're not wanted.”  “Am I wanted?”  “Very much so, Pierce has just brought a neglected estate and I hope to make use of your experience to assist us to get things moving properly.”  “So you're landed gentry now?”  “Very much so, sounds terrible doesn't it, but I have diversified, I'm now a part owner of the local bank.  They had a big mortgage on an estate that missed its mortgage deadline so Pierce brought the estate up and I put money into the bank to rescue it.”

Mrs. Bowthorpe looked again at Willie’s left hand, odd that baby should have the same shape, still these things happened even in the best of families and she’d found working for Willie and Betty was a lot less demanding than the old Lord and Lady Royce.