Sinful Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page B

think about it for long. ‘Very nice,’ smiled Mrs H. ‘Now straighten your cap and apron and come with me.’
    Keys jangling she heaved herself to her feet and indicated to Maggie to follow her up the backstairs and through the green baize servants’ door into the main house. ‘This is her ladyship’s room,’ she announced, leading Maggie in. Maggie nodded. She’d had brief glimpses of it before, when she’d carried up hot water or buckets of coal, but then she’d had to keep her eyes down and scurry about her tasks as unobtrusively as possible. Now she had time to look round and take it all in at her leisure.
    A heavily carved dressing table took up half one wall, its surface cluttered with packets of papier poudre, tiny crystal pin dishes, a silver backed brush and hand mirror and a large leather jewel case. Rich turkey carpets covered the polished floor. A satin spread covered the bed and the pillows were adorned with flounces of the same Honiton lace that her majesty was so fond of. Small occasional tables were covered with ornaments and an enormous vase filled with peacock feathers stood at the window. Over everything hung the cloying smell of attar of roses.
    An ornate morning gown lay discarded across the bed, and Mrs H picked it up and shook it out. A torn flounce trailed on the carpet and she tutted. ‘That’ll have to be sewn back on,’ she grumbled. ‘You can start with that.’ She wagged a finger. ‘Remember that; nothing’s to be put back in the wardrobe until the buttons and frills have been checked and it’s been sponged and pressed.’
    Maggie nodded, her head spinning as Mrs H continued to instruct her in her new duties. Fetching and carrying, doing her ladyship’s hair, and seeing to her clothes and jewels. Everything, in fact, from dressing her ladyship in the morning to undressing her again when it was time to go to bed. God’s strewth, it wouldn’t have surprised her in the least if Mrs H had informed her she’d have to pee for her employer as well!
    â€˜What are you grinning at?’ the woman demanded suspiciously.
    â€˜Nothing, Mrs H,’ Maggie said meekly. ‘Just trying to remember everything.’
    â€˜Well see that you do, girl,’ came the cross reply. ‘I ain’t got time to go over it all again. Her ladyship’s guests will be leaving soon. You gotta help her out of her afternoon gown, see to her bath then get everything laid out for this ball tonight - and I don’t want no complaints either. Just you see you do everything proper.’
    Maggie nodded apprehensively and Mrs H softened. ‘Don’t worry, love, you’ll do fine,’ she said. ‘First time’s the worst - but I’ll give you a hand to set you off.’ She glanced at the fob watch pinned to the front of her black gown. ‘Just time for a cuppa before you get started.’
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    â€˜This is Carter, your ladyship,’ Mrs Hardcastle said formally. ‘She’ll be taking over from Evans.’ Maggie bobbed a nervous curtsey as Lady Georgina looked her over.
    â€˜I suppose she’ll have to do,’ sighed her ladyship. ‘Though how I’m supposed to manage without Evans I do not know. Her leaving is most inconvenient.’
    Maggie bit her lip. Typical. ‘Her leaving’ indeed. As if the poor girl had any choice. Chucked out with a full belly - and all this pampered bitch could worry about was the ‘inconvenience’. Selfish cow!
    â€˜Don’t just stand there, girl,’ she ordered. ‘Undress me and loose my stays.’ She turned her back to reveal a row of tiny buttons from neck to waist, so Maggie hurried forward and began to undo them. When that was done, and her ladyship helped out of her dress, bustle and petticoats, she turned her attention to the tightly laced stays, and her ladyship gave a groan of pleasure as the rolls of