The Girl in the Mask Read Online Free PDF

‘You are, if only you realized it,’ she said.
    ‘I do, truly, Aunt. With such a wise father, so devoted to my discipline, I’m sure I shall learn to behave well in no time at all.’ I spoke earnestly, keeping all trace of laughter from my voice. I could see I’d thoroughly perplexed her.
    I changed and got into bed, lying meekly beneath the linen sheets. I watched Aunt Amelia undress with a horrified fascination: all those layers of petticoats she wore. And at last the secret of the swaying skirts was revealed. Beneath her petticoats, attached to her waist, my aunt wore what looked like a huge birdcage of wires, bone, and tapes. I sat up, staring in astonishment. ‘What is that thing you’re wearing, Aunt Amelia?’ I asked, quite forgetting it might be rude to watch someone undress.
    Amelia looked round. ‘This?’ she asked, unfastening the cage. ‘This is a hoop, Sophia. Dear me, how is it possible to be so ignorant? Anyone would think you were a savage from the Americas, and not a baronet’s daughter from Devonshire.’
    She stepped out of the hoop, laying it aside, pulled a nightgown over her head and climbed into her bed, blowing out the candle with a puff. I lay back, wishing I were indeed a savage, so that I wouldn’t have to go to the Bath and be a fine lady. A dreadful thought struck me. ‘Aunt, you are not expecting me to wear such a contraption?’ I demanded. ‘For it is utterly out of the question.’
    ‘Go to sleep, Sophia,’ was all the response I got.
    Despite all that wine and good food, it seemed to take an eternity before my aunt finally fell asleep and began to snore rhythmically. Restless with hunger, I got out of bed and cautiously pulled my gown and shoes back on. I stood looking down at her sleeping face for a moment. ‘Start as you mean to go on,’ I murmured to myself. Then I threw up the sash window and climbed out.

CHAPTER FIVE

    The roof tiles were slippery with the rain that had fallen earlier in the day, but I managed to keep my balance as I descended carefully as far as the gutter. From there, it should have been an easy drop down to the yard, but unfortunately my gown snagged on a broken bracket as I tried to jump. I dangled there for a moment or two, kicking helplessly, cursing the loss of my breeches, before finally freeing the fabric with an ominous tearing sound. Then I dropped to the ground.
    I straightened up, brushing myself down, and looked around. I was shocked to see what looked like half the servants from the inn sitting on upturned crates, staring at me, their faces a picture of blank astonishment.
    ‘You really need to get that guttering repaired,’ I remarked, to hide my embarrassment. ‘It’s a menace to guests who are compelled to use the roof as an exit. Just look what it’s done to my gown!’
    There was a moment of shocked silence, and then one of the young men began to laugh. I recognized him as the waiter who had served dinner. ‘It must have escaped our notice, Miss,’ he said. ‘For some reason, our guests usually prefer the stairs.’
    ‘Even on such a fine night?’ I asked, feigning amazement.
    The kitchen maids giggled, and I found myself relaxing, the blush fading from my face. Now that I looked more closely there were only four servants: two young men and two girls.
    ‘I don’t know how it comes about, after the fine supper that you serve here,’ I told them, ‘but I find myself quite famished.’
    The servant lad chuckled. ‘I thought it might be hunger drove you down here,’ he remarked. ‘It fair broke my heart to see you standing there, not allowed to touch so much as a morsel.’
    ‘It broke mine too,’ I agreed. ‘I came down in the earnest hope of remedying the situation.’
    The servants glanced at one another uncertainly. ‘We’ve finished serving now,’ explained the lad. ‘The tables have been set for breakfast. I don’t think you’d be comfortable in the tap room, neither. There’s only men in there