Schooling her face into neutrality was a skill Verity had learnt quicker than any other whilst working for Mrs Abercrombie, this strange, curious woman who was happy to have her maid wear her skin but would recoil if Verity allowed that intimacy to spill over into honesty.

“Of course madam,” Verity offered as politely as one could when partially dressed and feeling as though her body had been put through a mangle, which was to say with a hint of gritted teeth. Thankfully she doubted the other woman would look at her long enough to notice. “Utterly tedious.”

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MJ made magic out of my ramblings