Cordelia 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. All copies must be of the complete document. ©2014 Asstr.org accepts donations if you’re feeling rich or even if you’re not.

Luv Karen

Cordelia’s father died suddenly of fever. At first she wasn’t too worried about money as they had always lived well but as she sat down with the household accounts it became clear she only had enough money to last two years or so at the present rate of spending. She was amazed that her father didn’t own their house but had sold it then rented back some twelve months before, his business too it appeared had been sold at roughly the same time. At the bank they were helpful but told her her father had sold out of the funds some eighteen months before against their advice. In desperation she wrote to her old school friend trying to make some sense of it all. She and the staff searched the house from top to bottom trying to find out what had happened to the money but to no avail.

Georgette wrote back, she’d talked to her parents and they suggested she sell everything and come and live with them for the moment. So the staff were dismissed and everything went to the sale room except for her clothes and a few personal things which she took with her to Lord Bladen’s country residence. Cordelia was comfortable living with Georgette but wondered what would become of her when Georgette married. She was an intelligent practical girl who had often helped her father with his books so when she’d seen the baron holding his account books out at arm’s length she offered to read them out to him. Gradually she’d taken on other tasks on the house and estate management side until Lady Bladen had confessed to her husband she didn’t know what she’d do without her presence which at first they’d reluctantly agreed to since although she was Georgette’s close friend having a father who had run his own business made it a little difficult socially.

Ellis had come into his title as Viscount unexpectedly since he didn’t really keep track of family members especially second cousins. Apparently there were two small estates separated by more than a days travel. Essentially lazy he gently rode to the large house on the first estate and announced himself. The superior butler looked down his nose at him and enquired after his luggage. Ellis handed him his saddle bag. It soon became apparent that he was not living up to the expectations of the staff. Small matters such as they seemed to think he should dress for dinner and that estate matters should be left to the steward both of which he thought was nonsense. He looked around the estate and found a large cottage that was empty and moved in with a small staff of three to look after him. The manor house he rented out to a family who had made their fortune in trade and now wished to enjoy it. He sent instructions that the other manor house was to be rented out as well and a cottage made ready with three servants for Ellis Martin. The estate steward he sacked. Fortunately one of his new maids was a farmer’s daughter and knew a little about estate management, well enough to give him a list of repairs that needed doing. He wandered down to the local ale house and was lucky enough to find two or three ex-soldiers who were looking for work. He gave their sarjent the list and told him to start at the top and work his way down and to see his maid if they had any questions. When he returned home a thought struck him did all the ex-soldiers know how to read? “Ruth does the church here have a Sunday school?” “No sir.” “Could you find me someone who can read and write who would be willing to teach?” “Well my sister taught me my letters and to do sums an all sir.” “Tell her she’s hired to teach letters and sums on Sundays and any other days she can find pupils, I’ll go and have a chat with the vicar.” “Who will pay her and what will she be paid sir?” “I can’t afford governesses wages but £20 a year live in here or £25 live out.” “For that much I could do it.” “Well work it out between you I’ll stretch to £37 a year for the pair of you live in and you act as maids as well as teaching.” The vicar was simple, as he wasn’t there, but the curate was amenable for the moment and he’d raise the matter with the vicar next time he visited which they both knew he rarely did. “Can you get your father to supply the curate with bacon and a ham occasionally? Keep a record of how much and I’ll adjust his rent accordingly.” “Don’t you worry I’ll carry them round to the curate myself to make sure he gets them.” remarked Ruth with a gleam in her eye.

A fortnight later he was curled up with a book on an old comfortable leather chair and was lost in the tale as it unfolded before him. There was an interruption as Ruth’s sister tapped on the door. “Begging your pardon sir but you have a visitor.” She curtseyed. Ellis thought quickly for a moment then resigned himself to having them join him. “Reginald Symon, I just thought I’d be neighbourly and see how you are settling in.” “Ellis Martin and as you can see I’m more than comfortable.” Reginald looked round the room at the shabby furnishings with satisfaction. “The wife has set her heart on having a little do next week, just a dinner with a spot of dancing afterwards and I was hoping you might like to attend.” “Unfortunately my evening dress hasn’t arrived yet.” “Not to worry we’re of a size and I could have my valet pop across and make sure everything fitted.” “Which evening did you mention?” “We were thinking of Thursday but nothing’s fixed yet if another day might please you better.” Rats oh well there was always the other manor to visit. “I’ll confirm with you tomorrow shall I?” Reginald accepted the offer and returned to his carriage, Viscount was he and not so well breached by the look of things if he’d had to rent out the manor house, my son-in-law the Viscount had a nice ring to it. He’d accept willingly enough tomorrow and Reginald gave himself a tap on the back for finding out about him before the other neighbours with eligible daughters. Ellis walked through to the kitchen and spoke to his staff. “So who is he and how many eligible daughters does he have?” Ellen answered “Just the two but I hear they’re determined to nab a title.” He nodded “Call me early for breakfast in the morning.” “Sunrise?” “That’ll be fine.”

It was barely half an hour after sunrise that Ellis rode out heading west towards his other estate. He’d drop in and see his old school friend Leander on the way. He alternated riding the horse at a canter then walking him for a while. Even so it was late in the afternoon by the time he’d covered the thirty miles to Leander’s home. “Leander is away from home at the moment but do come in I seem to recall you from his school don’t I?” Ellis nodded, “Well come in, you look as if you’ve been riding all day, so stay the night at least. Girls help me persuade him to stay.” Ellis was persuaded to stay two nights to rest his horse before he continued on his journey. He enjoyed the rest and it was with reluctance that he set off once more. It was only when he’d left that Lady Bladen remembered reading in her correspondence that Ellis Martin was now a Viscount. “Mother he doesn’t look like a very prosperous Viscount to me besides Mary tells me that Lord Nicholson is due back this summer.” Lady Bladen shook her head Georgette had been head over heels with Lord Nicholson since she was fifteen but was tongue tied in his presence.

Ellis rode up the large cottage which would be his new home on this estate. He was met by two maids at the kitchen door who had their hair tightly drawn up and even by servant standards looked remarkably modest. He judged them to be around thirty or so. “Will your wife be joining you later sir?” The first maid asked as a gardener/groom guided his horse round to the stable. “Wife, no I’m not married.” There seemed to be a slight relaxation in the guarded look. “Would you like to eat first or have a soak in the bath as it looks as if you ridden a fair distance today.” He looked down at his dusty clothes “Food first perhaps I could eat in the kitchen rather than bring all my dirt into the house.” That gained him a nod of approval. Dot sat him at the table and topped the stove top with kettles. Ralph, the gardener/groom brought his saddle bags in and left them by the back door. “See you in the morning.” “He has a wife and children in a cottage down the lane.” As Ellis finished his meal Meg lifted out the bath and sat it in front of the stove. “If you could have your bath in here sir it would save us having to carry jugs of hot water up the stairs.” Dot carried his saddle bags into the back room and came back and lifted some warm dry towels down from the cupboard by the oven. “We’ll leave you to it then, give us a call when you’re done, I’ve laid out your clean clothes in the back room.” He soaked himself in the bath and wondered why they’d left two kettles on the range. He wasn’t going to be that long. He raised himself out of the water and dripped on the bath mat wrapping himself in the warm dry towels and slipping into the back room. “I’m done.” He called up the hall. He heard them slip by in the passage then the next sound was “Hurry up I want a dip in there as well.” He felt himself harden as he imagined his two maids naked soaping themselves in his bath water.

The next morning he was awakened by Dot carrying a mug of coffee which she set down on the bedside table. “Good morning sir, I’ve brought you a mug of coffee but I can get you a cup if you prefer.” She gave a little curtsey then stepped to the curtains and opened them, sunlight streamed into the room. He yawned and glanced at her, she seemed more relaxed this morning and prettier too. “No no a mug will do fine. You’ve done something to your hair?” he hazarded hesitantly. “Well done you noticed.” “Why?” “Well if you were married then Ruth and I would need to appear prim and respectable in order not to offend your wife but since you’re not we can dress a little more as we please, providing it meets with your approval.” She added a little hesitantly. He growled, “I take it that means yes.” she laughed, “Where did you work before here?” “For Sir Mortimer.” “And you thought I’d pay more?” “Oh no sir but Sir Mortimer noticed two pretty fourteen years olds in the village so we were turned off and they were hired.” He looked puzzled, “It often happens when you get a bit long in the tooth.” “But you don’t look more than twenty five.” “Sir Mortimer has wandering hands and likes his staff young sir. Would you like breakfast in the dining room or the kitchen sir?” “The kitchen will do fine and you needn’t add sir on the end of each sentence.” “What would you have me call you then?” “Milord perhaps? But I’m content without. Now then I’d like to get dressed.” He dismissed Dot and she slipped through the door to discuss her conversation with Ruth.

“I think he’s either the new landlord or his representative.” “You mean his having three members of staff and a horse waiting for him in the stables?” “Well it looks like he’s got money doesn’t it?” “I like him, if we’re nice to him he might ignore the other wenches around.” “He’s gentry though so don’t get your hopes too high.” They fed Ellis ham and eggs straight from the pan for his breakfast. Ruth asked him “What are your plans for the day? I could show you round the estate if you like.” He raised his eyebrows in surprise. Dot smiled at him, “Well we think you’re either the new landlord or his whatever so you’d be interested in the estate and since Ruth rides and you have two horses in the stables it makes sense for Ruth to guide you round. As a farmer’s daughter she knows a lot more about the tenants and neighbours than Ralph does.”

With everything in hand Ellis decided to return to do the return journey. Perhaps he might even travel onto London, his first stop though would be to drop in on Leander once more. So much more comfortable than stopping at an inn. At Lord Bladen’s home he was welcomed with open arms. Lady Bladen drew Cordelia off to her boudoir to speak privately with her. “I’ve a suggestion and an offer to make to you, hear me out before you say anything and if its not acceptable then no one other than us two will ever know of it and we can both forget all about it.” This sounded serious so Cordelia sat up straight. “As you know Georgette has set her heart on Lord Nicholson but getting his attention has been a problem. However he is in residence at the moment and if we could persuade Ellis to remain a month or so and perhaps visit Lord Nicholson and his sister then Georgette would be permitted to go with him suitably chaperoned by yourself of course.” “It seems an excellent idea but how do you propose to coax Ellis into staying?” Lady Bladen looked down at the floor for a moment “Well if we were to pay you the sum of five thousand pounds together with the sum you have from selling your father’s belongings that would be enough to provide at least the basics. We’d find you a cottage as well and an extra thousand pounds if you fell with child.” “You’re proposing I warm his bed?” “Well to put it bluntly yes, as long as he stayed one extra night you’d get your five thousand but I’d like him to stay a month. Have I shocked you terribly, I have a pamphlet about reducing the risk of thickening but I wouldn’t get by hopes up too high that any of the methods mentioned are really that effective.” Cordelia took a deep breath “Well it would solve the problem of what is to become of me if Georgette marries and yes I do owe you for putting up with me so I’ll try but I can’t guarantee what Ellis reaction will be although it is a generous offer.” “I’ll put him in the guest room next to yours with the interconnecting door and give you Mason as maid to you both, she’s very discreet. If we can pull it off then it would save all the expense, fuss and bother of a London season so I think it will be money well spent.” Lady Bladen had noticed the discreet interest Ellis had shown in Cordelia and didn’t think it would be lack of interest on his part.

That evening as she was getting dressed for dinner Mason appeared in her room. “Good evening Miss, I’m Mason, Lady Bladen has assigned me to look after both you and the young gentleman. I have the key to the door here and I’ll draw back the bolts on both sides so you can slip in and talk to him at bedtime. If you don’t mind me saying so I’ve always fancied being a lady’s maid so this will be a step up for me. Would you like me to do your hair? I suggest if it meets with your approval I’ll sleep in your room on a truckle bed for the next month or so to add an air of respectability.” Cordelia looked at her blankly for a moment or two, “Well it seems a shame to let a good guest bed go to waste.”

Dinner that evening was a comfortable affair with Ellis telling them about his new estates and how with a bit of luck and good weather they might even turn a profit within ten years. After dinner Cordelia took her turn and played the piano and Ellis and Georgette sang a duet or two together. After tea was served Cordelia retired early and went to her room. Mason had made a bed up on the floor for herself. Cordelia tried the door handle and as promised it opened easily so she stepped into Ellis’s room, curled up in an armchair with her back to the door and prepared to wait his arrival.

Ellis closed the door behind him and took off his cravat, hanging in on the back of a chair. “Good evening my lord.” He started not expecting anyone to be in his room. “Oh dear is this an attempt to compromise me?” “Not exactly come and sit down whilst I explain.” Ellis took the arm chair opposite. Cordelia raised herself then sat down in his lap and kissed him on the mouth. He looked at her “Do I meet with your approval?” “Yes I rather think you do. Now I’d better explain. Georgette would like to know Lord Nicholson better but as a single girl she can’t go and call on him. However if you were to stay for a month and appear to pay court to his sister then she could accompany you on your visits.” “And your role in all this?” “I’m being paid an indecently large sum to entice you to stay. I’d always thought that papa was relatively wealthy but on his death all the money seems to have disappeared so the indecently large sum will provide me something to live on.” “Well it sounds a wonderful idea but I’m planning to leave first thing in the morning.” “Even if I warm your bed for the next month?” “You’re serious?” “It’s an indecently large sum of money as I said.” He picked her up in his arms and deposited her on the bed. “Looks like we’ll be paying a call on Viscount Nicholson in the morning.” She slipped away from him and dashed to the connecting door and turned her head back. “I only get paid if you stay an extra day at least so I’ll warm your bed tomorrow night, after the first visit.” She slipped through the door and he heard the key turn in the lock. Well he didn’t really have anything better to do and she was a comfortable armful, tomorrow he was going visiting.

Mason woke him with a mug of coffee. “It’s a fine day for your journey Sir, I’m sure you’ll want to be on the road first thing.” He glowered at her. “Be nice and ask Lady Bladen’s permission for me to stay on a few days if you’d be so kind.” “Oh she hoped you might but I’ll let her and the housekeeper know. I’m Mason by the way and I’ll be looking after you whilst you’re here.” Mason exited the room and after opening Cordelia’s door entered with Cordelia’s cup of chocolate. “I understand the Viscount is desiring to stay so shall I put up your riding habit?”

Cordelia descended to the breakfast room and selected an assortment from the covered dishes on the side then took her place at the table. Ellis joined her and looked amused at the amount of food on her plate so she sneaked a slice of bacon from his. Georgette popped in as this playfulness was going on. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?” “No no Ellis was just being kind and offering me an extra slice of bacon.” “I thought you were leaving at the break of dawn this morning?” Georgette demanded of Ellis. “Well I was but then Cordelia suggested I take a day or two off and see what the local countryside offered.” “I thought we might ride over to see Lord Nicholson and his sister and show him off to the neighbours.” Georgette looked at the both “Well you aren’t to leave without me. Hartwell have the stables saddle up my mare.”

Agnes welcomed them into the house and sent Georgette and Ellis off round to the stables to see her brother. “So what’s he worth, and what’s the gossip?” “Oh dear am I so obvious?” “Fortunately only to me, now tell all.” Cordelia looked round carefully and sat a little closer. “Well Georgette is set on your brother.” “I know that, she has been for years.” “So the plan is Ellis, Viscount Hartwell, is suppose to pay court to you so that Georgette can spend time with your brother. He’s practically penniless by the way two run down estates so unless you’re very well dowered he’s not for you.” “No but he might help bring Reuben up to scratch. I trust he can be trusted?” “You mean can I control him?” “Well that’s one way to put it. I did notice he seems very sensitive as to where you are.” “I think I can coax him into anything within reason.” “Oh good now let’s go and find that brother of mine.”

Agnes beamed when the reached the stables, even Reuben was present showing off his newly purchased bay. “Well we’ve got three couples, how marvellous, that means I can practise my country dances before my season next year.” She smiled at Ellis who taking his cue from Cordelia’s quick glance stepped forward and said “What a delightful idea but if there’s six of us required for the dance who will play?” Agnes waved away the problem, “Oh Babs, one of the maids can play the fiddle, her dad taught her when she was young and she won’t mind playing for us rather than doing housework.” So Babs was sent for and they spent an hour and a half dancing triple minor dances. Agnes invited them to stay for lunch and flirted outrageously with Ellis much to Reuben’s disgust. “What do you mean by flirting so outrageously.” He asked when he cornered Agnes after the others had left. “Well I have to get married sometime and he is a Viscount and that would make me a Viscountess wouldn’t it?” “I know you too well, you’re not interested in titles and he hasn’t that much cash from what I hear.” “But he’s good to practise my wiles on don’t you think before my season?” “You’ve never been interested in a season before.” “No but my brother is taking an interest in young ladies these days and I don’t intend to become a maiden aunt who is useful for looking after her nephews and nieces.” Reuben looked thoughtful which was exactly what Agnes had intended.

That evening Cordelia dressed in her best nightdress slipped through the interconnecting door and into Ellis’s large double bed and pulled the cover up over her nose so just her eyes peeped out. She closed them firmly when Ellis came into the room and started to change into his nightshirt. He pulled back the cover “Hello and what do we have here?” She peered up at him nervously. “I’m not sure what to do next.” She admitted. He bent over and kissed her on the nose. “We could start with a kiss?” She nodded her agreement and he slid into bed alongside her and kissed her at first lightly and then deepened the kiss. Slowly she relaxed but tensed again as he ran his hand over her breast tweaking her nipple very lightly before covering it with his mouth. She could feel herself start to melt inside at his attention then he was hitching her nightdress up and covering her with his body. There was a slight uncomfortableness as he penetrated her and she felt herself beginning to warm up when he ejaculated inside her and she was left feeling a little unsatisfied.

Next morning Mason entered Ellis’s room and placed a mug of coffee on his bedside table. Cordelia looked up expectantly “Your tea with lemon will be here directly Miss, but I’ll have to bring it through your room or people might start asking questions.” Moments later she entered through the interconnecting door carrying a tray. “Here we are Miss, one cup of tea and a lemon to go with it. I’d have brought you chocolate but that might have raised questions about the lemon.” Ellis and Cordelia looked extremely puzzled. “Why would I want a lemon first thing in the morning?” Cordelia asked her. Mason looked at the both, babies in the woods. “Oh dear I suppose we’d better start with the basics. First we’d better get you properly aroused. If you’d like to kiss her my Lord and caress her neck and shoulders especially the back of her neck.” Ellis did as he was bid. Mason drew back the covers and ran her fingers up Cordelia’s thighs before bending down and caressing her thighs with her tongue, Cordelia didn’t know what to do she liked the kisses but what Mason thought she was up to she’d no idea. It took some minutes for her to relax then she felt herself melt inside. She could feel something wondrous was about to happen and then Mason withdrew, god Cordelia felt so frustrated. She looked down the bed to see what Cordelia was up to now. She could possibly be doing what Cordelia thought she was doing could she? Mason straightened up and ran the quarter lemon over Cordelia’s most private place. “She’s ready for you now my Lord.” Ready that was the understatement of the century, Ellis penetrated her and took her to heights she’d never imagined as he plunged in. Instinctively she clamped her muscles down round him and felt him ejaculate inside her. “Now just hold her, wrap your arms round her. I’ll put out your riding habit shall I Miss?” Ellis held her and Cordelia just nodded.

“Now then my Lord I suggest you go down to breakfast first and I’ll tidy up Miss before she goes down.” Ellis arose from the bed and clambered into his clothes. Mason scooped up the bottom sheet and and a towel that had been spread out underneath. At Cordelia’s enquiring look she explained “I put the sheet from the truckle bed over his lordship’s sheet last night with a towel underneath in case there was any blood. I’ll take it down with me and say I had a accident with my monthly courses but the maids who make the beds will just see a crumpled bed in here and in your room as I took the liberty of sleeping in your bed last night.” Cordelia looked at the blood stained sheet and paled at the thought of the maids gossiping downstairs. “Thank you Mason. Mason I hardly know how to ask.” “Oh the mouth bit over the groin well some say they get more pleasure that way than they do the other and there is much less risk of pregnancy as well.” “And just how did you learn about all this?” Mason looked round and stepped a little closer. “If you could arrange for the Viscount not to come into his room this afternoon until 3:30 I’d be grateful.” “Well I could ask him.” “Thank you Miss, and if you come up yourself directly after lunch and sit behind the screen?” Cordelia nodded, not being quite sure what was going on. “It’s Nelly’s initiation Miss.” Nelly was a very recently hired maid. When she spoke to him Ellis was quite happy not to enter his room before half past three in the afternoon.

After lunch Cordelia sneaked upstairs to her room thence into Ellis’s room where she curled up in an armchair behind the screen. There was a chink just about eye level that she could peek through. Barely five minutes later a group of giggling maids came into the room. She heard Nelly’s voice “But this is the Viscount’s room I hate to think what he’ll do to me if he finds me here and if someone else does I’ll be turned off for sure.” “Don’t worry its all part of the fun, we’ve all been through it. It all adds to the excitement, it’s a risk you have to take.” “Aw Gaud.” “There’s just a couple of ropes and a couple of sticks what harm could there be in those. All you have to do is walk the first rope.” “That doesn’t sound too bad.” Cordelia spied the rope being laid out on the floor. “But to add spice you have to do it naked.” “But what if someone comes in?” “It just adds to the spice.” They helped her off with her clothes and instructed her to stand with one foot either side of the rope. Next they tied a silk scarf around her eyes as a blindfold. Then two maids lifted the soft cotton rope up so it was up against her crotch. There were knots tied in the rope. “Now start walking.” As Nelly started to move forward the girls held the rope up high so it was pressed against her bum at the back and her slit at the front. Betty stood behind her and cupped Nelly’s breasts, tweaking her nipples and holding her steady. Behind the screen Cordelia could hear Nelly’s breath grow shorter, and she could almost feel the rope between Nelly’s thighs and the knots pushing her thighs apart. Back and forth they made her walk the rope until she could see that Nelly chest was quite flushed. Betty lowered the rope then slipped her finger up her. “Well she’s not intact so on the bed with her.” One stick had holes in the end and Nelly’s ankles were tied to each end with the soft rope essentially spreading her legs apart. The other rope was used to tie her wrists to the bedhead. The second stick was a baton that had been turned on a lathe so it had ridges in its length. Betty manipulated it back and forth inserting deeper then teasing it out. Nelly was desperately trying not to cry out knowing if she was caught it would loose her position.

Finally Mason fed a rope of pearls into Nelly’s pussy slowly one bead at a time. When it had been fed in she casually blindfolded and gagged Nelly. “Right you lot disappear.” Then she straightened her dress and glanced at herself in the mirror before slipping out of the bedroom locking the door behind her. When she returned she had Ellis in tow. She put her fingers to her lips to indicate he shouldn’t say a word. She locked the door behind him. She indicated he should climb on the bed and use his tongue between Nelly’s thighs. Ellis started to tongue Nelly but soon realised there was something inside her. Mason motioned him to pull out the pearls very slowly one bead at a time whilst continuing to tongue Nelly. When he’d finished he spoke quietly “If you’d still here when I come to bed I’ll take it you want me to cover you and get you with child.” before raising himself off the bed and slipping out of the room. Mason undid the ropes and helped Nelly dress. “Was I dreaming or did I really have a noble tongue doing unmentionable things to my rude bits?” Mason eased her out the door before coming back to the screen. “If you’d like to return to your room that would be more discreet Miss.”

The next few weeks passed in a blur of practise dances, picnics, fishing in the river and just taking the horses out for a ride besides Nelly looking on Ellis with awe. One afternoon Georgette was alone with Cordelia, “What I don’t understand is what is going on.” Cordelia looked at her with a puzzled look. “Well around the house here Ellis and yourself look almost intimate and yet when we visit he spends lots of time with Agnes and you don’t seem to mind. If it was me I’d tear her eyes out.” “But you get to spend time with Lord Nicholson don’t you?” “Yes I suppose so.” “Well then just worry about Lord Nicholson and I’ll worry about Ellis.” Georgette shrugged her shoulders and picked up her embroidery.

Reuben cornered Agnes as they walked back into the house. “How much longer must I watch you making sheep’s eyes at that Viscount, don’t you know that you’re mine.” “Well I don’t recall you offering for my hand, are you?” Reuben growled at her. “Do I really need to say it?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Will you marry me?” “I’d be delighted to.” “Minx!” but he caught her up anyway and kissed her just as Georgette and Lord Nicholson approached on their way back from the stable. “Agnes!” “Oh he’s just asked me to marry him.” “And she agreed, do you want me to ask your permission?” “Good god no just glad to get rid of her.” He looked down at Georgette “I suppose we could make it a double wedding?” “Oh who were you thinking of marrying milord?” Georgette had her behind lightly tapped “You if you’ll have me?” She nodded her agreement. Ellis guided Cordelia to one side. “I’m going to miss you. We could get married you know but there won’t be a lot of spare cash for a while.” She kissed him on the cheek, “I think I’ve got used to you so yes we’ll be married as soon as the banns are read or perhaps I should wait for my five thousand first?”

He stood at the front door holding his cap in his hand fidgeting with it, “Albert Higginbottom to see Miss Cordelia Banbury.” The footman was about to deny him but the butler much to the footman’s amazement came forward “If you’d like to step this way sir.” he led the way through to the rose garden where Cordelia was seated enjoying the sun. “Mr. Albert Higginbottom miss. I’ll bring some refreshments directly, a glass of ale for you sir?” Albert nodded. “Now sir what can I do for you?” Albert seemed at a loss for a moment or two. “Are you Miss Cordelia Banbury?” “Why yes sir.” “I must offer my condolences on your father’s death.” “That happened nearly two years ago now.” “Aye well I’m not one for reading and writing else I’d have made myself known to you earlier like.” Albert looked closely at her and asked her some questions about her father and where they’d lived eventually he seemed satisfied she was who she said she was. “Now Mr. Higginbottom what’s this all about?” “Albert please seeing as we’re partners.” “Partners?” “Aye in the foundry like.” She looked puzzled. “Didn’t you know about it then?” She shook her head slightly. “Well one day me and your dad were talking and I told him about the new foundry they were building that had gone bust for lack of brass. So your dad found me the money to buy up the bits well most of it any road and a little more besides, we’re the biggest in the country, now been operating for nearly eighteen months. Had to pay the banks off first but we’ve plenty of gelt now so I came down to tell your dad but found he’d died and you’d moved. It’s taken a day or two to find you.” Ellis arrived on the scene “Are you alright my love?” “Come and meet Albert he’s telling me about a gelt foundry?” Ellis laughed “I take it he owns a foundry that is profitable.” “Aye that’s just what I was saying, she does.” “You mean I own a foundry?” “Happen that’s what I’ve been saying, well nine parts yours and one part is mine that was the deal we shook on.” “So I could sell it?” “Nay lass why would you want to do that?” “To get some money?” “Why the foundry can give you plenty of that. We’re good for nearly twenty thousand a year but I suggest leaving some in the business but there’s no reason why you couldn’t draw five thousand a year from it.”