“Mrs Palmer.” Lady Charlotte descended from her coach with a gracious smile and responded to Mrs Palmer’s curtsey with a shake of her head. “Oh, there’s surely no need for such formality between us. We are old friends.”
“Your ladyship,” Mrs Palmer said. “How good of you to condescend to call on my poor house.”
“Come, Mrs Palmer,” Lady Charlotte said. “You were my governess. You know me as well as anybody does.”
“Thank you, your Ladyship,” Mrs Palmer said.
“May we go inside?” Lady Charlotte asked and led the way before Mrs Palmer could reply.
Mrs Palmer lived in a detached two-storey cottage on the outskirts of Appleby. The interior was immaculate, with highly polished furniture and a full bookcase. Lady Charlotte looked around, smiling as she remembered the strict regime that her old
