“Ye did what?” Gertrude asked, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. She could not believe that anyone would do what Tess was claiming to have done.
“I sent him away,” Tess said stubbornly.
“That is what I thought I had heard ye say.” Gertrude shook her head.
“What in the blessed Lord’s name would ye do that for?” Asked Susie as she scrubbed some dirty breeches against a homemade washing board. She stood up straight and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her sleeve. “Seems like a simple-minded thing to be doin‘. If he had been beggin’ me to romp in the furs, wife or no, ye better believe a bloomin’ yes would ‘ave been me answer it would ’ave.”
“I cannot guard my heart well enough from that man. To have stolen moment whi
