Screaming with impatience, Catherine pulled off the long gloves she was wearing and threw them on the floor.
“Quickly, Theola! Undo my gown . . . hurry you i***t!”
hurry you i***t!”There was no sign of any maids and, having helped Catherine undress, Theola ran to the wardrobe to find her riding habit.
The first one she took out was rose-pink and Catherine yelled at her,
“Not that colour, you fool! I should be conspicuous. I might be shot! Give me something dark!”
Hastily, Theola lifted down the habit of sapphire-blue velvet and helped Catherine into it.
“How can you be so slow?” Catherine complained as she did it up. “And now my boots! My gloves! My hat! I must take my jewels with me! For Heaven’s sake, could anyone be more incompetent?”
Abusing Theola and fidgeting so that it was d
