His voice was hard and authoritative as he continued,
“It is up to me and not to anyone else – I make the choice – I choose what I wish to do and I see no reason why anyone in my employment, man or woman, should oppose me on such an insignificant matter.”
The Earl spoke in a manner that those who had served under him knew only too well and Giselda capitulated exactly as they would have done.
She curtsied.
“Very good, my Lord. If you will permit me to remove my bonnet and to fetch some hot water, I will now attend to your leg.”
“The sooner the better!” the Earl said loftily.
Giselda left the room and when he was alone he chuckled to himself.
He knew that he had found the way to treat her, a way in which she found it hard to oppose him. He told himself with some satisfaction that, if
