Lifted into a sitting position by Amy, who stroked her hair fondly, Astrid dumbly allowed herself to be fed with smoked salmon and other delicacies. Between bites, wine was gurgled down her throat.
'She eats well-that is the best of signs', Marie said contentedly when Astrid was laid back again, her head on a pillow, her eyes closed. The draught she had been given would ensure that she slept for an hour at least. Her pretty lips quivered and then were still. Falling, as it seemed to her, down a long, black-velvet tunnel she slept.
CHAPTER 3
Having entered her dressing room to don a pair of blue-silk directoire drawers and to cast about her voluptuous form a tea gown of matching material, Julia descended with a pleased smile upon her lips. The venture had gone as well as she had expected it to, and perhaps a trifle better. Every scornful of those whom she considered the oafs of Society- whether poor or rich-Julia admired above all young women of high-tempered spirit such as she now knew Astrid to be. The girl would be a perfect treasure.
Upon reaching the foot of the stairs she was met by Amy, who now wore an expression of greater humbleness on her face, for while their mistress allowed them certain pleasures she could also be exceedingly strict.
'Lady Dunnit is here to see you, Ma'am'.
'Alone, Amy?'
'No, Ma'am, she has her nephew with her-the one who…'.