The Swan Maid. Dilly Court

my first six years in India. Talking to Private Ellis brought it all back to me, and suddenly it seemed the most natural thing in the world to want to do something worthwhile. Does that sound silly?’

      ‘No. It sounds like a brave move. It’s a pity nothing came of it.’

      ‘Yes, but I’m not giving up yet.’

      They lapsed into silence as the cab tooled along the streets, which were much quieter now than they had been when Lottie set out that morning, and they arrived at the inn just as the mail coach from Bath was pulling into the stable yard.

      Filby stepped out of the shadows and caught Lottie by the arm. ‘What sort of time do you call this? You was supposed to be back by seven sharp.’

      ‘I must take the blame for Lottie’s late return, sir,’ Gillingham said firmly. ‘It was entirely my fault.’

      ‘If you say so, sir.’ Filby cringed visibly. He waited until Gillingham had walked off to greet the colonel’s wife. ‘No good will come of you mixing with the military, you stupid girl. Soldiers and sailors are all the same when it comes to women. D’you get my meaning, you stupid little bitch?’

      She wrenched free from his tight grasp. ‘It’s not like that. I met the lieutenant by pure chance.’

      Filby caught her a stinging blow on the side of her face. ‘Don’t cheek me, miss.’

      ‘I say, was that really necessary?’ A silvery voice rang out across the stable yard as a young, fashionably dressed woman descended from the mail coach.

      ‘I’d leave it be, my lady,’ Gillingham said in a low voice.

      ‘No, Farrell, I won’t.’ She moved across the yard with the grace of a ballerina. ‘You, fellow with the leather apron.’ She addressed Filby, who stared at her, apparently dumbstruck by her beauty. ‘What do you mean by slapping the poor girl’s face? What could she have done to deserve such harsh treatment?’

      ‘Who are you, ma’am?’ Filby stuttered, puffing out his cheeks.

      ‘I am Lady Aurelia Dashwood, sir. And who may you be?’

      Gillingham moved swiftly to her side. ‘This is Filby, my lady. He is the landlord.’

      ‘Landlord or no, what right have you to strike this young woman?’ Aurelia demanded angrily.

      ‘She is a maidservant, employed by me, my lady.’ Filby dropped his voice to a mere whisper. ‘Begging your pardon, ma’am.’

      Lottie had an almost irresistible desire to giggle at the sight of Filby grovelling before the elegant lady. ‘I’ll get on with my work then, shall I, guv?’

      ‘Yes,’ Filby said with a vague wave of his hand, ‘and don’t let it happen again.’

      Aurelia laid a gloved hand on Lottie’s shoulder. ‘What is your name?’

      ‘Lottie, my lady.’

      ‘Well, Lottie, my maid was taken ill at the start of the journey from Bath and I had to send her home. I need someone to help me with my toilette.’ She turned to Filby with a smile that would have melted the hardest heart. ‘I take it you have no objections, landlord?’

      ‘No, my lady.’ Filby bowed from the waist. ‘Of course not. If there is anything you need, you have only to ask.’

      Gillingham glanced at the luggage that was piling up on the cobblestones. ‘Is this all yours, my lady?’

      ‘Of course it is, Farrell. Have you ever known me to travel light?’ Aurelia laughed and tossed her head. The feathers in her dashing straw bonnet waved and danced, and her golden ringlets bobbed with each movement of her head.

      Lottie could only stare at her, entranced. She had never seen anyone as lovely or as lively and spirited as the colonel’s wife. ‘I’ll see that the lady’s baggage is taken to her bedchamber,’ she volunteered. ‘Which room is hers, guv?’

      ‘Why, you silly girl, the best in the house, of course.’ Filby seemed to recover from his daze and he strode into the middle of the yard. ‘Jem, where are you, boy? Take the lady’s luggage to room ten.’ He bowed to Aurelia, keeping his head bent low as if addressing royalty. ‘Lottie will show you to your room, my lady. If there is anything we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.’

      Lottie eyed him with distaste. If the silly man bowed any lower he would be in danger of falling flat on his face. She picked up a couple of bandboxes, leaving Jem to bring the heavy items. ‘If you would come this way, my lady …’

      ‘I’ll see you at supper, Farrell.’ Aurelia patted him on the cheek as she walked past. ‘I’m extremely hungry, so I hope there is something tasty on the bill of fare.’

      Gillingham clicked his heels together, staring straight ahead. ‘Wouldn’t you rather dine in the privacy of your room, my lady?’ He lowered his voice. ‘The clientele here might not be to your liking.’

      ‘Nonsense, Farrell. I’m sure I’ll find it most entertaining.’ Aurelia moved on, pausing to give Jem the benefit of her sparkling smile. ‘What is your name?’

      He straightened up, shifting from one foot to the other. ‘Jem, my lady.’

      ‘Well, thank you for your services, Jem.’

      Lottie watched in awe as Lady Aurelia charmed the guard and the coachman who had brought her this far. It seemed she had a smile and a kind word for everyone; Lottie was impressed, and close to falling under her ladyship’s spell. She led the way to number ten, which was the biggest and the best room they had to offer. Even so, as she opened the door and ushered Aurelia inside, Lottie had the feeling that the room, although reasonably clean and comfortable, was not what such a grand lady might expect. An apology tingled on the tip of her tongue as she lit the lamps, but Aurelia uttered a cry of delight.

      ‘A four-poster bed, how delightful, and such a pretty coverlet.’ She untied her bonnet and laid it on a chair, while she unbuttoned her silk mantle. ‘Charming, utterly charming.’

      ‘I’m afraid it’s not what you’re used to, my lady.’

      Aurelia’s violet-blue eyes danced with amusement. ‘You obviously have no idea what sort of life a soldier’s wife leads. I’ve slept in bivouacs in the most frightful conditions of rain, ice and snow, or blistering heat, not to mention vermin and wildlife of all sorts. There was even a bear who visited camp in Canada. So you see, Lottie, this is luxury indeed, but only for one night as we travel on tomorrow.’ She breathed a sigh of relief as she laid her jacket on the chair. ‘It’s very hot. I think we might have a storm tonight.’

      ‘It would clear the air.’ Lottie moved to open the door and Jem struggled in, laden with cases, a valise and two carpetbags, which he set down on the floor. ‘There’s still a small trunk, my lady. Shall I bring that too?’

      Aurelia cast an eye over the luggage. ‘It would be better stored somewhere until the morning, if you would be so kind, Jem?’

      His cheeks flushed bright red and he grinned sheepishly. ‘Of course, my lady. It’s no trouble at all.’

      ‘Wait a moment, please.’ Aurelia opened her reticule and took out a coin, which she pressed into his hand. ‘Thank you, Jem. That will be all for now.’

      He backed out of the room, still grinning.

      ‘What a charming young man.’ Aurelia cast a curious glance at Lottie. ‘And good-looking too – is he your sweetheart?’

      ‘Certainly not.’ Lottie had not meant to speak so sharply. ‘I’m sorry, my lady, but Jem is more like a brother to me. You might say we grew up together.’

      ‘Really? How interesting. You must have been very young when you began working here.’

      ‘I was twelve, my lady.’

      ‘And this is what you wanted