Free The Royal Lacemaker by Linda Finlay

great shock to you. Are you quite sure
     you feel up to starting your new position today?’
    ‘Thank you, Mrs Bodney. I’ll
     be fine.’
    The other woman patted her arm and Lily
     couldn’t help but notice how relieved she looked.
    ‘It’s better to keep busy,
     my father always said.’
    ‘Quite. As
     overseer, it is your responsibility to ensure only the lace ladies enter the
     workroom. Tilda has been given strict instructions to that effect. Now, come with
     me,’ Mrs Bodney instructed, leading the way upstairs and into what appeared to
     be her own bedroom. ‘You need to look the part of overseer, for it will be
     your duty to receive merchants and tradespeople in my absence.’ She pointed to
     the bed where a fine black cotton dress, white linen bonnet and apron were laid out.
     Then Lily noticed the corset and grimaced. The other woman smiled.
    ‘The female figure is enhanced
     when it is contained and your dress will hang in a better fashion. It is a good
     discipline to adopt and, I can assure you from personal experience, it will correct
     your posture and guarantee you move in a ladylike manner. Now hurry and change so
     you’re ready when the others arrive. After I’ve explained your new
     position to them, I shall go and see to the ladies at High House. However, I will
     endeavour to be back before you leave this evening to find out how you’ve
     managed,’ she said.
    There was so much to take in,
     Lily’s head was spinning. Then, seeing her employer was waiting for an answer,
     she nodded. Seeming satisfied, Mrs Bodney bustled from the room.
    Looking down at her new outfit laid out
     on the bed, she felt a tingle of excitement, but when she tried to wriggle into the
     corset she felt like the contortionist she’d seen at the Cuckoo Fair in April.
     Then, when she did finally manage to get the wretched thing on, she could hardly
     breathe. It was so tight she was sure she’d faint. She struggled into the
     white cotton petticoat andthen the dark dress, marvelling at the
     softness of the material. It was far superior to anything she’d ever worn
     before and to her delight the full skirts swished about her ankles when she moved.
     It was a good job it was black, she thought with a pang, for now she was in mourning
     for her mother.
    Hearing the chattering of voices coming
     up the path, she hastily donned her apron, wondering how her fellow workers would
     take the news she was to be their overseer. She didn’t have to wait long to
     find out. Making her way to the workroom, she heard Cora’s indignant protest
     and the mutterings of the other ladies. As she hesitated in the doorway, Mrs Bodney
     looked up and smiled reassuringly.
    ‘Come in, Lily,’ Mrs Bodney
     said, beckoning to her. ‘Ladies, you are to co-operate and make Lily’s
     job as easy as you can. She has my authority to dismiss anyone who makes trouble or
     breaches the working conditions I set out on your first day. Do I make myself
     clear?’
    ‘Yes, Mrs Bodney,’ they
     intoned, and with a brisk nod of her head she left the room, her skirts bustling in
     her wake. Lily swallowed nervously.
    ‘Well, get you, Lily Rose, all
     dolled up like a donkey’s thingummy,’ Nell sniggered.
    ‘You needn’t think
     we’re taking orders from you,’ Cora snorted.
    Lily stared at their hostile faces and
     felt like fleeing.
    Peasants persist, Lily. It’s up to you to lead the way, not run away. You
     can do it.
    She heard her father’s words of
     encouragement and squared her shoulders, determined not to let him down.
    ‘Right,
     ladies,’ she said firmly. ‘As you heard, Mrs Bodney has appointed me to
     oversee the work here. And, with your co-operation, that is all I will need to
     oversee,’ she said, smiling at them.
    ‘Oh, yeah? How do you make that
     out?’ Cora spat, her green eyes glinting like a cat’s.
    Lily swallowed but refused to be
     intimidated. Striving to keep her voice calm, she smiled and looked at