Read My Lord and Master for Free Online

Mary,” she began. “I see now that my duties are to be somewhat unusual, but I believe that I shall enjoy the challenge, and I hope that I am able to please the Lord in all aspects of my work.”
    At this, Mary’s jaw dropped.
    There had obviously been many inhabitants of this beautiful room before she, Angelica realised. Many girls, to be comforted by Mary. But had there before been a girl who so relished her task?
    “Dear girl,” Mary sighed. “I know that you are a good girl, and that you aim to please your master, just as I’m sure you aimed to please and obey your parents. But I have heard talk of what happens in that room. I have seen some of the consequences. It is out of my jurisdiction to stop anything that goes on. But you can count on me to be here for you. To be a shoulder to cry on.”
    “Thank you, Mary, you are too kind,” Angelica said, for she realised that it was no use telling her just how much she had enjoyed what she had just experienced. Mary would never understand.
    This was something that Angelica was used to. After all, she had always been rather strange and odd – always standing out from the crowd in some way or other. She was used to being thought of as different, as an outsider. Even as a child, she had had few playmates, preferring to strike out her own path, lost in her daydreams. And as a young woman, things seemed to be taking a rather similar direction. Only now, rather than a solitary one, her path appeared to intertwine with that of another ...
    And more questions seemed to flood Angelica’s mind: questions about her situation, about Lord Sutherland, and she realised that this was the perfect opportunity to seek out her answers.
    Mary was already collecting up the empty bowl and tray when Angelica called out, “Wait!”
    “What is it, my dear?” Mary asked, her kindly face breaking out in a curious smile.
    “There have been others before me, haven’t there?” Angelica asked curiously.
    She knew the answer, but she needed to hear it spoken aloud.
    At this, Mary nodded, a subtle blush rising to her plump face, her hazel brown eyes firmly fixed on the floor as she spoke. “Aye, Angelica,” she said softly. “There have been others before you, yes. Other girls.”
    “And where are they now?” Angelica asked, feeling her heart quicken a little as she waited impatiently for Mary’s answer. For just as much as she feared coming here only a few hours ago, now she feared dismissal.
    “Come now, come now, don’t trouble your pretty head with all that,” the kindly maid said, once more bursting into movement, collecting up the tray and bowl and making her way towards the door.
    “One more question, please?” Angelica called after her.
    “Yes?” Mary said, stopping and turning back to face her.
    “Lord Sutherland,” Angelica said, quietly. “Is he ... Does he ...” Angelica found her mind struggling for the correct words. “Is there a Lady Sutherland?”  
    And when Mary shook her head, Angelica felt a great rush of relief run through her young body.
    How silly! Why should this news be a relief to her? Did she really imagine herself as the Lady of this house? Deep down of course, she knew that she could never be Lord Sutherland’s wife, but still, she felt glad for some reason that there was no other woman here at the house that he was romantically linked with. After all, she was allowed her silly little schoolgirl fantasies, wasn’t she, as long as she kept them contained in her head?
    But Mary seemed to see right through her then, her face changing, becoming stern. “Now listen here, Miss Angelica,” she said rather coldly. “You need to get those thoughts right out of your head this very instant, you understand me? You’re nothing to Lord Sutherland but ... well, but a piece of meat. To be used for his pleasure. And that’s all. You understand? You wouldn’t be the first to get ideas above your station, you know, so don’t you go thinking that you’ve