She locked the door, not as a result of Haxby’s warning, but due to a pressing desire to lock the entire world out. Or Mrs Oakengate at least. She had endured a lengthy lecture from her employer. “Really, Millicent, the way you threw yourself at that man.” “Which man?” Millie had asked, her cheeks aflame. “Haxby, of course. Unless there are others I don’t know about. I daresay that like many young girls you find him exciting, but you must know he is not for the likes of you. I don’t say this unkindly,” Mrs Oakengate paused, as if garnering her strength. “But you are a plain girl, with no real attributes. The sort of woman who would excite James Haxby would have seen something of the world. She would be older, sophisticated, and not … I am sorry to say … the daughter of an executed spy. Now, I will forgive you your behaviour today, but should you disobey me again, you will find yourself out of a job. I do not need to remind you that you would find great difficulty in finding other employment with an upper classed employer, given your status.
