“Have you a pair of scissors or a sharp knife?” Druscilla asked.
“A sharp knife, ma’am, yes, indeed,” the woman replied, surprised and flustered at the same time.
Druscilla pulled up the skirts of her driving coat.
“I want you to cut my dress open from the hem to above the knee at the back,” she said.
The woman gave a cry.
“Oh, ma’am, such lovely material!”
“Please do as I say – and quickly,” Druscilla urged.
The woman took a long sharp knife, which had doubtless been used for carving meat and chickens for the table.
She then hacked away at the thin gauze of the skirt, which cut easily.
“Thank you,” Druscilla said.
She walked outside, while the woman stood looking after her in a bewildered fashion, and found that the horse was already saddled.
She pulled off her bonnet and threw
