“Oh, no, sir! I would never be so presumptuous to ignore your rules.”
“No? How about you look me in the face and say that.”
I stare at him unable to speak as the seconds tick by, then finally sputter out, “I-I’m sorry I can’t, sir.” I’m so close to tears.
“That’s what I thought.” The disappointment and anger I see on his face comes raining down on me with their heavy indictment. I’m guilty as charged, and this moment is all the trial I’ll get. “Go to the barn.” I’m aware of how shaky I am, and the booze doesn’t help, so it takes a thundering, “Now!” from him to get me going. “And take off whatever the hell it is you’re wearing.”
George chimes in with a glib, “Hey, that cost me a pretty penny!”
I mumble a weak ‘sorry’, toss the nightie in George’s direction, then head out of the cottag
