“No ma’am.”
Now she was close to me I could see Lady Malham was probably in her sixties with quite a wrinkled face and wearing heavy makeup. She was now carrying her fur hat which matched the fur collar of her coat. Her regular features suggested she had been a good looking woman in her younger days. Her eyes were lively and penetrating and she carried a distinct aura of authority.
For a moment I wondered whether to tell the truth about the assault but calculated it would be a mistake.
When her visit was over I would be at the mercy of the officers once more and I would be fortunate to escape with just another beating.
The woman’s expression suggested she knew what I was thinking.
“Why is he naked?” she demanded.
“For his own safety madam,” said the senior officer. ‘As you know we h
